Video feed shows passing trains

By Angie Landsverk

New cameras on Waupaca’s train depot now allow people from throughout the world to watch live train activity on the tracks there.

Two cameras were installed on the depot on June 4.

“A number of people had been asking to have a rail cam for years,” said Mike Kirk, who manages the depot as a volunteer.

The Waupaca Historical Society owns the depot and worked with Virtual Railfan to make it happen.

The organization had to upgrade its internet service before the cameras were installed.

It used hotel/motel grant funds from the Waupaca Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to do so.

The historical society turned to its donations fund to pay Virtual Railfan $3,505 for the cameras, Kirk said.

People may watch Waupaca’s video feed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6sYUkyJYFU.

“If we weren’t part of this network, people wouldn’t know how to find us,” said Kirk.

Someone told him about the company, which provides live train cams and has 66 cameras in 41 locations in 22 states.

Right now, Waupaca is the only Virtual Railfan site in Wisconsin.

Other Midwest sites are in Indiana and Ohio.

“We thought about it a long time before we decided to do it,” Kirk said.

Volunteers hope it increases interest in the train depot.

“We’ve had over 400 people watching sometimes,” he said. “It’s good publicity. People learn about Waupaca and that the depot is here.”

The Waupaca Train Depot is located at 525 Oak St.

“One person drove 200 miles just to see it,” Kirk said.

That happened last week after he saw it online.

Kirk said the man brought a chair and sat and watched the trains pass by.

At least 25 to 30 trains go through Waupaca on the average day, he said.

“This is the main line from Canada down to Chicago for the Canadian National Railroad,” Kirk said.

Video feed on YouTube

In the video feed, Waupaca Foundry’s Plant 1 is visible in the background.

He said Virtual Railfan currently controls the cameras and does not zoom in on the foundry for privacy reasons.

Kirk noted people enjoy watching when trains switch tracks to go to Plant 1.

The historical society wants to purchase a joystick so it will be able to control the zoom of the cameras here, he said.

The number of people watching the video feed is seen when online, and they may chat as well.

Many of them are part of the Advanced Train Control System, an internet group that allows people to see where trains are on rail lines, Kirk said.

Right now, people are watching Waupaca’s videos for free on YouTube.

“That will be for a few months,” Kirk said.

The historical society is looking for sponsors to keep it available there for free.

Those who are interested may contact the historical society at 715-256-9980.

“The first night the camera was on was the night of the big thunderstorm,” Kirk said.

He said it is fun to watch the video feed and see the comments.

Some people mention the Chain O’ Lakes, and Kirk responds when there are questions.

The depot is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This weekend, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16, in conjunction with Waupaca’s annual train show.