Geocaching is a game which involves GPS units, hidden prizes, and various clues offered by organizers. It makes use, in some cases, of the benchmark system used by surveyors to create accurate benchmarks for their local surveys.
My nephew and I were looking at the US benchmark system earlier today. These small brass disks are numbered, and each has a precise geographic location in latitude and longitude out to several decimal places. Many of the locations are along former railroad rights of way / stations / junctions.
For example, Sussex Jct, just outside the town of Sussex, is:
http://www.geocaching.com/mark/datashee ... PID=LY0711
DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1942
LY0711''1 MI SE FROM SUSSEX.
LY0711''1.0 MILE SOUTHEAST ALONG THE NEW YORK, SUSQUEHANNA AND WESTERN
LY0711''RAILROAD FROM THE STATION AT SUSSEX, ABOUT 1200 FEET SOUTHEAST
LY0711''OF STEEL BRIDGE 65.93, ABOUT 700 FEET NORTHEAST OF STATE
LY0711''HIGHWAY 23, AT A GRAVEL ROAD CROSSING, 120 FEET SOUTHWEST OF
LY0711''THE HOME OF JOE TODD, 33.5 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHEAST
LY0711''RAIL OF THE TRACK, 11 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTERLINE OF THE
LY0711''ROAD, 8 FEET SOUTHWEST OF POWER LINE POLE WG 65, AND 1.5 FEET
LY0711''SOUTHWEST OF A STANDARD REFERENCE POST. A STANDARD DISK, SET
LY0711''IN THE TOP OF A CONCRETE POST AND STAMPED 411.935 SUSSEX JCT.
LY0711''1933.
You can track upline and downline with minimal effort. The system also provides altitudes for the various locations, and some offer railroad mileposts in their descriptions.
Other points in Vernon, Beaver Lake, Franklin, etc have similar info. I'm sure mapping the L&NE, etc would be just as easy.
My nephew and I were looking at the US benchmark system earlier today. These small brass disks are numbered, and each has a precise geographic location in latitude and longitude out to several decimal places. Many of the locations are along former railroad rights of way / stations / junctions.
For example, Sussex Jct, just outside the town of Sussex, is:
http://www.geocaching.com/mark/datashee ... PID=LY0711
DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1942
LY0711''1 MI SE FROM SUSSEX.
LY0711''1.0 MILE SOUTHEAST ALONG THE NEW YORK, SUSQUEHANNA AND WESTERN
LY0711''RAILROAD FROM THE STATION AT SUSSEX, ABOUT 1200 FEET SOUTHEAST
LY0711''OF STEEL BRIDGE 65.93, ABOUT 700 FEET NORTHEAST OF STATE
LY0711''HIGHWAY 23, AT A GRAVEL ROAD CROSSING, 120 FEET SOUTHWEST OF
LY0711''THE HOME OF JOE TODD, 33.5 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHEAST
LY0711''RAIL OF THE TRACK, 11 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTERLINE OF THE
LY0711''ROAD, 8 FEET SOUTHWEST OF POWER LINE POLE WG 65, AND 1.5 FEET
LY0711''SOUTHWEST OF A STANDARD REFERENCE POST. A STANDARD DISK, SET
LY0711''IN THE TOP OF A CONCRETE POST AND STAMPED 411.935 SUSSEX JCT.
LY0711''1933.
You can track upline and downline with minimal effort. The system also provides altitudes for the various locations, and some offer railroad mileposts in their descriptions.
Other points in Vernon, Beaver Lake, Franklin, etc have similar info. I'm sure mapping the L&NE, etc would be just as easy.