Alma Webcam – BNSF Trains on the Mississippi

The Alma Webcam looks along the BNSF main line where it squeezes between the small city of Alma, Wisconsin and the Mississippi River. Freight trains fill the foreground of the frame, from long strings of covered hoppers to mixed manifests, all working the busy route that links the Twin Cities with La Crosse. Beyond the rails the river spreads wide toward the Minnesota shore, with a wooded bluff rising on the left of the picture and a tall industrial stack marking the skyline across the water. Towboats push barges along the channel while trains roll past below the town, and that pairing of working river and working railroad is what keeps the feed interesting even between movements.

About Alma

Alma is one of the smallest cities in Wisconsin, home to 716 people at the 2020 census. It sits in Buffalo County on the east bank of the Mississippi at an elevation of 205 meters (673 feet), strung along State Highway 35 about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Wabasha, Minnesota on the opposite shore. The town occupies a narrow strip of land between the river and the bluffs, and the BNSF line runs right along the waterfront, so the camera catches trains passing within a short walk of the town’s shops and houses.

The structure most watchers ask about is Lock and Dam No. 4, which spans the Mississippi at river mile 752.8 beside the town. It has been passing river traffic since May 1935, and the open water around the dam draws anglers during the annual walleye run and supports nesting bald eagles. Commercial tows that lock through often appear on camera minutes later, sliding along the channel behind the passing freights.

The stream is run by Steel Highway Railcams, the camera network connected to Steel Highway, a quarterly magazine of railroad photography, with the City of Alma acting as the camera’s host. The channel operates two dozen railcams around the United States, and this one earns its place: the trains pass close, the river fills the background, and traffic runs around the clock in both directions.

Weather and Climate in Alma

Winters along this stretch of the upper Mississippi are long and cold. January afternoons in Alma average around -6 C (21 F) and nights drop to about -14 C (7 F), with roughly 61 centimeters (24 inches) of snow falling over the season and February usually the snowiest month. On the webcam that shows up as snow banked along the right of way and ice creeping across the backwaters, though the main channel can stay open longer, and freight traffic keeps running through all of it.

Summers are warm and humid, with July highs near 28 C (83 F) and nights around 20 C (69 F), and the bluffs turn deep green above the water. Spring brings rising river levels and the walleye run at the dam, while fall typically colors the hillside in frame through October. The camera faces west across the river, so late afternoons often put the best light on the water and the passing trains.

Things to Do Near Alma

Buena Vista Park, a short drive up the bluff from downtown, overlooks the town and a long reach of the Mississippi, and it is the classic spot for photographing the river valley you see on the Alma Webcam from above. Back at street level, the Castlerock Museum displays a collection of arms and armor spanning the Roman era through the Middle Ages, an unexpected find in a town of seven hundred people.

The river itself is the main draw. The Great Alma Fishing Float puts anglers out on the water without a boat, the tailwaters of Lock and Dam No. 4 are a favorite during the spring walleye run, and eagle watching is popular in the colder months when the birds gather near open water. Drivers on State Highway 35 can follow the shoreline for miles in either direction, with river overlooks and small rivertowns strung along the route.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

Rail and river watchers have plenty more to follow across the site.

• La Plata Railcam Webcam
• Clarence Webcam
• Mississippi Headwaters Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Alma, Wisconsin located?

Alma is in Buffalo County, western Wisconsin, on the east bank of the Mississippi River. It sits on State Highway 35 about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Wabasha, Minnesota, and roughly midway between La Crosse and the Twin Cities by rail.

What can you see on the Alma Webcam?

The camera faces the BNSF main line at track level, with the Mississippi River directly behind it. Freight trains cross the full width of the frame, and barges, towboats and other river traffic pass on the water beyond.

What trains run through Alma, Wisconsin?

The line through Alma is a BNSF main route between the Twin Cities and La Crosse, carrying freight in both directions around the clock. Covered hopper trains, mixed manifests and unit trains all show up on the feed.

What is Lock and Dam No. 4?

Lock and Dam No. 4 is a navigation structure on the upper Mississippi at river mile 752.8, next to Alma. In service since May 1935, it steps river traffic past this stretch of the river and is known locally for its walleye fishing and wintering bald eagles.

What is the weather like in Alma, Wisconsin?

Winters are cold and snowy, with January nights near -14 C (7 F) and about 61 centimeters (24 inches) of snow a year. Summers are warm and humid, with July afternoons around 28 C (83 F).

Who operates the Alma Webcam?

The stream comes from Steel Highway Railcams, a network of two dozen railroad cameras tied to the Steel Highway railroad photography magazine, and it is hosted locally by the City of Alma.

When is the best time to watch trains in Alma?

Freight runs through Alma at all hours, so trains can appear any time. For the best picture, late afternoon light falls across the river and the tracks, and winter mornings can add eagles and ice to the scene.

Source: Steel Highway Railcams