A data acquisition and recording system (DARS) and viewer for mobile assets that includes a data encoder, onboard data manager, and at least one local memory module. DARS processes video data from at least one 360 degree camera and stores a compressed record of the data at least once per second in the local memory module. DARS is designed to run in near real-time mode, storing a full record comprising five minutes of data to a remote memory module every five minutes, and in real-time mode, streaming video data to the remote memory module by uploading a record of data at least once per second and up to once every tenth of a second. Remotely located users can view video, audio, and data in various view modes through a web browser or virtual reality device, which provides for quicker emergency response, validate the effectiveness of repairs and rerouting, and monitor crew performance and safety.