Railroad Valuation Records

Taylor Research Group’s (TRG) experienced researchers are highly skilled in accessing and collecting records created by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), including maps. These records, originally created by the ICC and railroad employees between 1915 and 1920 (and updated into the 1960s), provide a wealth of information regarding the history of the United States’s railroad system. More specifically, these records help to discern the precise nature of the railroad facilities existing in a particular location, the specific nature of the land owned by a railroad and detailed data on its acquisition, the explicit nature of the land use adjacent to railroad properties, and financial histories of railroads from their earliest operations to the date of basic railroad valuation. We routinely collect historic ICC maps and railroad valuation records for our clients to provide insight and clarification into the following issues:

  • Land Ownership Disputes – discern historical ownership of property in and around a particular parcel using maps and documents

  • Railroad Property Use Issues - determine the historical appraised value of all the property of interest that was owned or used by railroad companies in the United States and surrounding properties including detailed data on property acquisition(s)

  • Historical Business Presence - discover the name and location of historic businesses surrounding railroad tracks across the United States

  • Utility Crossings - ascertain if existing historical railroad track crossing easements were in place in order to propose current day use of these easements for utilities and others

  • Boundary Surveys - determine where block, lot, and property boundaries historically existed near railroad tracks

  • Right-of-ways and Easements - verify historical location and ownership of right-of-ways and easements

TRG has reviewed and collected land appraisal field notes, land acquisition schedules and forms, and detailed land maps from within the voluminous ICC records held here in the Washington, DC Metro area at the National Archives in College Park, MD, on behalf of surveyors, engineers, law firms, and members of the general public.

Accolades

"Taylor Research Group has provided me and my firm with top-notch historical research on a variety of environmental projects. [They] have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to plumb the depths of public and private records repositories to piece together arcane and complex histories. They consistently are able to distill reams of information in concise and easy-to-use reports, making the information both useful and accessible. I value my professional relationship with Taylor Research Group and am grateful for their excellent work on behalf of me and my clients.” - Law Firm

"Thanks for being so professional, prompt and organized." - Law Firm

"Thank you for the great work and professionalism." - Law Firm

"I am confident that without your having found and provided the transcript, we never would have known of the extent of the effort Oklahoma went to in order to use Texas demand for water to justify its reservoir projects. Thank you very much." – Law Firm

"The deck logs that you found for me were very useful in substantiating my claim for the Veterans, without which I don't know where I would have gotten needed information. You and your staff did a great job and I thank you all very much." – Private Client

Everything you have provided us this morning is invaluable….The information you’re finding is a game changer for us.” – Law Firm

"Taylor Research Group has always provided professional customer service and a high quality end result. Additionally, each time they are tasked with a search, we’re provided with options that best fit our budget.” - Law Firm

"The Sierra Club hired TRG in 2014 to research and compile ten years’ worth of data on fossil fuels-related disasters across the United States. We used the data to populate an interactive map showing the breadth of disasters and their impact on communities. TRG provided high quality data and were a great pleasure to work with throughout the process.” - Environmental Organization

“Our surveying firm has used Taylor Research Group to research the National Archives for railroad maps for the last 4 years. The TRG team has been great to work with and saved us a lot of time.” - Law Firm

Taylor Research Group has provided our firm with outstanding research results over the past decade. They often provide research options that we would not have thought of. Their expertise is priceless. We look forward to working with them for another decade — or more.” — Law Firm

“It was a sincere pleasure to work with your team. Those I worked with were extremely knowledgeable and super patient with someone who was trying to get more experience performing historical research. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to observe and learn.” - Fortune 500 Company

Everything you have provided us this morning is invaluable….The information you’re finding is a game changer for us.” – Law Firm

Kelley & Ferraro, LLP has been working with TRG for ten years, during which time we have been provided prompt and detailed research to assist our clients, fair pricing, and great customer service. Our office looks forward to a continued working relationship with TRG.” - Law Firm

"I highly recommend Taylor Research Group to any military vet needing record searches for proof of incident or documentation regarding disability claims. The communication between us was compassionate, and the records were produced in a timely fashion. It can be quite costly to research some records, but Taylor Research Group recognized my military sacrifices and produced what I needed for much less than I expected, and I thank them sincerely." - Veteran