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[Anonymous]

Two more posts and both are still in a positive tone. I can't believe not one person has felt it was inappropriate. Maybe in the next few days some will post a "not appropriate" comment. I am not trying to be disrespectful but am awed that all of the post are basically "it's ok" postings. Every poster so far knows me through the forums and private emails and knows my character and general disposition and know I am not trying to be disrespectful of them. I still am awed over it all. Maybe some of the older forum members will post "don't take pics there" but we shall see.

[Anonymous]

AltonFan

Thanks for your post. You snuck in on me while I was typing my previous post. But that is certainly ok.

Forgive me if anyone is offended here but let me say
Congradulations on your second star. I usually put up a few smiley faces when this happens but considering the topic won't do so here.

The other posters and I carry on private emails and I welcome you to do the same. I currently am trying to send out pics of trains, planes, and assorted other things. If you would like to be on my mailing list just let me know and I will send you some pics.

Once again thanks for your post. I wish you many more.

[Anonymous]

AltonFan

Thanks for your post. You snuck in on me while I was typing my previous post. But that is certainly ok.

Forgive me if anyone is offended here but let me say
Congradulations on your second star. I usually put up a few smiley faces when this happens but considering the topic won't do so here.

The other posters and I carry on private emails and I welcome you to do the same. I currently am trying to send out pics of trains, planes, and assorted other things. If you would like to be on my mailing list just let me know and I will send you some pics.

Once again thanks for your post. I wish you many more.

[Anonymous]

Greetings Alex.

[Anonymous]

Greetings Alex.

[Anonymous]

Congradulations, Jim, you missed me again[}:)][:D]
As for negative comments, you should have taken this topic to trains.com forums- audience there tends to be more aggressive.
But if you need a negative comment, i can help[}:)] joking[:o)]

[Anonymous]

Congradulations, Jim, you missed me again[}:)][:D]
As for negative comments, you should have taken this topic to trains.com forums- audience there tends to be more aggressive.
But if you need a negative comment, i can help[}:)] joking[:o)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

Congradulations, Jim, you missed me again[}:)][:D]

It is almost funny how we can be in the same thread at the same time but yet when I post the "Hi" I J U S T miss you.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

Congradulations, Jim, you missed me again[}:)][:D]

It is almost funny how we can be in the same thread at the same time but yet when I post the "Hi" I J U S T miss you.

[edblysard]

Hi Jim,
Man,is this weird or not!

I just came from a cemetary tonight.

I stop by there some nights to unwind, the guy who has access to it knows me because our main line from UPs Booth yard to Manchester yard runs right along the front and crosses the road at the front gate, and we have to stop and line a switch there and wait for a signal.

He lives across the road from it, and is always on his porch, watching the trains and the world go by and we chat, smoke and drink coffee, shoot the bull.

This is the oldest cemetary in Houston, Harrisburg Cemetary, dating from early 1800, it contains some of the fist citizens of Houston.

Harrisburg was a small town on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou, now the Houston Ship Channel, and one time capitol of Texas!

Its a small cemetary, no more that 200 yards on any side, and has a small clearing in a grove of oak trees near the gate, with a single, huge old oak at the center of the clearing.
Eons ago, someone built a bench around this tree, and people sit there in the afternoon all the time, watching the ships pass, or watching the trains go by.

One day before work, I drove out there, wanting to see what the attraction was of sitting there among the graves.

Turned out, it really was a pleasent experience, and after a little thought, the reason for the little parks popularity became apparent.

A lot of the folks worked nearby, and they had been gathering there for years to eat lunch, feed the squirrels, watch the trains and ships, and enjoy a little human interaction in a peaceful setting.

In fact, most had come to view the place as "their" cemetary, and wished it was still a active one.
Of course, it had been closed for bruial forever, and no grave sites were left, but many of the regulars still wanted to be buried there, so their friends could come and still visit them at lunch.
A couple of ladies had even gotten a map of the graves, and were slowly working their way from north to south, cleaning and caring for the markers and tombstones, digging up and resetting those that had been negeleted for decades.

They had even started to contact some of the relaitives of those buried there, and had a lot of great histories and stories about them, wonderfully told by the pair almost as if they personally had know these people.

One young lady, in her twenties, told me when her friend had first brought her here for lunch one day, she was kinda grossed out about eating lunch in a cemetary, but as time went on, she grew to love the place, not only for the company of the other people who came there, but because it was a old cemetary, very tranquil and pleasent, full of the first folks to live around here, and now she hoped she could be buried somewhere people gathered like this, so she would never be forgotten or really alone.

The same though you had occured to me, what a great place to take photos of trains and ships!

After looking the place over real good, I discovered that I could get a lot of good shots of ships, but had no good angle on the tracks that didnt show the taller tombstones, and the names on them.

Thought it over, and decided that the gravestones themselves actually added to the image, its really that peacful and beautiful, but that the peoples names showing might cause the those who viewed the photos a problem, that and the odd chance that one of the people whos names showed might still have some living relatives, who may be offended.

When I asked the group there what they though, most said they wouldnt try to stop me, but that they would be uneasy about it, not because it would be disrespectful, but because they had come to view those buried there as their friends and they felt responsible to watch out for them and their graves.

Sorta a mixed response, along the lines of "yeah, you can, but I would perfer you didnt"

So, even though I have been back lots and lots of times, I have never even though of bringing a camera there.

Funny, turns out I like the place almost as much as the regulars, even though I go there late in the evening instead of afternoon, to watch the sunset/moonrise and just to unwind or work through a problem.

I think a lot of train watchers have a private place where they watch trains, but really go there to work out some of lifes bugs!

I also find myself having the same thoughts as the regulars, in that it has become a private place, shared with only a few others, and I am getting protective of the place and the people buried there, as if it has become my responsibility to protect and watch over them too!

So if you were looking for a negative response, this might fit the bill, although it really isnt negative in the true sense.

I think what I am trying to say is, if it bothers you to take photos there, then thats you answer, isnt it?
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Hi Jim,
Man,is this weird or not!

I just came from a cemetary tonight.

I stop by there some nights to unwind, the guy who has access to it knows me because our main line from UPs Booth yard to Manchester yard runs right along the front and crosses the road at the front gate, and we have to stop and line a switch there and wait for a signal.

He lives across the road from it, and is always on his porch, watching the trains and the world go by and we chat, smoke and drink coffee, shoot the bull.

This is the oldest cemetary in Houston, Harrisburg Cemetary, dating from early 1800, it contains some of the fist citizens of Houston.

Harrisburg was a small town on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou, now the Houston Ship Channel, and one time capitol of Texas!

Its a small cemetary, no more that 200 yards on any side, and has a small clearing in a grove of oak trees near the gate, with a single, huge old oak at the center of the clearing.
Eons ago, someone built a bench around this tree, and people sit there in the afternoon all the time, watching the ships pass, or watching the trains go by.

One day before work, I drove out there, wanting to see what the attraction was of sitting there among the graves.

Turned out, it really was a pleasent experience, and after a little thought, the reason for the little parks popularity became apparent.

A lot of the folks worked nearby, and they had been gathering there for years to eat lunch, feed the squirrels, watch the trains and ships, and enjoy a little human interaction in a peaceful setting.

In fact, most had come to view the place as "their" cemetary, and wished it was still a active one.
Of course, it had been closed for bruial forever, and no grave sites were left, but many of the regulars still wanted to be buried there, so their friends could come and still visit them at lunch.
A couple of ladies had even gotten a map of the graves, and were slowly working their way from north to south, cleaning and caring for the markers and tombstones, digging up and resetting those that had been negeleted for decades.

They had even started to contact some of the relaitives of those buried there, and had a lot of great histories and stories about them, wonderfully told by the pair almost as if they personally had know these people.

One young lady, in her twenties, told me when her friend had first brought her here for lunch one day, she was kinda grossed out about eating lunch in a cemetary, but as time went on, she grew to love the place, not only for the company of the other people who came there, but because it was a old cemetary, very tranquil and pleasent, full of the first folks to live around here, and now she hoped she could be buried somewhere people gathered like this, so she would never be forgotten or really alone.

The same though you had occured to me, what a great place to take photos of trains and ships!

After looking the place over real good, I discovered that I could get a lot of good shots of ships, but had no good angle on the tracks that didnt show the taller tombstones, and the names on them.

Thought it over, and decided that the gravestones themselves actually added to the image, its really that peacful and beautiful, but that the peoples names showing might cause the those who viewed the photos a problem, that and the odd chance that one of the people whos names showed might still have some living relatives, who may be offended.

When I asked the group there what they though, most said they wouldnt try to stop me, but that they would be uneasy about it, not because it would be disrespectful, but because they had come to view those buried there as their friends and they felt responsible to watch out for them and their graves.

Sorta a mixed response, along the lines of "yeah, you can, but I would perfer you didnt"

So, even though I have been back lots and lots of times, I have never even though of bringing a camera there.

Funny, turns out I like the place almost as much as the regulars, even though I go there late in the evening instead of afternoon, to watch the sunset/moonrise and just to unwind or work through a problem.

I think a lot of train watchers have a private place where they watch trains, but really go there to work out some of lifes bugs!

I also find myself having the same thoughts as the regulars, in that it has become a private place, shared with only a few others, and I am getting protective of the place and the people buried there, as if it has become my responsibility to protect and watch over them too!

So if you were looking for a negative response, this might fit the bill, although it really isnt negative in the true sense.

I think what I am trying to say is, if it bothers you to take photos there, then thats you answer, isnt it?
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

ED [:p]

I am not really sure if your post was a yea or nea. But it really doesn't matter because you expressed your opinion and THAT is exactly what I am after. Maybe 25 years ago it might have been received more with a nea. I bet if we went back to WWII time it really would be a nea. But more opinions are welcome no matter which side they choose.

[Anonymous]

ED [:p]

I am not really sure if your post was a yea or nea. But it really doesn't matter because you expressed your opinion and THAT is exactly what I am after. Maybe 25 years ago it might have been received more with a nea. I bet if we went back to WWII time it really would be a nea. But more opinions are welcome no matter which side they choose.

[vsmith]

I dont see what the problem is, as long as your not standing on the headstones to get a good shot. I have seen people using cemetaries for PICNICS! because its the only green park-like area near where they live. L.A. has a derth of green park space so people make do and no one complains. I dont see what the objection would be if the cemetery operators do not have an objection, just dont camp out on top of someones uncle and you should be fine.

Most peoples objections seem to be about "respect for the dead" well the dead are just that, dead! They arent going to complain, its the families that will complain and if some do then depending on thier reasons maybe thats when to stop or change positions. I can hardly see what anyone would be upset about though, very few people actually visit cemetaries regularly alyway so the chances of someone crying is pretty remote. Besides some cemetaries are nicer park spaces than the local parks.

I would approach the operators, explain what you are doing, state that you will not disturb any flowers or the like, and see what happens. If they can see that your just a harmless railnut, and not some godless hollagin bent on kicking over tombstones, they will probably say OK.

Well thats just my two-cents.

P.S. If their are any restless spirits in there, they would probably be happy to have company, given the lack of visitation to most cemetaries, just a random thought.

[vsmith]

I dont see what the problem is, as long as your not standing on the headstones to get a good shot. I have seen people using cemetaries for PICNICS! because its the only green park-like area near where they live. L.A. has a derth of green park space so people make do and no one complains. I dont see what the objection would be if the cemetery operators do not have an objection, just dont camp out on top of someones uncle and you should be fine.

Most peoples objections seem to be about "respect for the dead" well the dead are just that, dead! They arent going to complain, its the families that will complain and if some do then depending on thier reasons maybe thats when to stop or change positions. I can hardly see what anyone would be upset about though, very few people actually visit cemetaries regularly alyway so the chances of someone crying is pretty remote. Besides some cemetaries are nicer park spaces than the local parks.

I would approach the operators, explain what you are doing, state that you will not disturb any flowers or the like, and see what happens. If they can see that your just a harmless railnut, and not some godless hollagin bent on kicking over tombstones, they will probably say OK.

Well thats just my two-cents.

P.S. If their are any restless spirits in there, they would probably be happy to have company, given the lack of visitation to most cemetaries, just a random thought.