Are RR RoWs worth detecting?

[Bucket Lister]

I don't mean currently active; I'm talking about old RoWs where the tracks may have been torn up, now in private ownership.

Are they worth detecting, or is there just too much iron?

 

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[pepperj]

I don't mean currently active; I'm talking about old RoWs where the tracks may have been torn up, now in private ownership.

Are they worth detecting, or is there just too much iron?

I have one permission where a R/R track ran through the field.(long ago torn out)
Lots of big iron.

It all depends on age of the R/R also.
Most tracks were constructed by manual labour. Lots of men and they lived in temporary camps.
The bridges/tunnel/rock cuts will have these camps close on either side of that construction.
The camps were usually was the first bit of flat land.
Besides that the finds along just an open piece of track would be limited.
No foot traffic, folks doing activities.

I'm just going on where we hunted 50 yrs ago along the CPRail line in BC.

 

[Mackaydon]

Perhaps more productive would be searching where the RXR station platforms or parking areas used to be.
Don in SoCal.

 

[Bucket Lister]

Perhaps more productive would be searching where the RXR station platforms or parking areas used to be.
Don in SoCal.

IDT those were sold with the RoWs. Platforms, stations, parking... are all real estate separated from the track RoW.

Closest would be RR museum/hysterical society. That's in an old depot, but likely been detected to death... 🤷‍♂️

Thanks guys. I thought it was worth asking, since interests overlap.

 

[Clay Diggins]

Many of the Stations were sold off and removed. You will need to determine the current owner of the property and get permission. Tracks will be worth detecting when the price of scrap steel goes over $2 a pound.

My family has a large RR Station on one of their ranches that was "won" in a poker game. It cost much more to move it than it would ever be worth.
Moral of the story:
Don't drink and play poker with cowboys at the same time.

 

[Mackaydon]

Searching "Abandoned Rail Lines" might also 'bear fruit' in locating areas of RR stations.
Don in Socal

 

[Clay Diggins]

I made an interactive map of abandoned train depots, airstrips, dams and ghost towns.

Historic Places

Land Matters

www.mylandmatters.org

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’ve found a lot of good info in this book. Maps and info on abandoned railroad lines.

 

[TORRERO]

Tracks will be worth detecting when the price of scrap steel goes over $2 a pound

🤣

 

[herb n surf]

I don't mean currently active; I'm talking about old RoWs where the tracks may have been torn up, now in private ownership.

Are they worth detecting, or is there just too much iron?

Yes , it might be difficult but there is really no place that is not worth detecting , because treasure can be where it's not ever supposed to be . Just my opinion. Good luck.

 

[tamrock]

I located the site of a train wreck from historic records before on a long abandoned grade. Found car couplings and other pieces of iron that ended up down in an embankment close to a river. You can generally find old records online of where and when a wreck occurred.