How It Works

Visitors can view train reports without an account. Reporter accounts can submit geotagged sightings. Admin accounts can review, edit, or remove reports when needed.

Active Map Reports

Reports stay saved for long-term history and accountability. The live map uses the selected 2-24 hour history window, while map search excludes community reports older than 24 hours.

If the same railroad, train ID, and origin date are reported more than once during the active window, the map uses the most recent position instead of stacking duplicate markers. Unknown train IDs are also compared by lead locomotive when one is known.

Submitting a Report

• Lead locomotive and train ID can be marked Unknown when they cannot be identified.
• Additional locomotives can be added when known.
• Railroad, train ID, and origin date help distinguish trains and support searching.
• Opening Make a Report places a movable pin near your current location. Drag the pin or tap the map to select the sighting location.
• The map search accepts train IDs, locomotive numbers, addresses, cities, and roads.
• Notes can include subdivision, milepost, consist, detector, or unusual details.

Why Photos Are Not Part of Reports

RailMonNA is intended to be a fast information and location-reporting tool, not a photo sharing site. Keeping reports text-based makes the site lighter on weak cellular connections, easier to moderate, and more focused on timely train movement details.

Photos also add privacy, copyright, storage, and safety concerns that can distract from the core purpose of the map. Railfans are welcome to use dedicated photo communities for images; RailMonNA is built for concise, searchable sighting data.

Moderation

Signed-in users can flag reports for review. Administrators can verify accounts and review, edit, hide, or delete reports when they are spam, unsafe, knowingly false, abusive, or otherwise harmful.