Warning to all Railfans.

[BNSFrailfan.]

http://a.media.abcnews.com/podcasts/20070206brianross.mp3

[MOPMAN]

All I get is a blank page when I try to open your link.

[BNSFrailfan.]

All I get is a blank page when I try to open your link.Go to http://www.abcnews.com/ and scroll all the way to the bottom.

[friscobob]

I scrolled down to the bottom, and saw some topics more worthy of the National Midnight World Star, or some such tabloid trash. When I got to the link, I couldn't open it. Just as well- it's most likely sensationalistic garbage.:angry:

I knew there was a reason I don't watch network "news" anymore

[BNSF FAN]

Was ale to get the link to play. It seems to be jut an audio clip. Anyway, for a change, the story is more pro railfan that you would expect.

[Hytec]

At times, it seems Homeland Security and the FBI behave like the little old lady who looks under her bed every night expecting to find a rapist, then disappointed when he's not there. :sad:

[BoxcabE50]

Hank-

I agree. :sad:

BTW- Congratulations on passing 2000 posts!

:thumbs_up: :teeth:

Boxcab E50

[MKT600]

Yea I got it to open and listen to it and yep it's hype. I mean 99% of the railfans would report something they saw to the local yard master around here. I think homeland security (HLS) is getting a little carried away because railfans should be there biggest assest. Look at all them eyes and ears out there if something was going on the railroad would find out first and they could contact HLS.

[Hytec]

BTW- Congratulations on passing 2000 posts!

:thumbs_up: :teeth:

Boxcab E50
I'll be darned, I hadn't noticed....thanks, Ken :teeth:

[bnsf9994]

Does that mean both the airlines and bus lines are supporting terrorists too because they post schedules. I think we need to take other look at thing and stop being so paranoid. Be on the watch but dont let the watch change you.

[BNSFrailfan.]

Try this on for size.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/02/security_author.html

[Dave Jones]

Are these federal agencies the same ones that continue to do the "tube-steak boogie shuffle" over immigration and border control? If so, they could perhaps re-direct their priorities.

Seriously doubt that people intent on evil could find anything of real use on any of these forums. However, from sources in the Border Patrol, do understand that terrorists don't have to worry about miniaturizing nuclear devices - they could drive a "Mike" size device across the border and not have to worry a whole lot about being found out.

[BoxcabE50]

Hmmm. All along, I'd thought we lived in the USA. Land of the free..... Guess I was wrong.

:sad:

Boxcab E50

[friscobob]

"Paranoia strikes deep/Into your hearts it must creep/
It starts when you're always afraid/
Step out of line, the Man comes and takes you away"

-"For What It's Worth", Stephen Stills

[MEClover]

HOMELAND SEQUIRTY over RAILFANS!!!!!! What BULL %$#!!!!!!!!

[friscobob]

Read the blog- sorry, but hiding in fear ain't my thing.

"If the objective of the terrorists is to ruin our way of life,
then the way to defeat terrorism is to live our way of life."

I didn't make that up, but it's a good rule to live by.

Let the Fibbies, HS, and whoever check us out- they'll either be bored to tears or become railfans themselves. Nothing wrong there.

I have a suggestion, gang- what say we GET ALONG WITH OUR LIVES? There's a novel concept. I'm gonna continue to railfan, chase trains, partticipate on bulletin boards that specialze in railroading, talk about railfanning- in short, do what I have been doing long before 9-11 and the creeping paranoia. I have absolutely nothing to hide from anyone- I'm living honestly and above-board.

I suggest all y'all do the same.

[traingeekboy]

No more railfanning=
Terrorists: 1
Freedom: 0

Silly news story. No real investigative info. It's a piece of rabble rousing fluff.

To the original poster. Thanks for posting it. It's better for us to know these things than be in the dark.

[MEClover]

Justist for all I gess is not so any more for railfans.
DOWN W/ FBI!!
they ruin our lives!!
we ruin their lives!

[Pete Nolan]

That's just an ABC reporter who got lucky to find a story that day.

I've spoken with many FBI and Homeland Security people in the past four years. They are not paranoid freaks.

I've also visited many railfanning sites. I've never seen information that would be truly more useful than info gained by simply observing a potential target.

On our railroads, it seems human error is far more dangerous than terrorists.

[CB&Q Fan]

I missed the story and can not find it today. Can someone give me a quick run down on what it was saying?

[friscobob]

Something about the feds checking out Railfan sites for possible terrorist links, or for anything that may help terrorists.

In all honesty, a piece of bovine feces that is doing no more than causing some folks to get upset. If that's informative journalism, we're in trouble.

[MEClover]

ok so is there anyway to like some how get the FBI to back off railfans or do we have to fight back.

[Steve Brown]

I have to put in my 2 cents on this issue. I have been rail fanning for a long time, through 9/11 and up to now. I belong to the BNSF citizens on patrol also. With that said I have only once been approached by any type of agent be it either BNSF security or actual police. I think this is like the old saying my Drill Sargent used to say that "one persons mistake will ruin it for all." I have been on the rail side with expirenced rail fans only to see them run across 3 yard tracks to take a shot of a gondola or some rolling stock this is how we get kicked off of good shooting locations when some idiot and yes I mean idiot does something like this. This is how we all get stero typed into this catagory of stupidity and fanatics. From my cheap seats use common sence and stay off the the tracks out of the right of way and we can all still take our pictures and chace the trains. If the Federal Goverment wants to see if we have terror links so be it. This is a small price to pay for the ability to watch and shoot our favorite subjects.
"Jumps off of his soap box"
This is my opinion and I will stick by it.
Thanks
Steve

[Tim Loutzenhiser]

It's rather disconcerting to know that the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI, are not without bureaucracy and "managers" who are more involved with pandering to politics than to focusing on issues that we may think are more important to our security. This is just reality in huge organizations. I mention this because I have a friend who works for one of these agencies. Unfortunately, within these organizations, some managers are more concerned with their own personal career aspirations than they are with decisions which we may regard as having higher priority. These people work in the real world, and are motivated by career advancement and monetary gain, and are not a part of some movie or TV show that might typify these people as always being driven to do what is "right" or "noble". Sometimes as merit reviews come around annually, these managers tend to do some things that could be construed as being more for "show" rather than having actual merit. The result is that there are directions handed down to field offices that the managers of those field operations know how to handle - so almost everyone on the lower levels recognize that some of the directives they receive sometimes detract from the hard work these people have to do each day - if you catch the drift of what I'm trying to say. So keep in mind that for the most part, field agents - just like local law enforcement (for the most part) - are not out to get us. That is unless we are giving them some reason to suspect what we are doing through unusual actions. So continue to railfan responsibly and safely - and when someone asks you what you are doing, ask them politely why they are asking, and explain it to them. If you are pressed further, and particularly if someone threatens to confiscate your camera, film, memory card, etc., ask them for identification - and don't hesitate to call 911 and report the incident. Never hand over your personal property or agree to further questioning until local law enforcement can arrive on the scene and assess the situation – and verify the credentials of the person questioning you.

[MEClover]

ah... ok. I'm a simple teen but I am now understanding this whole issue.

[Hytec]

Teens are NEVER Simple, they just try to learn as much as they can....sorta like a sponge. :teeth:

I'm pleased to say that you are doing a great job of learning. You ask genuine questions and listen to the answers, then you ask further if you don't understand. Keep it up! :thumbs_up:

[MEClover]

thanks!
http://www.locustfork.net/radio/brballad.mp3
If so of you could listen to this song. I think what the song has to say some what applys to railfans. lol

[Tim Loutzenhiser]

I checked out the .mp3 - nice! And it does contain some wisdom.

[MEClover]

I wounder if the law enforcement would like to hear this from our sterios while we are railfanning. lol