"Tour the Line" videos of the Columbia and Western posted

[PGE-N°2]

Hence the working train order signal prototype!   I hope to have the 6 TO semaphores in place within the year (for Vanrail 2013).

I think a micro camera at caboose cupola level with a view simulating the conductor's looking out over the top of the swaying box cars would be very cool.  Food for thought.

md

That sounds like an incredible idea! The caboose view has to be much better than the cab view in any circumstances, to be able to see the entire train winding around curves. Too bad I'm not a video engineer. That sounds like an excellent idea to try.

[peteski]

I have contemplated a "caboose-cam" few years ago but it never cam to fruition.
In order to make the camera non-obtrusive I thought of using periscope-like mirrors so that the camera woudl be fully hidden and the view would be through the cupola.  This should be doable.  Another idea being considered was to mount the camera on a servo-controlled platform inside the caboose so that the camera could be rotated around for a 180 degree (or even larger) view while the train was in motion.

But I still prefer the engineer's view from the cab (as this is what the real engineer would be seeing while driving the train.)