Train Tracking

[Russ]

Is there a web site to track where trains are at any given time? I have an IC/CN main line about in my backyard and would like to see where they are going. I know there are some websites to show where planes are at and just wondering if ther are any for trains.
Thanks
Russ

[Anonymous]

My sense is that that kind of comprehensive overview could be found one RR at a time at the various railroads' operations centers, especially those that direct traffic for their entire system out of one centralized facility (e.g., BNSF in Ft. Worth takes care of whole co's trains.)

My sense is also that this kind of information is kept private and proprietary. However, in this day and age with GPS and all, there may be something I'm entirely unaware of. If so, you'll hear from somebody who knows more.

You might also want to think about a scanner for the IC main line, but I don't know how much chat they do.

Can someone help Russ out?

[Anonymous]

There is a website to track BNSF trains, but, it is password protected and on the employee web.

[Russ]

Thanks for the info. I can understand why it would not be public, but could be interesting to watch.
Russ

[MP173]

Russ:

Where do you live? I assume from the description CN/IC that you live near the old Illinois Central main...possibly in Illinois?

The best way to get a schedule today, is to simply listen and observe. I have been doing this for over a year here on the CN and NS and have come up with a pretty good idea of what is running and when.

Do you have a scanner? If so, listen and observe. If you dont, they are fun to have around and you can get a pretty good one for about $100 from Radio Shack.

ed

[Russ]

I live in Savoy Il. which is on the south side of Champaign Il. and between my backyard and the tracks are US route 45 and a drive in restaurant, but I have a great view of the tracks and trains from my deck. The IC/CN doesn't run regular schedules. Some days we get 15 to 20 trains by and other days only about 5 or 6. Amtrak also uses these same tracks, 2 trains in the morning and 2 in the evening each running one north and one south. This used to be a double track mainline and several years ago one set was pulled out. There is a decent sized yard right on the north side of Champaign and a small yard in Tolono Il. about 4 or 5 miles south of where I am. I have recently gotten a scanner and do listen to them whenever I can. I also have an airport a mile south of where I am and listen on them also. Most of the power on the mainline is now in CN colors but there are still some IC colors coming by. I've been interested in trains for years but since moving to my new home 2 years ago, my interest has really grown with more to watch so close.
Russ

[chad thomas]

Russ,
This might not help you but others might be interested in the ATCS software. With a little modification to a scanner that hooks up to your laptop you can monitor rail traffic in real time. It seems to be primarily ex AT&SF CTC territory that it works on. If anyone is interested they better act fast as I understand they are going to make selling the software illegal.

http://www.atcsmon.com/

[MP173]

Chad:

What in the world is that? Explain it to me if you can in layman's terms.

ed

[chad thomas]

Ed,
I'm no expert on this, I just got turned on to it not too long ago. From what I can gather this software decodes the CTC data and lays it out on the computer screen like a dispacher would see it. You have to use a scanner to recieve the data. The scanner must have a discriminator output, If you don't have one (most don't) it's a relativly easy modification.


here is a screen capture from there web site:



This is a map of where it works:

[MP173]

Russ:

I am aware of Tolono. Spent a day there on June 3, 1976 with my new 35mm Pentax camera (used, but new to me). The operator allowed me access to the facility for the day and I was able to get a pulse of the railroad.

Looking back at the photos, I had 7 IC's and 9 NW's...not a bad day's action. The last train shot was taken of UP2866 heading west with an Alco unit trailing passing NW4104 East which was in the siding.

Unfortunately, I didnt write down captions on the NW trains so I dont have records of their movements.

All in all, it was a great day for summer vacation.

I will work on a list of current CN trains and try to post it later today. My suggestion is listen to the scanner and try to get an idea of timing.

ed

[TomDiehl]

Russ,

The Amtrak trains you're seeing are probably the City of New Orleans and the Illini. Southbound thru Champaign-Urbana at 10:34 PM and 6:15 PM respectively and northbound at 6:10 AM and 6:49 PM respectively.

If they're on time.

[MP173]

Chad:

Is that line out of Chicago heading east the NS or CSX?

That looks like one heck of a toy. I take it that you are currently playing with this. What info does it give you?

ed

[CSXrules4eva]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark_W._Hemphill

No, there is no website where trains can be tracked on U.S. railways. Each railway company knows where each train is at to a meaningful level of precision. That information is not available to the public for security reasons and for competitive reasons.

However, if you wanted to you could hack into a railroad's central mainframe and track trains that way. lol

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSXrules4eva

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark_W._Hemphill

No, there is no website where trains can be tracked on U.S. railways. Each railway company knows where each train is at to a meaningful level of precision. That information is not available to the public for security reasons and for competitive reasons.

However, if you wanted to you could hack into a railroad's central mainframe and track trains that way. lol

For most Class I's the mainframe does not perform the 'process control' computing for the Dispatching systems....the Dispatching systems feed selected data to the mainframe for 'historical' records. Mainframes track what HAS happened....not what IS happening.

[Anonymous]

no websites, but there are ways to track trains wherever they happen to be...

[railfan619]

Yeah for me Sometimes I just happen to be in the right place at the right time or even the wrong place at the wrong time like when. MY route that I drive every day some times I would get stopped by a slow moving train and it would make me late but anywho other times are just fine because. I like to see what kind of cars a train is pulling

[Jordan6]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

There is a website to track BNSF trains, but, it is password protected and on the employee web.

It's updated probably every half hour to an hour. Not very accurate.

[Anonymous]

it refreshes every few minutes. it is accurate within a station. also has all of the dol times (if the ds updates crew info after swaps or dogcatches) and HPT. pretty useful when dogcatching....you know what you will most likely go after next.

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP173

Chad:

Is that line out of Chicago heading east the NS or CSX?

That looks like one heck of a toy. I take it that you are currently playing with this. What info does it give you?

ed

Ed,
I'm a left coaster and have no idea if it's NS or CSX.

No, I am not playing with it.....yet. Check out the website I learned a lot from reading it.
http://www.atcsmon.com/

[oltmannd]

Looks like it picks up the ATCS spec messages on lines where radio has replaced code-line.

The ATCS specs were a complete set of specs for computer based train operations. The code line replacement specs had immediate commercial application, but the rest of the stuff didn't go anywhere acc't lack of funds and "soft" return.

[Gluefinger]

QUOTE: Originally posted by OneSecondPle

no websites, but there are ways to track trains wherever they happen to be...

There are websites, but they're for shippers.