Interesting that there was a News Wire item about utilities wanting more coal shipments to stock up for the winter and this afternoon seems to feature a parade of EB coal trains on the UP and a couple of trains of empties westbound.
Coincidence or conspiracy?
Coincidence or conspiracy? Neither. A lot of coal trains pass through the Rochelle diamonds. I haven't really noticed an uptick. But power companies and typically stockpiling this time of year for the winter. And based upon recent trends, this coming winter may be much like last winter for the same reasons.
Power companies ARE typically....
Could someone please take a broom to the spider web in front of the lens?
I just see the web right now but the other day I was treated to watching the spider's dinner swinging in the breeze. Yuck.
Maybe we can get that spider to take up housekeeping elsewhere.
ChuckAllen, TX
cefinkjrCould someone please take a broom to the spider web in front of the lens?
If the camera is located where the old one was, access is not an easy proposition - but then, if it was, there would be the possibility of vandalism and overambitious railfans trying to aim it where they thought it should be aimed.
A simple spray with a garden hose might do the trick.
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...
tree68 A simple spray with a garden hose might do the trick.
Or, as I say after rescuing the missus from a "huge" spider: "Surf's up, Spidey."
Actually, isn't the camera on top of the visiter center/gift shop?
ChuckCobleighActually, isn't the camera on top of the visiter center/gift shop?
Nope - it's on top of the pavilion. Note the white speck on the west end of the peak: N 41.92027 W 89.07284 and compare it with the view from the camera.
It looks to me like those diamonds - particularly those in the near UP track - need some maintenance. I just saw an EB UP stack train go through at a moderate speed and some piggyback and double stack cars rocked pretty wildly as they hit the diamonds. I first thought I was seeing a mechanical department problem but then some other cars did the same thing at the same point.
Updated: Watched another EB UP train (mixed freight) and saw the same rocking of cars with a higher CoG. An EB BNSF oil train (running right-handed) going through now shows no exceptional rocking. That confirms what I saw with the two UP trains and would point to the nearer of the two diamonds as the one with a problem.
Watching the past couple of days, I'm seeing a lot of auto racks on both lines, mostly heading west.
In my mind, I am hearing Elwood Blues saying, "New Oldsmobiles are in early this year."
Watched an EB auto carrier train on BNSF this afternoon. Probably empties since it was EB.
cefinkjr Watched an EB auto carrier train on BNSF this afternoon. Probably empties since it was EB.
Lots of product coming off boats in San Diego and Oxnard. I occasionally see BNSF trains of auto racks heading north from San Diego in daylight hours. Some may be getting to the cars by truck from Tijuana (Toyota truck plant) but a lot of it rolling off ships.
Current Google Earth shot of the yard in San Diego shows four loading tracks and one ramp in place. Usually the trains head north at night so they can be there for the folks who want to walk in front of a moving train up the coast, seemingly a weekly occurrence these days.
cefinkjrIt looks to me like those diamonds - particularly those in the near UP track - need some maintenance.
Based on observations of the Rochelle cam over the years, the diamonds get a lot of attention. You'll often see MOW trucks parked across the UP tracks, on the same side of the BNSF tracks as the park. With the better cam we have available now, you'll likely easily pick out the welders at work.
As I recall, the diamonds were replaced en masse just a couple of years ago or so.
tree68cefinkjrIt looks to me like those diamonds - particularly those in the near UP track - need some maintenance. Based on observations of the Rochelle cam over the years, the diamonds get a lot of attention. As I recall, the diamonds were replaced en masse just a couple of years ago or so.
Based on observations of the Rochelle cam over the years, the diamonds get a lot of attention.
cefinkjrtree68 cefinkjrIt looks to me like those diamonds - particularly those in the near UP track - need some maintenance. Based on observations of the Rochelle cam over the years, the diamonds get a lot of attention. As I recall, the diamonds were replaced en masse just a couple of years ago or so. I may have misspoken. What I really suspect needs attention is the ballast under that diamond. "Rocking" like that frequently points to a "pumping" joint; one where the normal flexing of a joint has caused the ballast to be compressed and fail to support the joint properly. In many cases, the ballast is actually crushed to little more than grit and is washed away by the next light shower --- disappearing ballast.
tree68 cefinkjrIt looks to me like those diamonds - particularly those in the near UP track - need some maintenance. Based on observations of the Rochelle cam over the years, the diamonds get a lot of attention. As I recall, the diamonds were replaced en masse just a couple of years ago or so.
I may have misspoken. What I really suspect needs attention is the ballast under that diamond. "Rocking" like that frequently points to a "pumping" joint; one where the normal flexing of a joint has caused the ballast to be compressed and fail to support the joint properly. In many cases, the ballast is actually crushed to little more than grit and is washed away by the next light shower --- disappearing ballast.
I'm wondering if there might be a transition section in play here. With no knowledge of rail weights on the BNSF and UP lines hitting the diamonds, but if the UP rail is lighter than the diamonds' rail, that would be a possibility.
Chuck - You're undoubtedly right on with the ballast issue.
I've seen many highway crossings where the adjacent track has issues - keeping all four (actually eight) approaches to the diamonds has got to be a real issue, and the constant hammering of wheels over the frogs can't do the substructure any good.
tree68Chuck - You're undoubtedly right on with the ballast issue. I've seen many highway crossings where the adjacent track has issues - keeping all four (actually eight) approaches to the diamonds has got to be a real issue, and the constant hammering of wheels over the frogs can't do the substructure any good.
I see that no one else has reported that the camera went offline about 3:40 PM CDT. I got up to answer my door and when I got back the camera was down.
There was a terrific storm going on. Very heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. Being away from the camera I don't know if the park suffered a direct lightning strike, or if the wind and rain knocked out the commercial power supply.
I hope they get the camera up soon, I am really enjoying it.
Bruce
EDIT: BTW the rain probably cleared up the spider web problem!
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
AgentKid I see that no one else has reported that the camera went offline about 3:40 PM CDT. I got up to answer my door and when I got back the camera was down. There was a terrific storm going on. Very heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. Being away from the camera I don't know if the park suffered a direct lightning strike, or if the wind and rain knocked out the commercial power supply. I hope they get the camera up soon, I am really enjoying it. Bruce EDIT: BTW the rain probably cleared up the spider web problem!
I was just thinking that Rochelle was having an unscheduled total eclipse. The weather information in the corner right now seems to be correct, 72° and broken clouds. Maybe if they fix the clouds they will fix the camera as well.
ChuckCobleighAgentKid I see that no one else has reported that the camera went offline about 3:40 PM CDT. I got up to answer my door and when I got back the camera was down. There was a terrific storm going on. Very heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. Being away from the camera I don't know if the park suffered a direct lightning strike, or if the wind and rain knocked out the commercial power supply. I hope they get the camera up soon, I am really enjoying it. Bruce EDIT: BTW the rain probably cleared up the spider web problem! I was just thinking that Rochelle was having an unscheduled total eclipse. The weather information in the corner right now seems to be correct, 72° and broken clouds. Maybe if they fix the clouds they will fix the camera as well.
AgentKidI see that no one else has reported that the camera went offline about 3:40 PM CDT. I got up to answer my door and when I got back the camera was down.
Bruce - From now on, you aren't allowed to answer your door when watching the cam (once they get it fixed).
Did you read the previous few posts just before your post?
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Jim Still down,Hope it dont take as long as the Galesburg rail Cam to come back,it has been a year and they are still showing using the bandwith.Rochelle is a great cam and know it will be back soon if it was only weather related.
Semper VaporoDid you read the previous few posts just before your post?
We are aware that the webcam is down Tuesday morning and will look into it.
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
Damn Hippies!!
Well, at 3:53 CDT today I see pictures and hear sounds again. Sounds and looks like the camera and the town survived the severe thunderstorm yesterday. Good times.
Brian Schmidt We are aware that the webcam is down Tuesday morning and will look into it.
Don't forget to wave! Oh - you mean look into the problem...
ChuckCobleighGood times.
Yes.
And the image does seem clearer.
Very glad it is back.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.