Railfanning??

[FlamesFan]

Hey Everyone...

I would like to get into railfanning but I had a few questions...

- are there any unwritten rules regarding railfanning?? i realize no tresspassing and keeping a distance from the trains??

- how to find out about spotting oppurtunities... I don't know any one who works for the railroad so I are there any websites??

Any other advice would be great...

Cheers,

[Stourbridge Lion]

Actually just asking question like this will go along way as someone here I'm sure will have some great advise coming soon...

:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:

[Ed M]

As a starting point, I might just suggest going back a year or so in this forum and just reading the threads. You'll get to see a lot of stuff ranging from the concerns that you mentioned to techniques that others use.

Check out the Railfan Pictures forum too, as most people post the results of their railfanning trips there. You get to see a lot regarding camera angles, positioning, etc.

Check out the forums in our "Todays Railroading" section for both CN and CP, and read back posts there. Consider posting questions there asking about particular spotting tips in your (Southern Alberta?) area.

Look for websites for any museums or tourist rail lines in your area, and then try and visit them.

Good luck,

Ed

[fitz]

FlamesFan, you are in some pretty good country for railfanning. Over in BC there seems to be a lot of action. I am pretty much a steam nut and the CP Hudson 2816 is making some runs from Calgary to Vancouver I think, and return. Royal Hudson 2860 has been rebuilt and is in Squamish, again I think. It is supposed to run to White Rock in the very near future. I don't know what kind of traffic is on the old BCRail line which was taken over by one of the biggies. I have never been to Marants Curve or the spiral tunnels, but have seen some great photographs from there. All of the steam stuff can be found on McIvor's website in the UK of all places, he runs SVS videos. I don't know the url offhand, but Google him. Also, Railfan and Railroad mag and Trains have a lot of good info about upcoming excursions and specials. CN and CP should have plenty of traffic through Alberta.
:teeth:

[MEClover]

for me I find this a good way to railfan: if you live near a crossing listen for 2 long, 1 short, 1 long. write down the time. do this for a month then average it out. you should get a rough time frame of when the train will come through. arrive a the spot a few min. before you averaged time then wait.

Good Luck

[LADiver]

Also try joining the Calgary Railroad Society, they have slide shows etc that are full of knowledge.

[friscobob]

ANd please don't forget to post pics on Railimages and here on Trainboard (hint, hint). :D :D

Railfan reports are welcome as well.

[friscobob]

Hey Everyone...

I would like to get into railfanning but I had a few questions...

- are there any unwritten rules regarding railfanning?? i realize no tresspassing and keeping a distance from the trains??

Those are two good starting points. If at all possible, always ask to get closer to somewhere to shoot- you may be asked to sign a release which releases the RR from liability should you get hurt on their property. If they say no, then shoot from beyond the RR property.

- how to find out about spotting oppurtunities... I don't know any one who works for the railroad so I are there any websites??

As mentioned elsewhere, look thru some back posts in this forum- lots of great info on places to shoot. Also, ask around at a local model RR club- even modelers like to spot the real thing. Hit the Internet-great research tool as well- to find railfanning locations where you want to chase trains. That is what I do before I go to a location I'm going to be working at (I'm a traveling healthcare employee, and have been from coast to coast- Railfanning is a hobby and a way to pass time when not working). If you have past copies of TRAINS, RAILFAN, or other such mags, leaf thru them to get ideas of where to shoot.

I'm not aware of Canadian laws, but here in the US it is not ( repeat NOT ) illegal to take pictures of trains aas long as you aren't on railroad property doing so. Any exceptions would be high-security areas in the background ( power plants, military installations) in which case put the camera away and move on to another area. Otherwise, here in the States it's perfectly legal to railfan, long as you're safe doing so. The reason I bring this us is that you may run across some well-meaning or overzealous person who will tell you it's illegal, citing 9-11 as a reason. Don't argue with that person, as it's similar to hog-wrestling; you'll get mud all over yourself, and the hog will get mad.

As Fitz mentioned, you have lots of areas in your neck of the woods to go to. Just ask around, try to hook up with some railfans willing to teach a rookie the ropes, take your camera, film, batteries, etc., and get out there and shoot.


Any other advice would be great...

Cheers,

OK, one last piece of advice- HAVE FUN! :teeth: