Interesting story, I was rail fanning at the Wilmette metra station once and saw a UP Trainmaster's SUV parked in parking lot. Some kids were picking up ballast rocks and throwing them around, I taped on the window of the SUV and told him what was going on he siad, "ok i'll handle it." He then picked up a sheet of paper that had Wilmette PD's number written on it and he called them. Wonder why he called Wilmette instead of UPPD and/or Metra PD? Thanks
Probably to ensure a quicker response.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Why would you say the response would be quicker with local PD VS RR PD? Thanks
I'd suppose the railroad police aren't quite as ubiquitous as they used to be and are spread kind of thin.
Probably a faster response from the locals.
I saw that the Trainmaster parked in a handicapped spot, I;m supprised that Wilmette PD didn't ticket his car, and he kind of acted like an idiot when the cops came, thoughts?
It seems that most people feel that they are immune from laws if they are doing their job... delivery people will park in fire zones, in travel lanes of busy roads/highways/streets and block traffic, handicap reserved spots, etc. etc., because they don't want to be inconvienced. And many people believe they are priviledged and that the law does not apply to them since they are not intent on breaking the law, they are just going about their lives and should not be inconvienenced by something so silly as a "minor traffic regulation" that applies to everyone else.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Semper Vaporo It seems that most people feel that they are immune from laws if they are doing their job... delivery people will park in fire zones, in travel lanes of busy roads/highways/streets and block traffic, handicap reserved spots, etc. etc., because they don't want to be inconvienced. And many people believe they are priviledged and that the law does not apply to them since they are not intent on breaking the law, they are just going about their lives and should not be inconvienenced by something so silly as a "minor traffic regulation" that applies to everyone else.
Cops included.
wilmette2210Why would you say the response would be quicker with local PD VS RR PD? Thanks
Railroad police are few and they have very large areas to cover and their primary mission is protection of the products that rail cars carry. Local police have the manpower and footprint to cover their smaller area. For the most part, railroad police work to develop good relations with all the local police departments that the railroad operates.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Semper Vaporo.. delivery people will park in fire zones, in travel lanes of busy roads/highways/streets and block traffic, handicap reserved spots, etc. etc., because they don't want to be inconvienced.
If a delivery truck tries to park in a "real" space, nitwits in cars will usually end up blocking them in. People are stupid.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
You are right about the small number of railway police. However, I’m almost certain the UP Police would prefer the Trainmasters call the UPPS and have UPPS Dispatch call the Locals. (most Trainmasters I knew would say- I’m too busy for that) That way the incident is logged and tracked and used to justify resources, like railway police or fences. In my experience if there is no damage, municipal police will just yell at the kids to stay off the tracks and leave. Railway Police would record names and take them home or even issue tickets if appropriate.
That being said, the local Trainmaster knows what works on his territory.
He was talking on his cell phone when I tapped on the window, who would he have been talking to his boss? Wonder why he didn't notice the kids throwing ballast rocks at first? And why would you say he kind of acted like a idiot when the cops showed up?
wilmette2210He was talking on his cell phone when I tapped on the window, who would he have been talking to his boss? Wonder why he didn't notice the kids throwing ballast rocks at first? And why would you say he kind of acted like a idiot when the cops showed up?
The reality is, unless you were a part of the call that he placed, you don't know who he actually called - the local PD or the Company PD who in turn notified the local PD. Not all employees have their company PD's number memorized.
wilmette2210He was talking on his cell phone when I tapped on the window
In some neighborhoods that behavior might get you shot. Or worse.
wilmette2210He was talking on his cell phone when I tapped on the window, who would he have been talking to his boss?
Superintendent, a customer, an employee, crew dispatcher, dispatcher, mow foreman, C&S maintainer, yardmaster, another trainmaster, customer service rep, claims agent, etc.
If we need police assistance, we usually get the local PD. Not many RR agents around, and it may be an hour plus until one comes. Local PD can be here in like 4 minutes.
Could he have alos been talking to his wife? LOL
wilmette2210So several weeks ago at the Main Street station in Evanston I saw a UP cop, one of the storage bins was spray painted and the lock was broken open. He check it out and re locked it, he drove an unmarked pick up and was in plain clothes with a black vest with the words, "POLICE" in big white letters on the back. My question is in the Chicago area do most RR Police drive unmarked cars and ware plain clothes? Thanks.
Railroad police have both marked and unmarked units. What they will use in any particular location at any particular time is what they believe will best serve the mission they are undertaking.
He had Wilmette PD's phone number writen on a piece of paper so I think he called them directley.
wilmette2210Can anyone imagine if Railroad Police were featured on cops?
Viewers would be wondering why they were arresting a trespasser for walking on the tracks - "I do that all the time! Why is that illegal?"
Or complaining about stifling artistic license when they caught a tagger in the act...
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...
There was an episode of COPS from the late 80s/very early 90s, where I think the Jersey City PD was running a sting operation in conjuction with the Conrail PD, using a CR trailvan trailer as bait.
zugmann wilmette2210 Can anyone imagine if Railroad Police were featured on cops? There was an episode of COPS from the late 80s/very early 90s, where I think the Jersey City PD was running a sting operation in conjuction with the Conrail PD, using a CR trailvan trailer as bait.
wilmette2210 Can anyone imagine if Railroad Police were featured on cops?
Were the Conrail Boyz involved? Or was this before their time?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I don't think it was COPS - I think it was a segment on 60 Minutes. Bait boxes (Trademarked high value items) fronted a contingent of CR police in the trailer and the city police cut off the avenues of exit once the trailer was 'hit'.
BaltACDI don't think it was COPS - I think it was a segment on 60 Minutes. Bait boxes (Trademarked high value items) fronted a contingent of CR police in the trailer and the city police cut off the avenues of exit once the trailer was 'hit'.
COPS: season 3, episode 19.
my bad
BaltACD my bad
I grew up watching Cops. Loved those early seasons. Fat cops smoking cigarettes, boxy caprices, vics, and diplomats with aerodynics and streethawks... Good stuff.
When our old lumber yard was downtown by the river bike trails we got a treat each spring. The police force appeared to take the 5or 6 of the most out of shape officers and put them on bikes to patrol the bike trails. They would do bike basic training in our parking lot. That should have been filmed.
Policies have changed so now they just drive their little SUV's down the trails and don't have to leave the air conditioning.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Going back to the initial question as to why the trainmaster called the local police and not the RR police. My thought is that these were lofal minors, children of Winetka families, so local police who may even be familiar with the families can probably handle the situation with better situation-special measures than RR police who don't have the immediate local contacts. Winerka, after all, is not Chicago, and local knowlddge could be of help in preventing a recurrance of the problem.
daveklepper Going back to the initial question as to why the trainmaster called the local police and not the RR police. My thought is that these were lofal minors, children of Winetka families, so local police who may even be familiar with the families can probably handle the situation with better situation-special measures than RR police who don't have the immediate local contacts. Winerka, after all, is not Chicago, and local knowlddge could be of help in preventing a recurrance of the problem.
What do you mean situation-special-meassures? You mean like the, "my parents are lawers and will sue you," card. How would RR special agents have messed that up?
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