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Semi-official Rochelle webcam discussion thread

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, March 15, 2018 1:11 PM

Semper Vaporo

I'd hate to have been in one of those passenger cars that just went east on BNSF...

Move at track speed a half car length forward, stop abruptly for a 1/10 of a second, then jump forward a half car length, and repeat.  Drinks all over the aisle, bloodied foreheads, soup in their laps... WOW... terrible ride!

Or was that a problem with the video feed?  (Windows 11, Edge browser).

 

I see that with freights from time to time.

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Thursday, March 15, 2018 2:02 PM

Semper Vaporo

I'd hate to have been in one of those passenger cars that just went east on BNSF...

Move at track speed a half car length forward, stop abruptly for a 1/10 of a second, then jump forward a half car length, and repeat.  Drinks all over the aisle, bloodied foreheads, soup in their laps... WOW... terrible ride!

Or was that a problem with the video feed?  (Windows 11, Edge browser).

 

   I saw that train go by, too, but my people had a smooth ride.   That stop-and-jerk has been happening lately, but today everything is running smoothly.

   Windows 11?

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, March 15, 2018 2:36 PM

I swear I proof-read that before I hit Send... oh well... with as many "improvements" MS has made to 10, it might as well be called 11 or 12 or 13 or...

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 16, 2018 10:27 AM

Semper Vaporo
I'd hate to have been in one of those passenger cars that just went east on BNSF... Move at track speed a half car length forward, stop abruptly for a 1/10 of a second, then jump forward a half car length, and repeat. Drinks all over the aisle, bloodied foreheads, soup in their laps... WOW... terrible ride!

I experience this every time I watch the Rochelle webcam. I'm using Windows 10 and Firefox Quantum 59 (64 bit).

Using Opera 51.0 the webcam works flawlesly except a few split second struggles.
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Posted by Paul of Covington on Friday, March 16, 2018 2:35 PM

   I said before that I hadn't seen the "stop and jerk" motion lately, but now I think I may have just mentally discounted it.   There was a fast BNSF freight today that looked like it had slinky coils for draft gear.

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, March 16, 2018 2:40 PM

I'm glad to know that it is not just my operating system that produces the "slinky coil" effect. The most interesting to me is the effect when the last car or two is stopped--and then has totally disappeared. Beamed up?

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, March 16, 2018 4:07 PM

Semper Vaporo

I swear I proof-read that before I hit Send... oh well... with as many "improvements" MS has made to 10, it might as well be called 11 or 12 or 13 or.....

Thirteen would be a good number.  I refer to it as the Windows 10 virus.  I'm not sure a true virus would be any worse...

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, March 16, 2018 4:17 PM

As I was watching Steve's solo performance on Trains News Wire video for March 16 this afternoon, I noticed it had a stuttering and pausing condition similar to the Rochelle Cam feed. My internet connection shows 13.1 Mbps download and  5.67 Mbps upload speed when I run a speed test which is rated as fast. so and nothing else is running on the link. I've had faster speeds on a direct wired connection to the cable modem but the stated speed is on the wireless cable router. Suspect the stutter may be on the network somewhere or in the source servers. 

 

 

 

 

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Friday, March 16, 2018 4:21 PM

   I kinda think the jerkiness might be caused by delays in data transmission.   When the lines get busy there are bound to be slight delays that we wouldn't notice with text, but show up with continuous motion.

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Posted by rdamon on Friday, March 16, 2018 5:08 PM

I get much better performance on Chrome when I have my ad blocker on. It used to be about the same performance a few monts ago, but now the reloads have increase.

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 16, 2018 9:26 PM

rdamon
I get much better performance on Chrome when I have my ad blocker on. It used to be about the same performance a few monts ago, but now the reloads have increase.

Chrome on my W10 laptop can only get the loading flower!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by xjqcf on Sunday, March 18, 2018 9:18 AM

Deggesty

 

 
blhanel

What's up at the diamonds today?  I see a red board on UP #2, and several MOW vehicles parked next to the diamonds, but nothing happening...

 

 

 

The work is east of what you can see. I have noticed EB trains blowing the warning as they approach, and I have heard WB trains also blowing as they approach and stop blowing before the engine comes into view.

 

 

I only check the cam and forum once a week these days, but, by coincidence, I checked the ATCS Monitor group on Yahoo Groups (ATCS is a program that decodes and displays radio codline signal data) and noticed that the maintainer of the UP Geveva sub territory uploaded a revised package that he described as being due to a change made to the Diamonds on Tuesday. Basically UP has converted their control of the plant from an "A" type to a "Z" type (Whatever that means). Functionally the UP has more control over clearing routes on their tracks and now classifies the crossing as as a Control Point designated as CPY075. Although not clearly stated I still think the interlocking is still automatic and that UP has not grabbed absolute control; The ATCS fellow said UP's contol now matches the control that BNSF has had here for a long time.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, March 18, 2018 10:47 AM

xjqcf
I only check the cam and forum once a week these days, but, by coincidence, I checked the ATCS Monitor group on Yahoo Groups (ATCS is a program that decodes and displays radio codline signal data) and noticed that the maintainer of the UP Geveva sub territory uploaded a revised package that he described as being due to a change made to the Diamonds on Tuesday. Basically UP has converted their control of the plant from an "A" type to a "Z" type (Whatever that means). Functionally the UP has more control over clearing routes on their tracks and now classifies the crossing as as a Control Point designated as CPY075. Although not clearly stated I still think the interlocking is still automatic and that UP has not grabbed absolute control; The ATCS fellow said UP's contol now matches the control that BNSF has had here for a long time.

My GUESS in making the diamonds a Dispatcher Control Point - that is giving the Dispatcher the ability to HOLD at train at the diamonds for whatever reason the Dispatcher may have at any point in time.  When the Dispatcher then lines a signal for the train over the crossing, that signal request then starts the Automatic signal clearing logic that the crossing already possesses.  Such a operation does not give UP control of the crossing only UP trains that approach the crossing.  If the dispatcher has no reason to hold a train, he will line routes through the crossing the same as when it was totall automatic.

Such UP control of the crossing's UP signals would permit UP to bring a train to the crossing and still allow a 'head room' move out of Global 3 on the same track that the train is being held at the crossing.  Previously the train would have had to be held at the next Control Point East of the diamonds.

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, March 18, 2018 11:04 AM

This must be related to the new antenna installation .. looks like a small microwave dish pointed at Global III.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, March 18, 2018 9:33 PM

BaltACD

 

 
xjqcf
I only check the cam and forum once a week these days, but, by coincidence, I checked the ATCS Monitor group on Yahoo Groups (ATCS is a program that decodes and displays radio codline signal data) and noticed that the maintainer of the UP Geveva sub territory uploaded a revised package that he described as being due to a change made to the Diamonds on Tuesday. Basically UP has converted their control of the plant from an "A" type to a "Z" type (Whatever that means). Functionally the UP has more control over clearing routes on their tracks and now classifies the crossing as as a Control Point designated as CPY075. Although not clearly stated I still think the interlocking is still automatic and that UP has not grabbed absolute control; The ATCS fellow said UP's contol now matches the control that BNSF has had here for a long time.

 

My GUESS in making the diamonds a Dispatcher Control Point - that is giving the Dispatcher the ability to HOLD at train at the diamonds for whatever reason the Dispatcher may have at any point in time.  When the Dispatcher then lines a signal for the train over the crossing, that signal request then starts the Automatic signal clearing logic that the crossing already possesses.  Such a operation does not give UP control of the crossing only UP trains that approach the crossing.  If the dispatcher has no reason to hold a train, he will line routes through the crossing the same as when it was totall automatic.

Such UP control of the crossing's UP signals would permit UP to bring a train to the crossing and still allow a 'head room' move out of Global 3 on the same track that the train is being held at the crossing.  Previously the train would have had to be held at the next Control Point East of the diamonds.

 

That's a good guess.  A (Z) type interlocking is, "A manual interlocking with a release box and a M/W key release, if equipped."  The crossing part is automatic but the dispatcher can hold UP trains.  There is one in Iowa Falls (CN xing) and one in Mason City (DME/CPRS xing). (Who would've thought 50 years ago we would have Canadian railroads in Iowa?)  Both have dispatcher controlled switches within the interlocking limits.  The one at IF is for a siding, the one at MC is for an industrial lead.  Trains coming upon a Stop indication first have to contact the dispatcher for permission to operate the release box.  If the release box doesn't cause the signal to clear up, then recontact the dispatcher for authority to pass the Stop signal.

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Posted by blhanel on Saturday, March 24, 2018 2:51 PM

Snowstorm Uma may have missed Rochelle, but you can sure see the effects of it on the UP eastbounds.  Plus they're dropping chunks of it after hitting the diamonds...

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Saturday, March 24, 2018 5:04 PM

   So that explains the white patch at the diamonds when there is no other snow in the area.

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Posted by Ladder1 on Saturday, March 24, 2018 9:28 PM

No snow in Rochelle today

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Posted by AgentKid on Monday, March 26, 2018 2:31 PM

Now that was odd!

What looked like the Rochelle local BNSF engine just led 3 big AC units WB across the diamonds at 1419 CDT. The first of the three was a KCS unit in Southern Belle scheme. It didn't sound like the AC's were DIT, they were idleing. I don't know what that was about.

I saw the EB UP trains dropping snow on the diamonds. It was the most Canadian scenes I have ever seen on the webcam. One train must have had real trouble. It had about six units on point, but only some of them were running, and for various differnt times, judging by the different amounts of snow on the long hood ends. They must have been grabbing units whenever other ones died where and when they could, to get over the Sub. I bet that was one tired and unhappy crew when they were done.

Bruce

 

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Posted by AgentKid on Thursday, March 29, 2018 3:31 PM

Well, it is that time of year again.

An empty WB UP welded rail train just cleared the diamonds at 1529 CDT.

Bruce

EDIT:

My apologies.

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

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

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Posted by blhanel on Thursday, March 29, 2018 9:20 PM

A little night-time work going on right now...

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Posted by MKT Dave on Sunday, April 1, 2018 3:19 PM

15:11, six engines all UP wb, on the BNSF. guessing empty covered grain hoppers.

...
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Posted by cefinkjr on Sunday, April 1, 2018 11:18 PM

MKT Dave

15:11, six engines all UP wb, on the BNSF. guessing empty covered grain hoppers.

You never know what you're going to see these days.  I've been watching the Horseshoe Curve web cam recently and I think I see almost as many foreign units as I see NS.

Chuck
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, April 2, 2018 11:28 AM

At least for now, though, a UP unit will always be leading on the UP.  I'm not sure whether ATC will be removed from that line once PTC is in place.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Monday, April 2, 2018 11:36 PM

CShaveRR

At least for now, though, a UP unit will always be leading on the UP.  I'm not sure whether ATC will be removed from that line once PTC is in place.

 

UP has never liked ATC.  It's much more restrictive than UP's CCS (Coded Cab Signal) and can at times require bad train handling.  With some of the land barges they run that can mean breaking a knuckle or pulling out a drawbar.  Once PTC is fully functional, CCS may last but everyone expects ATC will be gone.

Jeff

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Posted by AgentKid on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 7:45 AM

jeffhergert
With some of the land barges they run

The second of two huge EB UP freights just cleared the diamonds at 0740 CDT. From the size of them you would think they are trying to get all of the railcars in the American Midwest to Chicago by lunchtime. Good grief!

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

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

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 5:07 PM

   Has anybody noticed the reflections on the rails about this time in the afternoon?  The sun is ahead and to the left, and there are reflections on the BNSF rails to the left, about where you'd expect them to be according to the shadows, but at about the same angle to the right, there are bright reflections on the UP rails.   There isn't another source of light on the right because when a train passed by on the far track, it did not interrupt the reflections on the near track.  Could there be be a pattern of wear causing the surface of the rails to have a grain pattern that reflects the sunlight at that angle?

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Posted by jscott on Thursday, April 5, 2018 8:13 PM

CShaveRR

At least for now, though, a UP unit will always be leading on the UP.  I'm not sure whether ATC will be removed from that line once PTC is in place.

 

If one looks at the documents UP submitted to FRA at the beginning of PTC, it stated that, if and when PTC proved itself, it would apply to remove ATC and the CCESS (or whatever it is).  Why run multiple (some obsolete) systems when one works.  Which, of course, begs the question: will this work?

Scott

 

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Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, April 5, 2018 9:16 PM

 

jscott

 

 
CShaveRR

At least for now, though, a UP unit will always be leading on the UP.  I'm not sure whether ATC will be removed from that line once PTC is in place.

 

If one looks at the documents UP submitted to FRA at the beginning of PTC, it stated that, if and when PTC proved itself, it would apply to remove ATC and the CCESS (or whatever it is).  Why run multiple (some obsolete) systems when one works.  Which, of course, begs the question: will this work?

Scott

 

 

 

 

 

CCS is coded cab signal.  It (and ATC) do something PTC currently doesn't in signalled territory.  The cab signals provide protection within a block if conditions change while you're in that block.  Like a rail breaking or someone opening a switch.  Once you're past the signal governing entrance to a block, PTC won't register a change within that block.  Cab signals do. 

Remember, wayside block signals tell you the condition of the block you are entering, cab signals tell you the condition of the block you are in.  PTC works off the wayside signals.

Jeff

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Sunday, April 8, 2018 7:13 PM

   Has anybody used the "share image" feature on the cam lately?   I tried it yesterday and today, and it goes through all the motions and reports "image sent", but I never get anything.   I've used it in the past with the same parameters and it worked.

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