Trains.com

Semi-official Rochelle webcam discussion thread

373255 views
3712 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2015
  • 12 posts
Posted by SushiLover on Friday, December 4, 2015 10:56 PM

For those that haven't seen it yet, here's the 2015 CP Holiday Train

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_jWaScptQ4

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Thursday, December 3, 2015 7:05 PM

Right at the end around 3:25 there is a good shot as well

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, December 3, 2015 6:50 PM

Watch it on YouTube (click the YouTube link at the bottom of the embedded video window in this thread) and then click the "Full screen" icon in the lower right corner of the video on the YouTube page.  This will make the image fill the screen and be big enough to really see the crossover near the middle of the image.  Watch starting about 1:20... you will see both "wings" switch several times (and not necessarily at the same time!).

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Thursday, December 3, 2015 6:25 PM

cefinkjr
I was hoping, though, to see the movable point diamond in action as it is being lined for one route or the other.

   It changed several times from about 0:55 to 1:28, but it was quick.   At about 1:03 was the longest that it was switched.  

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 8:54 PM

CBT

What is that thing that looks like an uncompleted switch to the right of the speed limit sign? It has a switch box but i dont know what it is.

 

 Google Map Link

 

If you look at 0:27 in the video the camera moves back. They look like derails, maybe they are engaged when the bridge rotates.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 7:01 PM

On thing I find amazing, the drawbridge was only opened 1 time for water traffic during the entire installation.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Allen, TX
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by cefinkjr on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 6:50 PM

ChuckCobleigh

Movable point diamond installation.

This short time-lapse video is pretty entertaining.

From BNSF.

Wow!  That's so quick, I'm going to have to watch it a few more times to soak it all in.  Thanks for the link, Chuck. Bow
 
I was hoping, though, to see the movable point diamond in action as it is being lined for one route or the other.
 
Still impressive,  though.  My non-rail buds are going to get this one. 

Chuck
Allen, TX

CBT
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 191 posts
Posted by CBT on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 2:02 PM

What is that thing that looks like an uncompleted switch to the right of the speed limit sign? It has a switch box but i dont know what it is.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 1:17 PM

Looks that way to me.  For a brief time, the camera is a little further back and shows them much better.  

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Sunny (mostly) San Diego
  • 1,920 posts
Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 1:09 PM

Paul of Covington
   Right in the middle-- aren't those two tracks crossing with no provision to switch from one to the other?   The angle is so acute that movable frogs would be used.   (My guess, anyway.)

Notice that starting at about 30 seconds into the video, the south end of the Amtrak platform can be seen in the lower left of the frame for a while.

From the description below the video:

BNSF trains operating through a crossover at the Columbia River Bridge between the Fallbridge and Seattle subdivisions used to be limited to no more than 10 mph. However, the recent installation of a rare “movable-point diamond” has allowed for higher efficiency through this stretch of track near the Amtrak Station in Vancouver.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 12:32 PM

Deggesty
I didn't see any track crossing another track; I had thought that diamonds were only at crossings.

   Right in the middle-- aren't those two tracks crossing with no provision to switch from one to the other?   The angle is so acute that movable frogs would be used.   (My guess, anyway.)

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 11:39 AM

Are those powered derails in the foreground?

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 10:50 AM

Deggesty
They have to--look how fast the equipment is moved.

Looks almost like someone building a model railroad layout - lots of "snap track..."

In fact, given the model MOW equipment, I can just about see someone doing a similar video of such a project on their model railroad.

That was quite the speedboat, too...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    June 2015
  • 43 posts
Posted by phkmn2000 on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 9:29 AM
Great video! Snowing this morning! there was some discussion a while back on why the last snow disappeared more quickly on the UP tracks. I think at least part of the reason is that the BNSF tracks lie more in shadow from the trees. You can see that the ground is cooler on the BNSF side this morning as the snow accumulates there first. Even bare trees throw enough shadow to make a difference.
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 9:21 AM

Norm48327

 

 
ChuckCobleigh

Movable point diamond installation.

This short time-lapse video is pretty entertaining.

From BNSF.

 

 

 

Those guys sure work fast. LOL

 

They have to--look how fast the equipment is moved. Smile

I didn't see any track crossing another track; I had thought that diamonds were only at crossings.

That junction is somewhat familiar to me--I have been both ways on all three tracks--in to/out of Portland, from/to Pasco, and to/from Seattle.

 

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 5:44 AM

ChuckCobleigh

Movable point diamond installation.

This short time-lapse video is pretty entertaining.

From BNSF.

 

Those guys sure work fast. LOL

Norm


  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Sunny (mostly) San Diego
  • 1,920 posts
Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 11:23 PM

Movable point diamond installation.

This short time-lapse video is pretty entertaining.

From BNSF.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 7:20 PM

You have to have them first and second - they have to work. You're asking a lot out of a small group of mechanical and an even smaller group of communications employees.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 6:45 PM

Will the loco cameras tell the story ?

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 9:39 AM

A little more detail ...

https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/2015/12/01/csx-ns-trains-nearly-collide-in-fostoria/

Norfolk Southern spokesman David Pidgeon confirmed the incident.

“An eastbound NS train approached the diamond at Fostoria with a clear signal and when the crew spotted a northbound CSX train approaching the diamond, the NS crew put their train into an emergency brake (application),” Pidgeon told Trains.

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, November 30, 2015 9:23 PM

The picture with the article makes a liar out of the caption--the UP power as on the NS track, and CSX was on its own track.  NS would have had nothing to do with the CSX move.

Signals will be checked, and both crews will fill their respective sample bottles.  S.O.P.  

I'd be inclined to believe that the CSX crew was at fault since the picture shows him well beyond the last signal he would have encountered.  Had there still been a tower at the plant, the radio chatter would have occurred a lot more quickly, and probably wouldn't have involved the NS train at all.

P.S.  A while back somebody mentioned a "safety sandwich".  Nothing at all sinister about that--every so often the railroad will put on a small feed for crews, when a safety goal is met or exceeded (I was a safety captain once), and Savanna was (is?) a crew-change point.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, November 30, 2015 4:18 PM

rdamon
Would the NTSB be involved in this or would it be handled internally?

If any fed is involved, it'd be the FRA, but since it's essentially "traffic infractions," most likely it'll be handled internally.  As has been suggested, maybe some time off...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Monday, November 30, 2015 3:24 PM

True ... the chatter was on another forum.

Would the NTSB be involved in this or would it be handled internally?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, November 30, 2015 2:22 PM

rdamon

Chatter is that the CSX was to wait for the NS.

I bet a few small cups got filled up in the bathroom.

 

http://reviewtimes.com/local-news/2015/11/30/close-call/

Since the discription in the Review Times reports that NS was operating the CSX engines and CSX was operating the UP engines - Let's wait for some real evidence.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Monday, November 30, 2015 2:05 PM

Chatter is that the CSX was to wait for the NS.

I bet a few small cups got filled up in the bathroom.

 

http://reviewtimes.com/local-news/2015/11/30/close-call/

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, November 30, 2015 12:34 PM

Red Signal violation by someone.  Either train 'could' have been the violater.  A investigation will determine the guilty.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Monday, November 30, 2015 11:26 AM

Looks like there was a close call at Fostoria yesterday ..

https://youtu.be/8_AyFabk9Ik

 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Saturday, November 28, 2015 11:43 PM

BaltACD
You also have to comply with your company's policy concerning the use of air/dynamic braking.

Yeah.  But when it comes to complying with orders.... terminology is weak for a reason.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 28, 2015 10:34 PM

zugmann
BaltACD

Spoken like someone in the movement office.  (no offense, but not always reflective of what happens on the ground)

When I was training, I had the opportunity to have a couple good engineers allow me to run balls to the wall up to a restriction, then using the air to grind it down just before.  Not typical of everyday running (looking ahead is your goal, fuel conservation and all that), but good to know how to be able to.  We're only human out here...

You also have to comply with your company's policy concerning the use of air/dynamic braking.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Allen, TX
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by cefinkjr on Saturday, November 28, 2015 8:30 PM

Not sure why you think it should have been a Rock Island 900-class but I'll take your word for it.  I also bow to the encyclopedic knowledge (or terrific internet searching skills) that let you identify Oahu 85 so quickly.   Bow  That's definitely the engine on film.  I did a couple of quick searches for outside frame 4-6-0 and got nada.

Chuck
Allen, TX

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy