BigDaddy Now at 65, I feel like a target, even in the more upscale areas.
I just watched a news piece about another fatal attack on a US police officer. That's five officers dead in five days because of random attacks. My heart aches for their families and fellow officers.
I have a huge respect for anyone who chooses to serve as a police officer. There are a few who should never have been given a badge, but they are like the thugs in Toronto who killed the visiting student. They are the exceptions!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
We said "eh" for a while because of Saturday Night Live
We are way ahead of you on the murder rate. When I was in my 20's I'd go all over the city photographing. I never felt unsafe although it was a bit creepy driving around what was to become Baltimore's Inner Harbor, when it was just a bunch of piers. Now at 65, I feel like a target, even in the more upscale areas.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyI always thought Canada was filled with people who looked and sounded like Americans, without the crime or racial strife. The local news this last two weeks is about a college student who went to Toronto for a bachelor party was beaten to death by a group that just wanted to fight.
Hi Henry
That was a truly tragic incident. It was also a truly rare incident. The killers were arrested within a couple of days thanks to the cooperation of many who witnessed the crime.
Please don't judge Canada by the actions of three or four thugs. Random attacks are very rare. Unfortunately there are always exceptions. I think I can say with certainty that virtually every Canadian who heard about the tragedy was upset. It wasn't just a 6 o'clock 30 second news item. There was a huge outpouring of grief.
Oh, and by the way, we don't look and sound like you. You look and sound like us, except you don't say "eh"! Just kidding!
Dont tell anyone but when i got home from that trip, i used a program to recover the files, it also showed about 130 some other ones that i had dowloaded before that was still on the drive. I had got the program, cant remember the name when i deleted some files off a digtal camrecorder that i thought i had saved to the computers hard drive but didnt.
Went back to that rail yard last saturday, got a couple pictures of a passenger car that was there and a few other pictures. Didnt see hide or hair of that security guard.
Modeling on the cheap
fourt As for the 5 or six pictures I deleted, none where something that I can’t get again when I go back, so no big loss.
When you delete a file the operating system just changes the name of the file. The file is still on the drive until that space is required and it is overwritten. Sometimes you can find the deleted files in the recycle bin. If not you can use a program like Pandora Recovery to find deleted pictures or videos. You will have the biggest chance of successfully recovering the files if you do not take any more pictures/videos or do anything which writes on the drive.
http://download.cnet.com/Pandora-Recovery/3000-2094_4-10694796.html
PM Railfan I guess with things being the way they are now a days, its appropo to mention Im thankful for having been alive during a time when you could snap a photo and get a wave of the hand, not a bat nor badge. PM Railfan
I guess with things being the way they are now a days, its appropo to mention Im thankful for having been alive during a time when you could snap a photo and get a wave of the hand, not a bat nor badge.
PM Railfan
Actually,back in the 50/60s the Police was more hostile since they had far less restrictions concerning civil liberties. They could and would haul you in for a 24-48 hour lock up for "loitering" or they could freely thump you with their stick under the guise of resisting-no questions ask by anybody.. Some railroad bulls was more like a Gestapo in carrying out their duties.
My biggest fear today is not cops arriving with mace and baton in hand or the bogeyman but,those neighborhood watch thugs that goes far above their limits of observing and calling the police..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
PM Railfan I guess with things being the way they are now a days, its appropo to mention Im thankful for having been alive during a time when you could snap a photo and get a wave of the hand, not a bat nor badge.
Well said, and I share those sentiments.
CG
dh28473has anyone had this problem around the vaugan cn yard or at the line crossing steel and jane in vaughan toronto area
I always thought Canada was filled with people who looked and sounded like Americans, without the crime or racial strife. The local news this last two weeks is about a college student who went to Toronto for a bachelor party was beaten to death by a group that just wanted to fight.
CentralGulf Odd place for a power boat on a trailer.
Odd place for a power boat on a trailer.
Not really. The hill at the right rear is on the other side of the Ohio River.
Back when I was a railfan-photographer, I always made it a point to search out someone to whom I could report my presence. In Japan I never had any problem as long as I stayed away from the rails. (In Japan, anyone who doesn't stay away from the rails is living out a death wish!)
More recently, here in the US, I've been asked for ID - to which I responded with my DD2-ret. Amazing how the clouds lift when MSgt sinks in.
There will always be authority freaks on power trips. Stay calm, comply with lawful requests, report the offender who makes an unlawful request. Sounds as if the IP nailed it.
Chuck [MSgt(ret) USAF modeling Central Japan in September, 1964]
The photo, below, of Norfolk Southern's Conway Yard, was taken from a city street, elevated somewhat above the expressway visible in the lower portion of the picture. We had parked alongside the sidewalk and crossed the street to get an unimpeded view. While we were snapping away, a police car (city police) pulled up behind our vehicle, and the officer, almost apologetically, said that a resident had reported suspicious individuals photographing the railyard. He was well aware that we were violating no laws, but was obliged to respond to the complaint. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he bid us good day.
Most of the time when I'm railfanning in the States, I'm with either a retired railroader or a retired rail cop (or both). They know the good spots where public access affords good photos or they know the people working for the railroad and have permission to be on railroad property. In addition to good opportunities for train pictures, shop tours and cab rides may also be offered.
Wayne
Finally got into photobucket. A zoomed photo taken at CSX Willard engine shop on a foggy Friday morning..Looks like I'm standing in CSX parking lot but,I on public property. The bottom sightly zoomed photo was taken from a public street that runs along NO&W at Tiffin,Oh..
Larry,
I will only add -- I am not a lawyer, but do have experience with this stuff as a writer, editor, and reporter -- that pictures are property just like anything else. To seize it requires a warrant or at least probable cause that some major crime was committed -- something beyond mere trespassing.
But wait, there's more...
Pictures also fall under the First Amendment's protections as free speech, which raises the ante even more. Seizing them is like seizing a article you wrote or your working notes as a reporter. Just because you're not on staff somewhere does not reduce these rights, which are held just as strongly by individuals as they are by journalistic enterprises.
So, no, they can't just go poking at your photos for "evidence" of trespassing or even as evidence of trespassing without paperwork that must clear several significant legal standards before an independent authority. It is not something that security personnel just have blanket authority to jump across at their whim on the spot.
Which doesn't mean they won't ask. Just be polite and firmly tell them no. If they are persistent, ask for a supervisor.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Well said Mike and I will add zoom is your friend. You can stand on pubic property and zoom in on a locomotive or freight car. I'm having issues logging into photo bucket or I would post a example of a zoomed photo.
BRAKIEFirst the security guard has no right to tell you to delete your photos since trains are public.Even a LEO can't do that-there are exceptions that deals with national security..
This is absolutely the case.
I heard that from the head of Amtrak police himself at a Trains magazine sponsored forum in Chicago a few years back. Yes, police and security personnel do exceed their authority, what we civilians call "breaking the law," regularly in engaging in such practices, but it is illegal for them to do that without a warrant. Period.
Yes, there are exceptions, having to deal with national security, but these are typically very obvious and usually posted with signage indicating that's the case. See any signs to that effect? No? Then you're OK...if you're in a spot where the public has a right to be.
If you're in doubt about that, prior contact with the owning RR is ALWAYS advisable, but common sense will tell you a lot. If asked to move on, be polite and do so, it ain't worth the hassle.
But that's still not legal authority to delete your pics.
dehusmanAnother thing to consider is there are people who are not necessarily the most law abiding people that hang out places that are more out of the way. Wandering around by yourself with several hundred dollars worth of camera equipment hanging around your neck might not be the smartest position to put yourself.
The fear factor over common sense. Seeing most rail yards are in less then desirable locations one should exercise common sense.Grab and run should come to mind.Take the photo then leave the area and go to a safer place.
At rail parks and railfan hot spots one should always be alert for trouble but,there's no need for paranoia over the boogeyman nor the police will arrived with mace and batton in hand..You see at hot spots they are use to seeing men standing around with cameras.
Having been on both sides of the camera, I can see the issues from both perspectives.
There are a lot of clueless people out there who foul live tracks, block sight lines, get vehicles stuck on access roads, leave trash, trespass on railroad property, trespass on other private property, take signs, placards, paperwork, wire, ties, material, etc.
Classic was I saw a pick up truck drive down an access road behind a storage yard. Went back to investigate and found a couple unloading barbells from the back of the truck because they wanted to exercise in the rail yard. No. Not happening. Told them to leave ASAP.
Another thing to consider is there are people who are not necessarily the most law abiding people that hang out places that are more out of the way. Wandering around by yourself with several hundred dollars worth of camera equipment hanging around your neck might not be the smartest position to put yourself.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
fourtSpeaking of safe please do be safe when taking pictures.
And above all stay back..There is no need to stand or sit within 20' of the track.Trains are big and can be seen at a safer 50' and watch at three quarters view for any impending trouble and always have a escape route away from the track.
If you're in known snake country stay clear of weeds,rocks, logs and bushes because Mr. or Ms. Fangs may be awaiting their meal to pass by or just hiding and chilling out.
And please be responsible and leave nothing behind except your foot prints.
Nittanylion
Or getting in way of paying passengers getting on and off the train.
hon30critter
Its okay, even in the real road I do or say things that make no seanse drives my wife crazey. part of it comes from serving, part of it is i am mildly autistic. I also tend to take things very literal. The statement i made was in bad taste, i should have said interresting instead of funney or not even posted it. I am sorry, and apologize to any one else that found it in poor taste.
All others
Main reason i posted this message was make sure you are on public land, not private land when taking pictures. Don't give the cop/railroad cop/secuity guard or other any probelms, just do what they say and figure it out later how you choose in a safe manner. Speaking of safe please do be safe when taking pictures.
And last but not lest have fun.
fourt That was a good article on the Amtrak policy. Dont go where you should not go. Restricted areas include but are not limited to the following: Platforms (ticketed passengers are exempt) ops did not know about that one, my bad. Wonder why? to close to the train? Looked on there web site only thing i found was long article on dos and don't etc on using there web site. Could not find anything on picture taking. The manager at the security company said that in the past that people asking to take pictures on site have allways been turned down, I am betting insurance or libailty being the main reason. Which makes seanse.
That was a good article on the Amtrak policy. Dont go where you should not go.
Restricted areas include but are not limited to the following:
Looked on there web site only thing i found was long article on dos and don't etc on using there web site. Could not find anything on picture taking.
The manager at the security company said that in the past that people asking to take pictures on site have allways been turned down, I am betting insurance or libailty being the main reason. Which makes seanse.
Insurance liability . Amtrak often doesn't own the platform and the host railroad does.
Larry, I understand the nature of battlefield humour and the purpose it serves and I agree that it has its place. Also, I have no knowledge of the nature of fourt's service and whether he served in hostilities or not. What bothers me a lot is when people who have not experienced the field of battle think it is funny to joke about the war. We cannot allow younger generations to take the war(s) lightly.
Fourt, if you have seen the field of battle then I apologize profusely for overstepping my bounds.
With respect,
Fourt,As a combat veteran I can see the humor and irony in that story. Then battlefield humor knows no bounds either. That's how we kept our sanity.
fourt:
I'm sorry if I came on a little strong, and I appreciate you removing the comment from your post.
Regards,
Sorry that bothered you, it was not meant to be offensive. I have removed that part of my post. Having spent 21 years in the miltary i understand where you are coming from.
fourt A few years back i read a article somewhere about a american solider in England during ww2 in uniform taking train pictures, and was told to stop by a railroad perosn saying dont you know there is a war going on. Always found that funney.
With all due respect, I don't think the situation was funny at all. A common saying in North America during WWII was "Loose lips sink ships". Land transport was no different. Had it been the enemy taking those pictures they could have used the photos to determine things like the timing of bombing runs. Who knows who else could have been on those trains? The fact that the photographer was dressed in a uniform means nothing. Faking a uniform is easy.
I'm not trying to play the heavy here, but your sense of humour in this case is misguided. WWII took 7,000,000 lives. It is not a laughing matter!
And, while I am ranting, not too long ago in Ontario two real terrorists were caught planning to derail a GO train at speed. Part of the proof of their intentions were the photographs that they had taken of the train while it was transitioning from one track to another. All they needed to do was blow up a switch at the right time and the results would have been disasterous. Are you still laughing?!
Sorry, but your naivete upset me.