iOS/Apple - Heritage Units (v2.1) app is now available for download via the app store (link).
v2.1 - Release Notes
Resolved issue where some users received a "WebApiException". Note that you may need to login again if you where experiencing this issue. If the issue continues after the update please contact support.
Photos are now larger when viewing locomotives
When viewing an individual locomotive there is now a new "Hide" button on the top right. This will add the locomotive to your hidden list when used.
Buttons have better look-n-feel than previous version
iOS/Apple - I'm working on resolving the random bug where you may receive a "WebAPI" error. I've identified the issue and will be pushing out a resolution to the Apple App Store (v2.1) to hopefully resolve the problem. Note that after the update the app will likely ask you to login again. If you're currently receiving this error (v2.0 the latest deployed version); the easiest workaround is to uninstall/install the app and this will reset the underlying security token.
Android - Development is 95% complete. Note that this is a major rewrite for the app and will mirror the iOS. In the upcoming release; Android notification feature will be available to everyone for free. Along with many other new features. I will release this app once the iOS issue is resolved.
Any questions please contact me at the contact page on the site.
Added - BNSF 9487, 9493 and 9498 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
2018.09.24
Implemented reCaptcha on login and register pages on the web. We've seen an uptick in automated bots attempting to login / register accounts.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com
2018.09.23
I'm starting development on the new version of the Android app as the iOS version is now out. Please be patient as this could take a couple weeks to get prepared and tested.
As reminder for iOS users upgrading to the new HeritageUnits.com app (v2.0). If you experience any error messages immediately after upgrading please uninstall/install the app . There is an issue with a legacy security token that could cause the app to not load. Uninstalling/installing the app will clear this legacy token. I'll be looking into a patch within the next week or so.
If you run into any issues or have ideas for enhancements please contact me at the "Contact" page on the website.
Resolved a bug at the server side that when receiving a multi-unit report from the iOS app where submitted would only record one locomotive. Thanks Alex A. for passing along the information.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
2018.09.18
Added - AMTK 702 - Phase III Empire Service
Added - NS 1800 - DC to AC Conversion (Yellow)
For users upgrading to the new Apple iOS HeritageUnits.com app (v2.0). If you experience any error messages immediately after upgrading please uninstall/install the app and see if the error continues.
If so please contact me at the "Contact" page on the website.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
2018.09.17
The new iOS app (v2.0) is queued up for approval from Apple. Once approved it will start to role out immediately to all iOS devices. Please contact me at the contact us page with any issues.
Below is a list of changes coming out in the next release.
Updated logo and screen colors
Changed default screen to be more of a dashboard (showing small map and # of locomotives near by)
Changed layout so we can make use of a side navigation
Fixed an issue where security tokens expired and created pre-mature logins again.
iOS app now supports prefill. There is a setting on the user's profile that will enable/disable this feature globally across HeritageUnits.com experience.
Locomotive Selector on reports screen now sorts correctly (previously sorted codes as alphas which created a mess).
Locomotive Selector is now filtered by Railroads vs. Category.
Added the ability to view system updates (previously only viewable on the website)
If failed login occurs will display a button to direct user to website to reset their password.
Fields on report screen are now larger then previous version
When clicking "Use GPS" on report screen has improved error handling
Added the ability to maintain hidden locomotives/categories under settings
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
2018.09.16
Added - BNSF 2836 - ATSF Bluebonnet
2018.09.15
Removed - WNYP 430 - Honoring Law Enforcement - No longer has law enforcement emblems (Thanks Ricky W. for the update/pictures)
Dropped in patch to attempt to speed up the report submission time. Previously could take from 5~15 seconds to submit the report. New version should reduce that to less than 5 seconds. I'll be keeping a close eye on the performance over the next few days.
Updated iOS application is now 90% complete. Hoping to get settings editable in the next release (Prefill/Hide Locomotives). Assuming those go well I'll be pushing it out to the beta group very soon.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
Added - BNSF 756 and 783 - BNSF Warbonnet
Removed - BNSF 1436 - BN Paint - Repainted
Added - BNSF 3195 - ATSF Bluebonnet
2018.09.14
When viewing details of a locomotive it will now indicate if the locomotive is actively suspended from reporting and the reason. Example would be AMTK145
Added - BNSF 9406 and 9407 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
2018.09.13
Added - BNSF 761 - BNSF Warbonnet
Added - BNSF 2864 - ATSF Bluebonnet
2018.09.12
Added - AMTK 700, 701, 703, 704, 707, 710, 711, 714 and 716 - Phase III Empire Service.
Note that if you wish hide locomotives or categories of locomotives from your HeritageUnits.com experience to navigate to "Profile" > "Hide Locomotives" (direct link)
I'm working on a completely new update for our iOS app. This will be a refreshed look-n-feel with updated logo and hopefully some new functionality and definitely some bug/fixes.
I'm 80% complete and will be rolling it out to our beta testers hopefully soon. I'll provide an update on when things are released to the Apple app store.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
Added - BNSF 1707 and 1790 - BN Paint
Added - BNSF 9464 and 9496 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9679 and 9490 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
2018.09.07
Ability to filter maps based on locomotive categories or railroads is enabled again.
Just applied a fix for a very tiny scripting issue. Most browser (Chrome and Safari) could adapt to the issue but other browsers like IE would not and thus would make the map appear blank. If you experience any issues please contact me via the contact us page.
Brian =)
Added - BNSF 9686 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
2018.09.06
If you're receiving a blank map (tiles not downloading); we've seen a random CORS issue with openstreetmaps. I'm dropping in patches the more I can replicate the issue.
Maps are back! Converted over the OpenStreetMaps. Note that there is some quirks that still need to be worked out. For example the "popup" on the mobile version really isn't "mobile/touch" friendly. Give me a few nights to work out those things.
Brian =)
2018.09.04
Removed - GTW 5853 - GTW Paint
Added - BNSF 197 - ATSF Bluebonnet
First, many thanks to the users out there supporting the site and upgrading as this helps incredibly with maintaining the budget to keep the site online with the unexpected cost from Google. Please note that all funds pay directly for the site expenses; no one receives any funds for their time as we donate them for free.
We'll be reviewing other mapping APIs over the next week (hopefully a free one). When evaulating a mapping API we have to get deep into them so this could take a couple weeks to get resolved depending on what's missing or what re-code needs to be done.
Please note... if you're using HeritageUnits.com iOS (Apple Maps) or HeritageUnits.com Android (Google Embedded Maps) that these are free.
Simply put... if we kept Google Maps free under the new pricing structure this site would be shutting down within a month as we can't incur $1.1K bill a month. Websites and applications are not free to run and I do my best to keep the cost at a minimum so it's open to everyone.
With the old pricing model we didn't get charged as we never hit the 25K map loads a day on the website.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
2018.09.02
Hello Everyone,
Google has started charging for their google maps usage effective July 2018. We just received our first invoice and it looks like our usage will cost us over $1100 a month. That's an incredible cost for a site that runs on a minimum budget to keep it open for everyone. In the next month you may notice a large reduction in Google map usage on the website (iOS app not effected). I will be evaluating other mapping APIs immediately.
Any questions please contact me at the contact us page.
Brian :)
Added - BNSF 183 - ATSF Bluebonnet
2018.08.31
Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend everyone!
Brian =)
2018.08.29
Added - BNSF 164 - ATSF Bluebonnet
2018.08.27
Added - BNSF 9759 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9758 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9756 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9575 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9525 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9512 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9511 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9510 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9504 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - AMTK 716 - Phase III
2018.08.23
Removed - UP 6731 - CNW Paint - Repainted
Added - BNSF 9590 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9821 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9836 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9737 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 9532 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
2018.08.21
When reporting locomotives try to use the "{railroad code} {train number}" within the train number field. This will assist our system with correctly identifying what train the locomotive is on. This is for our ultimate goal of recognizing the routing of the train and hopefully provide a heads up to other railfans along the routes.
If you don't know the train symbol it's still OK to enter "Manifest", "Intermodal", "Coal", etc....
Brian =)
2018.08.20
Added - BNSF 9673 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - EJE 675 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - EJE 672 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - EJE 671 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - EJE 665 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - EJE 662 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - EJE 661 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - EJE 659 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
Added - BNSF 4700 - BNSF Warbonnet
Added - EJE 663 - Elgin Joliet & Eastern
2018.08.19
I dropped in new functionality that will now attempt to normalize the train numbers for known train symbols with in our database.
If you entered "Amtrak 5" during the report you may notice the system will automatically change it to "AMTK 5 - California Zephyr". Ultimate goal with this; is to send future notifications down the line of a inbound locomotive to your area.
We'll be watching this functionality closely over the next couple weeks.
Brian =)
HeritageUnits.com - Founder / Developer
2018.08.18
Added - BNSF 9776 - Executive/Grinstein Paint
Added - BNSF 2740 - BN Paint
2018.08.17
Added - CBFX 6021 to 6034 - BN Paint (Triclops)
2018.08.15
Added - BNSF 2780 - ATSF Bluebonnet
Added - BNSF 639 - ATSF Warbonnet
Added - FEC 104 to 107 (owned by PRLX) - Florida East Coast Paint SD70M-2