Virtual Railfan Cams

I generally stick to the smaller cams such as San Juan Capistrano. It gets too crazy for me at times for the bigger cams.

I’ve opened one of these chat rooms once; decided it was a “millennial thing” and haven’t bothered to go back.  

Curt

Curt,

Really?  I didn't get that .  I thought that there were a good mix of people there,just that it seemed to me to be very "clicky".  It felt like if you are not a regular,  then you tend to be ignored.

Robert

RJG posted:

Curt,

Really?  I didn't get that .  I thought that there were a good mix of people there,just that it seemed to me to be very "clicky".  It felt like if you are not a regular,  then you tend to be ignored.

 

Robert

I haven't experienced that, but that's sort of why I stick to small cams as I have heard that happens. There's no real groups that stick together and nobody insults you for not knowing anything. Highly recommend San Juan Capistrano, very peaceful and has a real California vibe. Very laid-back and gets its fair share of traffic, something like 20+ passenger trains per day and 2 freights. 

I tend to open the image full screen and ignore the chat.  I tire quickly of the inane banter and the, "When is the next train coming?" comments.  On weekends I like to watch the live feed from TVRRM.  Otherwise I'll watch whatever one happens to catch my eye, usually not for more than about 15 minutes, however.

On the horseshoe curve cam,  I have caught more heritage in units in a week then I would railfanning for a month in person! The people on HSC cam are friendly and knowledgeable most of the time and answer most questions. Just check Heritage units website to see when a train is near the cam and hop on if one is around. That’s what we do anyway. I have caught about 10 heritage units in the month of May on Virtual Railfan’s  cams so far.

The only cam I watch.  Lots of varied traffic, beautiful scenery and the chat room is decent. Sometimes lots of drama on the rails and off plus there are some knowledgeable people there. these chats usually get a bunch of screballs but HSc doesn't tolerate them. they are going to add a second camera.

Jim,   Do you have to join to be able to chat?  I have been watching for the past week and never get a response,  even from the moderators.  I noticed that my questions/comments disappear but all others remain.

I don't know. I have always been a "lurker" on the sideline. One poster says on the HSC cam ,"they are there and then gone"   ???  Guess he has never watched a WB coal train crawling up the mountain. I have watched several of the others but they are boring. Plus I have my own videos of trains on the HSC.

Clickish and clannish is putting it mildly. There are lots of know-nothings who post pure nonsense. Once when I attempted to correct someone who was calling 2 or 3 unit MU consists “doubleheaders” or “tripleheaders” I was castigated by the moderator for”nitpicking”.

I was also threatened with banishment for stating that I didn’t care for Amtrak or commuter trains. I was told that “railfans MUST support Amtrak”. 

I must have missed that requirement when I got my “Railfan License” 50-odd years ago.