Hi folks, I've read on several different lists that railroads have greatly increased their security following the recent terrorist attacks. I was wondering if any of you have experienced this around CSX yards or mainlines. I'm hoping to head back East for the holidays, and I would love to chase some trains and take more photos around Cumberland, Sand Patch, and other sites. Is that still possible, or are they starting to crack down on railfans taking photos? The Cumberland Amtrak station has always been a nice gathering place for railfans, and I'm hoping that hasn't changed. Just wondering what you all have experienced since September. Have a great weekend!
Dave, I too was skeptical what the attitude would be towards anyone near the tracks. I always make sure I am on public property (unless I have permission) and make sure they see my camera. Railroaders (except RR cops) are very friendly and seem appreciative of seeing someone "catching them in action" Harold
I have realtives in Cumberland and very close to Sand Patch. It's a great area! Have fun and be careful. Stay out in the open and don't trespass and you should be ok. Watch out for those Amish buggies on those little mountain roads!
Dave, You get into Sand Patch stop in Meyersdale and look me up! It be something nice to meet a fellow trainboard member! E-mail me and i'll give you the proper contacts to locate me. I'm right in town! Dirrectly across the street from the Meyersdale Western Maryland R.R. station which is now the Meyersdale Historical Society, which i'm also a member of.... My e-mail is.... yellowstone10@hotmail.com [ 05 November 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
Hello Dave, I am a railfan and Large Scale model railroader in the Summerville/Charleston SC area. I could retype the post I put on another site but you wouldn't get the benefit of the many replies I recieved so if you go to Aristo-craft Trains Internet Depotyou can then go to their forum and look for my post"Get away from there!!" I'll warn you that it gives a depressing view of railfanning today. B
Hi Brian and welcome to TrainBoard! We're glad to have you and honored that your first post is in our forum. I read your post on the Aristo forum. Some very good replies there. I plan to be in Charleston next week, and hope to snap a few photos while I am there. HOwever, I usually take mine from public property with a zoom lens. Harold
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 7600EM_1: Dave, You get into Sand Patch stop in Meyersdale and look me up! It be something nice to meet a fellow trainboard member! E-mail me and i'll give you the proper contacts to locate me. I'm right in town! <hr></blockquote> Thanks a lot - I was up at Cumberland in June and had a great time photographing trains with my father. Unfortunately for the two hours that I was at Sand Patch, not a single train came through - there was a track gang doing some work by the tower, and I got to see the ugly new signals that are going to replace the classic B&O position lights. The track gang was very friendly - lots of them waved or said hello. But that was pre-September 11th, so I don't know how they've been told to treat railfans since then. I'm stationed out in Colorado now, so I don't get up there much, but I'm going to try to make it over the holidays while I'm back East visiting family. Lots of people like the Rockies, but I miss the rolling forested hills of the mid-Atlantic region. Have a great weekend everybody!
One more thing - I think some spots, like Cumberland's Amtrak station, will still be acceptable spots to get close to trains and take photos. The public street by the station is only about 10 feet from the tracks, with a sidewalk in between, and for years, the locals have hung out at the station listening to scanners and taking photos. I doubt the railroad or local police will make a fuss about people continuing to hang out at that spot. I expect the railroads to be much stricter about railfans hanging around engine terminals, maintenance shops, and the like - last summer I was able to drive in to the parking lot at the Cumberland shops, but I wouldn't try that now. I think the same advice still holds - don't trespass on railroad property, get out of the area if someone tells you to, and just be smart about how close you get to the tracks. Hopefully that will work most of the time...
Here is something I received from another message board. Supposedly, this is an official CSX bulletin: NO ONE IS ALLOWED ON CSX PROPERTY OR LOCOMOTIVES WITHOUT PROPER IDENTIFICATION. ANYONE ENTERING OUR PROPERTY MUST IDENTIFY HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS AN EMPLOYEE, CONTRACTOR, FEDERAL OR STATE INSPECTOR (FRA, NTSB, PUC, ETC) AND MUST HAVE PROPER IDENTIFICATION STATING SO. CHALLENGE AND REPORT ANYONE WITHOUT PROPER IDENTIFICATION BY CONTACTING THE TRAIN DISPATCHER, LOCAL SUPERVISOR OR POLICE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AT 1-800-232-1044. FWIW, Harold
7600EM_1. I havn't been in Myresdale pa. in several years. Is the big western Maryland RR. bridge still in existance? Arthur.
Arthur, Hello and WELCOME to our family of ranfans or model railfans some one or the other and alot of both. On the Western Maryland Viaduct... The one on the north or south side of town? Their are 2 of them and both are Western Maryland! The straight green one (Salisbury Viaduct) is probably the one your talking about. Yes its still here and its now a "Rails To Trails" bridge... The resurfaced it for bikers and walkers, even skiers... I'm a member of the locoal Historical Society thats also in the Meyersdale Western Maryland Depot. We as the Society at the moment have a HUGH train Holiday display run..... Nothing but layouts with trains pullin' their hearts out! To bring in the Christmas season! But to this day you can walk, ride a bicycle, or ski across the Viaduct. The one on the south side of town is the "Keystone" viaduct and is unfinished to this date but is to be reconditioned in the future...
I was in Cumberland for four weeks back in March and April going to Engineer School. Every bit of spare time I had was spent at trackside. I will definetly return sometime soon. Later Michael Ridenhour WSSB/HPT&D Engineer
OK, I have not read the "Get Away from there" yet but plan to, Now as far as a Railfan taking Pictures of trains, There is NO Reason why We should Hang up the Cameras These RR guys expect to see us out there shooting pictures of trains, Come on, how many years have people done this? Can't expect us to just stop, I even went on a trip last week, maped out a new why to get there along some tracks. After I read someones post in YahooGroups it got me to thinking, As long as your on the Level, and these folks can see what your doing "NO Harm NO Foul" Sure theres a couple guys out there that might run you off, maybe a little talking to them to see your really interested in this stuff and they will change there minds, ask them about stuff. Don't let that dope Bin Laden Stop the country just cause he is a chickin S#*^, I been shooting the UP stuff on a Spur very often and the Crew Just gives me a Friendly Wave, They are beginning to know me from being there along the tracks. They can tell the diff from a camera and a gun. SO Don't let this 9-11 thing Stop us all, Get That Camera, Camcorder, or what every you have and get out there and take some picutres, It Aint Stopping me one bit. I even stop at crossings to get a train coming,,tell ya what, soon as it snows, OH BOY..... Happy Shooting to you,
All this "chasing" the rail fan away is crap! I know this to be true... I talked to CSX officials R.R. Police in Meyersdale when CSX had relayed the Main Street Crossing 3 weeks ago and they know me on a first name basis! I'm not talking about the Railroaders themself that are stationed in the Meyersdale CSX depot I'm talking CSX Right of Way Police! I know them as good as if they were next door neighbors! And the Track gang here.. In Meyersdale, I know all of them personally.... I go to the station and shoot the s!@# all the time! Sadly Sand Patch is closed now but I can say as much to say that Pete Kelly who worked the tower in Sand Patch is a personal friend and also a great guy to get insparation from! Not to mention, Gary Gindlesburger (Ginny), Harold Porter, Harold Page, Rick Bear, Bob Walker, Bob Miller, Don Ackerman (Roadmaster). I can go on and on with names! I know them all personally from being a kid and all and even today when i'm out their with a 110 camera or just to shoot the bull...They all come to visit me at the local Historical Society where i'm doing the holiday train show thats going on right now! If you personally know any CSX employees, tell them whats going on! And I'm sure if you know them well enough they will stand good to say who you are and what your doing in or around CSX property! I have no trouble going in the station let alone on the property! Then again its like were all school friends even though their old enough to be my dad! I mean we all are good freinds so.... Guys use your heads! If you know some CSX employee's talk to them and let them know just what your interests are and get to know them.... You won't have any trouble once they see the interest and what your really after! Any of you that are still unbeliving...... Go look up a CSX pay check roster for the Pittsburgh Division and you'll find the names I've given on it! Thinking of one, Rick Bear I'm in the process of buying some HO scale stuff from him. Payed me a visit at the show on Saturday and asked me if I'd be interested in buying the HO scale stuff hes got! Hmmmmmm..... HA! You might say thats a bought deal! [ 03 December 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
