[Doug]

This Google Earth Beta (see below about downloading) has had the Internet community buzzing for a while. It is fantastic to check out where you live, to check out airports, harbours, military installations and relating to railways, railway installations and even trains and rolling stock.

I think that this is a great resource for those that are looking for ideas for layout projects.

Not the whole of the planet is available, but I am sure more areas will come online.

You can find out more about Google Earth here. Download it and see for yourself what it has to offer (Requires Windows WP or 2000).

Once you have downloaded Google Earth, you can click on the kmz links under the photos below to 'fly' to the places shown in the photos. Then you can zoom in even more.

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

View attachment Buckinghamshire_railway_centre.kmz

Congleton viaduct

View attachment Congleton_viaduct.kmz
This is what it looks like from the side;

Bury steam loco on the East Lancashire Railway

View attachment Bury_steam.kmz

 

[Doug]

Here are some more:

A bend in the line in Buckinghamshire. The satelite image gives clues to a previous line going off to the west. Looks like a great walk along the old line.

View attachment Railway_junction.kmz

Waterloo station

View attachment Waterloo_station.kmz

Channel tunnel terminal at Folkestone

View attachment Channel_tunnel_terminal.kmz