BNSF Railway Asks Rail Fans for Cooperation to Keep America's Rail System > Safe > Wednesday June 7, 10:34 am ET > > > FORT WORTH, TX--(MARKET WIRE)--Jun 7, 2006 -- BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) >is > recruiting rail fans to help keep BNSF properties safe by reporting > suspicious activities and to help prevent possible security breaches. > "Keeping America's rail transportation network safe from crime and >terrorist > activity is a high priority for the railroad industry," says William > Heileman, BNSF general director, Police and Protection Solutions. "Every >day > across the country, rail fans photograph and watch trains as they pass > through communities. It seems natural to harness their interest to help >keep > America's rail system safe." > > Rail fans can register for the program by going to the Citizens United for > Rail Security (CRS) Web site > (http://newdomino.bnsf.com/website/crs.nsf/request?open). CRS participants > will receive an official identification card along with access to news and > information on the BNSF CRS Web site. > > To report suspicious activity, CRS members and the public can call (800) > 832-5452. The information will be taken by a BNSF representative and >routed > for appropriate response. > > "Supporting homeland security in this manner is positive for everyone," >says > Carl Ice, BNSF's executive vice president and chief operations officer. >"It > supports the nation's security efforts, improves safety within our company > and the community, and improves operations by helping to remove the impact > of criminal acts and accidents." > > The CRS program is an outgrowth of another BNSF grassroots program, called > BNSF ON GUARD, which encourages employees to report suspicious activities, > trespassers or individuals to BNSF's Resource Operations Call Center >(ROCC). > The BNSF ON GUARD program, which started in 2003, has been successful, >with > more than 200 employees reporting suspicious activities since its >inception. > Employees have reported theft, vandalism, arson, attempted suicide, and > other criminal violations, threats to safety, or unusual events on or near > railway properties. > > "Security is everyone's business. Because of heightened security status, > Americans are being asked to be the 'eyes and ears' for law enforcement," > says John Clark, BNSF assistant vice president, Resource Protection > Solutions Team. "At BNSF, our police team continues to educate employees >on > work, personal and home security, as well as working to change employee > behavior to increase awareness of security risks." > > A subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE:BNI - >News), > BNSF Railway Company operates one of the largest railroad networks in >North > America, with about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian > provinces. BNSF is among the world's top transporters of intermodal >traffic, > moves more grain than any other American railroad, transports the >components > of many of the products we depend on daily, and hauls enough low-sulphur > coal to generate about ten percent of the electricity produced in the >United > States. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer > transactions at www.bnsf.com. > > > > Contact: > Contact: > Patrick Hiatte > (817) 867-6418
While I'm not a paranoid person and I believe it is genuine, I must admit I'm a little nervous about this...very recently there were reports of BNSF personnel being told to report all railfans as suspicious individuals to the police. ("unusual events on or near railroad property"?) While I think it is a great idea that they utilize railfans as allies, I'm also thinking about big brother and having us sign up to "help", only to be put on a most wanted list. It seems a bit too contrary to their employee program. I had an event (incident?) the other day whereby a BNSF engineer walked over to chat with me while waiting "in the hole" for another train to pass. He was asking me if I was a railroader and I said no and that I was a railfan. He said that quite a few BNSF managers roamed the area and he thought I might be one. (he's right, I know a few of them) He asked if I was "on the Internet" and I told him yes and he said he would like to check out any pictures I had taken. At the time he seemed on the up and up so I recommended a few sites, including Trainboard, for him to check out. I'm hoping he is just a closet railfan and not trying to collect a reward, now that I look back on it. I know plenty of BNSF managers so I'll find out for sure. Just not sure I'd be real quick to sign on the dotted line.
True - Here is the URL right off the BNSF Website http://www.bnsf.com/media/news/articles/2006/06/2006-06-07a.html
Printed my this afternoon. Come on bad guys I dare ya maybe this will keep the signal maintainer in Calwa off my ass Shannon
Printed mine a few minues ago. Never had problems with BNSF. UP on the other hand, is a different story. Friend and I harassed, maybe 6-7 years ago by someone who "claimed" to work for UP, but failed to show proper ID when asked, THREE TIMES. Said we didn't desrve it!!
I have activley been railfaning the C&I for the last year and and this is true. I have been approached by BNSF personel as well as local law enforcement with 100% respect and no trouble. I have found that a few things (and I believe this is on the BNSF website) help to make the BNSF feel beter about us. Recently I had a BNSF MOW person "check me out". I joke about my Jeep being the Railfan Jeep, but to make my railfaning safer I have installed the following. I have mounted an on-board load speaker to the center roll bar that is conected to the scanner, so that when I'm away from the vehicle I can still hear dispatch and engineers. I showed him my frequencies so I knew what was happening. When you are out in the middle of no where you can't hear these new generation of locomotives until they are literaly right there. Be aware! There are no grade crossings for them to sound a bell and horn at. The Jeep has a complete first aid kit on board. Every vehicle should have one. The BNSF number is on board too and will be programmed in my cell phone, I have reported tresspassers and turned in plates of sock heads who run around the crossing gates. Maintain a safe distance from the tracks, I constantly remind the friends that railfan with me, maintain a healthy distance from the tracks, There can be hanging straping or something eles that can do a number on you. Also put the engineer at ease, if he sees a bunch of guys around the tracks, he will get nervous, maintain a safe distance and use your head. I know this has all been said before, but it needs to be re-inforced from time to time. These guys move tons of freight for a living, so they probably don't care that we painted up a Kato engine just like what they are running. If they approach me, we talk and most of the BNSF guys I have talked to are either modelers or train buffs. Don't do what a member did in NH and run up to the conducter of a Conrail coal train and wonder why the conducter pulled a gun on him.
All very good points and info. Thanks for sharing!!! More goodies to add to your railfanning vehicle, ESPECIALLY when railfanning out west: Cell phone-need not be activated, just so you can dial 9-1-1 in an emergency Survival kit--waterproof, strike anywhere matches; candles, knife, hatchet, 'space' blankets; signal mirror; compass; rope; flashlite; high-energy foods. Trailmix, energy bars,e tc. Also, check military surplus stores--MRE (meal, ready to eat) are perfect survival kit food. Keeps for years! Tire chains are especially handy, in winter out west and up north! Maps and atlas' are handy; the Atlas/ Gazetteer *big red book* are very handy for railfans, BTW.. And a good suggestion for UP. Many people follow UP, and the more eyes watching, the better.:thumbs_up:
The most interesting aspect of this is that it came up another time, and I think it was here. somebody had been 'hasseled' watching trains. Posts were made on the topic, and at some point someone suggested that Railfanners would be a good source for information to pursue, most have cameras and are around the tracks, many times in isolated areas. It took some time...but at least BNSF has finally agreed.....Railfanners are good for the railroad...
Believe this might be the thread in mind: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=66685 :sad: Boxcab E50
If someone was hassled watching trains it was probably watching UP trains. I was at Argo yard a while back didnt even take any pictures and the security cop was demanding I give him my brand new digital camera cause I was trespassing so he says. Then I showed him I had no pictures of anything UP and that I was on the shoulder of a public road he let me go. That is just one more reason along with their stupid trademarking that I have absolutelly no Armour Yellow anywhere in my roster.
Me too! The one time I was really hassled by RR bulls was in Kansas City, MO, across from the depot. 'Nazi Southern' is that the locals call NS down there, because their detectives are so, uhm, we'll just leave that to your imagination. I was once questioned in Cheyenne (of all places) on BNSF, by a Denver bull, due to an outbound rocket motor shipment he was checking on. He reminded me that I was on RR poperty in the yard, and suggested I see the Trainmaster about getting a waiver. The BNSF bulls in Denver are a bit testy at times.
I have been checked out several times (monday at Sherman tunnels) and most often never had a problem. Bright note was north of KC when I was shooting a stack train. Kids pulled up and threw rocks into the auto racks to brake windows. They were 1/2 mile away but I had a 400 tele on so their pictures and pick up with plates were all on film. The next day I ran into 2 RR police from Santa Fe and they took the roll of film , devolped it and sent it to me in Canada with a thank you. Felt good to help out the railroad.
I just signed up and two minutes later I had my ID. I've had my share of problems with BN, but never with BNSF. The only other time I had a problem was with the MOP, but it was late at night and in a seedy part of town. He was somewhat concerned that I knew more about HIS railroad than he did. :embarassed:
Just a thought :lightbulb: Here is my Idea (printed my card 2min after I seen the link in a email) if we rail fan like we treat each other here at Trainboard. Always with the utmost respect and kindness they may some day let us ride one of those big things instead of just looking. :shade: (seldom used track looked both ways before photo takeing)
35MM SLR camera: $299. 3 rolls Kodachrome 64 film: $9.99. Catching vandals in the act, and helping prosecute their crimes: Priceless! That's cool!
I got mine yesterday, #226 here Have never had any problems while out , nothing more than waves. Have only talked to a few employees from BNSF, but they have been extremely polite and helpful to me when I did encounter them. Just came from another forum where the paranoia is running rampid. I have no problem giving them my info, can get most of it over the net anyway. Also, if you are stopped by an LEO, they will have all of it in a few mins. anyway
