Which webcam is your favorite to watch Amtrak trains?

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iliketrains

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Aug 19, 2018
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Which webcam is your favorite to watch Amtrak trains?

Which webcam shows the most Amtrak traffic?

The Altoona, PA cam on YouTube is always a treat to watch because of the horseshoe-shaped track going around the mountain. However, there is not a lot of Amtrak traffic. I like to catch the Pennsylvanian as it passes. There is plenty of freight traffic. Some with very colorful cars that make for a beautiful screenshot. There are other YouTube cams such as La Plata and Flagstaff.
 
I like Ashland, VA, due to the street running, variety of trains (including NE Regional, Silvers and Auto Train). Generally the VR ones offer more for free and are more affordable than Railstream, which is a shame since Railstream has one not far from my home. It would be up on a monitor at all times, since I can hear the trains passing but not see them. 😁

Several people here, including myself, also watch British cameras. They're great if you like a lot of passenger trains.
 
Which webcam is your favorite to watch Amtrak trains?

Which webcam shows the most Amtrak traffic?

The Altoona, PA cam on YouTube is always a treat to watch because of the horseshoe-shaped track going around the mountain. However, there is not a lot of Amtrak traffic. I like to catch the Pennsylvanian as it passes. There is plenty of freight traffic. Some with very colorful cars that make for a beautiful screenshot. There are other YouTube cams such as La Plata and Flagstaff.
I frequently tune in to the Barstow and Tuscan railcam to see the Chief and Sunset.

I keep trying to be on the Skyomish cam for the Builder, but always miss it.

I sometimes watch the Chehalis railcam to see the Starlight. And I'll pop into others sometimes as well
 
Because it is the most recent expansion that you can see from a railroad webcam, I prefer to watch the Roanoke, VA cam on weekend mornings. (days on which the train leaves Roanoke in daylight)
 
Most Amtrak action will be on Ashland. On the Florida one, you will the same Silver train twice back and forth to Tampa. Galesburg is a favorite, and so is Tucson for its great lighting at night and long Sunset layover, (why does the SL use all 50 minutes at TUC even when running late?)
 
It's a service stop, they need to refuel both engines and water the train. In addition, they do police checks there often

I know its a service stop, but I have seen to many times when that train is running an hour or two late, refueling and watering done in thirty minutes and they still wait.
 
I frequently tune in to the Barstow and Tuscan railcam to see the Chief and Sunset.

I keep trying to be on the Skyomish cam for the Builder, but always miss it.

I sometimes watch the Chehalis railcam to see the Starlight. And I'll pop into others sometimes as well

I keep trying to catch Builder too on Skyomish!
 
There's a brand new railcam at Cordele, GA, that doesn't feature Amtrak but is nonetheless fascinating. Double-tracked NS mainline crossing both CSX and SAM Shortline at grade, with lots of traffic. I intended to visit Cordele last March to meet up with an AU friend who has an interest in this area. Didn't happen for obvious reasons, but it looks like a great train-watching location.

 
I had been watching LaPlata each night (if I could) to see the SWC - when they went to 3 days a week I lost track of the cam.
Same here. I also like Skykomish, though as with LaPlata, I lost track when the Empire Builder went to three days a week. I like Ashland too for the number of Amtrak trains and in particular the Auto Train.
 
Same here. I also like Skykomish, though as with LaPlata, I lost track when the Empire Builder went to three days a week. I like Ashland too for the number of Amtrak trains and in particular the Auto Train.

The Auto Train can also be seen on the Folkston, Georgia cam on YouTube.
 
I tend to gravitate toward the Santa Fe Junction webcam in Kansas City. Thats the most complex junction of anywhere, and there always something going by, including the Chief and the MRR doing its wye.

Now I wish there were some way to watch all the webcams at once on one screen, and I could just put it on in the background on my TV to see what's busy.
 
I tend to gravitate toward the Santa Fe Junction webcam in Kansas City. Thats the most complex junction of anywhere, and there always something going by, including the Chief and the MRR doing its wye.
That one was a real time-filler during the early parts of lockdown/stay-at-home orders after the UP derailment on the bridge and the subsequent repairs, which took days. Amazing to watch. I believe there's a saved time-lapse somewhere on YouTube.
 
Now I wish there were some way to watch all the webcams at once on one screen, and I could just put it on in the background on my TV to see what's busy.

I have watched several at the same time (not ALL of them) by opening each on in a "new window" instead of a "new tab". I then resize the windows and place them next to each other. I send those to the TV since my TV is connected to the PC via HDMI ... I tend to mute the sound on them - or at least most of them.
 
I tend to gravitate toward the Santa Fe Junction webcam in Kansas City. Thats the most complex junction of anywhere, and there always something going by, including the Chief and the MRR doing its wye.

Now I wish there were some way to watch all the webcams at once on one screen, and I could just put it on in the background on my TV to see what's busy.

I didn't realize I could see the Chief on this cam. I am now adding it to my list. Thanks!!
 
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