[OSM-talk] stop deleting abandoned railroads

[Richard]

On Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 12:07:05PM +0200, Frederik Ramm wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On 08/11/2015 07:09 AM, Russ Nelson wrote:
> > Now, you might think "Goddamnit, does Russell have to start again?"
> > Yes, I have to start again. I was in north-western Pennsylvania last
> > weekend looking for the Corry Junction Rail Trail. Problem: it hasn't
> > been entered into OSM yet. But that's not a problem, right? Because OF
> > COURSE the railway is there, marked as abandoned, right? 
> 
> Errr... you are looking for a trail that follows an abandoned railway
> line, and you complain that the abandoned railway line is missing from OSM?
> 
> If you were complaining that the trail isn't there then I'd understand,
> and you'd have my full support for adding it. But complaining instead
> that the abandoned railway isn't there...?

the fact there is an abandoned railway and not only a now-trail is important 
information. These can be used almost as elevation lines and if there is now 
a trail/track/path in place of the railway me and all bicycle routing software 
should certainly be very interested to know  it is a former railway. 
Especially as many railways come with more or less dense key:ele tagging 
they are much more reliable to derive height profile information than any 
other data we have.

Richard