Trains.com

ROANOKE RAIL CAM

179813 views
1396 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: northern il.
  • 142 posts
Posted by rdettmer on Monday, May 25, 2015 7:37 PM

does any body watch this cam?

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Monday, May 25, 2015 9:37 PM

I don't watch as long as I used to, but I do check in a couple of times a day... usually long enough to see at least one train go by.  They sure do travel a lot faster than they used to! Cool

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Saturday, May 30, 2015 3:00 PM

Some thing special going on in Roanoke... people gathering trackside!  (5/30/2015 3:00 PM CDT)

 

 

EDIT:

Ah HA!  N&W "J" #611 made a stop at the depot... left, WB, at about 3:35 PM (CDT)

 

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: northern il.
  • 142 posts
Posted by rdettmer on Saturday, May 30, 2015 4:03 PM

wow that was sure cool to see'

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Saturday, May 30, 2015 6:22 PM

HA!  I was absentmindedly watching TV when I suddenly realized that the train might be coming back to Roanoke... so I ran the viewer again and noted the tail end of the train backing into view.  So I got to watch the return, too.

Not nearly the crowd present for the return!

 

I have to admit that although I am glad any Steam Locomotive is again active, and I am sure that there are those that love this particular engine... I find it to be an ugly excuse for a Steam Locomotive.  All that shrouding and streamlining hides the beauty that is characteristic of the beast it is within.  At least the side rods and a portion of the valve gear are visible.  I am sure it sounded wonderful none-the-less... too bad the video feed doesn't include sound.  (At 702.04 miles between it and me, the natural sound was not detectable here.)

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Ottawa, On. Canada
  • 21 posts
Posted by mittelfruh1 on Monday, June 29, 2015 1:25 PM

Has the cam been down for a few weeks for others as well? Just curious if it's on my end. Thx.

 

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 1,155 posts
Posted by tcwright973 on Monday, June 29, 2015 1:47 PM

It's been down for me as well.

Tom

Pittsburgh, PA

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: northern il.
  • 142 posts
Posted by rdettmer on Monday, June 29, 2015 3:26 PM

me too

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 3 posts
Posted by Gunk on Monday, June 29, 2015 3:45 PM

The Roanoke Rail Cam has been down ever since my grandsons went on summer vacation from school.  At least a couple of weeks ago.  I have written four e-mails over the last couple of weeks to the link on the web cam site asking for ways to make the camera better.  So far the only response I have gotten was from the last e-mail that was an automatic response.  It said....

I will be out of the Office on Monday, June 27, 2015 returning on Thursday, July 1,  2015 on business. I will have limited email accessibility but will be checking email periodically.  If this is an emergency please contact the sales office at 540.853.8203 or call my cell phone at 540.580.4160. 

Thanks!

Michael Quonce, Public Relations & Advertising 
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center - A DoubleTree by Hilton 
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24016
Direct 540-853-8267 | Mobile 540-580-4160

So I don't know what is wrong but there is someone getting the e-mail.  I was thinking that maybe someone tripped over the power cord to the camera's server on the way out the door for summer vacation.

Also, Google Chrome no longer supports the plugin that VLC uses (the recommended player linked by the camera's web site) so I thought that was my problem.  But, I have tried other players and it doesn't work with them either.  So I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.  It's too bad because I really like the Roanoke Rail Cam, Norfolk Southern, and Roanoke.

Good Luck 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 9:45 AM

It's BAAAAaaack!

 

But kind of unstable for me, keeps disconnecting... sometimes reconnects automatically, but sometimes I have to click the STOP button (the square) and then click PLAY (the > button).

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 3 posts
Posted by Gunk on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 11:22 AM

Yes, it is back, but as you mentioned, it is unstable.  I get about 5-10 seconds of video and then it locks up.  So it doesn't look like it is on your end.  It looks like they are having trouble with their internet connection or their router or even their video card.  Just guesses on my part.  They'll get it fixed.  They always do.

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 3 posts
Posted by Gunk on Monday, July 6, 2015 10:11 AM

Within 24 hours of having written my previous post, I noticed that the Roanoke Rail Cam is totally non-functional.  I hope they get it back up and running.  Like I mentioned before, it is one of the nicest railroad themed web cams out there.  Especially for me since I am a fan of he Norfolk Southern Railroad and Roanoke Virginia.  It was sad because I (we) didn't get to see any of the N&W J class 4-8-4 #611 steam engine action over the holiday weekend. Oh Well. 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Monday, July 6, 2015 7:36 PM

Back again, but the frame rate is low and seems to be varying between 5 and 10 frames per second.  Saves bandwidth, but makes for jerky motion and is a degradation over what it used to be.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, July 16, 2015 5:01 PM

I entitled this one: "Down in front!"  or  "The wasp that ate Roanoke".

 

 

At least I caught an image of the caboose! Cool

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Calgary AB. Canada
  • 2,298 posts
Posted by AgentKid on Thursday, July 16, 2015 5:14 PM

Semper Vaporo
The wasp that ate Roanoke

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: appelton wisconsin
  • 104 posts
Posted by Jjohnieray on Friday, July 17, 2015 2:03 PM

AgentKid

 

 
Semper Vaporo
The wasp that ate Roanoke

 

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Bruce

 

 

AgentKid

 

 
Semper Vaporo
The wasp that ate Roanoke

 

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Bruce

 

 

AgentKid

 

 
Semper Vaporo
The wasp that ate Roanoke

 

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Bruce

 

 

AgentKid

 

 
Semper Vaporo
The wasp that ate Roanoke

 

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

Bruce

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Caught the man cleaning the glass this Am.Nice Job.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Cordes Jct Ariz.
  • 1,305 posts
Posted by switch7frg on Monday, July 20, 2015 4:37 PM

Laugh  Where was "Spidy" when he was needed to disable the wasp?

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy