Dear Joe,

Fastest way home is to post the "short format links" so that anyone who wants to see the "maps" can click and see them on the website they came from. I don't _think_ there's any c-write issue with posting screenshots, but simply linking to the "maps" sites shouldn't be an issue...

And besides which, if you write up the steps well, and start from a known confirmed point, we can all "walk down the street" with you as we tour the inspiring RR sections...
(I've "walked" the Meeker Southern in Washington, parts of the LAJ in LA, and much of the northern end of the NYCH with fellow web-based modellers on forums previously...  :-) ).

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

I used an image from Google Street View in an earlier blog post here http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/7136  to show the prototype for a structure (it's in the first "reply" to the thread).  The image clearly shows the Google name and copyright, plus the embed code automatically provides a link directly to Google.  Google provides the embed codes specifically for this purpose so the images can be placed in web pages while clearly showing their ownership.  Per their terms of use for showing attribution (my bold):

• Attribute Google (e.g. © 2011 Google) and third-party suppliers (e.g. © 2011 Tele Atlas)
• Make attribution readable to the average reader or viewer (e.g. avoid micro-sized letters)
• For Print: Display attribution within or immediately adjacent to the visual
• For Online: Attribution is automatically added within the API and cannot not obscured.
• For TV/Video: Display attribution the entire duration the Content is shown, only showing attribution briefly at the start, end, or credits is not allowed

I haven't checked Bing maps, but they have terms of use posted online also and should be similar.   

Just a little test to see if this works, one of the locations I'm looking at in Chicago. Google maps "short code" link.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Chicago,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.852817,-87.648183&...

Dear Joe,

If the below is where you intended us to land, or at least "reasonably close"

(just clicked the link, let the page load, screenshot, and post the resulting image...)

then you have a winner... ;-)

NB that I can manually minimise the LH side "info panel" to get more "map image",

but the first image is how it loaded by default.

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS If you're a Chicago switching fan, you probably already know about the "Switching Chicago" website?

http://www.chicagoswitching.com/

Thanks Prof,

 I have always found Chicago interesting but have only recently started looking at parts of it with an eye to modeling it.

Here is the Bing version of the same location.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qz7ytd7pw9bg&lvl=19.6&dir=359.27&sty=b&...

Dear Joe,

So, are you looking at modelling?
- in early MILW era (MP15s?)
- later SOO era (Geeps)
- 90's CIRY era (older SWs)
- or modern "BNSF operating where CIRY used to" era? (Pumpkin Orange BNSF geeps)

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA0B075A98B813833

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Prof,

Working on a couple different concepts. A modern BNSF operating where CIRY used to is just one of them. I'll be adding a new post to morrow with more details.

Great video colection by the way. Some really neat stuff.

Thanks,