One Railfan Damper That Can Cost You Big Bucks!

[K. P. Harrier]

There is SOMETHING that can cost railfans big bucks!

One photo below is a clue. The other two photos are each HALF a clue.

Photo No. 1:

Photo No. 2:

Photo No. 3:

Can you figure out what the damper is?

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

OK, here's a guess:

Photo No. 1 sure looks like a traffic law enforcement camera of some kind - often used to catch 'red-light-running' violators, or speeders as on the Interstates around Phoenix, Arizona.

Photo No. 2 is a grade crossing for a Light Rail Vehicle of some kind, and Photo No. 3 looks like a stairway and underpass of the sort that is used to get under rail and LRV lines.  That would be used by people only - not cars - and no respectable railfan would go past a crossing gate that's down with a car anyway.

So I'll surmise and synthesize that the camera takes pictures of people who go beyond the crossing gate when it's down - even if it's only to get a better photo of the approaching LRV, since the one in Photo No. 2 is pretty much obscured by the white building in the right of the photo's image. 

So how much is the ''big bucks'' fine, K.P. ? 

And thanks for sharing and for putting together the little puzzle, the better to educate and inform the rest of us -   - to learn from someone else's mistakes, as it were.

- Paul North. 

[georgel]

I believe you got it all wrong. The LRV, San Diego trolly, shows a sign for Tijaunna, the camera is to catch illegals speeding across America and the tunnel shows the other way into the U.S.

[dhanson1961]

Well I was in San Diego recently and I do recognize the trolly and what I think is the underpass at Old Towne and I do know that Photo 1 is a Red Light Camera. So maybe don't run the crossing gate ant it won't cost you $500 with a mailed ticket.

[CShaveRR]

Locally the fine is $250 or 25 hours of community service, if you start across before the lights quit flashing and/or the gates are fully raised.

[ChuckCobleigh]

dhanson1961

Well I was in San Diego recently and I do recognize the trolly and what I think is the underpass at Old Towne and I do know that Photo 1 is a Red Light Camera. So maybe don't run the crossing gate ant it won't cost you $500 with a mailed ticket.

Righto on the pictures of the SD Trolley and looking west towards the pedestrian crossing under the four tracks at Old Town station. (At first, I didn't make the connection because I was thinking about the view to the east looking towards Old Town State Park. Silly me.)

Also, California does permit photo enforcement of grade crossings with gates, though I am unaware of any in San Diego County at this time. The Taylor Street crossing on the north side of Old Town Station is a prime spot for at least pedestrian violations, as any time the gates go down, people still mosey across the tracks because they think it's just the trolley. Given that Amtrak blasts through at up to 40 MPH without stopping more than 20 times a day, that's just dumb. (When ATSF 3751 came through northbound a couple of years ago, they were doing that or a little better. Amazing how quiet it actually is at that speed.)

Unfortunately for photo enforcement, most pedestrians refuse to wear license plates, so it would require, for instance, our bicycle cops to swoop down and cite them for the violations. On the other hand, we do have our gate dodgers as well, who occasionally do it right in front of a cop car. (Well, if they're that stupid, they deserve the ticket.)

[The Butler]

CShaveRR

Locally the fine is $250 or 25 hours of community service, if you start across before the lights quit flashing and/or the gates are fully raised.

Carl, have they put up cameras at grade crossing in you neck of the woods?

[CShaveRR]

No, James, at least not for the purposes of catching violators. There are warning signs at all crossings in town, as well as on the pedestrian crosswalk at the station. One crossing is equipped with cameras tied in to computers--it's a complex intersection around the crossing, and the cameras/computers control the lights (rather than the loops of wire in the pavement); don't know if these shots could be pulled in the event of an accident. They certainly wouldn't be for a violation--that would almost definitely have to be a cop pulling a "Gotcha!"

[K. P. Harrier]

More clues, 100% applicable:

Photo No. 4: Who is more paranoid of BUSHES with machine guns? Railfans or trainmen forced to hide behind super dark windows?

Photo No. 5: Is the sidewalk trespassing?

The explanation Friday, January 22, 2010.

To Paul D. North (1-19):

Thanks for your kind words. And, your unsuccessful attempt to solve the mystery was valiant! You've got guts for trying. Friday's explanation might make you cringe. It made me, though it really shouldn't be surprising in light of today's post 9-11 environment.

Take care.

K.P.

 

[cx500]

 My guess is that the transit authority/town has a bylaw prohibiting photography from the station platforms, especially if they have controlled access or are a fare paid-zone.  The box contains a surveillance camera, you have been noticed, and a stormtrooper is on his way to arrest or ticket you.

John

[K. P. Harrier]

The Explanation

Many train crews are paranoid of anything abnormal. Some railroads have actually made their employes scared of the own shadows. (From previously shown in this topic Photo No. 4 now re-shown here.)

Like runners of red traffic lights that are indiscriminately photographed in the act, some paranoid railroaders indiscriminately call the DS immediately and sic the police on harmless and unsuspecting railfans doing what they have always done. (Photo No. 1)

Years ago nobody minded photographers anywhere trackside as long as they were not in immediate danger, and those railfans generally knew what was stupid and what wasn't stupid. Back then everybody knew crossing gates were just a rule of thumb. (Photo No. 5)

But, no more! If one of the paranoid railroaders today spots a railfan (usually with a camera) on the sidewalk or dirt anywhere BEYOND the crossing gate arm, they seem to freak-out and go into 'the end of the world is here' mode and call the DS for emergency salvation from the bin Laden infidels (railfans)! One enlightened DS that finally got it asked a reporting train, "Are you sure they are not JUST railfans?" (Photo No. 2)

So, use underpasses or overpasses if that is possible (Photo No. 3) ...

... but DON'T walk across the tracks or violate a railroad's magical property rights IN ANY WAY when the flashers and gates are active. Trespassing is NOW so often considered the rail side of an active crossing gate arm.

We live in a very different world than yesteryear. And, because of that, you could pay out big bucks defending yourself and/or with fines if worst came to worst. So, play it cagy. Be savvy. There are ways that railroaders won't even know you are around. Let scared railroaders be scared of there own shadows, but you can laugh at them if you ALWAYS stay on public property and on the proper side of crossing gates ... and don't look like a railfan (except to momentarily take a photo ... and then move on). That is my suggestion, and I believe that is the safest, most prudent, and practical policy for any railfan to have in this day and age of super paranoia ...

 

[zugmann]

Sir, the railroaders are not "scared" as you make it out to be.  They are simply following the rules and regulations of their jobs which are conditions for their continued employment.  Some railroaders actually prefer to get money and benefits.  The law is the law in regards to trespassing.  It is not "magical".  Of course why would RRers have a grudge against railfans?  We NEVER see railfans acting like morons standing in front of our trains, or blatantly trespassing to get a shot. Of course not.  Unthinkable.  Unimaginable.

And I'm sorry, but the railfans that try to "not look like a railfan" are ALWAYS the easiest to spot, but then again, I'm a railfan.  To the average person, that railfan trying to play it cool may look like a copper thief, a vandal, someone thinking about suicide, or up to some other suspicious activity.  Don't always think that ONLY RRers are calling these people in.  Just about every person has a cellphone. 

 

PS,  you should not be beyond the activated crossing gates or flashers.  Railfan or not. And that DS was an idiot.  He should just send out the authorities and let them deal with it.  His job is to dispatch trains, not to play lawyer.

 

PPS.  You are the one that is sounding super-paranoid.  Somehow thousands of people are taking photos of trains every day and not getting harassed. 

 

 

[kolechovski]

Well, these days, anybody can get harassed for taking normal photos without doing anything illegal.  It's mostly up to the luck of what crews go by you, and how much they know about people like you.

As for photo #5, is anybody else horrified at a number of problems there?  First, the obvious DO-NOT-STOP-ON-TRACKS issue.  Besides that, why would a light be set up like that!?  That's just begging to have wrecks.  The light's stop point should be behind the crossing gate, so people don't get stuck out there in front of a train.  That was a bad design to begin with.  The one at the local college is setup correctly, with the light stop points before the crossing gates.