Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

I'll be on-site this Thursday and Friday to upgrade the radio network that the cameras use. The team is also installing Wi-Fi for the Friends in the Yard. And, if all goes well, we'll finally have sound restored.

Expect some long outages Thursday.

At the moment, if looks like the cameras are down. I can't access the firewall either, so it may be a power issue. If it's more serious, then I try to fix whatever the problem is in a few days.

Thanks Jason.
This is a lifeline to ng. rr. for many of us who cannot travel to narrow gauge country.

Allan

I understand, Allan. I'm in the same boat these days. I've got 2 young boys and haven't been to the Promised Land since Feb 2020.

For a long time I was able to go up there at least once a year, often twice a year. But, familial responsibilities now control my schedule. And, that's a good thing. Being a dad is AWESOME!

Thanks Jason for the heads up! Good luck this week!

Thanks, Craig.

Brownrice, the internet provider for the webcams, is down due to a fiber cut in Taos. ETA sometime tomorrow...

MANY THANKS Jason! and yes I did mean to shout. I am really looking forward to having the sound back.

I probably don't have to say it, but enjoy each moment (even the bad one's) of being a Dad. They grow up so quickly as I am sure you are aware.

Thanks again,

Bill

As of today (Sunday), all of the cameras have been down several days for me. The tipple cameras since Friday afternoon and the depot camera since very early Saturday morning. Is this still part of the upgrade or has something else happened?

Lot of excavation going on in the yard lately. Are the power lines underground?

Is Chama itself experiencing any outages?
The fact that the restroom camera is also out is troubling for sure.

This situation is interfering with my daily 10 am coffee injection.

Here is some joy to ponder:

https://poweroutage.us/area/state/new%20mexico

good to know that it is not on the site problem. I was starting to look for a new CPU

For what it is worth
In the past, when all 3 cameras are out it has been an ISP (Brown Rice) problem.

Update

The cameras are the property of the Friends (not the railroad) as such they are operated and maintained by our own IT person. It seems the railroad's IT company has been working on their equipment.

Thanks Rich for the update.

Has anyone asked Jason Rose what difficulties he may have run into?I
It has been a long time since it was really worked on.
Jason has not had the time to spend on the cameras with the family now at 4.
Family first.

Allan

Jason did some work on the system this past weekend and it was up and running when he left.
What ever went south with the system happened after that

Thank you for that info.

Allan

Brownrice is claiming that all customers are up and running.
Has anyone from Friends called them about our problem?

https://www.brownrice.com/network_status

Are the cams up and working for anybody? I have not been able to see anything since last week. Just wondering if it is something on my end. Thanks.
John

The camera problem is local to the RR and no one is getting images. I suspect it is a conflict between their equipment and the Friends equipment.
For the record; the cameras were up and running when Jason left for home (Texas)

Was not trying to implicate Jason or anything like that (must not have logged in while they were working) just trying to find out if I have a problem at my end. Thanks for the update.
John

Everything was working perfectly when I left (except for the mic - we ran out of time to get that done). The railroad has a 3rd party IT company and changes were made before I arrived. I suspect more were made after I left.

I'm on vacation with my family and can't work on this right now. But I'll contact the railroad when I get back to Spring next week and see what can be done.

I suspect this may be a prolonged outage.

Just FYI, all three cameras are still displaying darkened screens with a prominent "X" this morning.

Thanks,

Dave
Bothell, WA

I am sure you will get it fixed. I'm just champing at the bit because I'll be out there 7/1 through 7/9 for my docent stint. Being 84 though, this might
be my last but I hope not. I do like to watch the trains come and go from my "playroom" here in Jacksonville and when there is sound that will be
even better. I am sorry that the CODOT camera in Antonito was moved or removed, it used to give a good view of the comings & going there.

Jerry Sullivan
retired from Southern & CSX

Wade Rogers wrote:Lot of excavation going on in the yard lately. Are the power lines underground?

Is Chama itself experiencing any outages?
The fact that the restroom camera is also out is troubling for sure.

This situation is interfering with my daily 10 am coffee injection.

Sounds like my more or less daily coca-cola FIX.

Jerry Sullivan

Jerry

Try this link. Not sure if it updates.

https://maps.cotrip.org/list/cameras?so ... 2234927265

Sharon Evans wrote:Jerry

Try this link. Not sure if it updates.

https://maps.cotrip.org/list/cameras?so ... 2234927265

Thanks Sharon but it does not appear to update and the image is rather fuzzy.

Jerry

Jerry, I don't know about the updates but that is a Colorado DOT image and I don't believe they have cleaned their camera lenses in 2 years. I have many of their webcam locationd bookmarked and they are all "ugly"

So this is how it ends...with a whimper. Really sorry to see the camera's go. Not being able to afford to get to the railroad they were something I looked forward to everyday. Thanks to all who supported this endeavor in the past. Even if the camera's were to come back another year or two or three without sound is not too appealing. I hate to be a whiner but 'out of sight....out of mind.'

The cameras aren't gone. Please tone down the drama.

We're working with the railroad, the railroad's IT company, and the ISP to get them back online. Due to he nature of the outage this would be a tedious process if I lived there, but I'm 1000 miles away and relying on others (that I fully trust) to lead the charge.

Patience, please.

Thank you Sir.

Miss the camera greatly. Having ridden the train several times, now I did watch the departure and return several times a week. Keep up te good work, all you volunteers. Probably never ride it again, 89 years old now.
Daniel Kube

Daniel, I know the feeling. I'm 84 and going out there from Florida on June 29/30. I have a docent ride scheduled on July 5 when I inoculate my #3 great-grandson with the railroad bug. Next year the wife demands a vacation without ANY TRAIN and by the next year I will be 86, so who knows, this may be my last trip. I too, appreciate the work and the difficulty of keeping those cameras going and they are my "ng fix" too. Take care of yourself, and guys, when you are up on those ladders and high places, be real careful please. Hope to get a couple more docent trips before leavinig on July 10.

Has anyone been able to estimate the extent of the damage?
I hate to raise this scary subject but the railroad may be facing some painfully expensive repairs.
Some of them could be designed to avoid damage in the future.
Bottom line? I dearly miss the train cams and would gladly donate to their repair.
Can someone give us an estimate?

There's no hardware damage. This is an issue with the internet service provider.

I'm intentionally being vague with the details. My apologies. Some things don't need to be discussed in a public forum.

The issue is being addressed and we'll get it resolved.

Please be patient.

Jason, thank you for this update. No matter what the 'misunderstanding' is with the ISP, I know that it will be resolved in due course.

For Pete's sake Jason, stop irritating us.
You're not negotiating nuclear treaties here, you're talking to 'people who live in Taos.'
Secrecy is not going to help anything so tell us what the hell is going on.
I bet I could talk to these same people---raise a fuss, agitate & annoy with the best of 'em.
I'm only two hours from Taos. It's nice and cool in Taos. Good food. Cold beer. Ain't been there in years.

Offers to assist or knowledgeable inputs are rare. Anyone can bitch

AMEN!

So it's a money issue, eh?
Now was that so hard to reveal?
Financial negotiations are always tricky. How much difference are we talking about?
Is management going to pass the hat?

No one said it was a money issue. In fact, it is not.

How many guesses do get, Rich?

(As many as you want as long as as they are civil.

However I am not able to give you answers,
Rich)

Richy boy why are you editing my comments?
You're quickly approaching snake-in-the grass level with that kind of behavior, mr moderator.

Keep it civil.

Having been manager of a computer aided design system for 21 years at CSX, I can appreciate at least some of the difficulties involved. Had a nice docent tour from July 1 through 9 but there are so many docents now, living in 30 miles or less of the railroad, that I retired from the group. It was the most fun I ever had for the 4 years I did it. So guys working on the camera situation. I appreciate your work and again, when you are on those high places BE CAREFUL.