General Discussion

    They were 'smart-guy' surveyor-type questions anyway - but I was curious as to why the 5 ft. would matter, and how he could tell. Thanks. -PDN.

Ulrich:

what a society we've become when all around us are suspicious and we need to show ID just for being parked somewhere to watch trains

However, we can place much of the blame on the "news" media for the public hysteria.

Thanks to the above-mentioned media, we are now "One nation, under surveillance".

   

coborn35:

 What exactly does a BNSF officer need with an ID? I highly doubt they can run a search on it...

Coborn, Are you not reading tonight? 

THEY ARE A POLICE AGENCY, ,just like any police dept...Doh ! (as Homer says) 

    While visiting my Dad in Scottsbluff Nebraska I had to get away from the hospital where he was admitted and just do something different. Kim and I went downtown and while there we watched a couple of eastbound coal loads standing on public property we were also approached by a BNSF Special Agent.    After explaining my reasons for being there showing my Union Pacific ID we were told to have a good day.   Seems they have had problems descibed in the above posts of FRNS getting too close to the action  Larry                                                                                                                                        

I find the effort of the BNSF police to keep you at a "safe distance" interesting.  I am going to Galesburg tomorrow for their Railroad Days.  When I was at that event a couple of years ago, several freight trains came from the north passing right along the Amtrak platforms.  A BNSF officer was on site and made sure that people moved back from the edge of the platform, but there was no effort to move people off the platforms and behind the fence, let alone 50 feet back.  Of course, most of the trains were moving maybe 10-15 MPH, but I remember one heading right out on the line toward Burlington was moving at a much faster clip.

I am assuming I will still get closeup views tomorrow.

Hi! I live in NJ and have police from CSX, NS, New Jersey Transit and several shortlines. An aquaintance of mine is a railroad police officer and I asked him one day what his authority is when not on railroad property. The answer: He is recognized as a New Jersey State trooper. He is certified by the state, goes through the same training and background checks,can carry a gun on or off duty 24/7, can issue motor vehicle tickets on any road or highway, can make arrests if someone is robbing a store or robbing a bank. Another thing to note is that he has jurisdiction in every state that his particular railroad operates and he has made arrests in states other than NJ. They are not only police officers when on RR property. Next time you guys see a railroad police officer, do yourself a favor and show respect just as you would to any other non-railroad police officer. They are the same thing. The only difference is that a railroad police officers salary is paid by the RR he works for, not the state he is in.

I have yet to be stopped by any type of police while railfanning. I have my Citizens for rail safety card that even if it is not a BNSF agent I will present if asked for ID.

 

 

zardoz:

Ulrich:

what a society we've become when all around us are suspicious and we need to show ID just for being parked somewhere to watch trains

However, we can place much of the blame on the "news" media for the public hysteria.

Thanks to the above-mentioned media, we are now "One nation, under surveillance".

As grafittied on a building in London...

Now it becomes interesting here. Engineer labs wrote that all BNSF locos are video-equipped. I applaud that, but now comes the big question: when all the locos are fitted with cameras why didn't BNSF produce that material on the issues of the crash were the rr got convicted?

Thank you for answering that one if you know.

Kiwigerd:

Now it becomes interesting here. Engineer labs wrote that all BNSF locos are video-equipped. I applaud that, but now comes the big question: when all the locos are fitted with cameras why didn't BNSF produce that material on the issues of the crash were the rr got convicted?

Thank you for answering that one if you know.

Incident that you are referring to occurred in 2003....I don't believe the opportunity to video equip engines became available until approximately 2005.  Video equipping locomotives is not a $200 upgrade so it takes corporate commitment to retrofit 2000-4000 engines....it also takes time to install the equipment.  All the Class I carriers have programs in place to equip their fleets.

Thank you. 2003, yes I guess that explains it pretty well.

Ironically, I was over at East Dubuque and East Cabin this last Saturday for a bit; even went up to the area where the CN's Iowa Division mainline splits off from the joint trackage and heads for the tunnel but never encountered any BNSF police this last Saturday.  I'm guessing they were likely all congregated in and around Galesburg. 

TrainManTy:

I've dealt with railroad cops/station security twice, both on a trip to NYC.

The station security guy saw me taking photos of the restored New Haven Union Station from inside and politely informed me that no photographs were allowed inside for security reasons. I told him that I understood and asked if the platforms were fair game for photography. He said that was fine, and wished me a good day as he walked off.

I wonder if the security guy in the New Haven station knew what he was talking about? I cannot imagine taking pictures inside a waiting room of a railroad station would pose a security threat compared to taking pictures on the station platform.

Los Angeles Rams Guy:

Ironically, I was over at East Dubuque and East Cabin this last Saturday for a bit; even went up to the area where the CN's Iowa Division mainline splits off from the joint trackage and heads for the tunnel but never encountered any BNSF police this last Saturday.  I'm guessing they were likely all congregated in and around Galesburg. 

Actually, not. 

I spent the better part of last Saturday hanging around the Galesburg Amtrak platform and did not see a uniform all day.  It is quite the event for getting up close and personal with freight and passenger trains.  There were at least a half dozen car load trains, a couple of stacks and another half dozen or so coal trains, plus a unit train of ethanol tanks-empty we thought.  There is a 5 foot fence along side the west platform with about 50 feet between there and the station building.  While spectators were not asked to leave the platforms when trains were passing, I choose to stay on the station side of the fence. 

The bus for the yard tour also went over the bridge over the yard.  Normally, no parking or pedestrians are allowed on the bridge, except that the prohibitions are not enforced for Galesburg Railroad Days weekend. 

cnwfan51:

Kim and I went downtown and while there we watched a couple of eastbound coal loads standing on public property we were also approached by a BNSF Special Agent.    After explaining my reasons for being there showing my Union Pacific ID we were told to have a good day.

THIS is what frost's me.  If these people were on PUBLIC PROPERTY the cops had NO RIGHT to question them!  I don't care what reports the cops had in the past. These people were being presumed guilty until they proved themselves innocent. It would be different if the cops were responding to a current call about trespassers matching their description who were on the tracks in the area where these people were standing.  Additionally, these people had no reason to have to explain their reasons for being where the were.

Of course, we are only getting cnwfan51's account of the episode, and I realize there are usually two sides to every story.  However, if what cnwfan51 reports is accurate, then the cops definitely exceeded their authority.