schlimmIt would likely be unconstitutional and repellant to most Americans. But in posting this, I was not being entirely serious. I should have looked for the sarcasm emo, I suppose?
Or perhaps sarchasm - the gap between what was intended and what was perceived?
Caning taggers, while not acceptable here, would certainly send a message to potential taggers. No mere slap on the hand here - you're gonna feel this, very emphatically...
I think I've mentioned this before - an old jailer decided that instead of serving troublesom inmates bread and water, he'd serve them baby food. More nutritious, for one thing, but most important - the troublemakers couldn't get out of jail and brag about how they'd been put on bread and water. Not many wanted to boast how they'd eaten baby food in jail...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Murphy Siding schlimm http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/singapur-deutschen-graffiti-sprayern-drohen-stockhiebe-und-gefaengnis-13280068.html [from an article in FAZ online]: Here is how one nation dealt with graffiti vandalism on trains. In this case, it was two young German tourists who sprayed a subway train in Singapore. They were caught and face "lashes and several years in prison." I suspect if that were the punishment here, it would quickly have a chilling effect on that form of vandalism. Would it also have an effect on that provision in the constitution forbidding cruel and unusual punishment as well?
schlimm http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/singapur-deutschen-graffiti-sprayern-drohen-stockhiebe-und-gefaengnis-13280068.html [from an article in FAZ online]: Here is how one nation dealt with graffiti vandalism on trains. In this case, it was two young German tourists who sprayed a subway train in Singapore. They were caught and face "lashes and several years in prison." I suspect if that were the punishment here, it would quickly have a chilling effect on that form of vandalism.
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/singapur-deutschen-graffiti-sprayern-drohen-stockhiebe-und-gefaengnis-13280068.html
[from an article in FAZ online]:
Here is how one nation dealt with graffiti vandalism on trains. In this case, it was two young German tourists who sprayed a subway train in Singapore. They were caught and face "lashes and several years in prison." I suspect if that were the punishment here, it would quickly have a chilling effect on that form of vandalism.
Would it also have an effect on that provision in the constitution forbidding cruel and unusual punishment as well?
It would likely be unconstitutional and repellant to most Americans. But in posting this, I was not being entirely serious. I should have looked for the sarcasm emo, I suppose?
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Isn't that the same level of punishment that is assessed in Singapore for having chewing gum get deposited on a street or sidewalk?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
It certainly would be unusual. Considering the pain inflicted, some would consider it cruel. What about "let the punishment fit the crime," and sentence the criminals to removing their work?
Johnny
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
A week or so ago I saw a van trailer moving along SR 611 in the Tobyhanna, PA area (coudn't get a photo quick enough). It was lettered for "Lincoln Logistics" in large puffy letters, the same style most graffiti artists use. I suppose the owner either liked that style, or was trying to beat them to the punch . . .
- Paul North.
Making the holes in the bottom panel larger to reduce the canvas for the "artists" potentially would let spray paint to hit the cars inside. A possible solution would be to put a second panel several inches inside to give the protection but limit the canvas area.
jimnorton Paul: Granted. But based on that rationale why was the car even painted and adorned with KCS logos in the first place?
Paul: Granted. But based on that rationale why was the car even painted and adorned with KCS logos in the first place?
It was painted to keep it from rusting. The KCS car initials and number are painted on the car 'floor'. The KCS logos on the rack, identify KCS as the rack owner. The rack panels appear to be galvanized metal - unpainted.
Really Jim I really don't understand the issue. Let's move on.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, AL
Destruction? Defaced, unsightly, but it still works.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Look closer....there is almost 50' of destruction of private property there! What I see is a modern and impressive piece of railroad equipment reduced to the regard of an alley wall.
I see an autorack.
?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
This is what gripes me the most. Here is a great looking KCS rack. But who steals the show? What do you see here: the message of the emerging railroad industry or the message of the vandal?
Been there done that!
One modification to the modern day auto rack which would greatly, if not completely, eliminate the potential for vandalism would be the redesign of the bottom panel. By increasing the size and number of openings in the panel, less surface area would be available to have as a "canvas" while still stopping rocks. Note that tagging rarely goes beyond this bottom panel.
This would render Auto trains and the related yards useless as targets for vandals eliminating much trespassing from said areas.
Murphy Siding BaltACD Moscow combats tagging so well http://on.rt.com/cksmxq To be honest, I couldn't tell if the train had been tagged, or if that was all part of some modern paint scheme.
BaltACD Moscow combats tagging so well http://on.rt.com/cksmxq
Moscow combats tagging so well
http://on.rt.com/cksmxq
To be honest, I couldn't tell if the train had been tagged, or if that was all part of some modern paint scheme.
According to the article, a gang boarded the train, set the emergency brakes and did the tagging in 20 minutes to the occupied passenger train.
23 17 46 11
Yes, that looks very complex and labor intensive. I recall that old article in Trains Magazine about graffiti. I have it, so I might look for it. But I recall a graffiti drawing in that article that I thought looked quite amazing.
jimnortonSo, the question begs: How long would it require to paint the 1,335 sq ft masterpiece below. If it were only me and based on the above it would require 27 hours.
As has been noted numerous times, the cars are not always parked on railroad property. In the case of this auto hauler, odds are it was parked in a holding yard for some auto plant or another, waiting to be loaded.
I seriously doubt this was the work of one tagger. Three of them working together knock the time down to 9 hours, although I'd bet it's even less than that. These folks work fast.
I'd be more concerned as to where they got their paint - I'm betting they didn't pay for it...
jimnorton The last time I painted a room it took me about 8 hours, working no higher than a foot or two off the ground and useing only one color. Doing a little math thats about 384 sq ft for a 12 x 12 room. So, the question begs: How long would it require to paint the 1,335 sq ft masterpiece below. If it were only me and based on the above it would require 27 hours. Just another illustration of the woefully non-existant security on the nation's rails. 18 hours pretty much is enough time to do any level of sabatoge allowed. Nobody is minding the store.
The last time I painted a room it took me about 8 hours, working no higher than a foot or two off the ground and useing only one color. Doing a little math thats about 384 sq ft for a 12 x 12 room.
So, the question begs: How long would it require to paint the 1,335 sq ft masterpiece below. If it were only me and based on the above it would require 27 hours.
Just another illustration of the woefully non-existant security on the nation's rails. 18 hours pretty much is enough time to do any level of sabatoge allowed. Nobody is minding the store.
Don't forget thousands of autoracks were stored for months on end in the period of 2008-2011 when all the 'pop' went out of the automotive industry. Stored cars were on 'out of the way' tracks on Class 1 carriers as well as the Class 1 carriers leasing track space in out of the way locations on short lines. More than enough time to create a 'masterpiece'.
Have you considered getting a job a s a railroad special agent? Then perhaps you could do something constructive to stop it.
Norm
Graffiti doesn't delay operating trains - mangled vehicles and the bodies of trespassers do. Graffiti happens to stopped equipment with the trespassers vacating the property after their 'art' is complete. The trespassers that get struck think the railroad is their own personal short cut to their destination, not realizing they will get their ultimate destination (the destination of us all) much sooner than they had planned.
Operations is not about esthetics, it is about economics. Graffiti is a esthetic problem, painting over the results of graffiti then makes it a economic issue, leaving it alone when it doesn't obstruct required markings takes the economics out of the issue and lets it offend the easily offended.
I think there is an underlying sentiment here that the average person does not have the sense to get off railroad tracks and must be protected. And really, that's no surprise. We have had trains not even requiring a headlight during daylight to the point now where a locomotive has three lights lite constantly and two of them flash!
Whether you are a vandal, a new bride or a photographer you have the sense to avoid being in the path of an oncoming train. That's why efforts should be directed towards stopping the activity of trespassers who actually hamper operations, safety and cost the industry money. Only makes sense.
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