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Like a lot of folks here, I too am a life long railfan and modeler. Over the years (about 1981 on) I've been on railroad property more times than I can remember. That said, my habits at trackside somewhat changed after the BNSF merger and again after 9/11, that time I habits drastically changed. Actually, I model the abandoned Milwaukee Road in Eastern Washington largely to avoid class 1 photography issues and that's worked out pretty well for me. Now, I'm not pointing fingers at anyone but rather, I'm making a general statement -- A reason some railfans get into trouble stems from an engrained sense of genuine entitlement to be able to stand next to the tracks at take pictures as they always have in the past. This is something I've never seen anyone talk about before, but it's an issue! Oh yeah, it's an issue! Once again, I'm not directly commenting about the video, just saying -- I've been stopped three times in the past 10 years. Once by a BNSF cop in Pasco, Washington (1996), once by a St. Maries, Idaho policeman while I was measuring a speeder shed (2005), and just recently, a Salem, Oregon policeman while waiting for the Coast Starlight. All three times, I was civil and friendly as could be and guess what I got in return? True, you can be civil to someone and still get jacked, railroaders can be genuine hard asses and some even go so far to hold a general contemp for everyone around them, railfans especially. But you certainly might help yourself by playing nice. If you do get challenged, well, that's when you take one for the team -- Unless your on public property of course. Incidentally, the officer in St. Maries became more interested in my two retired racing Greyhounds in the back seat of my Corolla than my weird desire to measure an old speeder shed, then again the STMA isn't a BNSF or a NS by any stretch of the imagination. Still, had that been me you all saw in the video, you would have seen something different... -Ryan Disclaimer, Yes, I've worked for a railroad in the past.
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