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Orange, CA – March 13, 2025 – Paradigm Imaging Group , a leading distributor of large format scanners, sign equipment, and multifunction systems, shares how the Chicago & North Western Historical Society is using cutting-edge scanning technology to preserve and share over a century of railroad archives.

For more than 50 years, the Chicago & North Western Historical Society has been dedicated to preserving the legacy of one of the Midwest’s most influential railroads. Founded in 1848, the Chicago & North Western Railway touched over 5,000 towns before being absorbed by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. The Society, composed of passionate historians and railroad enthusiasts, has amassed an extraordinary archive — an estimated 10 million documents, including thousands of oversized maps and drawings dating back over 150 years. In 2023, the Society took a major step forward by opening a purpose-built archive building on the grounds of the Illinois Railroad Museum. The facility has provided the space needed to properly store and digitize these historical materials — an effort that required the acquisition of a large-format scanner capable of handling delicate, oversized documents.

A Scanner Built for the Job
Selecting the right scanning technology was a crucial decision. “We always knew we needed a big scanner,” says Jeff Eggert, a key member of the society. “We just had to wait until we had the space for it.” After examining options, working with the team at Large Document Solutions and consulting with other historical societies, the Society chose a Colortrac SCi 42 scanner, renowned for its ability to handle fragile and oversized items. Other groups we work with had good experiences with this brand,” Eggert says, “and we knew we needed something wider than the standard 36-inch scanners. We have drawings over 40 inches wide that we have never been able to scan before — until now.”

With funding from a recent fundraising campaign, the society invested in a new Colortrac SCi 42-inch scanner from Large Document Solutions, chosen for its ability to accommodate wider documents and produce high-resolution scans of fragile materials. The added width allows the Society to scan large historical drawings and maps in their entirety, eliminating the need for multiple scans and stitching. This investment has quickly inspired other historical groups to follow suit. “Now everybody wants to copy us,” Eggert laughs.

Uncovering Hidden Treasures
The digitization effort has already led to remarkable discoveries. One recent find was a hand-drawn railroad map from 1856, complete with detailed calligraphy and colorized route lines. “We’re pretty sure this railroad was never actually built,” Eggert says. “It’s fascinating to see these plans that never came to fruition and imagine what could have been.”

Digitizing the maps has also aided in real-world historical inquiries. When the city of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, uncovered an old section of rail during a street renovation, they reached out to the Society for historical documentation. “We searched everything we had going back to the 1880s and couldn’t find any record of a rail line there,” Eggert recalls. “But in the process, we found all sorts of other intriguing details that raised even more questions.”

Preserving the Past for Future Generations
The primary goal of the digitization project is preservation, ensuring that delicate, historical documents are not lost to time. The Colortrac scanner plays a vital role in this process by capturing high-resolution images of fragile maps and drawings, reducing the need for physical handling and preventing further deterioration. Many of the society’s oldest documents are brittle, some so fragile that unrolling them causes the paper to crack. “We’re even considering building a humidification chamber to gently relax the paper before scanning,” Eggert says. “Our goal is to scan each document once and then store it away safely so that it doesn’t deteriorate further.”

Beyond preservation, the Society is working toward making its archives publicly accessible. “We get frequent requests from local historians, researchers, and even other railroad societies,” Eggert says. “Our long-term vision is to create an online repository where people can search for maps, drawings, and documents by keyword or location.” While the Society is still developing its digital infrastructure, they envision a future where the public can explore the rich history of the Chicago & North Western Railway from anywhere in the world. “It’s going to take time, but we’re getting there,” Eggert says. “Right now, we’re just excited about all the incredible materials we’re uncovering.”

The Right Tools for the Job
The Colortrac scanner has proven essential in this effort, allowing the team to scan even faded or sepia-toned documents with clarity. One notable success was a hand-drawn railroad map from 1856, where the scanner’s precision captured intricate calligraphy and colorized route lines that had faded over time. “We scanned it in color because the line where the railroad was supposed to run is in red,” Eggert explains. “It was all obviously hand-drawn, and the scanner made it possible to preserve those fine details.” Eggert explains that using Colortrac’s SmartWorks Imaging Software made all the difference. “Some of these documents are so faded that every scan requires adjustments, but the software makes it easy to enhance legibility.”

The scanning process is also surprisingly efficient. “We’re running this setup on the most basic Dell laptop you can imagine, and it still scans at full speed, making high-quality digitization accessible without the need for expensive, high-end computing power. This efficiency reduces costs and ensures that even smaller historical groups can implement similar scanning solutions without significant financial investment,” Eggert says. “That’s been a pleasant surprise.”

To ensure consistency, the Society is developing a formalized scanning workflow. “We’ll have multiple volunteers working on this over time, so we’re putting together a standard process for how to scan, store, and manage files,” Eggert says. “That way, as new people join the project, we maintain quality and organization.”

A Model for Other Historical Societies
As the Chicago & North Western Historical Society continues its digitization efforts, other historical groups are taking notice. “There’s a society for nearly every major railroad, and many of them are facing the same challenges we were,” Eggert says. “We’ve learned a lot from other railroad historical societies over the years, so by sharing our experience and best practices, we’re helping others take similar steps toward preserving their archives.” With each scan, the Society is not only safeguarding the past but also bringing railroad history to life in new ways. “We’re excited to see what other treasures we have that we don’t even know about yet,” Eggert says. “So far, everybody’s been blown away by what we can do now.”

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About Paradigm
Paradigm Imaging Group is a large format solutions provider whose expertise extends from scanning and printing products to imaging systems integration, software development and product distribution. Paradigm counts among its clients’ companies in reprographics, architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing, as well as numerous public agencies at all levels of government. Since 1989, Paradigm has grown to become a leading provider of large format scanning and printing solutions. For more information on Colortrac scanners as well as all our Wide Format equipment, please visit www.paradigmimaging.com.