The Death of Railfanning?

[beal99]

This has gone too far, and will only get worse

There is an article posted on KSL's website regarding UTA's new FrontRunner
commuter rail stating that taking pictures of the train will land you on the
terrorism watch list. I know this has been a problem in the past for
railfans, but this is getting ridiculous.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4286032

Welcome to the death of railfanning

 

[Flashwave]

This has gone too far, and will only get worse

There is an article posted on KSL's website regarding UTA's new FrontRunner
commuter rail stating that taking pictures of the train will land you on the
terrorism watch list. I know this has been a problem in the past for
railfans, but this is getting ridiculous.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4286032

Welcome to the death of railfanning

 

Not new. Just more public than usual. I'll be curious as to how heavily this one is regulated.

[Anonymous]

Wow... That is really sad... Hopefully this ban won't spread to other systems... First the TSA screws up airline security, then it's on to the railroads...

I still love that line "No, I don't know why I'd take a picture of a train" by the commuter!

[IRONROOSTER]

I like how they draw a distinction between taking pictures of the train and taking pictures of how it operates.  Hopefully, the new administration will restore our civil liberrties.

Paul 

[sanvtoman]

I know at some airports now you cant sit at watch planes take off and land. I think airlines has people who like to watch just as we like trains. 911 screwed up many things not just the poor people who were slaughtered.

[Wdlgln005]

Texting the engineer of a commuter in operation must be either dumb or stupid. Climbing up a signal bridge is tresspassing.  Still I wonder if something else caused the Calif. crash?????

[Autobus Prime]

Folks:

In Soviet Russia, train takes picture of you.

Eh, don't panic. Stupidity tends to be self-limiting in the long run. Look at the anti-German hysteria during WW1. It passed. This, too, will pass.

You're not going to land in Gitmo for railfanning.

[route_rock]

  I myself am lost at all the hand wringing. The article states you can take pictures.Just not how it operates. So how is that the death of railfanning? Did I miss a memo? Re read the story again just to make sure I was reading the same one.

 

  Galesburg every weekend we have railfans taking pictures off a bridge right over the yard.Counted 5 cars with about 15 peaple up there last saturday night. No one told to leave,no Illinois troopers tossing cameras to us workers. No one cared.We had three loaded coal hoppers come down the hum and blast right on through the throat of the yard and knock 14 cars or so off the tracks last month.TONS of fans on the bridge taking pictures of how we clean up a mess.No big deal again.

 

  Now lets talk here about next administration.Who makes the laws in this country? Congress.So until you change up the congress and senate it doesnt matter whos president. Hell I can be president but I can do nothing about making laws. I can only sign bills sent to my desk into law.

 

   I for one would prefer an administration that KNEW it was not in power per se. But was elected by the people to do the peoples work. Would someone please tell those in congress and the senate that are "lifers" that WE are the bosses. last I read the Bill of Rights said We the People not we the elected elite.

[tomikawaTT]

Will somebody please tell Dwayne Baird that there really ARE people who want to build the train - in (enter model railroading scale of choice.)

If any homeland security zombie wants to enter me in their data base, those four little blocks (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Miz) don't apply.  The only acceptable prefix is MSgt!

And to think I invested 26 years of my life protecting and defending these idiots!

Chuck (retired, USAF)

[Last Chance]

HAH.

Nothing moves in my area without the possibility of being shot by video tape. Somewhere sometime eventually. Just add Daylight and a quiet spot.

Dont worry, there is enough eyeballs on those trains up and down the entire main, a sand head with a rpg looking for trouble would himself be shot on sight. Nope... no terrorist around these parts.

[ironhorseman]

If a terrorist is going to do something he's not going to research the [explicitive deleted] out of it, he's just going to do it. Any studying is going to be undercover, 1 to 2 days. Would case the target better by riding it daily. Meanwhile, good ol' patriotic, flag-waving, American Joe gets arrested, property confiscated, fined, and a criminal record when he could be the eyes and ears to anything suspicious.

Maybe if they really cared they'd start putting OPSEC commericals and posters around the general American public as often as they do on AFN so the public can get somewhat educated on what indicators to look for.

Madness.

[Midnight Railroader]

You cannot be prosecuted for photgraphing these trains unless you are trespassing on the railroad's property.

Frankly, if I lived there, I'd love to challenge this in court. Based on lergal precedent, I'd end up owning the railroad...or a nice chunk of the city's budget, depending on who made the arrest.

[Syltrain]

This is a very stupid,pathetic and sad situation at the same time. In future, nobody has the right to photograph or film anything including trains.

How sad. That's the freedom of expression is at stake.

Really sad this story. Very sad.

Syltrain

[CSXDixieLine]

beal99

... taking pictures of the train will land you on the
terrorism watch list. ... 

Although the Baird guy from TSA does not seem to be the brightest bulb, your comment that I quoted above is not stated anywhere in the article. It says that you could be questioned by police and the issue could be referred to Homeland Security, which is bad enough on its own, but staing that you will be placed on a terrorist watch list is an exaggeration. Go take pictures, stay off private property, cooperate with any officials that ask questions and you should not have any issues. Jamie

[CSXrules4eva]

Ya know I do think it's very sad that railfans get harassed just about every time they go out to do some good old fashined railfaning. I get harassed sometimes and I work for the railroad! Isn't that something?

CSX every year we take or familirization test has us watch a 1/2 hour video on hightened security awareness on the railroad. This video adresses us to report any suspisous behavior on or about CSX property including, people takeing pictures. Honestly, I think the video is a bunch of non-sense. CSX is so busy talking about security when they don't even have gates up at the entrences to most of theur yards; any joe smoe can walk up and blend in. When I see a railfan and I'm at work, I wave. lol Heck I just might go over and start a little conversation with him/her.

The way I see it if someone wants to blow up something on the railroad they're going to do it no matter.