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I wanted to see if anyone is in the same situation that I am in.

In March of last year (2018), I ordered a Lionel Union Pacific WiFi extended vision camera caboose from Train World.  I know this car has been out for a couple of months.  I still have not received mine yet.  I spoke with Train World's customer service and they said it was expected for June of this year!  

I went to Charles Ro a couple of weeks ago and saw the caboose that I ordered on their shelves.  I couldn't believe it!  A couple of days ago, I recently watched on YouTube, Ryan from Lionel speak at the TCA spring open house and he said apparently, they ran out of the camera's and that's why there is a delay in getting all the cabooses out to the stores.  I was actually thinking of cancelling my order with Train World and just going to Charles Ro to pick it up. 

I have a YouTube channel and one of the things I cover about O Gauge trains is doing reviews ( a link to my YouTube channel is in my signature below) and so I have been anxious to do a review on this caboose.  I also have the WiFi camera theater car in a UP scheme and did a review on my channel several months ago.

Is anyone else waiting for their WiFi camera caboose like I am? 

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Arnold, It uses a wifi system to broadcast directly from the camera in the cupola of the caboose to a smart phone, tablet or computer signed into the cabooses wifi.

The neatest part is that it supports as many units as want to sign on to watch, so an entire group can get a birdseye view without crowding the layout. The program is free to download to smart phones and tablets, and the included disc uploads the program to any computer.

You can turn it so looking behind the train to see where you have been, or turn it to watch over the top of the train, or you can put it in front of an engine and watch where going, it allows making videos as well.

It is anywhere from low $90's at some retailers to $130 on Ebay.

Last edited by Ron_S
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Does this caboose enable you to see the train go through your layout on a TV screen or other screen as if you were riding on top of, or on the back of, the caboose?

Approximately how much does this caboose cost? Arnold

There is tiny camera in the cupola portion of the caboose as if you were sitting in cupola looking forward ( or if you turn the caboose around, looking back).  You connect the camera to you iPad, iPhone or other devise through the wifi signal of the caboose.  You can download the wifi app from Lionel for free.  There is no sound.

Ron_S posted:

Arnold, It uses a wifi system to broadcast directly from the camera in the cupola of the caboose to a smart phone, tablet or computer signed into the cabooses wifi.

The neatest part is that it supports as many units as want to sign on to watch, so an entire group can get a birdseye view without crowding the layout. The program is free to download to smart phones and tablets, and the included disc uploads the program to any computer.

You can turn it so looking behind the train to see where you have been, or turn it to watch over the top of the train, or you can put it in front of an engine and watch where going, it allows making videos as well.

It is anywhere from low $90's at some retailers to $130 on Ebay.

OMG, it sounds awesome, and the price is reasonable. Thanks so much for the info, Ron!

Arnold

jroc747 posted:
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Does this caboose enable you to see the train go through your layout on a TV screen or other screen as if you were riding on top of, or on the back of, the caboose?

Approximately how much does this caboose cost? Arnold

There is tiny camera in the cupola portion of the caboose as if you were sitting in cupola looking forward ( or if you turn the caboose around, looking back).  You connect the camera to you iPad, iPhone or other devise through the wifi signal of the caboose.  You can download the wifi app from Lionel for free.  There is no sound.

Thank you too, J.R., for the info. I can see why so many people are excited about this caboose. Arnold

Arnold D. Cribari posted:
jroc747 posted:
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Does this caboose enable you to see the train go through your layout on a TV screen or other screen as if you were riding on top of, or on the back of, the caboose?

Approximately how much does this caboose cost? Arnold

There is tiny camera in the cupola portion of the caboose as if you were sitting in cupola looking forward ( or if you turn the caboose around, looking back).  You connect the camera to you iPad, iPhone or other devise through the wifi signal of the caboose.  You can download the wifi app from Lionel for free.  There is no sound.

Thank you too, J.R., for the info. I can see why so many people are excited about this caboose. Arnold

Just make sure you read some of the other posts about this Caboose so you know you might run into.. Some are having issues with the clarity of the picture due to the window. They've had to make modifications in order to make it clearer.  

I recently purchased a UP from 🚂 Trainworld for $95.00 & having a blast with it!  I have it connected to my Smart Phone & 💻 Computer !  It is a very clear Picture on my Smartphone!  I didn’t have to remove the Window like on some of the earlier releases !   I am completely satisfied!  I can be running 🚂 Trains downstairs and watching them upstairs!

Lionel has done a 👍 good job!

I don't think the clarity had to do with when the caboose cam was released. I have bought a number of them and found that one window might be a little compromised and in the same road number, another window is reasonably clear. I bought two PRR and two CSX and knocked the windows out of one each of them. Those were sort of ok but are better without windows. The other ones are clearer with windows and I left them alone...trying to sell them on the forum to make room for more new stuff

I would like to somehow put one of these cams in some engine that looks forward without a roof showing in the picture (why I bought extras), but haven't figured out the best way to do that.

Just out of curiosity, did anyone hear anything mentioned by Lionel at York about these? Specifically, there's a whole new run of these coming in the January (?) timeframe and seems like these new cabooses would be prime candidates for some adjustments based on the user feedback so far.

I could be wrong and maybe they'll just be produced as-is? Based on the reports here over the last few months, it seems like the camera performance and picture clarity is really a random, hit-or-miss thing. Some not so good; others better; others no problems.

paulp575 posted:

I don't have a smartphone or tablet and my desktop - that I'm aware of - does not have wifi. Can I run the caboose and somehow see the pic on my desktop running Win 7 Pro 64-bit?

You can easily add a wifi capability with a little USB stick type module available at any computer place (Best buy, on-line, etc).  It should be very easy to get one that will work with your system (I got one to use with an old Win XP box several years ago)

If you are asking if you can use the caboose without wifi, the answer is no.  That's why its  called a wifi camera caboose!

-Dave

 

From my YT Channel....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72r2VwLw4No

In this video we will be taking a look at a Lionel’s Camera Caboose.  We will be doing an unboxing with my two guest hosts and talk about how to program this camera to work with Lionel’s Camera App. We will place this caboose on the layout and take it for a “Live Action Video”.  All aboard for a model train adventure with Train Room Gary.

 

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