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Comment by SECProto | Hacker News Reader

Not everything! While it has rail lines, and abandoned rail lines, and surface light rail (streetcar/tram/trolley) lines, it is missing abandoned streetcar/trolley lines. (They existed in a lot of North American cities until the 40s-50s ish)

Despite that minor absence, the map you linked is clearly superior

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The map is based on OpenStreetMap data, so it's quite easy to add the abandoned streetcar and trolley lines if you know their original course.

While I appreciate the sentiment, the OSM wiki specifically says[1] "In locations where the railway has been replaced by new buildings and roads, the mapping of such features becomes out of scope for OpenStreetMap. Historical mapping can occur on Open Historical Map."

(Just checked - OHM doesn't seem to have any data whatsoever - present or historical. Maybe I don't know how to use the interface, but all I see is land/water borders)

[1] https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Demolished_Railway

OSM builds on verifiability. If there is nothing there ‘on the ground‘ anymore it should not be mapped.

Right. In the two cities I have personal experience with, the tracks and/or sleepers are still there, just paved over. They are evident (and briefly verifiable) when potholes develop or roadwork excavations go into those areas.

Regardless of whether it's more suited to OSM or OHM, I just think it would be a neat feature to have on Open Railway Map.

This is a source of contention with regular OSM mappers from time to time.

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