"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
QUOTE: Originally posted by selector You'd think train companies had enough problems keeping their rights of way clear of cows, deer, moose, dead-falls, and such without having to fend off the most insistent, indignant, and persistent of all hazards...the righteous railfan.
QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45 Saddening to hear that railfans today seem to be frowned upon by the railroads. Things have indeed changed since I was a teen railfan in the 70s. I can only echo the common sense stated above. Cooperate with police and security forces when challenged. Getting beligerent may result in a trip by way of a police car, whether you were right or wrong. To those that often cry "Well, we have rights!" need to wake up and realize that we live in dangerous times. To those that would give train crews "the finger". ------DON'T ACT LIKE IDIOTS! That's a guranteed way to further tarnish our reputations.
QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45 To those that often cry "Well, we have rights!" need to wake up and realize that we live in dangerous times.
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Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/
QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly Lotus, While I agree with you concerning protecting our rights is part of being American - I dare say the term "rag head" is a little misplaced. We have lots of Arab Americans serving in proudly in the armed forces and in other public protection agencies. Remember, the guy that blew up the building in Oklahoma wasn't a "rag-head." "If you are not breaking the law, you can't and shouldn't be stopped" while nice sounding isn't really true. If this were true a driver couldn't be pulled over for drunk driving unless he was legally intoxicated - not sure how you could determine that ahead of time. Or do we wait until after an accident to stop the guy? While I do agree that stopping "railfans" doesn't help the country . . . how can you tell the person is a railfan just by looking? It is my understanding that the folks that hijacked the planes four years ago looked like passengers. What may seem normal to some, looks like suspicious activity by others. Would you want to be the officer that didn't walk up and ask a person a few questions and then later found out that that person undertook an action that took someone else's life? While I fully believe that police officers should always conduct themselves in a totally professional manner, I really don't see how our liberties are trampled on if a police officer strolls up and says "howdy . . . how's it going, taking some pics?" Of course if the officer is abusive, he needs to be reported, and reported immediately. Maybe I"m lucky, but when I'm out and about taking pictures or railfanning I make it a point to be friendly to the couple of police officers and railroad employees that I have seen and never have had a problem. Lastly look at it from the officers point of view. You look out your window and see some guy in a car looking over your house and writing stuff in a notebook. A house down the street had recently been broken into and the homeowner assulted. You stroll out to check things out and when you ask the guy what he's doing he says, less than friendly, "hey its a free country, I'm on a public road and I can do whatever I want." He's there again the next day, this time with a camera. Architecture student making a study of building styles or a criminal? Call the police or say "he hasn't broken any laws yet."
Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...