Cajon Pass Chase Map

An Affinity for Maps

I have always had a huge interest in maps for as far back as I can remember. In all of my pursuits over the years, maps were either a necessary tool to accomplish the task at hand or an adjunct to augment the experience. As a child I had a massive aeronautical chart of Los Angeles hanging on my wall and I would study it for hours. Through that exercise I garnered an appreciation for distance and topography, as well as infrastructure and the historical aspects of the places listed before me. Soon maps became part of me and I would seek out and go to map stores like some kids would go to record stores or arcades.

Today’s version of the Thomas Bros. Wall Map of LA and Orange Counties.Over the years I used everything from aeronautical charts, which were relatively cheap and accessible, to USGS topographical quads which were ideal but hard to get and very pricey for a teen earning but $1 a week allowance. As I grew older and made more money, (I have been working full-time since I was fifteen), I was able to afford better maps. Eventually I was able to hang on my wall the crème de la crème of maps — the Thomas Bros. Wall Map of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. I used it while listening to the local police and fire agencies on my scanner to track incidents and the like — I was the envy of all map nerds no doubt.

Birth of the Chase Map

As is the case the with all of you, I suspect, my life is now intertwined with maps on a daily basis, thanks in large part to the advent of GPS and the adoption of consumer-oriented maps from companies such as MapQuest and Google. I couldn’t be happier — or so I thought.

As far as rail activities are concerned, the consumer-grade mapping efforts leave a lot to be desired. The railroad representations tend to be very generalized and lack detail and, in most cases, accuracy. Obviously there is also a lack of rail-specific data pertinent to the “chase,” if you will. In most cases you can’t tell the difference between a well-traveled rail line from one that sees only seasonal traffic, or even one that may have been removed years ago. I have made attempts to offer more rail-centric content or disclose more reliable sources in the past. Despite the apparent convenience, one can’t rely solely on these consumer-grade maps, particularly when you are researching a new line that you are unfamiliar with.

I learned through the years to research lines that I intended to shoot from a variety of sources and ultimately developed techniques and skills to cull that data into a very detailed map specifically created for me. To wit, below are two examples of my work that I created for our trip to shoot BNSF’s Seligman Subdivision back in April of 2011. The first one contains an overview map and all the locations, addresses and phone numbers of key points along our route. Also included are a copious amount of radio frequencies for various local, state, and federal agencies along the way so I know what is going on wherever we might be. The second map shows a more detailed railroad map with topographical detail because it is what I used to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of the Kaibab National Forest through which the Seligman Sub runs. (Click on each image for a larger view in a new window.)

Our “Planning Map” showing key locations and address info, radio frequencies, and our tentative schedule and plan that we used for our Seligman Subdivision trip in April of 2011.

BNSF’s Crookton Cut-Off - A detailed map I made complete with control point locations, milepost markers, and potential access points.

As the title element of the second map shows, this is the point that I referred to these maps as a “chase map.” So how did we avail ourself of the content of these maps whilst on the road? Through the use of an iPad, of course! In a post regarding the planning of the Seligman Trip, I explained the method: 

PDF Maps iOS App | Avenza Systems IncThe beauty of this mapping solution was that I now had a custom map that held all of the information in one location and could be quickly referred to using one of our iPads. To accomplish that I exported the maps as Adobe PDF files and transferred them to the iPad. I quickly found out that the native iBooks application was rather slow at rendering the large files. I searched for a solution and found a great application from Avenza Systems, Inc. called, appropriately enough, “PDF Maps.” This application pre-renders the maps, which increases their storage size on your device, but the trade-off is lightning fast rendering of the maps. Perfect, just what I wanted. Oh, did I mention that it is also free?

This solution worked extremely well for us during the trip and I quickly fell in love with PDF Maps. It soon became the staple of my mapping applications and I loaded it to the gills with all the maps I wanted and/or created.

Coming Up Short

Soon I discovered that there was a shortcoming to my chase maps. The net effect of my solution was an electronic version of a paper map — not a mapping solution, per se. This was fine with me but not everyone is proficient at reading maps and discerning their present location.

In fact, I learned that most had little interest in learning to read maps because their telephone has a map that shows them right where there are. That was a very good point. This solution wasn’t fully leveraging all of the capabilities of most devices today which tend to be GPS-capable.

Now this is not to say that PDF Maps doesn’t support GPS technology, it does and does it very well. The problem lies in the fact that MY maps weren’t GPS-enabled, or more accurately georeferenced, so the PDF Maps app couldn’t show me where I was on my maps.

In Search of a Solution or “HOW MUCH is that Doggy in the Window?”

I began to research how I could convert my .PDF Chase Maps to a georeferenced .PDF file (or georeferenced .TIF file as well) which is what I needed. It turns out that is SO much easier said than done.

There are quite a few mapping applications available that will export content to a georeferenced .PDF or a GeoPDF® file. However, these applications tend to be high-end, enterprise-centric and, thusly, cost an insane amount of money — well outside of the budget of THIS one-man shop to say the least. In some cases, I am talking thousands of dollars.

Since our Arizona trip of April, 2011, I have been a “man-on-a-mission,” trying to find a viable and affordable solution to making my Chase Maps the best they can be. In light of my research and findings, I began to feel like “David vs. Goliath.”

Trials and Errors and Esri, Oh My!

Thanks to the bountiful amount of information accessible on the internet, I learned of almost all of the players in the Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) space and so began the long process of trial and error with their various programs and offerings. That effort began to feel like I was trying to find my way out of a housing tract and each road that I ventured down, while looking promising, ultimately was a cul-de-sac and did not lead me home. (I can’t even count the number of iterations of the Cajon Pass Chase Map that I have made with various products.)

Eventually my attention turned to the variety of products offer by a company called Esri, (pronounced as a word, ‘ez-ree’). Esri is one of the largest, if not the largest, providers GIS products and data.  Their flagship product is called ArcGIS and it is a comprehensive suite of applications.

Esri produces one application in particular that peaked my interest, ArcGIS App for Smartphones and Tablets. Esri describes the ArcGIS App as a product that “lets you navigate maps, collect and report data, and perform GIS analysis. It is a part of the ArcGIS system and is a great way to

• Discover content by browsing map galleries from ArcGIS Online or leverage services from your existing enterprise GIS.
• Display maps and capture information.
• Develop a custom application or brand your own application specific to your business needs.
• Extend your GIS to a wider audience.”

“Hmm, interesting,” I thought. I began to evaluate the opportunities that this app brought to the table. I would have to most likely rebuild my map, yet again. “Like I haven’t done that a dozen times already!”, I reasoned.

If Things Aren’t Working, Change Your Approach

At this point I began to reassess my approach to making a map that I could be proud of. Instead of having my map and trying to find something that would allow me to geo-encode it that I could afford, I opted to start with a platform that was georeferenced out-of-the-box and build a map with that solution.

ArcGIS App

Since the ArcGIS App was merely a consumer of GIS content and not an authoring solution, I needed to find a way to create content for it. The natural choice was to peruse the Esri catalog for possibilities. I found a web-based offering called ArcGIS Explorer Online that was capable of producing content that could also be consumed by the ArcGIS App. The stage was set.

Making the dive into ArcGIS is like moving from the minor league team to the majors. It is a whole different environment than what I was accustomed to. It took a few weeks for me to get my bearings with respect to the terms, capabilities, and methods of a true GIS platform. After literally reading a few books I began to create what eventually became the Cajon Pass Chase Map described below.

The Different Way

Being a creative individual, the first point I realized about the Esri solution, at least for the web-based Explorer, was the fact that there is no creative latitude available. One is limited to the base content that Esri makes available through their web services. About the only true custom content available was to upload vector-based data called “shapefiles.”

It became apparent that I must sacrifice creative control for functionality. However, I soon discovered that there are several benefits, over and above what the PDF Maps solution offers, to using the Esri solution:

• Multiple clients available (Desktop browser-based, Apple iOS, Android, Windows 7 Mobile)
• Support for different user-selectable base maps.
• Support for layered content. The user can turn data on or off.
• Since the content is internet-based, I can update the map and the user will get the latest content each time they use the map. No need to re-download a file if the map changes.

The last bullet point also is a con, per se. Since the content is web-based, you cannot use it in an offline capacity. You need internet access to see the map. I figure that since more and more smartphones and tablets are in-use each day, and most are internet-capable, this fact is outweighed by the “current content” concept so I proceeded with the project using the Esri ArcGIS platform.

Eventually I finished my map — at least version .1!

Therefore, Without Further Ado, Allow Me to Introduce…

…my Cajon Pass Chase Map, Version .1.

The map can be accessed via a web browser via this link, or via the ArcGIS mobile client by searching for the Cajon Pass Chase Map through the interface. The following images depict the map, running on an Apple iPad, and highlight some of the key features:

Chasing Steel’s Cajon Pass Chase Map showing one of “Joe’s Map Notes” active.

Clicking on the third icon from the left on the toolbar reveals the various basemaps that you can choose to use for the map.

The “Overview” button will call up a dialog box which contains a series of buttons. The “Content” button shows the map’s layers and offers an opportunity to turn on or off layers as desired by the user.

The “Legend” button displays a legend that identifies the various colors and symbols seen on the map.

The fifth icon from the left displays the map’s bookmarks. I have pre-loaded some for you.

If This Interests You As Well

Web GIS: Principles and Applications on Amazon.com

During this exercise I learned a lot about maps, mapping, GIS, and the various software products that are available for both Windows and Mac clients and I have read several books on the topic.

I can highly recommend this book. I have not finished it yet but I can already say that it is money well spent and is well ahead of other books on the subject. It is extremely readable and presents the material in an easy to understand way that is suitable for newbies and geeks alike. It is entitled Web GIS: Principles and Applications by Pinde Fu and Jiulin Sun, ESRI Press, (ISBN-10: 158948245X | ISBN-13: 978-1589482456 | Publication Date: October 15, 2010).

Your Comments and Feedback are Requested

If you have got to this point in this post, then you must have some level of commitment or interest in the topic so i hope you can offer your insight by providing feedback and/or comments to me either regarding my mapping efforts or about GIS in general. My hope is that some GIS pros will read this and can help guide me by providing advice as appropriate. Thank you for your time.

"UP" for a Chase? 844 Comes to California

A Living Legend Comes to California

Today marks the beginning of the “return-trip” for Union Pacific’s “Living Legend,” No. 844, after participating in what Union Pacific dubbed the Centennial Tour to help New Mexico and Arizona celebrate their one-hundred years of statehood.

UP No. 844 - Photo courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad.

Union Pacific’s No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific, delivered in 1944, and will travel more than 2,900 miles from its base in Cheyenne, Wyoming during the 32-day, nine-state tour that will honor the rich railroad heritage of the scenic Southwest.

Weighing in at nearly 1,000,000 pounds, the ground literally shakes as she rumbles by at track speed. It is a rare opportunity that shouldn’t be missed—and those folks that reside near the return route from Yuma, Arizona through California, Nevada, Utah, and western Wyoming, should take advantage of this opportunity to see one of America’s great steam engines plowing the rails. The following map shows a high-level view of the route:

Thursday, November 17, 2011

No. 844’s excursion into California begins a mere hour or so from now (7:00 AM PST) as she leaves Yuma, Arizona after a day of rest while on display at the border town. As the following schedule for the day indicates, she is enroute to Bloomington, California—a.k.a. West Colton, where she will be serviced and then tied-up for the evening. She will also receive servicing at Niland, California on her way to Colton and this is a good opportunity to get an extended view of the locomotive standing still. If a steam engine at speed is more your thing then grab a wide spot in the road track side and wait for her to come blowing by:

Friday, November 18, 2011

Residents of Southern California will get the same opportunity to view No. 844 up close and personal as the folks in Yuma, Arizona did because on Friday, November 18, 2011 the No. 844 is slated to be on public display at 10359 Alder Avenue, Bloomington, CA 92316, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM:

View Larger Map

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Saturday presents a rare opportunity to watch a steam engine struggle against the grades and curves of the much vaunted Cajon Pass as No. 844 leaves Colton and heads to Yermo, California on BNSF rails over the pass. Traditionally, with events such as a steam train traversing the pass, expect a lot of traffic and sightseers all along the route on Saturday. Cajon Pass is one of the favorite locations for local railfans and the smoke from the engine can be seen for some distance in the pass which will garner the attention of travelers on Interstate 15 as well, which dances with the BNSF and Union Pacific rails throughout the southern section of the pass. (I plan on making this part of the trip—see you out there chasing steel!):

Sunday, November 20, 2011

For me, Sunday offers the crème de’ le’ crème portion of the trip through California—the run north out of Yermo towards Las Vegas, Nevada. This portion of the trip traverses some of the most spectacular scenery of the tour in California. Two areas rich in scenery are Afton Canyon and the Mojave National Preserve surrounding Kelso and Cima: 

NOTE: Afton Canyon is extremely remote and should only be attempted by serious four-wheelers, but the Kelso and Cima areas are easily accessible—just remember they are a long way from services such as food, water, and gas—so make sure to top off everything before you leave Yermo.

UP Cima Subdivision Chase Map and UP Tools

Since most folks rarely get into this remote area of California, I thought that I should provide my “Chase Map” for Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision to assist you in planning your chase. Simply click on each image below to downlaod:

Union Pacific also offers two methods of tracking the locomotive during excursions such as this one. The first one is the internet-based tracking applet on the UP Steam web site. The other one is the newly released iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad app called UP Steam:

UP Steam app - available for both the iPhone and iPad

UP Steam Locomotive Tracking Map

Be Safe and Enjoy the Experience (My PSA)

Before you head out to enjoy the experience at the location of your choosing be sure to read my post called “The New Rules of Railfanning: Don’t Trespass, Be Alert, Report Issues” as it details some of the challenges and risks of being trackside.

Also, remember that any track is a live track and don’t assume that you can hear a train coming. Many times folks lose their focus when a steam train approaches and they mistaken assume that the railroad knows they are there and have closed other tracks for this steam train. This is not so! Since the railroad is private property the expectation is that you are NOT there. Also remember it takes a good deal of distance to stop a train so just stay off of the tracks—all tracks. A safe trip is a FUN trip!

Don’t Do This!

How NOT to behave around railroad tracks!

Union Pacific Leads the Way

So Much For Having a Plan

Last night I settled in to my usual haunt, the easy chair in the front room, and perched upon my lap was my trusty Apple MacBook Pro. I had plans to research and craft a blog post that was long overdue. You see, the Union Pacific Railroad is embarking on a grand tour of the Southwest with one of their treasured and glorious steam engines replete with appropriate carriages of old in tow. The purpose of the event is best left described by a few passages from their press release:

Omaha, Neb., October 10, 2011 – Union Pacific Railroad’s iconic steam locomotive, No. 844, will travel through the Southwestern United States to kick off state centennial celebrations in New Mexico and Arizona, respectively. No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific and will travel more than 2,900 miles from its base in Wyoming on a 32-day, nine-state tour that will honor the rich railroad heritage of the scenic Southwest.

“Union Pacific long has been a part of the Western United States landscape,” said Scott Moore, vice president of public affairs for Union Pacific’s western region. “It is fitting that No. 844 will be the flag bearer for these centennial celebrations.”

The “New Mexico/Arizona Centennial Tour” begins October 29 when No. 844 departs Cheyenne, Wyo. The train’s consist, which will include passenger cars from Union Pacific’s renowned Heritage Fleet, will stop in each of the following cities before arriving back in Cheyenne November 29…

Map of the scheduled route compliments of the Union Pacific Railroad.

UP No. 844 - Photo courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad.

Obviously this is a big event with a lot of visibility that, over the course of a month, will bring joy and stir the hearts and imagination of many throughout the Southwest. Sure, the UP runs trips like this now and again, but there is something about seeing a steam locomotive, and particularly a large locomotive such as UP Np.844 roaring by at track speed that makes these events special each and every time. Hence, I felt the need to help spread the word about the event and to enlighten the uniformed of the opportunity to chase this train as it makes it way on a circular route through Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and finally returning to Wyoming.

The most appropriate place to start, for me, was crafting a colorful map detailing the route and stop-overs. Also, I wanted to mark the locations that I am familiar with that might present some amazing photographic opportunties and help identify good, safe locations for non-fans to see the train up close. I turned to the Union Pacific’s web site to gather details.

While I was reading UP’s material on the subject, and “hitting the links,” I came across a page that, excuse me, gave me the cause to exclaim aloud, “Holy Shit!”  The page is titled “Union Pacific Railroad’s Steam Locomotives Join the App World.”

Now i have praised the Union Pacific in the past, not only for their steam program, but for their prolific use of current technology to inform and entice the general public to become part of the event. It is clearly an excellent marketing strategy that I, as a die-hard railfan, am thankful for. Here is the complete press release from the Union Pacific Railroad:

Union Pacific Railroad’s Steam Locomotives Join the App World

Free UP Steam App Now Available

Omaha, Neb., October 28, 2011 – In the golden age of steam locomotives, trains were tracked using a timetable and a pocket watch. Converging old and new technology, Union Pacific’s legendary steam locomotives now can be tracked with the touch of a screen. The free UP Steam app is available at Apple’s App Store in iTunes for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users.

Combining new technology and Union Pacific’s historic steam locomotives, the UP Steam app offers users the chance to keep up with the locomotives on their latest excursions.

App features include:

• Real-time GPS location of Union Pacific’s steam locomotives.
• Up-to-the-minute schedules of the latest Union Pacific steam excursion.
• Notification if Union Pacific steam is scheduled to be within 50 miles of the user’s current location.
• Photos, videos, descriptions and history of Union Pacific steam locomotives No. 844 and No. 3985.
• The ability to submit photos taken with an iOS device for inclusion in the Union Pacific Facebook photo album.
• Real-time Tweets tied to twitter.com/up_steam.
• The ability to “check in” with the Union Pacific’s steam locomotives using Foursquare.

In addition, the app includes an “About Union Pacific” section describing the company’s operations, shipping information and an overview of the products Union Pacific routinely ships.

As you can glean from the release, it is a rather comprehensive application — offering some great features. Based solely on the description it seems like the application was conceived purposefully to present the technologies that most folks would care about. Now, I say “based solely on…” because I haven’t actually had a thorough oppotunity to test the application. I intend on doing a complete review sometime soon.

So, rather than putting together a traditional blog post about the excursion event, I cracked open a new program for me and used it to craft an homage to the Union Pacific’s effort and desire to put out the app. Hopefully it will serve to inspire and encourage you to try out the app and follow the excursion on your iOS device, along with me. My thought is that application could, and should, serve to enlighten and inform, fans and the general populus alike, about the doings of Union Pacific’s Steam Program.

Chasing Steel’s Homage to Union Pacific’s Steam Program iOS App

Thank you Union Pacific.