Were they all container trains? If so, they're stopping to throw a switch to access Global III west of the diamond.
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
I've noticed several westbound UPs that come to a stop blocking the diamonds. I appreciate that there must be a signal further up the track, but I would have thought every effort would be made not to stop trains so that they block the junction. Can anyone explain for me?
Great improvement on the old webcam, BTW.
traisessive1There are not too many long trains through here. I hear a lot of axle counts in the 2-300 range.
On UP, I'd guess that it's because of the Global 3 traffic - all intermodal, which tends to have shorter trains.
I did some exploring (via satellite images) the other day - the BNSF line may be two tracks through the diamonds, but you don't get too far out of town in either direction before you encounter single track. And I don't think the sidings are all that long, relatively speaking. That may well explain why one sees shorter trains on that line.
Most of the coal trains I see on the camera seem to be of a common length for unit trains - in the 100 car range.
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There are not too many long trains through here. I hear a lot of axle counts in the 2-300 range. These guys need to step their game up!
I won't be impressed until I hear one in the 600's.
Just heard a 562 axle on UP.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
Just witnessed something very unsettling on the camera- westbound autorack was going by on UP, and two older gentlemen were standing on top of the retaining wall, lower right in the camera's field of view, when one of them lost his balance and fell backwards into the lower fenced in area. He landed on his rear/back, and it took him awhile to get up, but he did- I'm not sure how. He had a lot of help getting back up to the pavilion.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Scary moment a couple of minutes ago when a gentleman on the upper level of the viewing area got tangled up and took a fall onto the lower viewing area.
The good news is that he appeared to fall flat on his back (it looks to be seven or eight feet) on the concrete and he is now up and about, albeit somewhat shaken. Quite a few people there to come to his aid. I now hear sirens so someone may have called the paramedics, which would be a prudent thing to do.
That is incredibly unnecessary. If a work crew is sitting in their trucks or leaning on their trucks I would not classify that as 'near the tracks'.
Our CROR does not have that requirement. This is all we have in regards to the issue.
Rule 14(f) Succession of short sounds: Alarm for persons or animals on or near the track.
traisessive1For you US crews, why oh why do the crews have to continually blow the horn on the approach to trackside workers - even when they're just sitting in the truck!
I don't have my NORAC 10th Edition handy, but from the Ninth Edition:
Rule 19(d) -o Approaching men or equipment on or near the tracks, regardless of any whistle prohibitions. After this initial warning, sound two short whistle signals intermittently until the head end of the train has passed the men or equipment.
The signal is a long and a short. Others will have to speak for GCOR and railroad specific rules.
I installed a program that will automatically refresh the browser after a preset time. The cam probably only times out on me once in every 10 resets. I have the reset time to 10 minutes.
For you US crews, why oh why do the crews have to continually blow the horn on the approach to trackside workers - even when they're just sitting in the truck!
We certainly don't have that in Canada. It's extremely excessive and unnecessary.
One can also listen in on the Northern Illinois scanner feed on broadcastify.com and have a pretty good idea of operations.
Ed
blhanel Pretty noisy in Rochelle right now courtesy of Mother Nature...
Pretty noisy in Rochelle right now courtesy of Mother Nature...
Also, some visual help on train spotting from Mom Nature. Lots of dripping noises in the audio, but the occasional flashes helped to identify a UP manifest heading west. Even without help, could pick up the reflector strips on some tank cars in the train and the centerbeam flats were sort of obvious as they passed in front of one of the First Street lights. As the UP manifest was nearly clear of the diamonds, an EB BNSF showed up and held for the UP to pass, then after a few minutes got under way.
Even in the dark, it can be kind of interesting.
Brian Schmidt There have been multiple requests to turn the camera to the right to see the Union Pacific signals, but that would limit the view of BNSF trains, so it stays the same...
There have been multiple requests to turn the camera to the right to see the Union Pacific signals, but that would limit the view of BNSF trains, so it stays the same...
Based on my experiences at the pavilion, it wouldn't do any good to turn it anyway. During the day, you have to be directly east of those signals to see them. You might be able to tell the signal colors at night, but since there's no lighting to see the trains by, it's not worth it.
Totally understand. Following through with my idea would require an interface with the signals themselves (chances = zero), or four more cameras whose images are insets to the main image (possible, but $$$$$).
I do like it just the way it is - and it is a huge improvement over it's predecessor! Thanks for the upgrade.
Stopped in today just in time to catch BNSF with an EB tank train (the image is a vast improvement over what we had, but still not quite sharp enough to read the placards - not that I expect it to be).
I've thought for some time that it would be cool to be able to see the signal indications on the four approaches. Before we had sound, it might help clue one in on when a train was approaching, and in which direction.
Speaking of that, here comes another one! (I hear a horn!) Westbound cans on BNSF!
I took a look this weekend and am somewhat semi-hooked. Great quality and the sound is nice.
What have noticed is UP is running huge covered hopper car trains. Yesterday at 1139 am there was a 220 car covered hopper car train and this morning at 928am there was a 210 covered hopper car train. No distributed power on either, so I am assuming these are empties. Still these are big trains, gotta be close to 13000 ft in length.
Just saw a BSNF EB pass with at least 40 lumber racks plus numerous hi cube box cars. People must be building houses again!
Is there an online reference for ETT or something similar? I am now listening in to the NOrthern Illinois scanner feed and would like a reference.
After that rain Friday night, someone needs to get up there and clean the water spots off of the lens/enclosure...
The new webcam veritably rocks.
Oh-oh, storm over Rochelle and suddenly the camera's not working...
EDIT: Camera is now back up. Interesting watching it storm...
My thanks to all at trains.com who made this upgrade happen.
I'm also one of those who would like to see a separate 'volume control' for the webcam. I prefer to set the audio at a low background level concurrent with other sources.
Another feature that could use some fine tuning IMO is the placement & directionality of the site microphone. Horns from trains on the UP line, especially westbounds waiting at the signal, tend to blow me out of my seat!
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like the new web cam except for the fact it will run a few minutes and then I have to hit play to keep it going cant monitor it too long before it has to be restatrted...was not happening on the old one oh well thanks for the cam
Tree. I took your comment about watching both the new and improved Rochelle web cam and railcam.nl at the same time as a suggestion. Turns out it's not too noisy and can be a bit startling, i.e., the bells start ringng at the grade crossing in the Netherlands and a freight in Illinois blows for a crossing. Once in a while, the Dutch train appears just as the American train finishes blowing! Fun, indeed. and add to that, I can hear CSX blowing for a grade crossing about a half mile away from my place. I recommend you try it. I think you'll like it
I like this new webcam, as for background noise I don't really notice it. - I just like to hear the locos and train. Some of the other cams, railroad and non-railroad, have more noise.
I looked at this web site some time ago but was not enticed to watch, this is much better. Thanks Kalmbach.
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There is, indeed, a plant just to the east of the camera's location. I don't remember hearing it 'hum', though. Global III is SW of the camera. But it is far enough away to be an unlikely source of a humming. I hear a 'buzzing' noise in my feed. Sounds like feedback. Or an electronic sourced noise from the camera itself.
Hit a dry spell this afternoon. No big deal for me - I was home and watching on my tablet (worked great, by the way). I kinda felt for that family that was hanging out at the park, though. I don't know if they left, or were just off-camera, when a BNSF and three UP trains (including an intermodal and a coal train at the same time) came through...
Global III is approximately 2000' southwest of the diamonds, just out of sight along the UP behind the trees to the left. I think there's probably some power equipment somewhere in the field of view or on the power poles that's contributing the noise- either that, or a window air unit in one of the homes close by.
I will stab at it - I think someone told me it is Global III for UP?
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