DMU:
That's kind of a stretch, isn't it?
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I'm late to this topic, but it's clear that the rules are to keep people away from the equipment for safety reasons, not for security. Anybody can stand on the side of the public highway and photograph 90% of Amtrak equipment and facilities, there is no law prohibiting this. There are legitimate concerns about Joe Public walking around the right of way getting squished by a train.
I don't buy the "its tax money funded so I can do what I want" excuse. There are many govt facilities off limits to the public either for safety reasons (live firing range at an Army base for example) or security reasons (in the case of a nuclear sub). Amtrak trains, maintenance of way equipment, and third rail will kill you, so it's good policy to keep the number of people to a minimum around those things.
I'm certain Amtrak is not setting up draconinan rules to hassle rail fans, but in fact to keep them safe.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
I actually had an Amtrak agent give me and my friend crap at Chicago Union Station back on the 6th. We were getting off of our train, and we'd had a Cabbage on the front end of it, Phase III, no less. Needless to say, my friend and I wanted a couple of pictures of it. We had waited until everyone was off the train, and we were going to be the last ones off the platform, because we'd all stopped for a group pic in front of the Cabbage. He and I snapped a couple of pics of the Cabbage, and I got the P42s on a couple of tracks over, and this Amtrak agent comes storming out of the station towards my friend, while asking me if I knew him while passing me, and then explodes on him for taking pictures. We were ticketed passengers just coming off the train, and we were the last ones off the train, not interfering with unloading. Were we violating anything? From what I've read, not really. I could be wrong, though.
Sounds like his job isn't keeping him busy enough!
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Fafnir, it sounds like you were well within the photography guidelines recently published by Amtrak. Unfortunately, the published policy at Amtrak's headquarters may be completely different than the real policy encountered by the customer. That is hardly a unique situation with Amtrak.
Dakguy201Fafnir, it sounds like you were well within the photography guidelines recently published by Amtrak. Unfortunately, the published policy at Amtrak's headquarters may be completely different than the real policy encountered by the customer. That is hardly a unique situation with Amtrak.
Although, now that I think about it, they may have just thought we walked on to the platform while no one was looking to snap the pictures, which I guess could be entirely plausible.
On the back cover of the current issue of Trains Magazine is an announcement for the new photo contest.Did anyone else think it ironic that the top photo is of an Amtrak train taken from an Amtrak station platform?
Have any of you guys ever tried finding a security person and asking permission to take a few pictures?
Phoebe VetHave any of you guys ever tried finding a security person and asking permission to take a few pictures?
We didn't have time. We had an itinerary to follow, so we just wanted to snap a couple of pics and be on our way.
OTOH, I just returned from a round trip to Chicago on the Texas Eagle, and I took both pictures and video at Chicago Union Station after getting off the arriving train with no hassle. Like you, I waited until most of the other passengers had walked into the station. My video camera was in my backpack, so I had to stop walking, put the backpack on the ground, and take out the camcorder first. I mainly wanted to record the close-up sounds of the engines I was able to stand next to, so it must have looked a bit odd because I was standing there for two whole minutes with my camcorder taping the same engine. Then I stopped several times on my walk towards the terminal to take a few still shots.
By the time I was done and approaching the end of the platform, two employees were watching me from the terminal, but I can't recall whether or not they were security people. They said nothing to me as I walked into the terminal.
I also took photos and video at Joliet, St. Louis, Marshall, Longview, and Dallas Union Station, as well as from the train. There's a section of jointed rail just south of St. Louis, so I went down into the stairwell for a while late at night to tape the clackety-clack sounds (Pretty soon there won't be any more jointed rail).
There were two Amtrak police on the return trip. My two cameras, scanner, earphones, and laptop didn't cause them to ask me any questions.
Excellent trip overall, BTW.
Personally I think we need a "Rant and Rave" section on this forum so you guys can go rag about everything thats wrong with the RR's and their Rules&Regulations ! LOL ! You guys could not be pleased if Amtrak gave you free passes !
Its like you never heard the expression "Stay off the Grass" (platforms in this case) What is so exciting about taking pics in or on crowed platforms or a dumpy building in the background ? Are you taking pics of trains or the surrounding area? Remember the first rule of photography YOUR SUBECT is centered to draw your attention to it not the platform post or sign hanging or people you dont know in the middle of your pic ! Thanks for letting me RANT ! I will got off my now...
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