NIMBY Rails Wiki - User contributions [en]

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T15:15:49Z

JJRol: Small edit.

This is a page that lists many resources useful for achieving realism in your NIMBY Rail saves. It is split up by country and region for your convenience.

= Worldwide =
* [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ OpenRailwayMap] is the definitive mapping resource. OpenRailwayMap displays up-to-date data on railway tracks, providing information on track gauge, speed, electrification, etc. This is an absolute must-have for any player aiming for realism.
* [https://www.openstreetmap.org OpenStreetMap] is one of the best open source mapping resources, it often has more up-to-date and accurate map data compared to other mapping tools, with the only downside being a lack of satellite view. Use this if you want the most up-to-date mapping information.
* [https://www.google.com/maps Google Maps] is a very useful tool, especially given the often highly detailed satellite view you can get with it. While Google Maps is not as up-to-date as OpenStreetMap, you can still usually rely on it for accurate mapping data except in some niche cases. Another benefit of Google Maps is the "Public Transport" or "Transit" layer along with public transport integration in general. The accuracy of this integration can vary between public transport operators but it is still very useful.
* [https://www.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]. While the accuracy of Wikipedia articles does vary quite a bit between lines and operators, it can be extremely helpful and useful with finding service patterns, station locations, rolling stock, etc. Wikipedia is a must-have for NIMBY Rails realism.
* [https://www.transit.land/map/ Transit.land] is a tool which catalogues GTFS (realtime or static) data from transit operators around the world. This can help with finding specific routings for all transit modes, this is especially useful for visualising routings that may have seemed confusing in a non-map format.
= Europe=
== United Kingdom ==
* [https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php UK & Irish Railways] is a website that essentially is a more accurate version of ORM for specifically the UK and Ireland. The website provides very accurate historical data, not just for station locations but also track layout. If you are looking to make a historically realistic UK save, this website is a must-have.
= North America =
== United States ==
* [http://rail.guide/ Rail.guide] is a very useful tool for specifically American rails. While it isn't often the most accurate, it really depends on the region. Rail.guide often has data which ORM lacks, especially for historical data (either Current-Classic, Classic Owners or Early Owners map modes, abandoned is useful as well) which is by far the best feature of this website.
* [https://www.nashuacitystation.org/ Nashua City Station] is a railroad history website that provides very accurate and useful historical railroad data for mainly states in the New England region of the U.S. whether you want to know the exact location of a random station in Rhode Island or just want to see what trains used to run to Worcester, MA, this website has your back.
* The [https://www.loc.gov/ Library of Congress] has a large collection of historical railroad maps, the site can be hard to navigate but it's very useful.
* [https://www.american-rails.com/ American-Rails] is a very useful site for U.S. railroad information, specifically historical. There are articles for almost every "Fallen Flag" of U.S. railroads, each one written in great detail often including a detailed map of the railroad at its peak, with other useful data to work from as well.
* <span id="vanshnookenraggen"></span>[https://www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/ Vanshnookenraggen] creates many highly realistic track maps for U.S. transit systems such as Chicago's "L" and the New York City Subway, as well as creating historical track maps and track maps with planned extensions built out.
=== New York ===
==== New York City ====
* [https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Main_Page nycsubway.org] is an excellent website with a large collection of New York City Subway track maps and track diagrams both historical and up-to-date. The website also has a very comprehensive history on the New York City Subway.
* [https://www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/docs/NYC_full_trackmap.pdf Vanshnookenraggen's New York City Subway Track Map] See, [[#vanshnookenraggen|first entry]] for why.
=== Illinois ===
==== Chicago ====
* [https://www.greatthirdrail.org/ GreatThirdRail.org] is the best site for anyone wanting to recreate the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban railroad. This site specifically covers the CA&E and in great detail, providing very high quality historical maps and timetables, accurate station locations, anything you would really need to recreate the CA&E.
* [https://www.chicago-l.org/ Chicago-L.org] is the best site for information about the Chicago L, past, present or future. The amount of data on this site is extraordinary and I would highly recommend this website in addition to Wikipedia.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Chicago_%22L%22_system_(all_time) Wikipedia's Chicago "L" system (all time) Track Diagram]. While Wikipedia is already on this page, this track diagram is especially useful for Chicago's "L", it should be noted that this track diagram contains all of the tracks past and present on the system, along with almost all stations having a dedicated article.
* [https://www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/docs/Chicago_TrackMap.pdf Vanshnookenraggen's Chicago "L" Track Map] See, [[#vanshnookenraggen|first entry]] for why.

= Oceania =
== Australia ==
=== Victoria ===
* [https://victorianrailways.net/index.html victorianrailways.net] has an amazing collection of historical railroad maps, timetables, line guides, etc for the state of Victoria, all in very high detail. This can help for historical recreations. This website is also in general a great collection of Victorian Railways history.
* [https://vicsig.net/ vicsig.net] is another great website for information on Victorian railway infrastructure, rolling stock and history either past, present or even future. The line guides on this website are paired well with the maps from [https://victorianrailways.net/index.html victorianrailways.net]
* [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ Public Transport Victoria] is a useful website for timetables, maps and live updates related to all public transport in Victoria.
* [https://transportvic.me/ transportvic.me] is an unofficial website with trackers for all PTV vehicles (besides buses, due to a PTV data issue) and helpful information on frequencies, departure times, etc.

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T15:09:30Z

JJRol: Added Chicago data. Added further data to North America.

This is a page that lists many resources useful for achieving realism in your NIMBY Rail saves. It is split up by country and region for your convenience.

= Worldwide =
* [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ OpenRailwayMap] is the definitive mapping resource. OpenRailwayMap displays up-to-date data on railway tracks, providing information on track gauge, speed, electrification, etc. This is an absolute must-have for any player aiming for realism.
* [https://www.openstreetmap.org OpenStreetMap] is one of the best open source mapping resources, it often has more up-to-date and accurate map data compared to other mapping tools, with the only downside being a lack of satellite view. Use this if you want the most up-to-date mapping information.
* [https://www.google.com/maps Google Maps] is a very useful tool, especially given the often highly detailed satellite view you can get with it. While Google Maps is not as up-to-date as OpenStreetMap, you can still usually rely on it for accurate mapping data except in some niche cases. Another benefit of Google Maps is the "Public Transport" or "Transit" layer along with public transport integration in general. The accuracy of this integration can vary between public transport operators but it is still very useful.
* [https://www.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]. While the accuracy of Wikipedia articles does vary quite a bit between lines and operators, it can be extremely helpful and useful with finding service patterns, station locations, rolling stock, etc. Wikipedia is a must-have for NIMBY Rails realism.
* [https://www.transit.land/map/ Transit.land] is a tool which catalogues GTFS (realtime or static) data from transit operators around the world. This can help with finding specific routings for all transit modes, this is especially useful for visualising routings that may have seemed confusing in a non-map format.
= Europe=
== United Kingdom ==
* [https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php UK & Irish Railways] is a website that essentially is a more accurate version of ORM for specifically the UK and Ireland. The website provides very accurate historical data, not just for station locations but also track layout. If you are looking to make a historically realistic UK save, this website is a must-have.
= North America =
== United States ==
* [http://rail.guide/ Rail.guide] is a very useful tool for specifically American rails. While it isn't often the most accurate, it really depends on the region. Rail.guide often has data which ORM lacks, especially for historical data (either Current-Classic, Classic Owners or Early Owners map modes, abandoned is useful as well) which is by far the best feature of this website.
* [https://www.nashuacitystation.org/ Nashua City Station] is a railroad history website that provides very accurate and useful historical railroad data for mainly states in the New England region of the U.S. whether you want to know the exact location of a random station in Rhode Island or just want to see what trains used to run to Worcester, MA, this website has your back.
* The [https://www.loc.gov/ Library of Congress] has a large collection of historical railroad maps, the site can be hard to navigate but it's very useful.
* [https://www.american-rails.com/ American-Rails] is a very useful site for U.S. railroad information, specifically historical. There are articles for almost every "Fallen Flag" of U.S. railroads, each one written in great detail often including a detailed map of the railroad at its peak, with other useful data to work from as well.
* <span id="vanshnookenraggen"></span>[https://www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/ Vanshnookenraggen] creates many highly realistic track maps for U.S. transit systems such as Chicago's "L" and the New York City Subway, as well as creating historical track maps and track maps with planned extensions built out.
=== Illinois ===
==== Chicago ====
* [https://www.greatthirdrail.org/ GreatThirdRail.org] is the best site for anyone wanting to recreate the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban railroad. This site specifically covers the CA&E and in great detail, providing very high quality historical maps and timetables, accurate station locations, anything you would really need to recreate the CA&E.
* [https://www.chicago-l.org/ Chicago-L.org] is the best site for information about the Chicago L, past, present or future. The amount of data on this site is extraordinary and I would highly recommend this website in addition to Wikipedia.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Chicago_%22L%22_system_(all_time) Wikipedia's Chicago "L" system (all time) Track Diagram]. While Wikipedia is already on this page, this track diagram is especially useful for Chicago's "L", it should be noted that this track diagram contains all of the tracks past and present on the system, along with almost all stations having a dedicated article.
* [https://www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/docs/Chicago_TrackMap.pdf Vanshnookenraggen's Chicago "L" track map] See, [[#vanshnookenraggen|first entry]] for why.

= Oceania =
== Australia ==
=== Victoria ===
* [https://victorianrailways.net/index.html victorianrailways.net] has an amazing collection of historical railroad maps, timetables, line guides, etc for the state of Victoria, all in very high detail. This can help for historical recreations. This website is also in general a great collection of Victorian Railways history.
* [https://vicsig.net/ vicsig.net] is another great website for information on Victorian railway infrastructure, rolling stock and history either past, present or even future. The line guides on this website are paired well with the maps from [https://victorianrailways.net/index.html victorianrailways.net]
* [https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ Public Transport Victoria] is a useful website for timetables, maps and live updates related to all public transport in Victoria.
* [https://transportvic.me/ transportvic.me] is an unofficial website with trackers for all PTV vehicles (besides buses, due to a PTV data issue) and helpful information on frequencies, departure times, etc.

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T14:30:40Z

JJRol: Added more data for Victoria.

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T14:21:04Z

JJRol:

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T12:45:29Z

JJRol: Added UK.

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T12:41:00Z

JJRol: Added more info

Resources for realism

2024-12-28T11:43:33Z

JJRol: Created page with "This is a page that lists many resources useful for achieving realism in your NIMBY Rail saves. It is split up by country and region for your convenience. = Worldwide = * [https://www.openrailwaymap.org/] openrailwaymap.org - OpenRailwayMap is the definitive mapping resource. OpenRailwayMap displays up-to-date data on railway tracks, providing information on track gauge, speed, electrification, etc. This is an absolute must-have for any player aiming for realism. * [htt..."