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
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
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!
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
Oh-oh, storm over Rochelle and suddenly the camera's not working...
EDIT: Camera is now back up. Interesting watching it storm...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
The new webcam veritably rocks.
After that rain Friday night, someone needs to get up there and clean the water spots off of the lens/enclosure...
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.
Ed
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!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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...
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
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...
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.
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.
Pretty noisy in Rochelle right now courtesy of Mother Nature...
blhanel 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.
One can also listen in on the Northern Illinois scanner feed on broadcastify.com and have a pretty good idea of operations.
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.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Were they all container trains? If so, they're stopping to throw a switch to access Global III west of the diamond.
I have seen a couple of massive covered hopper trains (EB). One had 200 cars adn the other 217 cars. I would assume these were combined empty grain trains.
Where does one listen in on scanners?ALso, does anyone have info on scheduled trains for both railroads? I have a pretty good idea of movements for CN, CSX, and NS in NW Indiana but am completely in the dark for movements for UP and BNSF.
I have noticed there is a daily WB UP intermodal at 3pm with UPS/FedEx/YRC and other hot trailer moves. It is usually a shorter train, maybe only 75-100 trailers, including pups for ABF and YRC.
The UP does seem to run shorter trains than CSX and NS.
I saw a unit tank train led by three Union Pacific locomotives running on the left main...on the BNSF toward Savanna! I had just awoken for the day so this more than confused me. This proof that you never know what you may see when watching trains.
James
Thanks Brian, I think they were all containers. I'll watch out for the next one to check :)
MP173: The hot WB UP intermodal train that you see @3pm is most likely the 'Bird', ZG2LT (Global II / Proviso - Lathrop, CA)
Re: WB intermodal trains that stop on the diamonds are usually entering Global III which is just west of the diamonds behind the trees.
CC
I have been watching the Rochelle webcam off and on for about a month and I have a question. Many of the unit oil tank car trains usually have two or three locomotives. then a covered Hopper or some other "neutral" car immediately behind the power, before the tank cars. What is this car's purpose?
BTW, I really enjoy the enhanced camera's resolution and the sound.
northwesterner I have been watching the Rochelle webcam off and on for about a month and I have a question. Many of the unit oil tank car trains usually have two or three locomotives. then a covered Hopper or some other "neutral" car immediately behind the power, before the tank cars. What is this car's purpose? BTW, I really enjoy the enhanced camera's resolution and the sound.
It is a "buffer car".It provides separation between the locomotives and hazmat.
Norm
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.