Upload issue

[TedG]

Out of the blue, I'm experiencing an issue getting a photo to upload. After "attaching" the file and completing the form, I click the "Send Photo and Information" button, but instead of getting the confirmation screen, I get a blank (white) screen at this URL:
https://www.railpictures.net/addphotos/upload_photo.php

I've tried the process multiple times, without success. I tried different browsers, with the same result. I tried uploading from a different device (my laptop), with the same result. Hell, I even tried uploading from the iPhone (which BTW is rather awkward), with the same result.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this?

Any suggestions are welcome.

/Ted

[GoDogGo]

Not sure what it might be, but do you by chance have any unusual characters in the file name?

[TedG]

Originally Posted by GoDogGo

Not sure what it might be, but do you by chance have any unusual characters in the file name?

That's a good point. But, no, just standard alphanumerics. Even I know not to do that.

[GoDogGo]

Figured I'd ask--I know better and still do it from time to time!

[RobJor]

With an computer problem I try to eliminate any unknowns.
Start with a new file, use anything possibly an old file already uploaded successfully for testing but not the same one you have been trying. Have you tried different files. You can always easily delete.
Make sure it fits file size specs.
Enter all new data in data entry listings, ie don't let it default to prior attempts

I have already tried to upload files that are too large, I believe an error message comes eventually but a blank screen sits for a while, not sure how log you wait.

Bob

[TedG]

Thanks, Bob. This is why you get paid the big bucks. However, as brilliant as those ideas are, ends up they didn't work either:
-tired different file (that had already been successfully uploaded)
-typed in all new data in the data fields
BTW, that blank screen endures for a solid 20 minutes or more, if I don't terminate it. Extremely unusual--the confirmation screen would normally appear intantaneously.
Several weeks ago I did try to upload a file that was outside the dimension limits, and an error message comes up immediately. No error message with the current scenario--just a blank screen. The cureent file is <2MB and is 1500 px wide.
/Ted

[RobJor]

Possibly something going on there? I just uploaded an image since you got me thinking about it. I never got the confirmation screen but I checked and it is in que waiting rejection.

Bob

[TedG]

I did some more playing around with your suggestions, Bob. Using the original unmolested .jpg, I re-entered the data for the data fields from scratch, and simplified the entries:
(1) used a preset "GE ES44AC" instead of the custom "GE ES44AH"
(2) used the preset "Elkins" instead of the two-word "Sleepy Creek" for City
(3) "Cumberland Sub" instead of "Cumberland Sub, BA 117.5"
and lo and behold, I got the confirmation screen and it made it into the queue

Of course, since I made multiple changes, I'm now not sure which field was the culprit.
So, if I now try to correct the data as the photo sits in the queue, I get that darn blank screen again!
Enough time wasted on this...i'm not doing anything further until the photo is accepted or rejected. But boy will I be pissed if it's rejected for "bad data".
Thanks for your ideas.
/Ted

[bigbassloyd]

Originally Posted by TedG

I did some more playing around with your suggestions, Bob. Using the original unmolested .jpg, I re-entered the data for the data fields from scratch, and simplified the entries:
(1) used a preset "GE ES44AC" instead of the custom "GE ES44AH"
(2) used the preset "Elkins" instead of the two-word "Sleepy Creek" for City
(3) "Cumberland Sub" instead of "Cumberland Sub, BA 117.5"
and lo and behold, I got the confirmation screen and it made it into the queue

Of course, since I made multiple changes, I'm now not sure which field was the culprit.
So, if I now try to correct the data as the photo sits in the queue, I get that darn blank screen again!
Enough time wasted on this...i'm not doing anything further until the photo is accepted or rejected. But boy will I be pissed if it's rejected for "bad data".
Thanks for your ideas.
/Ted

I didn't know gevos ran the old Wild Mary..

I see your 'test' made it in.

Loyd L.

[TedG]

Originally Posted by bigbassloyd

I didn't know gevos ran the old Wild Mary..

I see your 'test' made it in.

Loyd L.

Heh heh. Check out the high water equipment hut.

PhotoID: 828161 Photograph © Ted Grumbine

I'll bet you didn't know that Elkins was in the Potomac River flood plain either, did you?

Now, when I try to correct the bum data and add a legit caption under "Photo Management", I'm getting the dreaded "white screen" again.
/Ted

[Freericks]

I suspect these may have been what got caught in the system - , BA 117.5

[TedG]

Originally Posted by Freericks

I suspect these may have been what got caught in the system - , BA 117.5

Could be, Charles. At this point, I'm not discounting anything. That said, I have similar Railroad Locations (RR/Sub/mp) listed for virtually every photograph I've ever posted. No upload issues until yesterday.
/Ted

[TedG]

While ADMIN is working to figure out why I can't, using Photo Management, make corrections to the data associated with this photo, or even post a comment on the photo page, a correction here on the forum will have to suffice.

As Loyd surmised, the actual location is not Elkins, but rather Sleepy Creek, WV. And the caption should read:

Configured 1+1+0, CSX priority intermodal I016 (Bedford Park, IL-Chambersburg, PA) is eastbound on No. 1 Main at Sleepy Creek (BA 117.5), already lined to diverge onto the Lurgan Sub at Cherry Run (BA 113.6) and cross the Potomac River on the ex-WM bridge into Big Pool, MD.

Here, the ROW is almost 1000 feet from the river bank, yet still well within the Potomac's flood plain, as evidenced by the elevated equipment hut at left.

I should note that, since experiencing these issues, I've uploaded a subsequent photo with no problem whatsoever.

/Ted

[spacetrain1983]

I think it may have to do with the location - I tried clicking the "more" button to see other photos from Sleepy Creek, WV, which took me here: https://www.railpictures.net/showpho...irginia,%20USA
Which is a blank white page.

[TedG]

Originally Posted by spacetrain1983

I think it may have to do with the location - I tried clicking the "more" button to see other photos from Sleepy Creek, WV, which took me here: https://www.railpictures.net/showpho...irginia,%20USA
Which is a blank white page.

Great detective work...you nailed it!

I've just been advised by ADMIN that, after extensive troubleshooting, it seems a recent server upgrade inadvertantly introduced a restriction on the word "sleep" (and apparently any variation thereof) in the location or caption. Both applied in my case. ADMIN was able to install the correct caption via a backdoor method. ADMIN is now looking into how to mitigate this issue going forward.

PhotoID: 828161 Photograph © Ted Grumbine

In the meantime, I won't be in any hurry to return to Sleepy Creek, WV, and I'll avoid using any variation of "sleep" in my captioning. The latter shouldn't prove too difficult, as it's not a word you'll often find in a rail photo caption.

/Ted