USA Railroads is a comprehensive database of the nation's railway system at 1:24,000 to 1:100,000 scale. The data set covers all 50 States plus the District of Columbia.This hosted feature service displays at scales up to 1:1,500,000.

The GIS Web Mapping Application is design to have the look and feel as Google Earth. The primary functionality is to provide the user information about FRA's rail lines, rail crossings, freight stations, and mileposting.

The North American Rail Network (NARN) Rail Lines: Class I Freight Railroads View dataset is from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This dataset is a subset of the NARN Rail Lines dataset that show the ownership and trackage rights for all the Class I freight railroads: “Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF),†"Canadian National (CN) Railway," "Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway," "CSX Transportation," "Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway," "Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railway," and "Union Pacific (UP)". It is derived from the North American Rail Network (NARN) Lines dataset, and for more information please consult, https://doi.org/10.21949/1519415. The NARN Rail Lines dataset is a database that provides ownership, trackage rights, type, passenger, STRACNET, and geographic reference for North America's railway system at 1:24,000 or better within the United States. The data set covers all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1528950

The Intermodal Freight Facilities - Rail TOFC/COFC dataset was compiled on December 10, 2018 and was updated on July 22, 2022 from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). When available, the primary sources for this dataset were the websites of the railroads. Every facility is assumed to be served by both rail and truck, and those facilities which support port operations, the name of the port is also identified. The dataset also includes the services provided at each facility (TOFC only, COFC only, or both TOFC and COFC), and the Station Point Location Code (SPLC) associated with the rail facility. This dataset is one of several layers in the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Intermodal Freight Facility Database.

In the 1800s, the spread of railroads enabled the growth and spread of the United States. Although slow by today’s standards, trains traveled more quickly than other forms of transportation available at the time. By train, it took roughly four days to reach San Francisco from Omaha, Nebraska. By contrast, it had taken covered wagons four to six months, and stagecoaches around a month. In addition to travel, railroads facilitated trade and economic growth. Prior to railroads, people relied on a system of roads and canals for transportation of goods and crops. But this system could be unreliable depending on road conditions, the weather, and many other factors. Trains brought products made in the factories of the East and Midwest to the rest of the country and carried farm produce and livestock to urban markets. The first railroad charter was granted to John Stevens in 1815, and several railroads were in service by 1830. Early rail development was haphazard, financed by individual investors and built without government oversight. Rail gauges, or the distance between rails, could be different depending on the company. This caused a lot of problems for connecting railroads, because only trains designed for that gauge could use those sections of track. Despite miles of track being built, people were generally still skeptical about the usefulness of railroads. In 1843, the Western Railroad of Massachusetts proved to Americans that trains could transport crops and other goods long distances at low costs. By 1861, there were 35,400 kilometers (22,000 miles) of track in the North and only 15,300 kilometers (9,500 miles) in the South. Troops and supplies could be transported quickly using trains. Many battles, like the Battle of Bull Run, were fought over control of Southern railway depots, and tracks were used to move both Confederate and Union soldiers to battles. After the Civil War, railway construction increased significantly. In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act with the goal of building a transcontinental railroad. The first, built by the Central Pacific Railroad Company in the West and the Union Pacific in the Midwest, was completed in 1869. Following roughly the route previously taken by the Pony Express and the California Trail, the route was called the Overland Route. Construction was dangerous, as rail crews had to cross mountains, rivers, and other difficult terrain. For this work, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific relied mainly on immigrant labor, recruiting Chinese immigrants in the West and Irish immigrants in the Midwest. Formerly enslaved people and Mormons were also part of these crews. Between 10,000 and 15,000 Chinese workers completed an estimated 90 percent of work on the Central Pacific’s portion of track, facing racism, violence, and discrimination. Chinese workers were often paid less than white workers and were given the most undesirable and dangerous jobs. The Overland Route was one of the first land-grant railroads. To fund construction of such a long and expensive project, the U.S. government gave railroad companies millions of acres of land that they could sell for profit. Following this model, many more railroads were built, including four additional transcontinental railroads. These new railroads took southern and northern routes across the country. In addition to connecting existing cities on the West Coast to the rest of the country, the railroads also influenced where people settled. Trains made multiple stops to refuel, make repairs, and take on more food and water. In return, towns grew around these stops. More than 7,000 cities and towns west of the Missouri River started as Union Pacific depots and water stops. In 1890, the U.S. Bureau of the Census announced that the “Frontier was closed.” The railroads had played a large role in that milestone. This dataset was researched and built by Dr. Jeremy Atack, Professor Emeritus and Research Professor of Economics at Vanderbilt University. His procedure and sources, as well as downloadable files, are documented here.

The North American Rail Network (NARN) Rail Lines dataset was created in 2016 and was updated on April 09, 2025 from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The NARN Rail Lines dataset is a database that provides ownership, trackage rights, type, passenger, STRACNET, and geographic reference for North America's railway system at 1:24,000 or better within the United States. The data set covers all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1528950

This layer presents a comprehensive database of the nation's railway system at 1:100,000 scale. The data set covers the 48 contiguous States plus the District of Columbia within United States. To download the data for this layer as a layer package for use in ArcGIS desktop applications, refer to USA Railroads.

NJDOT initiated a project to update their railroad GIS database in February 2016. The database was reorganized to combine multiple rail line layers into one layer, new Railroad IDs (RR_ID) were assigned, the Linear Referencing System was updated, and database and topology errors resolved. The Railroad IDs now are an alpha-numeric identifier. The first part of the RR_ID corresponds to the RR Name and the second part of the RR_ID corresponds to the type of RR (Main Line (M), Secondary Line (S), Spur (R), or Military (T)). Spurs also include the milepost that they intersect the main or secondary rail line in their RR_ID. In order to update linework locations and names the following sources were referenced: New Jersey ortho-imagery from 1995, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2015, Conrail track charts and maps from 1997-1999, NJDOT's At-Grade Crossing database from the Inspection Division, other historical maps, and websites detailing rail lines now dedicated to tourism and rail lines turned into recreational trails. Due to the historical nature of railroads, truncations, mergers, abandonment, or realignment may result in physical or milepost gaps in the GIS linework. In addition, some rail lines may not start at milepost 0. Details on the source of rail line's LRS are included in the rr_ln_Comments table. Additional bridge and at-grade crossing locations were also integrated into the database. This update was completed in September 2018.

The Amtrak Stations dataset is as of January 29, 2025 from Amtrak and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This dataset contains Amtrak intercity railroad passenger terminals in the United States. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1529010

North American Rail Network LinesThis Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) feature layer, utilizing National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) data, displays the North American Rail Network (NARN). Per BTS, "NARN Rail Lines dataset was created...from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and is part of the...National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). It is a database that provides ownership, trackage rights, type, passenger, STRACNET, and geographic reference for North America's railway system...within the United States. The data set covers all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada.It can be used within the public, the federal government, rail industry, state DOTs, and academia for routing, mapping and analysis."Main sub network (ID #383590)Data currency: Current Federal service (NTAD North American Rail Network Lines)NGDAID: 145 (North American Rail Network Lines)For more information: North American Rail Network Lines; Rail Network DevelopmentSupport documentation: North American Rail Network LinesFor feedback please contact: Esri_US_Federal_Data@esri.comNGDA Data SetThis data set is part of the NGDA Transportation Theme Community. Per the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC), Transportation is defined as the "means and aids for conveying persons and/or goods. The transportation system includes both physical and non-physical components related to all modes of travel that allow the movement of goods and people between locations".For other NGDA Content: Esri Federal Datasets

The North American Rail Network (NARN) Rail Yards dataset was created in 2024 and was updated on January 29, 2025 from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This Rail Yards layer represents and is derived from where the North American Rail Network (NARN) Lines layer as aggregated by type of track designated as yards. A rail yard is an area consisting of a network of tracks where trains are stored and/or maintained.The NARN Rail Lines dataset is a database that provides ownership, trackage rights, type, passenger, STRACNET, and geographic reference for North America's railway system at 1:24,000 or better within the United States. The data set covers all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1528005

The North American Rail Network (NARN) Rail Nodes dataset was created in 2016 and was updated on April 09, 2025 from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The NARN Rail Nodes dataset is a database of North America's railway system at 1:24,000 or better within the United States. The data set covers all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. The dataset holds topology of the network and provides geographic location information. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1529070

Bridges-Rail in the United States According to The National Bridge Inspection Standards published in the Code of Federal Regulations (23 CFR 650.3), a bridge is: A structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, and having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads. Each bridge was captured as a point which was placed in the center of the "main span" (highest and longest span). For bridges that cross navigable waterways, this was typically the part of the bridge over the navigation channel. If no "main span" was discernable using the imagery sources available, or if multiple non contiguous main spans were discernable, the point was placed in the center of the overall structure. Bridges that are sourced from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) that cross state boundaries are an exception. Bridges that cross state boundaries are represented in the NBI by two records. The points for the two records have been located so as to be within the state indicated by the NBI's [STATE_CODE] attribute. In some cases, following these rules did not place the point at the location at which the bridge crosses what the user may judge as the most important feature intersected. For example, a given bridge may be many miles long, crossing nothing more than low lying ground for most of its length but crossing a major interstate at its far end. Due to the fact that bridges are often high narrow structures crossing depressions that may or may not be too narrow to be represented in the DEM used to orthorectify a given source of imagery, alignment with ortho imagery is highly variable. In particular, apparent bridge location in ortho imagery is highly dependent on collection angle. During verification, TechniGraphics used imagery from the following sources: NGA HSIP 133 City, State or Local; NAIP; DOQQ imagery. In cases where "bridge sway" or "tall structure lean" was evident, TGS attempted to compensate for these factors when capturing the bridge location. For instances in which the bridge was not visible in imagery, it was captured using topographic maps at the intersection of the water and rail line. TGS processed 784 entities previously with the HSIP Bridges-Roads (STRAHNET Option - HSIP 133 Cities and Gulf Coast). These entities were added into this dataset after processing. No entities were included in this dataset for American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands because there are no main line railways in these areas. At the request of NGA, text fields in this dataset have been set to all upper case to facilitate consistent database engine search results. At the request of NGA, leading and trailing spaces were trimmed from all text fields. At the request of NGA, all diacritics (e.g., the German umlaut or the Spanish tilde) have been replaced with their closest equivalent English character to facilitate use with database systems that may not support diacritics. The currentness of this dataset is given by the publication date which is 09/02/2009. A more precise measure of currentness cannot be provided since this is dependent on the NBI and the source of imagery used during processing.

This data represents the ODOT State Railway System linework.

This layer provides information on rail lines in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For more information on this layer, you can use the Data Dictionary available in both web and spreadsheet format. This layer is for use in PennDOT's Open Data Portal. PennDOT is actively updating and maintaining this spatial data. Dataset Last updated: March 2024The following sources were used to digitize geometry and populate attributes: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the authoritative source of information on passenger and freight rail networks for the U.S. federal government. FRA provides geospatial resources to the public on rail networks, including data on grade crossings, Amtrak stations, and more. This page contains information about and links to FRA's SafetyMap, Trespassers Casualty Map, and Grade Crossing Inventory.Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) trail layers. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation PDF Railroad Map which shows freight, passenger, commuter and tourist rail lines.The 2018 - 2020 - Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Orthoimagery was a primary data source to assist in digitizing rail lines. Rail lines are categorized into the following track types:Primary - Main LineAbandoned - TrackAbandoned - No TrackRail to TrailSecondary Track of Main LineConnectorsIndustrial Lead - MajorIndustrial Lead - MinorYardTourist / Recreation LinesPassing Sidings over 4000 FT Questions, comments, or corrections – please contact the Geographic Information Division.

The North American Rail Network (NARN) Rail Lines: CSX View dataset is from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This dataset is a subset of the NARN Rail Lines dataset that show the ownership and trackage rights for the Class I railroad “CSX Transportation.” It is derived from the North American Rail Network (NARN) Lines dataset, and for more information please consult, https://doi.org/10.21949/1519415. The NARN Rail Lines dataset is a database that provides ownership, trackage rights, type, passenger, STRACNET, and geographic reference for North America's railway system at 1:24,000 or better within the United States. The data set covers all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1528950

THE GEOINQUIRIES™ COLLECTION FOR U.S. History

http://www.esri.com/geoinquiries

The GeoInquiry™ collection for U.S. History contains 15 free, web-mapping activities that correspond and extend map-based concepts in leading history textbooks. The activities use a standard inquiry-based instructional model, require only 15 minutes for a teacher to deliver, and are device/laptop agnostic. The activities harmonize with the C3 Framework.

All Elementary GeoInquiries™ can be found at: http://esriurl.com/historyGeoInquiries

All GeoInquiries™ can be found at: http://www.esri.com/geoinquiries

Version 2004 of the Fixed-Guideway Transit Network is a network database of the nation's fixed-guideway transit systems. The data set covers systems in cities defined as FTA's universe of cities and includes heavy rail, light rail, monorail, cable car, inclined plane, and automated guideway.

© Developed by the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research GIS Group This layer is sourced from maps.bts.dot.gov.

Version 2004 of the Fixed-Guideway Transit Stations is a database of the nation's fixed-guideway transit stations (NTAD 2015). The data set covers systems in cities defined as FTA's universe of cities and includes heavy rail, light rail, monorail, cable car, inclined plane, and automated guideway.

© Developed by the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research GIS Group

This layer is sourced from gis.odot.state.or.us.

© Oregon Department of Transportation

Alaska Railroad centerline data compiled from a GPS survey by Mullikin Surveys in 2005. Data was delivered to MSB GIS by ARR as a series of AutoCAD dwg files that were merged into a single GDB format and then published as shapefile. MSB GIS added a couple of older abandoned centerlines in the Palmer area that are sometimes needed for maps.