Warning to "ALL" Railfans.

[Bergie]

Guys, I'm locking this topic so we can move on. I'm fairly certain the sky is NOT falling.

If you're in a potential hot zone (read: near a chemical plant; in a large metropolitan city; etc.) you might be subjected to questions. However, I've had plenty of police officers see me railfanning and have not done a thing about it. They haven't even stopped to ask me what I was doing. They've just rolled right by.

Let's not turn isolated incidents into the rules of the road.

Bergie

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by older than dirt

Where I railfan we've built what would pass for a duck blind, and if we see helicopters, or cars we even THINK are police cars, we hide behind the blind. So far this has worked well, as none of us has been hassled in quite some time. But just in case, we keep fairly accurate fake identification handy. We haven't had to use the id's yet, and hope they are accurate enough that we can get away with it if we ever get checked.

dirt

hahahahaha...

It's also always handy if you have a 303 or a 12 gauge or 2 as well. And a hat lilke Elmer Fudd's never goes amis...

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

QUOTE: Zardoz: it seems as though we like the solitude, and when we are questioned, it tends to ruin the overall experience of the day...

Rather free use of the term 'we'. While I agree that I enjoy doing things on my own, it doesn't upset me to deal with curious people. Maybe it would if I had hiked for hours to get to a desolate location for a unique shot, but shooting from local public property I don't expect to have the place to myself.
Regards
Ed

Point taken. It was of course a generalization, based on past observations, discussions, and personal experience.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Green Bay Paddlers

QUOTE: Originally posted by older than dirt

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

I earge that all Railfans to contact your local Police or your Sheriff the next time you deside to go out on a Railfan journey. Why? Because Yesterday (05-05-05) my friend was out Railfanning and some guy was watching every thing that he was doing. why? Because he was hanging around the the Railroad crossing waiting for a UP detour down at Oreapolis to go East on the BNSF. Ok so, Then the guy came back to him to what and why he was standing around the RR X.
My friend told him kindly that he was a Railfan. But the Moron in the other car went and called the cops on him anyway on his cell phone. What a jerk.
Now that the Government is gona get ever so hard on all of us we all had better start taking better steps to protect our rights now or we all be seeing the feds of all type's at our fron door now that the Public is RATTING&SNITCHING on us more than ever. From now on. Every time you go Railfanning,I earge you all to call the proper Law inforcement. Let then know where you are gona Railfan at. Tell the Dispatcher the time you start to the time you will depart on that same day. Because the public is watching now more than ever and the chances that you being call in to the cops is greatly high more than ever now. Because they have nothing better to do than call the cops on Railfans.
So,If you do go Railfanning,make darn sure that you make that call of you will be haveing a very bad day when the FEDS show up at your back window!!!!!!!!!!!
And I am Serious too!
Sorry for this Boring Stupid Topic but I just had to warn all of you Railfans.
BNSFrailfan.

Are your eyes brown?

I don't get it...

Check your e-mail!

[Green Bay Paddlers]

QUOTE: Originally posted by older than dirt

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

I earge that all Railfans to contact your local Police or your Sheriff the next time you deside to go out on a Railfan journey. Why? Because Yesterday (05-05-05) my friend was out Railfanning and some guy was watching every thing that he was doing. why? Because he was hanging around the the Railroad crossing waiting for a UP detour down at Oreapolis to go East on the BNSF. Ok so, Then the guy came back to him to what and why he was standing around the RR X.
My friend told him kindly that he was a Railfan. But the Moron in the other car went and called the cops on him anyway on his cell phone. What a jerk.
Now that the Government is gona get ever so hard on all of us we all had better start taking better steps to protect our rights now or we all be seeing the feds of all type's at our fron door now that the Public is RATTING&SNITCHING on us more than ever. From now on. Every time you go Railfanning,I earge you all to call the proper Law inforcement. Let then know where you are gona Railfan at. Tell the Dispatcher the time you start to the time you will depart on that same day. Because the public is watching now more than ever and the chances that you being call in to the cops is greatly high more than ever now. Because they have nothing better to do than call the cops on Railfans.
So,If you do go Railfanning,make darn sure that you make that call of you will be haveing a very bad day when the FEDS show up at your back window!!!!!!!!!!!
And I am Serious too!
Sorry for this Boring Stupid Topic but I just had to warn all of you Railfans.
BNSFrailfan.

Are your eyes brown?

I don't get it...

[Anonymous]

I am back and I saw the same cop car go by 5 times but never botherd me and i saw 3 trains one of which was local with a caboose

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Zardoz: it seems as though we like the solitude, and when we are questioned, it tends to ruin the overall experience of the day...

Rather free use of the term 'we'. While I agree that I enjoy doing things on my own, it doesn't upset me to deal with curious people. Maybe it would if I had hiked for hours to get to a desolate location for a unique shot, but shooting from local public property I don't expect to have the place to myself.


Regards

Ed

[zardoz]

It continues to amaze me that in a time where, last I heard about 33% of the population now owns a cell phone that has a camera in it, that our nimble-minded authorities still worry about somebody hiding in plain sight with his camera on a tripod out in the middle of the day.

Although, I suppose to be fair, I would guess that many of the police find it tedious and a waste of resources to have to follow up on every call they get from 'citizens' that watch too much Fox news and believe that there are terrorists hiding behind every Bush (pun intended) waiting to decimate their valued lifestyle of eating fried food sitting on the sofa in front of the tv every night.

However, having said that, surely you must consider how odd railfans look to the non-railfan. The non-railfan sees someone standing or sitting in a car at a location that the observer cannot understand what is so interesting.

From my discussions with other railfans, Railfanning seems to be a rather solitary hobby; it seems as though we like the solitude, and when we are questioned, it tends to ruin the overall experience of the day.

Of course, there is the concern felt whenever dealing with authority figures. We are at the mercy of their honesty, attitudes, and prejudices, and that concept does not fill me with confidence.

[PigFarmer1]

It's also a pretty good idea to not pull a camera out in the vicinity of a prison. For some strange reason this kind of behavior is frowned upon.[:D]

[Richard A]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DavidPV

Apparently a camera, tripod and scanner can be used to attack the HSBC building accross from the Buffalo (Depew), NY Amshak. We were hassled there and being Canadian didn't help at all. I was 12 at the time and asked for "official identifcation".

At least in the U.S. photography around bank buildings has always been looked at as suspicious. I remember being stopped and questioned in Austin, Texas back in 1968 as I railfanned very near a bank that was in my line of sight to the tracks. A similar thing happened to me in California in the early 80's.

[Anonymous]

i am going out railfanning to day I will report back what happens if anything

[Anonymous]

Personally I go on Public Property and try to be friendly to other people actually several people actually have been interasted in my hobby and asked questions about it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

I earge that all Railfans to contact your local Police or your Sheriff the next time you deside to go out on a Railfan journey. Why? Because Yesterday (05-05-05) my friend was out Railfanning and some guy was watching every thing that he was doing. why? Because he was hanging around the the Railroad crossing waiting for a UP detour down at Oreapolis to go East on the BNSF. Ok so, Then the guy came back to him to what and why he was standing around the RR X.
My friend told him kindly that he was a Railfan. But the Moron in the other car went and called the cops on him anyway on his cell phone. What a jerk.
Now that the Government is gona get ever so hard on all of us we all had better start taking better steps to protect our rights now or we all be seeing the feds of all type's at our fron door now that the Public is RATTING&SNITCHING on us more than ever. From now on. Every time you go Railfanning,I earge you all to call the proper Law inforcement. Let then know where you are gona Railfan at. Tell the Dispatcher the time you start to the time you will depart on that same day. Because the public is watching now more than ever and the chances that you being call in to the cops is greatly high more than ever now. Because they have nothing better to do than call the cops on Railfans.
So,If you do go Railfanning,make darn sure that you make that call of you will be haveing a very bad day when the FEDS show up at your back window!!!!!!!!!!!
And I am Serious too!
Sorry for this Boring Stupid Topic but I just had to warn all of you Railfans.
BNSFrailfan.

Are your eyes brown?

[Anonymous]

Where I railfan we've built what would pass for a duck blind, and if we see helicopters, or cars we even THINK are police cars, we hide behind the blind. So far this has worked well, as none of us has been hassled in quite some time. But just in case, we keep fairly accurate fake identification handy. We haven't had to use the id's yet, and hope they are accurate enough that we can get away with it if we ever get checked.

dirt

[Anonymous]

Apparently a camera, tripod and scanner can be used to attack the HSBC building accross from the Buffalo (Depew), NY Amshak. We were hassled there and being Canadian didn't help at all. I was 12 at the time and asked for "official identifcation".

[Anonymous]

In my Town most everyone can tolerate Railfans they know that we are railfans as well as the crews.

[Anonymous]

There is this Woman who calls law enforcement every time she sees someone near the Train Tracks. It sure has cept those Railfans away.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: emd:_sd_60 : Just earlier today I had to deal with one of these "busybody lunatics". Right before I took this pic ...... some redneck and his buddy ....... comes back up to the crossing just as the gates go down. I take my picture, then the guy asks me what I was doing (as if it's his bidness) I reply "taking a picture of that train" he replys "ok"

Wow, sounds like you were really hassled. Had the audacity to ask you what you were doing, did he? Even said "ok" when you told him?? Then drove off? I can see how that would really mess up your afternoon.

QUOTE: Apparently this was probably some d**kwad who probably makes a living annoying others I bet. But still I ain't going some ***wipe ruin my hobby, never!

Well if it got you this upset, it sounds as if you already have.

Take a chill pill.

Regards

Ed

[PBenham]

There are as I have said in other threads, a number of [soapbox][censored]s that believe, in their tiny little so-called minds, that they are "protecting their country" by being[censored]s when they see a railfan watching and/or photographing their turf,and they do not give a rats [censored] about your rights,since their petty little so-called minds believe that they are right and you are wrong! Well, one fine day one of these[censored]s is going to "mess" with the "wrong" railfan and there will be a lawsuit filed and then watch out for the fall out, because then if we lose that case, railfanning here in the one time land of the free, will be illegal. That was OK behind the old Iron Curtain, but not here. Well, Osama Bin Laden, enjoy your victory, you will be able to attack us again and the [censored]s that do your warped deeds will accomplish more than you have hoped! And you will have your ALLIES in uniform within the law enforcement community that will see to it that your victory will be a wonderful exerience for you and a major loss for us! WE ARE LOSING THIS WAR thanks to these misguided and awful TRAITORS that are supposed to be protecting us. NUTS! Well, we must defeat these idiots in the courts, I cannot afford to fight the battle, I hope and pray that someone will step forward and put the idiots in law enforcement into compliance with the constitution! Otherwise, let's give Osama's killers their victory over freedom and surrender to them!

[emd_SD_60]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

I earge that all Railfans to contact your local Police or your Sheriff the next time you deside to go out on a Railfan journey. Why? Because Yesterday (05-05-05) my friend was out Railfanning and some guy was watching every thing that he was doing. why? Because he was hanging around the the Railroad crossing waiting for a UP detour down at Oreapolis to go East on the BNSF. Ok so, Then the guy came back to him to what and why he was standing around the RR X.
My friend told him kindly that he was a Railfan. But the Moron in the other car went and called the cops on him anyway on his cell phone. What a jerk.

Just earlier today I had to deal with one of these "busybody lunatics"[:(!]. Right before I took this pic http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=289767 some redneck and his buddy were driving by, looked at me funny, went a few hunderd feet, then I hear tires screeching (this idiot was driving pretty erratically) turns around RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD and comes back up to the crossing just as the gates go down. I take my picture, then the guy asks me what I was doing (as if it's his bidness) I reply "taking a picture of that train" he replys "ok" then throws his truck in reverse and BACKS UP DOWN THE ROAD (I bet he would have been surprised if a car was behind him and ended up wrecking his truck and the car![:o)]) a few hundred feet and turned around in someone's driveway and continued east, tires screeching throughout. Apparently this was probably some d**kwad who probably makes a living annoying others I bet.[:(!] But still I ain't going some asswipe ruin my hobby, never![;)]

And before anyone asks, yes I obey all the rules, I stay off railroad property and off the tracks, and no the guy was NOT a cop or a railroad employee, just some fool who doesn't know how to mind his own *** business.[;)]

[CHIPSTRAINS]

I "ACCIDENTLY[ON PURPOSE]" WENT INTO A CSX YARD, TO TAKE SOME PICTURES, AND ASKED SOME GUY IF I COULD. HE SHOWED ME THE BEST PLACE TO TAKE THEM, AND ASKED IF I WANTED TO LOOK IN THE SHOPS. IT WAS ON A SUNDAY, AND IT TURNED OUT HE WAS THE MAINT. SUPR. FOR THE FACILITY. ITOOK A BUNCH OF PICTURES, THANKED HIM, AND THEN A R.R. COP SHOWED ME A REALLY GOOD PLACE DOWN THE ROAD TO GET SOME SHOTS OF A COAL DRAG ON IS WAY IN WITH 2 OF ITS UNITS "DOWN", AND THE 3RD UNIT SMOKING BADLY. SOME FRIENDS SAY I WAS LUCKY, BUT IF YOUR NOT A SMART-A#$%@, AND ASK POLIETLY, SOMETIMES YOU WILL GET TO TAKE YOUR PICTURES[2c][soapbox][:D]

[Anonymous]

Ordinary people and the police are not paranoid.

It's the railfans who are paranoid.

Get your act together or get out of the hobby.

Next time forward your concerns to Dr. Laura.

[UPTRAIN]

QUOTE: Originally posted by THEBREEZE2005NYTX

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by THEBREEZE2005NYTX

this is the BNSF POLICE put the camera down and back away from the train or we will line up all rail fans execution style and open fire i repeat drop the camera (HEY YOUSE TAKE OFF DA HAT) dont wont any gays in this bar

"Put down the camera and slowly back away from the KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme boxes!!!!!

Drop the jacket...those railroad pins are a weapon!!!!!"

[:p]

how to shorten the line at the bank

im not going to kill no one
im not going to kill no one
im not going to kill no one
im just gonna make a withdrall
dont shoot the people
not going to kill
ANY ONE KNOW HOW TO UNJAM A PISTOL

"SEE THAT RED LIGHT ON MY CAMERA....NO...ok...yes it is just a self timer warning light...BUT IT IS DEADLY!"

I just hate that ordinary people and police are paranoid, I've never seen a railroader that was scared of me, lol.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by THEBREEZE2005NYTX

this is the BNSF POLICE put the camera down and back away from the train or we will line up all rail fans execution style and open fire i repeat drop the camera (HEY YOUSE TAKE OFF DA HAT) dont wont any gays in this bar

"Put down the camera and slowly back away from the KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme boxes!!!!!

Drop the jacket...those railroad pins are a weapon!!!!!"

[:p]

how to shorten the line at the bank

im not going to kill no one
im not going to kill no one
im not going to kill no one
im just gonna make a withdrall
dont shoot the people
not going to kill
ANY ONE KNOW HOW TO UNJAM A PISTOL

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by THEBREEZE2005NYTX

this is the BNSF POLICE put the camera down and back away from the train or we will line up all rail fans execution style and open fire i repeat drop the camera (HEY YOUSE TAKE OFF DA HAT) dont wont any gays in this bar

LOL.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by THEBREEZE2005NYTX

this is the BNSF POLICE put the camera down and back away from the train or we will line up all rail fans execution style and open fire i repeat drop the camera (HEY YOUSE TAKE OFF DA HAT) dont wont any gays in this bar

"Put down the camera and slowly back away from the KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme boxes!!!!!

Drop the jacket...those railroad pins are a weapon!!!!!"

[:p]

[Anonymous]

this is the BNSF POLICE put the camera down and back away from the train or we will line up all rail fans execution style and open fire i repeat drop the camera (HEY YOUSE TAKE OFF DA HAT) dont wont any gays in this bar

[AntonioFP45]

Guys,

But if a person chooses to call the cops...............so what. Don't get upset. Be a little thick skin and deal with it. With a cool head the encounter with an officer won't likely last very long. As mentioned above, it can be an opprotunity to gain an ally, if anything.

I've befriended a couple of cops over the years just by keeping a cool head and attitude.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe

I don't get it?

So what if he called the cops? So what if they come out and ask you who you are?

I think the last thing law enforcement wants to deal with is a bunch of us calling them 24/7 saying “I want to go look at trains.”

I think the civilian did the right thing by calling the cops. You didn't say how your friend was hurt or even inconvenienced as a result of this action, and it is far from apparent to me. If I see someone that doesn’t look quite right near a busy rail line, I hope I do the same thing as the guy did to your friend.

Gabe

[8D]THE BREEZE 2005% hey i dont call the cops on no one the railfan was not standing on the track like some deer hunter was on CPR R.O.W. wait to shoot a deer they were just taking some pic's of trains there is no reason to call the cops