Is anyone else experiencing issues with the 'new' interface and cam stream?
I note that the previous drop-down list of options is gone, and the Rochelle cam control is now helpfully right under a big note that says "Subscriber only content" (although for now it seems to load for non-subscribers when clicked).
However, the resolution I get is not as sharp as I remember it, and the 'improved' zoom and pan controls -- which function much better than before -- produce a worthless mess of blurry pixels, apparently the default compressed stream only digitally enlarged. Perhaps subscribers now are the only ones with access to sharp video, and I suppose I have no complaint with that except that it might have been nice to mention that change was coming.
I saw a post on a blog about the Rochelle railcam elsewhere on the Trains.com side that addressed the swaying problem evident at the diamonds. It suggested that maybe it was flange-bearing frogs might be the cause. Since the diamonds are not at a 90-deg. angle a flange bearing frog might lift one side of a truck before the other side reached the corresponding frog on the other side. The amount of tip would depend on the difference in diameter of the flange and tread on each wheel as reaches the frog floor.
I have been trying to watch to see if they cars always tip the same way when reaching the diamonds. I'd expect east-bound trains to tip to the left (as viewed from the cam) first if this was the cause. So far I have not been able to really determine if this is true or not.
The cure would be to extend the floor of the frog on one side to be at a line perpendicular across the track from the start of the floor of other frog so both wheels reach the floors at the same time.
I am just not sure how far a flange-bearing frog would/should lift a car... how much variation is there in flange diameter vs tread diameter?
For that matter, are those flange bearing frogs in the diamonds there... seems to me that it might be for U.P. but not for BNSF, based on the noise I hear as the trains traverse the diamonds.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
RME Is anyone else experiencing issues with the 'new' interface and cam stream? I note that the previous drop-down list of options is gone, and the Rochelle cam control is now helpfully right under a big note that says "Subscriber only content" (although for now it seems to load for non-subscribers when clicked). However, the resolution I get is not as sharp as I remember it, and the 'improved' zoom and pan controls -- which function much better than before -- produce a worthless mess of blurry pixels, apparently the default compressed stream only digitally enlarged. Perhaps subscribers now are the only ones with access to sharp video, and I suppose I have no complaint with that except that it might have been nice to mention that change was coming.
Don't notice any differences - just the 'blob' above and to the left of the signal bungalow nearest the camera.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
cefinkjr I see this is your first post. I had guessed that from its content before noting it on your mini-profile. Look back through the 51 pages (and counting) of this thread and you'll see lots of near-duplicates of your post (including mine many months ago). UP seems to perform the maintenance at Rochelle. In their defense, they do spend a lot of time and effort on these diamonds. It does seem though, that posts like yours are noticed by somebody in UP management and another gang will show up in a day or two to do what they can. Again, welcome to this forum. This thread sometimes drifts to other topics (other than the Rochelle crossing) but it's been 99.99% pure railroading as long as I've followed it. Don't be a stranger.
I see this is your first post. I had guessed that from its content before noting it on your mini-profile. Look back through the 51 pages (and counting) of this thread and you'll see lots of near-duplicates of your post (including mine many months ago).
UP seems to perform the maintenance at Rochelle. In their defense, they do spend a lot of time and effort on these diamonds. It does seem though, that posts like yours are noticed by somebody in UP management and another gang will show up in a day or two to do what they can.
Again, welcome to this forum. This thread sometimes drifts to other topics (other than the Rochelle crossing) but it's been 99.99% pure railroading as long as I've followed it. Don't be a stranger.
Thanks Chuck. I have actually been viewing the webcam since last summer and noticed it like everyone else, just figured 1) it's not as big a problem as railfans think or 2) they are waiting for a holiday to do any heavy repairs. Just wondered if anyone knew. Guess we will all see!
Not sure what you read, but there are definitely not "one-way low speed" or "flange bearing" diamonds in Rochelle.
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
Big time work this morning on the crossing - what's that large piece of machinery sitting on the UP north/BNSF south track diamond?
Lots of trucks and men in red jackets
UP MofW machine on diamonds at present.
Tamper in use, one high-rail dump, another dump to the north of the diamonds. Working on the north track, it appears, which makes sense because I noticed yesterday a relatively short EB stacker was rockin' and rollin' on that track, especially a couple of trailers as they same through.
AFTERTHOUGHT: Was watching as the tamper came east and a school bus went down the street to the north. The Plasser color is pretty close to school bus yellow, it would seem.
Can't speak for BNSF or UP, my carrier has begun attaching GPS reporting accelerometers to certain locomotives to measure lateral G loadings as the locomotives operate over the system. The 'excessive' level G loadings are funneled to the MofW department who contact the Roadmaster of the territory with instructions to inspect ALL tracks at the indicated location (GPS can locate the area, but at present, cannot identify the particular track).
BaltACDCan't speak for BNSF or UP, my carrier has begun attaching GPS reporting accelerometers to certain locomotives to measure lateral G loadings as the locomotives operate over the system.
Every little bit helps. It's probably a better tactic than adding another task to the "human accelerometers" workload, especially since they might be more used to the motion and less inclined (you should pardon the expression) to note the anomaly.
At Noon CDT, it seemed like a little rain was falling. Also, it also seems that the ten-minute timeout is not kicking in, since I have had a continuous stream since before my last post.
ChuckCobleigh BaltACD Every little bit helps. It's probably a better tactic than adding another task to the "human accelerometers" workload, especially since they might be more used to the motion and less inclined (you should pardon the expression) to note the anomaly. At Noon CDT, it seemed like a little rain was falling. Also, it also seems that the ten-minute timeout is not kicking in, since I have had a continuous stream since before my last post.
BaltACD
On the 'hits' that have happened on my territory - there is no record of the crews reporting 'rough track'; and the crews are not bashful in reporting rough track.
I pretty much watch the cam, 24/7 and over the last two to three days, the diamond farthest west, UP 1 and BNSF 1, was completely replaced, why the crane on the track. Each corner could be seen visibly as it was pulled up and replaced. The crane had enough reach to put the old in the back of a truck, and pick up the new. whether the use of two trucks or just one wasn''t possible.
The use of pnumatic air hammers were also quite distinct tightenting nuts and bolts. It didn't take long 15-30 minutes to replace each section, and they continued work if a train came by on the inner track. Several times when the end of the train went by, they were still working. Usually all hands retreated to the cabs of the trucks.
That was my observation over the last couple of days.
Hi y' all! Newbie chiming in for the first time from alongside the NS line in Gainesville, GA.
Over the past month, I have noticed pretty impressive rocking of the trains as they cleared the diamond on the southern UP line. It was very easy to see, especially with a double-stack .... That's where they're working right now, so maybe we'll see smoother transits when they're done?
What exactly is that yellow machine???
Red flag today!
ApgarRailWhat exactly is that yellow machine???
Looks like a tamper.
Norm
While you were sleeping ...
Rail grinder went through at 2:30 am local:
https://goo.gl/NCZJII
[/quote]
chrisjmiller While you were sleeping ... Rail grinder went through at 2:30 am local: https://goo.gl/NCZJII
You're up all night watching the webcam in the dark?
It would be neat if there were lights on the diamonds. . .
/Mr Lynn
8:30 am my time (UK based)
MrLynnIt would be neat if there were lights on the diamonds. . .
The trick would be lighting the diamonds for the camera without blinding the crews. It's possible, but someone has to pay for it. With LED lighting, though, the ongoing cost would be minimal.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Looking at some of the photos of the area, there are some lights on the pole near the diamonds. I have never seen them lit.
why the ordeal for a trains member to log in with email and name? and why cant trains get a better camera at Rochele
tree68 MrLynn The trick would be lighting the diamonds for the camera without blinding the crews. It's possible, but someone has to pay for it. With LED lighting, though, the ongoing cost would be minimal.
MrLynn
I suspect the best way to 'light' this would be to use lighting outside the critical wavelengths for human night vision, as with all those "0 lux" camcorders sold over the years, rather than a blanket of light shining annoyingly on relatively dark-adapted crews. I for one would enjoy being able to watch "ghost trains" rendered in IR at night if that meant that crews were not having to be inconvenienced...
As another potential fringe benefit: The lights would only 'need' to come on when a train was near, or present. That would make checking the camera for 'night-time action' much more convenient than it currently is even in daytime for me...
There are also the neighbors to consider. The trains are probably enough of a bother - having lights glaring at them (as in from a low level) all night would probably garner some pushback.
Lights with a tight pattern, facing downward would be the answer. Such lights are already in use in many places (parking lots, especially). They light the area below them, but the light doesn't spread very far.
Such a light, mounted high enough to include the diamonds and little else, would do the trick. In fact, I think I'd include shutters to limit light on the park itself.
Another trick would be getting it close enough to the diamonds (or high enough) to do the job without encroaching on the ROW or having to put lights to warn aircraft...
tree68Lights with a tight pattern, facing downward would be the answer. Such lights are already in use in many places (parking lots, especially). They light the area below them, but the light doesn't spread very far.
I'd think that some of the specialized lighting I see used for individual highway lanes in some locations, which is located very low in railings or shoulders and presumably uses some sort of anamorphic lensing to 'spread' the light, would be the right solution here: it would only contact the area of the train or some regions of the undercarriage, and might even be oriented to 'throw' the light pattern toward the camera location in the vertical plane, or shuttered to keep stray light in the horizontal plane controlled...
it's easier when you only have one 'viewer' of a lighted area...
TIP (if you use Windows 7 or newer):
One click on your new task bar icon will now open IE with the webcam. You will have to scroll down to see all of it.
You're welcome.
ChuckAllen, TX
rdamon Looking at some of the photos of the area, there are some lights on the pole near the diamonds. I have never seen them lit.
They have been, on occasion, when work stretches into darkness. It doesn't happen often and probably won't until Fall, unless something major goes wrong.
There was nothing going on today at Rochelle, at least not in mid-afternoon when we were out there. I made a point of examining the camera from below. I couldn't see a visible smudge on the cover that protects the lens. If someone had a ladder tall enough to gain access to the roof, the pitch of the roof is relatively shallow, and a properly-equipped person should be able to see and eliminate anything that's spoiling the view.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Yes, when there is nothing happening, the page is minimized and with the sound turned up, you can hear trains from a long way off. With the exception of the EB UP. EB BNSF has a crossing several miles away, on a clear night you can hear them blowing for that crossing.
I do a lot of writing, havent published anything yet...yet.
Last summer caught a rail grinder on the BNSF about 2300, and I got a series of shots of it as it crossed the diamonds, then backed up out of sight and came back..
chrisjmiller 8:30 am my time (UK based)
I watch the 'rails.com/uk', 'dawlish beach cam' you'd be surpised what comes 'up' and 'down' in the middle of the night. Caught the 'clay' train on the DB site several times. headed for brickworks. Sundown in the UK is about 13 or 14:00 Central time which is Rochelle.
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