Western Railroad Discussion > Dunsmuir Cam mystery

What's that on the siding in Dunsmuir at 12:41 and why didn't we see it getting there?

Looks like a Federal Railroad Administration car on the rear end and then maybe a testing car of some sort on the second slot led by a single UP Engine.


Possibly the FRA 220 at: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=975434

And maybe the FRA T-6?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/17 13:34 by HasTy.

I post this as info only, but on Sunday morning, I witnessed two trains that came through dunsmuir in daylight but that the camera never displayed.

Posted from Android

In other words, the motion-detector does not always work 100% of the time.

Either that or that FRA Inspection train in the background was airlifted into town...

Posted from Android

JamesSchlinger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Either that or that FRA Inspection train in the
> background was airlifted into town...
>
> Posted from Android

Or it showed up between 10:59 AM and about 11:17 AM. I do not remember exactly but once the camera is triggered for a train, there is a minimum amount of time 10-15 minutes before it is ready to catch the next movement.

The near 'sensor' doesn't include that track, mostly because the 'sensor' has square corners and the angle of the track doesn't quite fit. The area being monitored is kept as small as possible to reduce false triggers, which also gets a number of complaints. The third track, or house track, really doesn't see much action and usually gets picked up later, as in this case.

The far sensor might have caught it but doesn't seem to work all the time. In theory the software should be alternating between the two areas at a very high rate. The near window is between the edge of the frame and the Dunsmuir sign, the far window is next to the brown shed.

In the winter I usually move the far sensor to include the turntable in hope of catching a flanger or spreader being prepared. The camera and computer are a good 10 or 15 years old, sometimes we have to just cut the set up some slack.

+ should also add that if there is a well timed meet at the Depot the second train may be missed due to the 3 minute delay between recordings.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/17 17:23 by TCnR.

It looks also like the crew change is back at the Station platform now as well.

czuleget Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It looks also like the crew change is back at the
> Station platform now as well.


Yep, not really clear what the story really was, I'm hearing on the radio that there is a formal memo concerning the crew change location. There has been a number of incidents that may have contributed to the changes.

My observation was that during the Scherrer grade crossing rebuild this summer the crossing was closed for a few days. During the closure there was a brush fire a few hundred feet from the road crossing, which would have been an easy response for the Dunsmuir Fire Department. With the closure the FD had to drive the long way around, which may have caused some concerns with the powers that be. After the fire, during the real hot weather, I did hear a local CalFire Supervisor make some angry comments (to the CalFire Disp to make some phone calls) on the Fire channel when he found the crossings blocked by a crew change.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/17 17:54 by TCnR.

TCnR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The near 'sensor' doesn't include that track,
> mostly because the 'sensor' has square corners and
> the angle of the track doesn't quite fit. The area
> being monitored is kept as small as possible to
> reduce false triggers, which also gets a number of
> complaints. The third track, or house track,
> really doesn't see much action and usually gets
> picked up later, as in this case.
>
> The far sensor might have caught it but doesn't
> seem to work all the time. In theory the software
> should be alternating between the two areas at a
> very high rate. The near window is between the
> edge of the frame and the Dunsmuir sign, the far
> window is next to the brown shed.
>
> In the winter I usually move the far sensor to
> include the turntable in hope of catching a
> flanger or spreader being prepared. The camera and
> computer are a good 10 or 15 years old, sometimes
> we have to just cut the set up some slack.
>
> + should also add that if there is a well timed
> meet at the Depot the second train may be missed
> due to the 3 minute delay between recordings.

You mean you don't just point the camera and you're done?  8>)
Thanks for some insight into how much trouble you go to in order to deliver the videos.  It's appreciated by many!

mapboy
 

I 100% second that!


mapboy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TCnR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The near 'sensor' doesn't include that track,
> > mostly because the 'sensor' has square corners
> and
> > the angle of the track doesn't quite fit. The
> area
> > being monitored is kept as small as possible to
> > reduce false triggers, which also gets a number
> of
> > complaints. The third track, or house track,
> > really doesn't see much action and usually gets
> > picked up later, as in this case.
> >
> > The far sensor might have caught it but doesn't
> > seem to work all the time. In theory the
> software
> > should be alternating between the two areas at
> a
> > very high rate. The near window is between the
> > edge of the frame and the Dunsmuir sign, the
> far
> > window is next to the brown shed.
> >
> > In the winter I usually move the far sensor to
> > include the turntable in hope of catching a
> > flanger or spreader being prepared. The camera
> and
> > computer are a good 10 or 15 years old,
> sometimes
> > we have to just cut the set up some slack.
> >
> > + should also add that if there is a well timed
> > meet at the Depot the second train may be
> missed
> > due to the 3 minute delay between recordings.
>
> You mean you don't just point the camera and
> you're done?  8>)
> Thanks for some insight into how much trouble you
> go to in order to deliver the videos.  It's
> appreciated by many!
>
> mapboy
>  

Posted from Android

I will give it a third, Always enjoy what-ever and when-ever it picks up what it does. Thanks for providing the views we do get, much appreciated.

Brian
Burlington, Iowa

There are at least three video's on Dunsmuir cam for the 19th showing the 3 units coming and going.