I just read in the Newswire that CN is adopting a zero tolerance policy for tresspassers and CN police will be out in force to support the new policy. If you guys plan on railfanning the CN, you had better make sure you, your car, your camera and anything else are firmly on public ground when out railfanning.
Be safe out there!
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
BNSF has adopted that policy, too. They want you no more than 100 feet near any rails.
I tore up my watch and report card they gave me.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Any idea what prompted the added police patrols? I visit the CN diamond in Durand, Michigan periodically and it amazes me the number of people that cross the tracks--on bikes, with strollers, you name it. There's a school nearby and in the afternoon there's always groups of kids crossing the tracks and running around on them. Maybe not anymore...
Ross
CopCarSS wrote: I just read in the Newswire that CN is adopting a zero tolerance policy for tresspassers and CN police will be out in force to support the new policy. If you guys plan on railfanning the CN, you had better make sure you, your car, your camera and anything else are firmly on public ground when out railfanning.Be safe out there!
Better to say, "firmly on ground not owned by the railroad". There's plenty of private land that's owned by businesses to watch from up here in the Twin Cities, if you are considerate and ask permission.
First I have heard of this. I wonder what prompted it? Speaking of increased railroad police presence, I was out the other night, and noted an increased number of Indiana Harbor Belt police around CP LaGrange, and near Hanesworth Park in LaGrange Park. Seeing them around CP LaGrange is actually kind of routine, but seeing them sitting at Hanesworth Park is something new.
Well, I guess I will have to make sure that I am on non-railroad property when photographing.
For Chicago area fans, the place to really watch out would be Broadway Street in Blue Island. I doubt that they could do much if you stay on the sidewalk, but one misstep...
Same at Griffith, Indiana.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I don't know how they plan on enforcing it. It is hard enough to keep people out of yards let alone along a right of way somewhere. I'm not saying that they don't mean what they say it just, I don't see how they will be able to enforce it. If you think about it, if a crew see someone out trespassing and proceeds to call it in, by the time anyone get out there, who ever was there will be long gone.
thats just my opinion.
There are a few places here and there in Michigan where one can be 20 feet from the tracks and not be on the right of way.
The 100 feet most likely applies to places where there are switches, and most of the switches have been removed along the mainline in Michigan.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
trainfan1221 wrote:As we have learned in the New York City area here, North Jersey to be exact, be on the lookout and don't go on the railroad property. Though they might not want you near the tracks there's not much they can do if you are on public property and just minding your own business. Since most of us respect the railroads and their properties we don't have much trouble.
That's the best route. Stay off the railroad's property, and all arguments about what they can do to you, your camera, your car, etc. fall by the wayside.
Railroad cops and local gestapo types not withstanding, 100' from the tracks is a nice distance for your own personal safety. That's just barely over the length of a tri-level auto car.
I know for sure that if something falls off of a passing train, whether it be a chain, strap, piece of lumber, a box car door, truck spring, brake shoe, whatever.....I'd like to be at least 100' from it.
Anyway, the best photos generally seem to be the ones NOT taken close to the tracks.
RudyRockvilleMD wrote:It's my impression that railroad rights-of-way can be up to 100 feet wide nevertheless staying at least 100' from the nearest track is for one's personal safety even though one might be on railroad property. Another tip is not to go too close to the crossing gate if you are the first car in line when the gate goes down.
It's just the latest step as our fear based society slowly descends into the pit of paranoia.
A few months ago our local Gestapo detained a guy for a couple of hours while they investigated why he was taking pictures of tall buildings. Turned out to be a tourist. Think he will visit our fair city again?
There is a woman in my neighborhood who sits in her car on the street and watches her children at play, afraid to let them outdoors unsupervised, lest one of the predators is about.
Every shopping center has cameras covering every corner of their parking lots. Police use cameras to monitor city streets.
I personally think it's disgusting.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
At sporting events, fans who enter the field of play are subject to ejection from the ballpark. The same rules apply for railfans. I don't think it matters if you are taking photos or not. Trespassing is trespassing. Stay in the bleachers and enjoy the game. If there are no good seats left then go find another game to watch. If you want special access, then ask for it. If you are that insistant on getting a good shot you might be surprised to find out that if you ask permission first then it might be granted.
Pete
gardenengineer wrote:At sporting events, fans who enter the field of play are subject to ejection from the ballpark. The same rules apply for railfans. I don't think it matters if you are taking photos or not. Trespassing is trespassing. Stay in the bleachers and enjoy the game. If there are no good seats left then go find another game to watch. If you want special access, then ask for it. If you are that insistant on getting a good shot you might be surprised to find out that if you ask permission first then it might be granted.Pete
I find that if I can discreetly and unobtrusively approach a 'rail' away from the yard where he is less likely to be watched by his superior(s) s/he's more likely to be at least polite in their responses to inquiries. That approach has gotten me some nice access, info, and pictures.
I usually don't have problems near the CN in my area, but I don't get too close (IMO) and always try to err on the side of caution anyway.
Dan
Phoebe Vet wrote: It's just the latest step as our fear based society slowly descends into the pit of paranoia.A few months ago our local Gestapo detained a guy for a couple of hours while they investigated why he was taking pictures of tall buildings. Turned out to be a tourist. Think he will visit our fair city again?There is a woman in my neighborhood who sits in her car on the street and watches her children at play, afraid to let them outdoors unsupervised, lest one of the predators is about.Every shopping center has cameras covering every corner of their parking lots. Police use cameras to monitor city streets.I personally think it's disgusting.
"Pit of paranoia" we're descending into? Have you read the papers lately? Maybe if people had been just a little more "paranoid", the scum who commandeered those planes on 9-11 might have been investigated before 3000+ people died. Perhaps if imbeciles would quit shootin'-up shopping malls and schools, and committing every other act of savage violence we get to hear about on a daily basis, and innocent, law-abiding citizens wouldn't have to worry about gettin' clipped by some baboon who thinks the thug-lifestyle is glamorous, we wouldn't need cameras in every corner and you wouldn't have to be disgusted.
Mr_Ash wrote:What about if your sitting at a passenger station? I go and watch trains with my sisters kid up at my towns passenger station on the BN racetrack
I spend endless hours at various Metra Stations on the BNSF with my Grandson.
The one and only time we've been approached was by the Ticket Agent at Stone Av.
where I informed her we were in a Public access area. She threatened to call the Police,I replied use my Cell. No action taken. Metra has a lienient policy concerning rail fanning from platforms.
WIAR wrote: "Pit of paranoia" we're descending into? Have you read the papers lately? Maybe if people had been just a little more "paranoid", the scum who commandeered those planes on 9-11 might have been investigated before 3000+ people died. Perhaps if imbeciles would quit shootin'-up shopping malls and schools, and committing every other act of savage violence we get to hear about on a daily basis, and innocent, law-abiding citizens wouldn't have to worry about gettin' clipped by some baboon who thinks the thug-lifestyle is glamorous, we wouldn't need cameras in every corner and you wouldn't have to be disgusted.
Dude, may I suggest you stop watching Fox news so much.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.Confucius
The most terrifying words in the English langauge are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. Ronald Reagan
Any nation that thinks more of its ease and comfort than its freedom will soon lose its freedom; and the ironical thing about it is that it will lose its ease and comfort too. W Somerset Maugham
No man is enitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation. Douglas Macarthur
I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. President James Madison
A free America... means just this: individual freedom for all, rich or poor, or else this system of government we call democracy is only an expedient to enslave man to the machine and make him like it. Frank Lloyd Wright
RABEL wrote: Mr_Ash wrote:What about if your sitting at a passenger station? I go and watch trains with my sisters kid up at my towns passenger station on the BN racetrackI spend endless hours at various Metra Stations on the BNSF with my Grandson.The one and only time we've been approached was by the Ticket Agent at Stone Av.where I informed her we were in a Public access area. She threatened to call the Police,I replied use my Cell. No action taken. Metra has a lienient policy concerning rail fanning from platforms.
Yeah nobody has said anything to us yet in the year or so we have been going up to the Clarendon Hills stop by our house mostly park along Burlington Ave and sit back on the car hood or on the grass near the platform or if the stations not busy with passengers waiting to go downtown we go across the tracks and sit on the benches by the station.
I remember one summer when I was in 10ish back in the 80's me and two of my friends built a lemonaid stand on a wagon that was equiped with two big coolers of lemonaid and brought it up to the outbound platform and setup next to the shelter with the benches for the evening rush we made soooo much money that summer nobody said anything and we even sold one glass to a conductor off a passenger train and clarendon hills police officers on a few diffrent days every time they walked up we were all like "oh no were busted!" and they just asked for a glass of Lemonaid that we offered to them free of charge but they all insisted on paying lol wonder if that would fly these days
SFbrkmn wrote:This is something that I wouldn't be too worried about and lose any sleep over. As a property owner, CN has the right to protect their property the way they see fit. The rr most likely is fed up w/folks coming upon the property, such as walking between rails, between tracks, too close to tracks, etc. .
So true. In fact, in their desire to protect themselves from lawsuits, it makes sense that they would enforce this rule. I am not worried about it because there are plenty of platforms, bridges, and other public places that I can shoot photos from, and not have to worry too much.
Folks, whatever we like/don't like about the present, wait for it. It'll be a fond memory in just a few short years. Every generation laments its own passing. Rose coloured glasses and all that.
When you consider what we feel were more innocent or friendly times, and that we are not special in any way, think about how shocking it would be for us to be parachuted into the next century and realize what change really means. Think about what the experience of the last World War was like and how it changed us. Now we are learning about other ways for humans to treat each other, and we will adapt. More to follow.
-Crandell
Selector:
I don't know about the others, but I, for one, do NOT think the old days were more innocent or more friendly. In fact, I think just the opposite. I believe that we are in no greater danger now than we have ever been, and that the climate of fear that currently permeates our society is completely groundless.
Does any rational human actually think that a loosely organized band of primitive religious zealots is a greater threat than the "cold war"? Is the thought of Iran having a couple of Nukes even remotely in the same class as when the USSR had THOUSANDS of nuclear intercontinental Ballistic missiles, and hundreds of submarine based nuclear missiles all carefully aimed our way?
If you think crazy people with guns are something new, then you weren't black in the south in the '50s.
As far as your prediction that future generations will not understand my generation's concerns about loss of freedom, you are probably correct. You tend to not miss what you never had. The current crop of young people (under 40) have been having their lockers, book bags, backpacks, and pockets randomly searched since the third grade. They tend to be less disturbed when the government wants to do it to them as adults.
What is really different today is that we have competing 24 hour a day news media, who overly dramatize everything in the never ending quest for ratings. Burglaries have become "home invasions", cars no longer have accident's, they "slam into each other", and crimes are generalized to make the danger seem much worse than it is. If an illegal immigrant drives drunk and is involved in a fatal auto accident, the news will point out how many thousands of aliens are illegally here and lead the citizens who tend to not actually think things through to believe that the roads are therefore overrun with drunken aliens. Child predators are lumped in with tens of thousands of people who have been convicted of some kind of crime that involves sex, so that people think that there are thousands of evil sex offenders prowling the streets hunting our children.
The fear is paralyzing our society, and causing us to give up everything that made America unique.
Now, since this has really strayed from the trains subject, I will not post anything else on this subject.
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