j610Now we just need to figure a way to put that plan into action. RON
Now we just need to figure a way to put that plan into action. RON
One way is to find a list of business's located within the area in which you want the web-cam to be situated and approach them to see if there are any potential single or joint-operators. The cost of the operation will have to be sourced and there *may* be planning regulations. Somebody, preferably in business with associated contacts, who knows the area geographically would be an ideal candidate to get the ball rolling. You could contact the ruling bodies of the town/county office who would/should be able to assist or point you in the correct direction.
If the situation is looked at logically and sensibly then the prospect of operating the project is anything but insurmountable. You mentioned the museums earlier so why not contact them for advise and listen to what they have to say before doing anything else..??
Heiter.
Since I don't live near Roanoke I plan, just to start with, to e-mail Trains Editor. No use bothering with people that cannot, or WILL not, do anything. I have subscribed to Trains for almost 45 years so I think they owe us all something. A phone call on our behave tp The Roanoke Hotel will take little effort and just might get something done.
I would like as many of you as possible to do the same so the Editor will as least know that MANY of us are upset about this. I feel as though I have lost my window to the railroad world.
The more e-mails he receives the more likley he is to try to help us.
Ron W
Great idea .We all need to do this . I know I am RON
It's up and down; sometimes working, other timrs not. I'm hoping it will be back up and running soon.
Norm
I just send an e-mail message to Mr. Wrinn at Trains Mag. I described some of the problems we are having and tried to explain how much it means to us to have it operating normally.
Also, I ask him to tell the Roanoke Hotel management how much we appreciate this cam.
I am hoping he responds and tries to get this situation resolved.
It would sure be a help if some of you would do the same. Numbers DO mean something. Let him know how much this cam means to us.
I hope for some positive results.
Here is a copy of what I sent to Mr. Wrinn:
Mr. Wrinn
I am a long time subscriber Trains Magazine(about 49 years) and have never before written to
to the magazine editor for any reason. Now however, I wish to solicit your aid in resolving a problem that many readers have been having recently.
During the last few weeks viewers of the Roanoke Web Cam have been experiencing many frustrating
problems with the Roanoke Cam. We realize that Trains Magazine does NOT operate, and is not responsible in any way for it’s operation. However, we are asking if you will be an advocate for us in helping resolve these problems. Many of us have contacted The Roanoke Hotel explaining the problems we are having. The Hotel will not even give us the courtesy of a reply. We are hoping that if you contact them on our behalf perhaps they will respond favorably.
In brief here are some of the problems; buffering problems causing jerky movement, screen ‘freezing’,
picture cuts off at times leaving a black screen, MANY times there is no picture at all!! There are also
some other "issues" with it.
This cam has been a wonderful resource for all of us for a long time – we really don’t want to lose it! Many fans have given up and just unplugged it altogether. Others are even willing to pay a monthly fee to have the cam restored to it’s normal good operating condition and to be maintained to avoid these problems. For me personally, I feel a great sense of loss. I am 75 years of age and physically unable to go out and watch trains as I did for so many years. This cam was my "eyes" to the railroad world and I enjoyed it immensely.
Again, if you would try to speak with somebody at the Roanoke Hotel and express our thoughts to them, and also our appreciation for the enjoyment it has provided us in the past, we will be very grateful to you.
Ron Wilson
Washington, PA
Lets all do what we can and hope for the best . RON
j610Lets all do what we can and hope for the best . RON
I'm sure you will be pleased with your reply from Mr.Wrinn. The reply which I received was to say that the "good people" at Roanoke have the matter in-hand and that they are trying to source the parts/items required, in as many words. Apparently they haven't given-up but, quite naturally, the hotel business must come first!! I fail to comprehend though why a fund can't be set-up with donations going towards the upkeep and possible inclusion of sound..?? I would have thought it could be improved greatly. That spider's been doing a great job lately ;-)
Cheers,
I agree. I think the donation idea is probably the way to go . I know I would have no problem donating if you could be sure of a quality website at all times . But they probably wouldn`t agree to that anyway . RON
Anymore really good rail cams in the usa? Most I have seen are very poor. RON
j610Anymore really good rail cams in the usa? Most I have seen are very poor. RON
Ron....Try: RailServe.com You should see a pretty good listing there.
Quentin
Not much there .No live streaming of any interest .Oh,well back to the netherlands . RON
Actyally,
I did not get any responce from Mr. Wrinn.
Neither did I . Not surprising though . RON
Heiter. -----------------------------------------------
Actually, Mr. Wrinn did not respond to my e-mail. He may be tied up with some other things right now. I hope he doesn't just 'blow it off'!
I stand ready to donate/subscribe, or whatever it takes to get this cam up, working, and reliable.
I have not tried it for some time, so about an hour ago I did, and got a black screen with the word "ready" at the bottom. So suppose it is totally down.
Its down for the count . I don`t even try it anymore . Shame . RON
It's back up now. This is the first I've seen it since its troubles, so I don't know if it's still got the lagging performance issues or not. I'll be watching though, so feel free to try it yourself.
Just one thing...I hope it does not become subscription-only. A fund for donations to it, sure, that'd be fine, but please no subscription thingy. Besides, they've still got to extort some cash from Coca Cola for all that advertising it's been getting. You know, I'll bet they intentionally rerouted their trucks once they found out about the new angle, to ensure their trucks parade past the cam. Here comes one now! Yeah, I got a good look at the side of it while it made the turn. Them guys at Coke are pretty slick, eh?
edit-A high rail truck and a school bus also went by. I had heard from a ham radio operator somwhere in the vicinity about the bad weather and numerous school closings during this past winter. Fortunately for the kids, since it was a state of emergency most of the time, the kids will still be finishing up there in only a few days (like around here). They sure are lucky.
another edit-9:16 AM-I saw what appeared to be a slug in the third of a 4 loco NS consist. Can anybody find out any details on this? I know some of you are more familiar with the movements of the area. Yet another instance of wanting snapshot capability.
A third edit-Maybe it's with the help of this fast connection, or the lack of other people on right now, but the frame rate is now much better than usual (near life speed). Even the normal frame rate is good enough (I estimate half of life speed). So, I'll wait and see if this is a permanent improvement, or if it goes back to normal after some of you guys also jump on it.
kolechovskiIt's back up now
.....Yes, it's still up and looks good. Nice sunny day there too. Would be nice to have it back consistently again. This is a good one. Thanks to all those trying to get it back on it's daily routine.
10:02 AM-seems a decent size MOW gang came along on the nearest track, going from close to far. Some of those machines I recognized, and a few I didn't. It must be a little welcoming back parade, eh? And unlike ther Rochelle cam, you can actually see the machines, and without blinding sunlight blasting them.
11:18 AM-a whole train of Herzog hoppers. I had never heard of Herzog before, but this is their site, so I take it it was their work gang that went by? Why wouldn't NS have done the work themselves?
http://www.herzogcompanies.com/
Its good for now , but I am a bit skeptical . It has fooled us more than once before . I hope I am proven wrong . RON
Ugh, the camera just died again a couple minutes ago. Now there's no server connection. It was just fine all along the day, and then...BAM! There it goes...of course, that there looks to be more like server trouble, and even the Rochelle cam suffers those on occasion, so I'm not sure if that's really avoidable by any means or not, or if there's any way to fix/prevent that stuff.
I'm glad to report right now at 5:58est the web cam is up and running and they seem to have clean the spider web off or he got blown off.
I case the people responsible for the camera is following this thread I would like to thank you for your time and effort.
Thank You
Joe
That spider was on in the upper right corner earlier this morning. I'm sure it's still hanging around (no pun intended) near the camera somewhere. I guess it wants its 15 minutes of fame...and likely much more than just 15 minutes...
edit-The video just died again. Apparently it's going to be an off-and-on issue for the most part.
I don`t really believe anything is being done to fix the problem . It just comes and goes as the camera problem allows . Just my opinion. RON
Still waiting for an answer to my e-mail .Didn`t have high hopes to begin with . RON
Cam has been operating a lot today. I have checked it several times and usually catch the end of a train.
Presently a train has moved from Right to Left. As it was slowing to a stop an empty coal train moved the other direction. The first train then began backing and has stopped at the extreme right.
The most action I am seeing right now is an Orb Spider building a web right in front of the camera. It has finished the radial strings and started making the spiral. Just as it was finishing the radials a bug was caught in the middle and the spider had to deal with it. It would make a few radials, then return to the center to work the bug over, then make another set of radials. Now the spiral is about done.
And the train is still waiting to the right.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
There seems to be two shows going on .When no train movement is apparent , we can watch a bit of the Spider. I guess when the screen goes black the spider makes its privacy move to the next location.~~~ Where else can we get 2 shows for the price of none.
Jim
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
At least the spider gets to watch trains even when the camera is down . RON
.....Haven't checked for a while, but just did, and found it up and running....and a consist eastbound, of crappy looking covered hoppers...2 engines. Glad to see it working.
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