How do U splain to cops you're a ferroequnarchaeologist?

[FJ and G]

The short answer is you don't.

I had a split second to decide how to answer that during my lunch hour today, as I was photographing abandoned trackage on a public road and shoulder about _ mile from the Pentagon.

I instead told the police that I was photographing scenes for my model RR, which is sort of true, if you've seen photos of my most recent layout, half of which depicts abandoned trackage.

Anyway, my answer seemed to suffice, and he drove away, but circled the block several times. The photos I took are all down below.

The long answer, which I wisely did not give, would have been.

Officer, sir. I'm a ferroequinologist taking photos of abandoned trackage. I got to be this way, sir, b/c I'm a foamer; that, sir, is a railroad buff. But, sir, a ferroequinarchaeologist actually is much sicker than a foamer.

You see, sir, we pursue abandoned trackage. I can't exactly explain why we do so, sir, except that that it's in our blood. I may have been traumatized when my childhood railroads, the FJ&G and the 3rd Ave El were ripped up. Sir, it was like my heart was ripped out. Like the loss of a loved one or pet, even.

Officer, the photos of these rusted rails and weeds bring a certain amount of joy and closure. I can now gaze at them on my screensaver and dream of the days of yore when steam locomotives polished these rails and when people rode in trains and trolleys all the time.

These rails are lucky. They are still in place and nature is gently reclaiming them.

Sir, these photos may be the last evidence of this Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac spur, as this area is slated for new development and a stadium.

Sir, I also thought you might be interested in hearing that I'm a toy train fanatic. Although steam and most passenger service is long gone, there's plenty of trains on my fantasy layout.

Officer, thank you for serving and protecting. I'm not an al Qaeda member or a Taliban. If you'd like to see the pictures I took, I'll gladly share them with you.

[wrmcclellan]

Yep Dave - good thing you gave the short answer - not only would he have hauled you in - you probably get fitted with one of those white jackets with the buttons in back and the extra - extra long sleeves!

[cnw1995]

Fortunately, I am never without a copy of CTT that I could wave...

[Dr. John]

Dave,

I really like your photos! They have a very artistic appearance with the different textures and colors.

[FJ and G]

Good idea w/CTT, Doug.

Roy, yeah, the funny farm. They're coming to take me away, ha ha...

John,

as a fellow ferroequinarchaeologist, I knew you'd appreciate.

Hard to improve on nature. The rail just adds context and continuity to the theme. I've taken these types of photos in other states as well.

I once had an art professor who I thought to be a crackpot. He focused all his paintings solely on windows. He had dozens of window paintings. Townhouses, barns, you name it. I think I must be the crackpot now.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dave,
Here is how you go about taking photos of almost anything you want. First buy a lime green safety vest, not orange, but green. Put a hard had on the back deck of your car. Go take photos to your hearts content.

When the police ask you what you are doing, that is if they ask due to the lime green vest and hardhat, tell them you are doing an estimate to bid the removal of the rails for scrap. When they tell you they haven't heard anything about it, tell them you think it may be an unsolicited offer to the owner of the right-of-way. After you use the code word "right-of-way" more than likely they will have no more questions.

I take photos all the time of anything I want and with the vest and hat, I never get any questions. For example, recently I took photos along an abandoned railroad for a new roadway in southern Ohio. Not one question from anyone. Last year I took photos of a bridge across the Ohio River, not one question. Last week we took photos of a major bridge in Cleveland, again not one question. I bet if I tried I could get a cop to take my picture with the bridge in the background.

Now if you are trespassing on active RR property, you better have proper id ready. The railroads always give us a letter saying we have permission to be on their property and usually a check in procedure via telephone.

(Note: Lime green is used in the construction industry, airport tarmac workers use orange vests. The police around here are still using orange.)

[selector]

I would start a warm and fuzzy feeling in him by addressing him this way, to begin with:

(With a frown, and an imperious and lecturing tone) "Young man, I am only going to answer your question because you are a police officer..."

I might try a different approach with the judge. [:o)]

[Anonymous]

Osama Bin Vergun with a camera.....LOL

[pbjwilson]

Dave,
Those are great photos. Print them up, Matte them and take them to a local art gallery. Could be the start of a new career. I'm actually serious about this. I'd buy them.

[FJ and G]

Paul,

The only reason you'd buy them is that you're as crazy as I. [:D][:D][:D][}:)][:X][:O][|)][|)][:P][banghead][bow][C=:-)][dinner][D)][D)][D)][D)][D)][D)]

Osama bin Dave

[markn]

Maybe a silly question, but can a train just pu***hru the dirt if the track was reactivated?

[92hatchattack]

Dave,

I really enjoyed reading your post, and your pictures are great! I get excited when i see someone doing something out of the ordinary that they love so much! Are those actual rails that u remember being active in your earlier years??? Do you hunt down certain lines or just any track u can find?

Ive walked a long path of aboandoned trackage before.( allthough the rails had been removed there were actualy a few laying on the side of the path) All i remember was that it was like u could just feel the history of the rails. Like it brought u back 100 years.

Have you ever experimented, or have an intrest in experimenting with blacka nd white photos??? I image it could bring a really dramatic and aged feel to those photographs.


---Joe

[FJ and G]

Joe,

The advantage of abandoned ROWs is that you can't get hit by a train walking them, unless it is a ghost train. Of course you have to be careful of property rights and in my case of the close proximity to the Pentagon (just on the other side of I-395 directly across from the Pentagon's power plant).

I posted this on OGR forum and there are some real engineers who worked trains in those areas but when I first arrived in this area in 1989, I don't recall any active trains (and that includes across the river in Georgetown, where rails still exist as well as short industrial tunnels and other cool train items if you've got a sharp eye).

I sometimes just bump into old train tracks, as I enjoy hiking. Sometimes I find them on old topo maps, as in Arkansas. Other times it was during the course of my work. For example, I was often off on writing assignments at various bases and came across trackages.

For example at North Island, Coronado, San Diego, some of the old warehouses and trackage from WWII exist; same at nearby Miramar NAS. Also at Fort Belvoir VA and Little Rock Air Force Base.

Los Angeles too is rich in trains, with trackage even on Santa Monica Blvd; Western Ave area and the harbor area of San Pedro.

In my hometown of Gloversville NY, the FJ&G has a rail to trail for a number of miles, as does the Old Dominion RR along the Vienna VA area.

In Texas, I hiked miles and miles of abandoned lines between Dallas and Fort Worth, some quite scenic.

At another instance, I planned carefully a hiking experience along the old Choctaw line between Lonoke and Carlyle Arkansas. On that 9 mile stretch I photographed every foot of right of way and was able to recreate the experience of traveling the line by place the photos in order.

I'd share more photos but this is a toy train forum so I'd probably drop them into the coffee thread or somehow tie them in with a toy train layout. (It's amazing but many toy train folks like real RRs, active and abandoned, guess they go hand in glove). Also, all of my photos are in the form of slides or pictures, as back then I didn't have the convenience of a digital camera.

[92hatchattack]

Good stuff. Youve done alot of traveling! I cant even remember the last time ive been able to get outa Jersey, LOL.

Funny you mention a ghost train. The tracks i walked actualy have a ghost story to go wth them. Maybe i can do a search online and find out some details.

As far as your pictures im sure just about everyone on this site would love to see them. Toy trains are models of the real thing, therefore tying everything together i guess. Make sure you let us know if your posting up more of your pictures elsewhere!

[92hatchattack]

found this... This is the area ive walked many times before.

http://www.hometowntales.com/hooker.html

[1688torpedo]

Hello 92Hatchattack! Seems like New Jersey is full of Urban Legends such as the Hookerman,Jersey Devil, and a few others. Be careful though! Especially if you see a Corvair with a Bearded Man driving by you![;)][:P][:)] You'll feel like you're in the Twilight Zone.[;)]