Trains.com

ROANOKE RAIL CAM

179815 views
1396 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The English Riviera, South Devon, England
  • 475 posts
Posted by Great Western on Thursday, July 28, 2011 11:02 AM

The Roanoke and Fostoria cams are both great to watch (from a UK perspective).  They both have their differing merits.  Obviously sound is a plus for Fostoria and Roanoke has slower moving trains.  Both have traffic to see when there are no trains.  Roanoke, being in downtown, does have those little extras such as road races and the occasional VMT movements.

All in all I enjoy watching them whilst I look at other websites or pages using the split screen facility of XP.

Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad

https://www.buckfast.org.uk/

If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Thursday, July 28, 2011 11:10 AM

Great Western

The Roanoke and Fostoria cams are both great to watch (from a UK perspective).  They both have their differing merits.  Obviously sound is a plus for Fostoria and Roanoke has slower moving trains.  Both have traffic to see when there are no trains.  Roanoke, being in downtown, does have those little extras such as road races and the occasional VMT movements.

All in all I enjoy watching them whilst I look at other websites or pages using the split screen facility of XP.

Yes, the sound really does enhance the Fostoria one.  Wish we had sound working on the Roanoke location.  Don't forget all the Coca-Cola semi's in view much of the day too.  Must be a distribution location nearby and behind the camera location.

Quentin

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, July 28, 2011 12:39 PM

Modelcar

 Great Western:

The Roanoke and Fostoria cams are both great to watch (from a UK perspective).  They both have their differing merits.  Obviously sound is a plus for Fostoria and Roanoke has slower moving trains.  Both have traffic to see when there are no trains.  Roanoke, being in downtown, does have those little extras such as road races and the occasional VMT movements.

All in all I enjoy watching them whilst I look at other websites or pages using the split screen facility of XP.

 

Yes, the sound really does enhance the Fostoria one.  Wish we had sound working on the Roanoke location.  Don't forget all the Coca-Cola semi's in view much of the day too.  Must be a distribution location nearby and behind the camera location.

 

The Coke plant is actually off to the right about 4 to 6 blocks away.  HUGE plant.  You can see one entrance to the plant from the VMT cam on the left.

You folk should spend some time on Google Earth looking at the area.  Also spend some time using the Street View feature to get street level views of all of this stuff.  My doing so has sure answered a lot of my questions about what I am seeing on the 2-D Hotel and VMT camera images.  You do have to realize that the aerial images and the street view images were taken a couple of years apart (presently, the Street View images are newer) and lots of changes occurred in the time between, as well as since they were taken.

 

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Martinsville, Virginia
  • 60 posts
Posted by RichardLHight on Thursday, July 28, 2011 3:11 PM
Would one of you gentlemen kindly supply the link to the Fostoria cam?

Rich

 

Those that desire, find a way..... Those that don't, find an excuse.

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Ottawa, On. Canada
  • 21 posts
Posted by mittelfruh1 on Thursday, July 28, 2011 4:25 PM

http://www.greatlakeslive.com/F-town_CAM_1.html

Click around on the site, as they're changing things up come Aug. 1st.

 

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Near Gloucester in the UK.
  • 7 posts
Posted by andypc on Friday, July 29, 2011 12:04 PM

I am interested to know what the excursion train was that has just left the Roanoke station?

It was made up of dark brown passenger cars but I could not read the markings; near the end it had a Great dome car.

Interestingly as it was pulling out a freight train on the adjacent track was ended with what looked like a empty transformer transport car.

Thanks,
Andy

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sZsbjRfjPblSgO3EXUrTdy59uZdEELpvTfq-X3g3520?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8UuYZrLst1nji4zQiknsoS59uZdEELpvTfq-X3g3520?feat=directlink

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Friday, July 29, 2011 1:39 PM

Sorry I missed that . It seems I am never on at the right time .     RON

J610
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 696 posts
Posted by rixflix on Saturday, July 30, 2011 3:31 PM

It'll be great when Fostoria gets a few more cams going, I guess when the park is built. They have only one now. I really enjoy Roanoke, especially when trains are plugged for (I guess) track space or units on and off.

How much do these systems cost? I'd love to a webcam at  Wyomissing Jct  just west of Reading, where NS splits for Reading yard,. Philly and Allentow-New York. Lots'a traffic, the rails stay warm in winter!  

RIX

rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Cordes Jct Ariz.
  • 1,305 posts
Posted by switch7frg on Sunday, July 31, 2011 12:06 PM

Wink  Now that Fostoria cam is interesting, a new mystery car has showed up in Roanoke. Could it be the driver "hopped" a freight out of town to a distant city?  or maybe a new  hobo trying out.

                                                                  Canonball

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 206 posts
Posted by GP39 on Sunday, July 31, 2011 12:53 PM

Like the Fosteria cam with the sound.

Thanks for the link!

American Train Video Reviews

Non Profit Train Video Review Information.

        William

  http://wjhudson.wordpress.com

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Freelance, USA
  • 490 posts
Posted by nik .n on Monday, August 1, 2011 8:04 PM

Want another cam to watch?

http://www.failroadtracks.com/

Have fun!

EDIT:

Semper Vaporo

FOUND IT!

The intersection of N 800 W St, (the N/S divided street from lower right to upper left) and W South Temple (the E/W street from the lower left to the right) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Street View shows the grade crossing all blocked off and all of the street surface removed.  I assume that Street View is relatively recent (within the last 2 to 5 years, maybe) so that means the horrible grade crossing is not that old.

I believe this is the cameras geo-location:

40°46'10.44" N 111°54'48.85" W

(Run Google Earth, copy and paste that Lat/Lon in the Search box and click on the magnifying glass.  you then will need to zoom in a bit using the mouse scroll wheel.)

 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Monday, August 1, 2011 8:33 PM

nik .n

Want another cam to watch?

http://www.failroadtracks.com/

Have fun!

EDIT:

 Semper Vaporo:

FOUND IT!

The intersection of N 800 W St, (the N/S divided street from lower right to upper left) and W South Temple (the E/W street from the lower left to the right).

Street View shows the grade crossing all blocked off and all of the street surface removed.  I assume that Street View is relatively recent (within the last 2 to 5 years, maybe) so that means the horrible grade crossing is not that old.

I believe this is the cameras geo-location:

40°46'10.44" N 111°54'48.85" W

(Run Google Earth, copy and paste that Lat/Lon in the Search box and click on the magnifying glass.  you then will need to zoom in a bit using the mouse scroll wheel.)

 

 

You need to add that it is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Northern VA
  • 3,050 posts
Posted by jwhitten on Monday, August 1, 2011 8:45 PM

nik .n

Want another cam to watch?

http://www.failroadtracks.com/

Have fun!

EDIT:

 

 Semper Vaporo:

 

FOUND IT!

The intersection of N 800 W St, (the N/S divided street from lower right to upper left) and W South Temple (the E/W street from the lower left to the right).

Street View shows the grade crossing all blocked off and all of the street surface removed.  I assume that Street View is relatively recent (within the last 2 to 5 years, maybe) so that means the horrible grade crossing is not that old.

I believe this is the cameras geo-location:

40°46'10.44" N 111°54'48.85" W

(Run Google Earth, copy and paste that Lat/Lon in the Search box and click on the magnifying glass.  you then will need to zoom in a bit using the mouse scroll wheel.)

 

 

 

 

Ha! That's a great video. However, I'm certain there is some rule against enjoying it too much...

Pirate

 

John

Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in the late 50's
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Monday, August 1, 2011 8:49 PM

What is neat about that cam is that not only do you get to see a train periodically, you also get to see an automobile get destroyed sometimes too.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Freelance, USA
  • 490 posts
Posted by nik .n on Monday, August 1, 2011 11:23 PM

Semper Vaporo

 

 nik .n:

 

Want another cam to watch?

http://www.failroadtracks.com/

Have fun!

EDIT:

 

 Semper Vaporo:

FOUND IT!

The intersection of N 800 W St, (the N/S divided street from lower right to upper left) and W South Temple (the E/W street from the lower left to the right).

Street View shows the grade crossing all blocked off and all of the street surface removed.  I assume that Street View is relatively recent (within the last 2 to 5 years, maybe) so that means the horrible grade crossing is not that old.

I believe this is the cameras geo-location:

40°46'10.44" N 111°54'48.85" W

(Run Google Earth, copy and paste that Lat/Lon in the Search box and click on the magnifying glass.  you then will need to zoom in a bit using the mouse scroll wheel.)

 

 

 

 

 

You need to add that it is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Done. :D

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Saturday, August 6, 2011 9:02 AM

Slow morning in roanoke . I have seen only one train in over two hours .   RON

J610
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Friday, August 12, 2011 11:31 AM

Does anyone but me watch the roanoke cams anymore ?    RON

J610
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Friday, August 12, 2011 11:53 AM

yeah, I'm still watching.  Not as much as I used to and not near as much as I WANT to... but I do still check it once or twice a day for a few minutes.

Usually when I do get it on screen I also have the Fostoria and the newer "FailRoadTracks" cam in Salt Lake City at the same time. 

Fostoria and SLC both have sound too, which I didn't think would be worth it at first but it has turned out to be nice at times on those.  Both tend to be overdriven by the sounds of the trains, but it can sometimes be a help to let me know to watch one (and fun to guess which track it will be on!... I can usually tell which camera it will be just by the unique background sound that fades as the horn blows).

The sound on the SLC cam is often as much as a minute behind the video... it is a bit disconcerting to see a big truck pull up to the stop sign (maybe just barely slow for it) and then pull away belching smoke out the exhaust and then a minute later hear the truck brakes squeel and then hear the rumble as it pulls away.  Same thing when a train goes across and a minute later you hear it whistle for the crossing!

As for Roanoke... How long has that topper truck been backed into that parking slot?  I think it has been near a month now, hasn't it?

Just saw three engines running light westbound on track 2.

Train on the SLC camera should show up soon.  Gates just went down.  But I don't hear any horn.

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Friday, August 12, 2011 12:06 PM

Took a good 5 minutes for the train to show up and he didn't blow for the crossing.  BUT, it had a nice caboose on the end!  Unfortunately I didn't have my snipping tool active and i missed getting an image.

Ooo wait wait... he is backing into view again. 

 

Rats. I'm too slow.  I will watch for that one again!

Coal trian on the Fostoria cam.

 

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Friday, August 12, 2011 3:28 PM

Do you have the web address for the salt lake city cam ?   RON

J610
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Friday, August 12, 2011 3:42 PM

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/failroadtracks-com#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://www.failroadtracks.com/&medium=8062287


If the link doesn't work, cut and past it into your browser.

Norm


  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Friday, August 12, 2011 9:55 PM

Thanks .   RON

J610
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 3:18 AM

Been in the hospital for a while . Just got back on line and there doesn't seem to be near as much traffic in roanoke as usual .            RON

J610
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 10:54 AM

Well... I hope you enjoyed your stay in the hospital... Too many people find it not enjoyable and are just dying to get out of there.

I am glad you survived it and are back to watch the railcam again.

I, too, have noticed a great reduction in traffic in Roanoke.  Seems the parking lot in the foreground has fewer cars too.

I wonder if you notied the white pickup truck (with the low topper) is still backed into the stall near the west end.  Seems to me that has been there for near two months now.

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 8:41 PM

All in all , a pleasant hospital stay . I did notice the truck is still there .    RON

J610
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:01 PM

MOW is working on that section of track where the autoracks derailed again .     RON

J610
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:21 PM

I haven't been able to look for some time.  I looked just now (tail end of an empty unit coal west bound) and I see that pickup  truck still backed into the parking spot.  Has it moved and come back or is it maybe painted on the camera lens? Big Smile

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: morganton north carolina
  • 515 posts
Posted by j610 on Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:45 PM

I am thinking like you . It is painted on the lens .    RON

J610
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Friday, September 23, 2011 9:27 AM

....Tuned into the cam last evening and was rewarded with a "green screen" only.  But note, it's up and running this morning.  Raining in Roanoke this morning.  No trains at the time {few seconds}, I checked this morning.

Quentin

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Friday, September 23, 2011 9:50 AM

My new laptop PC has an HDMI port on it, as does my digital TV.  So I bought an HDMI cable (egad them suckers am expensive... even though I found it on a clearance table!) and plugged an end of the cable into each port of the PC and TV.  The PC went "bloop-bloop" and the screen blanked and then came back at a slightly smaller resolution which jumbled all my desktop icons... RATZ!

I opened the resolution setting dialog and reset the resolution back to 1600x900 and it remembered where all the icons used to be!  Hooray!  First time I have ever seen that happen!

I pressed the HDMI button on the TV remote and there was a duplicate of my PC's "desktop" on my TV!, Mouse arrow and all.  I then found a dialog box that let me declare the HDMI output to be a different display (rather than a duplicate of the laptop's display).  So now I have a blank desktop on the TV screen (contains just the wallpaper I selected for the desktop, no icons).

The TV is a smaller resolution but can be changed to other values, but I have left it at the default for now.

I then ran Google Earth and just drug the window to the right to shove it off the Laptop screen and onto the TV screen.  I left it kind of half and half so I could read the text in the left pane of the window on the Laptop, but view the earth images on the TV.  NICE!

I closed Google Earth and then ran Internet explorer and accessed the Roanoke railcam, which automatically opens Windows Media player to show the camera.  While it was setting up, I drug that window to the TV screen and clicked the "full screen" arrow at the bottom right and it expanded to fill the TV screen.

I can now watch Roanoke on the TV while I am surfing the web or looking for roundhouses on Google Earth or writing Visual Basic programs or playing solitaire on the Laptop PC screen.

Google earth seems to be a wee bit slower while the railcam is running, but not too bad.  BTW: I am also running Excel to have the roundhouse list on screen, and I have IE open to monitor my e-mail account, and I am typing this in the reply box to post here.

Just saw the red caboose on the point of what appears to be a line of empty coal hoppers being shoved west on track 3... longest train I think I have seen the caboose on... there are the 2 engines doing the work.

This is nice! Cool

Now all I need is another TV so I can watch PBS at the same time! Geeked 

 

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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