RR security and railfanning

Ever since 9-11 I've read several topics on several boards about people being harrased by RR security, or curtailing their fanning activities due to the prospect of being harrassed. I'm finding this very discouraging and want to show another side of the story.

My buddy Jeff and I just went on a railfanning trip to Oregon last week. By the way it was spectacular!!! Had a room in Eugene right next to the tracks and it shook the walls everytime a train rolled by. Anyhow, we spent several days up there in the Willamette Valley railfanning any and everything we could.

During this trip we encountered many a train crew and rr agent and were greeted with smiles and waves. Many even helped answer questions and all were quite friendly. I was especially impressed with the WPRR and CORP employees who after we asked permission, let Jeff and I have the run of the yards to photograph whatever we wanted. Couldn't have been any better, well except more sunshine but hey

I guess my point is I feel there is alot of overeaction on the part of railfans to the extra security and extra caution shown by the railroads. Oh, and yes, I have been asked to step away from rails on an occasion or two but hey, I was clearly in the wrong. Use common sense and you can still railfan freely and with great fun.

 

John, you are quite correct because YOU performed in the correct manner. Your age, decorum and the cameras helped a lot, and it was daylight too.

You didn't make any remarks about what cargo was in various cars, or where a train was going, what time would it leave or any thing that would have raised a question about your intent.

Also, you did not make a suspicious move toward trying to climb aboard any rolling stock, or fool around any turnouts, signals, etc. Just use common sense about what you photograph and where you are, (don't stand in the gauge of course!)

The people who will be shot, are the ones found ON the rolling stock, or in box cars, gondolas, or climbing onto engines especially.

In a town, they probably would not shoot on sight, like out in the country, but they will radio the dispatcher to call the police, and you will go to jail, or they might make you jump or throw you off. It wont make any difference if the train is sitting still, or doing 60 miles an hour either!

If the railfans just want to take pictures, and ask permission FIRST, the railroad crew might even take you to a good vantage spot you would not be allowed to just walk over to. Even if you ask, and they OK you taking pictures, they may still NOT allow you to tread on railroad property. There may be some cargo present, that is under security, so they would not be able to give you permission even though they might, some other time.

It isn't a pretty sight to see a photo of a guy cut half in two, or his head cut off because he got into a place or on something he was not supposed to be on.

He puts himself in "self jeopardy" and kills himself most of the time.

It is seldom now days that he is actually dropped down between the cars on a moving train, or thrown off the side.

Back when they had walkways on top of box cars, he would sometimes "stumble" ( with help from an axe handle) and try to fly off the top, usually while crossing a tressle or bridge.

Of course now that we have been warned, again, some areas are on high alert, while others that should be, are still lax about strangers crossing their property.

That is also why we still have a bad problem with theft from railcars of new cars, computers out of box cars, food stuffs, new tires, gasoline being drained out of tankers, and like that.

It would be best to stay on the outskirts of big yards and around military installations.

[ 27 May 2002, 07:00: Message edited by: watash ]

 

Like you and my buddy Watash say John, common sense should prevail. Stay out of the yards and out of the way and you shouldn't have a problem. For example, I watched a young fan walking around our yard a couple of days ago with a camera, obviously photographing some old equipment but also crossing tracks and standing near the lead while we were moving our engines. It's just one more thing for me to watch while I'm working and I didn't appreciate it much. We shouldn't have to worry about protecting people on the property who don't belong there. This guy managed to stay far enough away from us that we couldn't talk to him and ask him to back off which suggests that he knew he was in the wrong but wanted the pictures anyway. I kept wondering where he was every time we made a move.

 

Just depends on the railroad you're dealing with. Around here if you step one foot on NS property you're just asking for the Gastopo to come wisk you away ! Doesn't matter if it's "Big City" or Podunk Jct. It's been like that prior to 9-11.

 

First and foremost, you did things right. When you wanted to go beyond the strictly public areas you asked permission. Further, you actually communicated with the railroad people you met.

On my recent trip to Alabama, I took pictures in several mainline locations. I was careful to stay far enough away that no one could be concerned about my safety. (The zoom lens is a very useful tool for these situations.) And even the crews on one RR, with a reputation for being unfriendly, greeted me cordially.

I believe it is a two-way street. If you show respect and a friendly attitude, you will usually receive the same in return.

 

John! The eugene oregon area is a great place anyway! In my younger days I knocked around eugene off and on for several years. Folks there are very welcoming and laid back for the most part! I used to listen to the sound of brake shoes squealing and cars being humped at night when its still! You could hear e'm all over west eugene, especially when it was SPs main boxcar yard! Sounds like you had a great trip! Rich Watson!

 

That area is wonderful. But like Fred said, it all depends on what RR your dealing with....the NS is Nortorious for protecting property... My uncle and I have been thrown out of various Yards but we were clearly trespassing. BN/UP/CNW/CSX but they were all doing their jobs HOW ever....2 years ago my friend and I were in BCRails North Van yard.....and we had vests (RR issued for RR fans.) and Waivers witch pretty much allowed us akll over that yard if we wanted, (with some restrictions) this was prior to 9/11 but this line is fairly remote so they aren't as worried as the others may be.

 

I spent last night railfanning CSX in northwest Ohio. Many instances I was clearly trespassing, standing on the RoW, next to diamonds, etc. We were never hastled, by CSX personel or by local authorities. Even late at night 1-3am I was doing night shots next to some signals, and I had walked a trackside access road to do so. All the crews just waved as they passed, nobody cared that I was there at all.

 

You guys admit you were 'clearly trespassing' on railroad property, hence breaking a law that you're obviously aware of. How do you justify that?

 

Being on the right-of-way is not a good thing. Before 9/11, I was in a place in Ohio where raifans had done some stupid railfan tricks. Here's me not knowing that the local cops were arresting anyone stepping onto the ROW. I was all over the place right in full view of a crew bus. Just carefully walking.

If I hadn't left when I did, in one more minute I was going to be locked up. I passed the local cop driving in while I was driving out of the parking lot of the old station.

He was surely coming after me. It's a dead end street and not much of a reason to be there except to bust this railfan.

Don't know if he'd wanna hear about my cop friends back home. Even my RR cop friends.

The only thing I had to do was stand right at the edge of the fence and I would have never created a stir. Three steps ono the ROW and I was an illegal. Guess I'd be in for life after walking around the tracks for a half hour.

Getting permission to be somewhere is a must.

 

You know, besides what railroad you're dealing it depends what part of the country (USA) you're in as well. When railfanning down south, Ark, Ok, Miss, La, Ga, and Ala there seemed never to be a problem with "security"- my friends & I were allowed "the run of the place" in places where here "up north" I would have never gotten near! If you look ( no railroad type vest with patches of every railroad that ever existed )& act "responsible" your chances of admission are a lot greater.

 

depends on if your in big city or out in the woods , in the big city the rr's are more aware and are stopping to check you out and see some id , just to be careful. my club has talked to both sp and up here in houston , tx about a tour or something for an upcoming convention and we were told that it is on hold for now , no tours . just remember common courtsy and don't walk on rr property at all , unless you have permission ! happy railfanning !!!!!