Railfanning post 9-11

[dldance]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

should I avoid briges to

I am in the middle of a long-term project to photograph all the railroad bridges crossing the Colorado River in Texas. To this point, I have never had any issues. In smaller towns, I often find the Chamber of Commerce office and ask about the bridge and the town. It is surprising how many small town Chamber offices are in unused RR stations. I had alway received a lot of information and cooperation.

I also have used all the internet mapping sites to plan my route to a specific location for a photo. It seems to look a lot better to authorities (and concerned citizens) if you look like you know where your going, that if you are just bumbling around.

Keep safety in mind at ALL times and be aware of your surroundings. With photography, it is easy to get focussed on the subject an lose awareness of where you are.

Finally it is very rare to find trains on some bridges. I have one photo of the first train that went over the old SP bridge at Kingsland Texas in over two years. That takes a lot of research and waiting. Also luck. In this case I got the photo because my granddaughter needed a diaper change and the park at the end of the bridge was the most convenient pulloff.

dd

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

Should I avoid bridges, too?

Make sure there are trains on them...

I could easily understand someone's concern if they checked your images and found nothing but bridges, unless you're an engineering student...

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: do tripods look suspicious?

Not as long as there's a camera sitting on top.

[Anonymous]

I know that some of my questions may seem lame but do tripods look suspicious

[RudyRockvilleMD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

should I avoid briges to

Not necessarily. Many bridges have been photographed extensively in the past. As long as you are on public property I don't see how any law enforcement officer could legally stop you from photographing a railroad bridge. But, as the others have said if the officer tries to stop you from taking pictures from public properety do what he or she says, don't argue. If it is a nosy civilian who threatens to call the police, again the best thing to do is to leave.

Most of the horror stories about people being harassed for photographing trains have come out of the east.

[Anonymous]

should I avoid briges to

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Chad: I noticed that most (not all) of the people that report having problems with law enforcement are also the ones that tend to be obnoxious on the forums. It makes me wonder how obnoxious they are in person, and how deserving they are of being harrassed.

Now that you mention it.........

[Anonymous]

I am 16 and dont drive yet soI gonig with my dad and I am not part of a railfan club

[daveklepper]

Carry any railfan club identification with you along with your drivers liscense.

[Anonymous]

I decided not to go today its raining but thursday looks good

[chad thomas]

I noticed that most (not all) of the people that report having problems with law enforcement are also the ones that tend to be obnoxious on the forums. It makes me wonder how obnoxious they are in person, and how deserving they are of being harrassed.

[Anonymous]

I really haven't yet either but I heard all of the stories most of them in the east

[chad thomas]

Fasttrains,
I lived in Washington from 99' to 04' and spent lots of time railfanning in the George and up and down the Seattle-Portland line and even in the BNSF rail yards in the area. In all that time I didn't even once see a rr cop, or a municipal cop for that matter. So unless you do something stupid I wouldn't even worry about being harrassed.

[egmurphy]

No matter where you are there's the chance that the police will stop and check you out. You can probably help to make that a non-event by maintaining a good attitute, being polite, and cooperating. If you expect to be "hassled" and reflect that in your attitude when the cops approach, you won't help the situation.

Me, I'd carry a couple of issues of Trains Magazine and/or Model Railroader Magazine in the car with me.


jmho

Ed

[Anonymous]

Here is my [2c]

I always try and stay on public property, and not too close to the tracks. If I am approached by someone, I simply tell them my hobby is photographing trains, and 9 times out of 10, they give me a strange look and leave me alone.

If you simply must go into a yard, there are two things to do. You could, walk into the office, first thing, and simply tell them you would like to shoot pictures of the equipment and promise not to disrupt anything. This may get you a tour o the engine facility (happened to me in Tennesee), or it may get you thrown out (also happened to me).

Above all, show courtsey to railroad employees and the law. If they do not want you around, just leave. There are tons of spots, just leave the one you were thrown out of and find another. My golden rule is treat people kindly, and you will not get arrested for railfanning.

Best of luck

[:D][:)][:p][;)]

[Anonymous]

Stay out of view of the publics eyes.

[Anonymous]

I have planned where i will go and that will the BNSF main over stevens pass I know several good photo location plus a great place for lunch

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Whatever you do stay on public property such as streeets, sidewalks or parks. In addition to stations avoid any locations with nearby military facilities in the background. Even if you take all of these precautions there is no guarantee you won't be harassed.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Whatever you do stay on public property such as streeets, sidewalks or parks. In addition to stations avoid any locations with nearby military facilities in the background. Even if you take all of these precautions there is no guarantee you won't be harassed.

[Anonymous]

are there any places to avoid like stations

[bobwilcox]

Do not trespass, act safely and act like an adult.

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about going raifanning tomorrow is there anything I can do so I dont get harrased,