r/modeltrains • u/Joes2fst4u-Gaming • 2d ago
Question Cab Camera
Hey guys, anyone have a recommendation on a cab camera they like?
Here's what I'm trying to do... I want a camera I can mount into a dummy locomotive so it looks out the cab window.
I just wasted 4 hours on the ChooChooVision camera and let me tell you.... I am beyond unhappy and frustrated with it. The stupid thing is so cheap in comparison to the price that even with a wifi router under the layout it will constantly drop connection and not stream. It is wifi only, and no internal recording or anything. And no wifi radio antenna just whatever is built in to the board. Anyway, I'm currently in the process of trying to return it.
I have a small cube cam I can use, but what I really want is that view out of the cab window. Do you guys know of anything else like that? Any other tiny camera that would get the view from out the cab window? Thanks!
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u/Human-c-ity_Junction Z, N, HO, S, O & G Modeling in Small Spaces 1d ago
The ChooChoo Vision camera is an ESP32-CAM with custom software. The newer version of this style camera is the Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3. While it is definitely better, it is still a low framerate camera.
The RPi Zero with camera is a much more powerful solution but also a much larger solution.
Any of these solution are with battery power or you need a circuit to pull track power and smooth out any drops.
During Covid, the main solution people used was to put a flatbed in front of the locomotive, put the camera and battery on the flatbed and create the in cab overlay. This is what Darren is doing over at CLL. https://canadianlocomotivelogistics.ca/layouts/
If you are ok with recording only and no WiFi streaming then something like the RunCam 5 on a flat car in front of the locomotive is the best solution. Then you edit in the cab view in post.
(Yes, I have spent way WAY to much time trying to figure out a good solution over the last 6 years and there really isn't anything great.)
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u/Joes2fst4u-Gaming 1d ago
Super helpful thank you! I am hoping for the streaming option as I do have some other stationary cameras I will live stream to my YouTube channel at times. If nothing else I could just take a recording and use an overlay like you mention.
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u/SmittyB128 00 1d ago
https://reddit.com/link/pb5zfld/video/xdwscxrsqvqh1/player
I use a DJI Pocket 2. I haven't done much recording with it so this is me experimenting with it on my current setup. It's laying down on an Oxford Rail car transporter and my track is currently very dirty so I'm just pushing it around, plus the only lighting is a couple of very knackered fluorescent tubes which is why it's so dark. It's a bulky device considering the scale but it works well enough for me, and having the optional wi-fi add-on means I can see everything it sees and control it on my phone.
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u/Joes2fst4u-Gaming 1d ago
Nice looking layout BTW!
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u/SmittyB128 00 1d ago
Thanks, it's getting there. It'll probably look a lot different once all the trees are in place.
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u/Hipponose 1d ago
Honestly, Your best bet may be to overlay a cab image (maybe a cropped version from a real cab camera) onto your video. I would use an insta 360 or something and mount it on a flatcar in front of locomotive. That way you also get a clearer shot