From the last thread I started I'm wondering if it would help us if we had some bumper stickers with a phrase something like this:
I'M NOT A TERRORIST, I'M A RAILFAN
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Let me explain to you how the frightened, paranoid, mind works.
"If I was a terrorist and didn't want anyone to know what would I say?"
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
If I put a bumper sticker on my car that says "I'm cute", does that make it true? (Hope hope hope!)
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Boyd From the last thread I started I'm wondering if it would help us if we had some bumper stickers with a phrase something like this: I'M NOT A TERRORIST, I'M A RAILFAN
I like that idea...but you won't get many railfans to adopt it. And there are many who don't realize that they are railfans and that there are others.
But being a member of a recognized fan organization and wearing the hat or the shirt or decal or bumper sticker is available to all by being a member.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
How about:
I'm a TERRORIST; but I play a Railfan on TV...
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
Sign me up for 2, if you can keep the price for each under $10. I'd suggest instead this slight modification:
"I'M JUST A RAILFAN (TRAIN NUT)
TAKING PICTURES, NOT A TERRORIST !"
- Paul North.
This is where I had my bumperstickers printed... prices start @ $4.95 for 1 sticker... good discounts for multiples.
www.makestickers.com
(Std disclaimer applies, I am not financially or otherwise involved with them; except I sent them money and they sent me the stickers I designed on their website.)
The only problem I had was the big red Heart on the "I <3 Live Steam" sticker needed to dry a week before I stuck it on my car, it smeared ever so slightly when I pressed and rubbed to really stick it down.
Phoebe Vet Let me explain to you how the frightened, paranoid, mind works. "If I was a terrorist and didn't want anyone to know what would I say?"
But here's one way how you can 'smoke out' the al Quaeda [sp ?] types:
"Hey, buddy - want a nice pork sausage sandwich and a beer ?"
Hey, I've got an idea. Suppose we get about 40 to 50 railfans together, load ourselves up with cameras, then put on turbans and fake beards and show up at a rail "hot spot". Wouldn't that give certain paranoid types coronarys! Might be fun!
Re: "frightened, paranoid minds."
There's a lot more of them than there are of us. Definitely don't put a MoPac buzz saw on the sticker. It looks too much like a target.
Firelock76 Hey, I've got an idea. Suppose we get about 40 to 50 railfans together, load ourselves up with cameras, then put on turbans and fake beards and show up at a rail "hot spot". Wouldn't that give certain paranoid types coronarys! Might be fun!
Firelock76
Around here that could get someone shot!
You know, in all seriousness, "Wild Bill" O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren't happy unless they're terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there's any "Johnny Laws" out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren't the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie?
Firelock76 You know, in all seriousness, "Wild Bill" O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren't happy unless they're terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there's any "Johnny Laws" out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren't the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie?
Having been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand, I rather resent this comment. A railfan might want nothing but a few images. A serious model railroader who wants to model all aspects of his(her) chosen prototype, not just the rolling stock, might be out there taking copious notes and sketching ground plans, track arrangements and exactly how the rods of a manual interlocking plant link up.
Of course, when questioned, I have the ultimate weapon. It's called DD2(ret), AKA military ID.
Chuck, MSgt(ret) USAF
I don't need a bumper sticker. Without a need to know, you will know nothing.
Phoebe Vet Let me explain to you how the frightened, paranoid, mind works.
And you have either first hand experience, or credentials?
tomikawaTTHaving been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand,...
Indeed. A few years ago I was refurbing an incident command board (basically a big HO town) for the county. Part of the project included coming up with models of rail cars carrying hazmat typical for the line that runs through the county.
So I was trackside, taking pictures and notes on the hazmat cars. Imagine the possibilities...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tomikawaTT Firelock76: You know, in all seriousness, "Wild Bill" O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren't happy unless they're terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there's any "Johnny Laws" out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren't the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie? Having been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand, I rather resent this comment. A railfan might want nothing but a few images. A serious model railroader who wants to model all aspects of his(her) chosen prototype, not just the rolling stock, might be out there taking copious notes and sketching ground plans, track arrangements and exactly how the rods of a manual interlocking plant link up. Of course, when questioned, I have the ultimate weapon. It's called DD2(ret), AKA military ID. Chuck, MSgt(ret) USAF
Firelock76: You know, in all seriousness, "Wild Bill" O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren't happy unless they're terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there's any "Johnny Laws" out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren't the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie?
No offense intended Top, I was just trying to make a point, sorry you misunderstood. The thing is, the guy operating out in the open, without guile, not hiding from anyone isn't the guy the authorities should be worried about. Like most of us I can't understand why some of them can't figure that one out. But hey, we've all heard of old ladies being shaken down at airports, can't figure that one out as well.
Wayne, former 1st/Lt USMC(R)
Firelock76 tomikawaTT: Firelock76: You know, in all seriousness, "Wild Bill" O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren't happy unless they're terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there's any "Johnny Laws" out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren't the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie? Having been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand, I rather resent this comment. A railfan might want nothing but a few images. A serious model railroader who wants to model all aspects of his(her) chosen prototype, not just the rolling stock, might be out there taking copious notes and sketching ground plans, track arrangements and exactly how the rods of a manual interlocking plant link up. Of course, when questioned, I have the ultimate weapon. It's called DD2(ret), AKA military ID. Chuck, MSgt(ret) USAF No offense intended Top, I was just trying to make a point, sorry you misunderstood. The thing is, the guy operating out in the open, without guile, not hiding from anyone isn't the guy the authorities should be worried about. Like most of us I can't understand why some of them can't figure that one out. But hey, we've all heard of old ladies being shaken down at airports, can't figure that one out as well. Wayne, former 1st/Lt USMC(R)
tomikawaTT: Firelock76: You know, in all seriousness, "Wild Bill" O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel once said that 30% of people in this country aren't happy unless they're terrified of SOMETHING. Sad commentary, but absolutely true. If there's any "Johnny Laws" out there reading this, let me tell you the people with the cameras aren't the ones you should be concerned with. Watch out for the guys hanging around vulnerable spots with pads and pencils, jotting down things like train frequencies, consists, cargoes, power lash-ups, speeds of same, and so on. A guy with a camera is just enjoying himself. The information collector may mean business. Verstehen sie? Having been an information collector, camera around neck and clipboard in hand, I rather resent this comment. A railfan might want nothing but a few images. A serious model railroader who wants to model all aspects of his(her) chosen prototype, not just the rolling stock, might be out there taking copious notes and sketching ground plans, track arrangements and exactly how the rods of a manual interlocking plant link up. Of course, when questioned, I have the ultimate weapon. It's called DD2(ret), AKA military ID. Chuck, MSgt(ret) USAF
Let me just say to start with that I spent 14 years as a Deputy Sheriff. You might be surprised about people out in the open not causing problems. We had a call one Halloween about cars getting egged in a one of the small towns in our county. I was in the area looking for a suspect. Never saw anyone suspicious. Cars kept getting egged over the next 30 minutes in different spots and we never did see anybody, EXCEPT this one teenager that was walking along the sidewalk seemingly minding his own business. He was always in the vicinity of where the cars were just reported hit. Aften the fourth car was hit, I stopped him and sure enough he had eggs hidden in his coat pockets. Just because someone looks innocent doesn't mean they are.
As far as railfans go, I have had encounters with a few. Usually I just walk up and ask them what they are doing. I may ask to see their ID and usually log them with dispatch as being in the area just in case something did happen there, we would have someone to go talk to. Even if they didn't cause the problem at least they could tell us what time they left the area and we could narrow down the timeframe of the crime. As long as they don't have an attitude with me, I tell them to make sure they stay off the railroad's property and be safe and I go on my way. Unless there is a train coming and then I stay and railfan myself :)
OK gentlemen, now I REALLY stand corrected. Can we agree we don't have to worry about little old ladies? At least until they start packin' RPG's?
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