This invention is related to an economic and practical method of using barcode systems for the management of railroad tracks. The systems consist of barcodes and device(s) which can optically read and decode the barcodes. The barcodes are permanently installed on one or both rails of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the track. The barcodes include coded contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information along the track. By using these novel track barcode systems, sections of problematic tracks could be accurately located either manually or automatically for repeatable monitoring, repairing or replacement purposes.