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Citizens for Rail Security (CRS)

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  • Member since
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  • From: Hewitt,TX.
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Citizens for Rail Security (CRS)
Posted by videomaker on Friday, August 7, 2009 9:15 PM

Hello All,

I got a security alert from BNSF loss prevention today as I am  registered with them as a railfan,was wondering if any of you guys on here that are registered got the same email...

Thanks in advance, 

Danny
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,010 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, August 7, 2009 9:23 PM

I sent in a registration a couple of years ago but never got a reply from them.  I did get the email, though...

LarryWhistling
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...

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 7, 2009 9:52 PM

Yeah I got the e-mail too.  I registered quite some time ago and I actually used my little card and ID number to report a malfunctioning gate in Isanti, MN once.

  • Member since
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  • From: On Track LaGrange IL.
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Posted by RABEL on Friday, August 7, 2009 9:53 PM

I also recieved it today. I found the warning for railfans interesting.

  • Member since
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  • From: On Track LaGrange IL.
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Posted by RABEL on Friday, August 7, 2009 9:56 PM

tree68

I sent in a registration a couple of years ago but never got a reply from them.  I did get the email, though...

The only reply I recieved was the "internet" supplied membership print page.

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Posted by videomaker on Friday, August 7, 2009 10:38 PM

Ok, I just wanted to know if it was legit or not,I was going to pass it to some other folks I know if it was...

Thanks again for the quick responses...

Danny
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  • From: US
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Posted by wabash1 on Sunday, August 9, 2009 12:07 AM

videomaker

Ok, I just wanted to know if it was legit or not,I was going to pass it to some other folks I know if it was...

Thanks again for the quick responses...

what is the warning

  • Member since
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  • From: On Track LaGrange IL.
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Posted by RABEL on Sunday, August 9, 2009 3:14 AM
wabash1

videomaker

Ok, I just wanted to know if it was legit or not,I was going to pass it to some other folks I know if it was...

Thanks again for the quick responses...

what is the warning

Recently several CRS members have been contacted by police while trespassing on railroad property. CRS membership does not authorize anyone to trespass on railroad property. CRS members who trespass on railroad property are subject to arrest for trespassing. CRS members who trespass on railroad property create a poor image of CRS to the law enforcement community. Please help us maintain this valuable program by following CRS guidelines and by observing trains from public locations.  
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Posted by eolafan on Sunday, August 9, 2009 9:34 AM

Yes, I also received the e-mail from BNSF.  I may be among those railfans who "tresspassed" while in East Dubuque, IL about a month back.  I was told by the BNSF officer I was about five feet inside their property even though my car was entirely on the asphalt of a public parking lot, but nothing came of it and he went on his way after I showed him my CRS identification card (and no other form of ID) and we talked for about two minutes.

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, August 9, 2009 12:34 PM

I have both CSXs and NS 800 numbers in my phone just in case we see something.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by tatans on Sunday, August 9, 2009 3:08 PM

As a foreigner (to the north) just what all this security for railroads for?  Are there gangs of (other foreigners) out there blowing up the United States? I haven't heard of many industries, other than airlines that have gone on  alert like many Eastern European countries and their multi-armed border guards.  At what point does the U.S. qualify an industry to be on alert? Yo-Yo factories?  Belt makers? Pen Factories? surely there must be a list as to who must take effort to thwart breaches in security. If I am to visit the U.S. I must have a valid passport and a visa, both costing a pile of money, And remember, if U.S. citzens slink across the Canadaland border, you can't get back without a passport.

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Posted by eolafan on Sunday, August 9, 2009 5:15 PM

Really dumb questions and comments...just do us a big favor and stay north of border and we will get along just fine.

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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  • From: Dallas, TX
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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:47 PM

eolafan

Really dumb questions and comments...just do us a big favor and stay north of border and we will get along just fine.

 

 

I think I said my piece on Canadians in another thread.    The reason they have problems making it through U.S. Customs is illustrated quite vividly in that post.

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Posted by videomaker on Sunday, August 9, 2009 10:59 PM

videomaker

Hello All,

I got a security alert from BNSF loss prevention today as I am  registered with them as a railfan,was wondering if any of you guys on here that are registered got the same email...

Thanks in advance, 

 The alert was to remind us that going into yards was tresspassing whether we had a BNSF CRS card or not and was subject to being ticketed...( someone had been caught that had a CRS card) I DO NOT take photos in the yds,I dont like those kind of photos,so I stay out in the country where the scenery is better and your not hassled...But I do look out for hazards that the crews may not be aware of on their trains and report them if need be...

Danny
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Brooklyn Center, MN.
  • 702 posts
Posted by Los Angeles Rams Guy on Monday, August 10, 2009 6:48 AM

eolafan

Yes, I also received the e-mail from BNSF.  I may be among those railfans who "tresspassed" while in East Dubuque, IL about a month back.  I was told by the BNSF officer I was about five feet inside their property even though my car was entirely on the asphalt of a public parking lot, but nothing came of it and he went on his way after I showed him my CRS identification card (and no other form of ID) and we talked for about two minutes.

I was over in East Dubuque as well back in late June for a little while but never did see any BNSF police around either East Cabin or up by the East Portal area of CN's tunnel.

"Beating 'SC is not a matter of life or death. It's more important than that." Former UCLA Head Football Coach Red Sanders
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, August 10, 2009 7:25 AM

I got it too - even though I'm in eastern Pennsylvania, a looonnnggg ways from any BNSF tracks or trains.

I seem to recall that there was a mention of in the future, possibly limiting/ targeting the recipients of these alerts to a certain geographic area.  That makes sense - there's not much percentage in letting me and tree68 know about a potential problem in East Dubuque - but eolafan would be a worthwhile contact. 

Interestingly, this was the first time I've ever received such a missive, despite having been signed up in CRS for a couple years now. 

- Paul North.

EDIT - For what it's worth, here's the entire message as I received it, since nothing indicates that it is in any way confidential, 'privileged', intended for limited or restricted distribution only, etc. - PDN.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from "Zillinger, Monte D" <Monte.Zillinger@bnsf.com> 

 hide details

 Aug 7 (3 days ago) 
to "Protection, Resource" <Resource.Protection@bnsf.com>  
date Aug 7, 2009 10:43 AM  
subject Message from Citizens for Rail Security  
mailed-by bnsf.com  

Citizens for Rail Security Member,

BNSF Railway Police may periodically send email alerts to Citizen’s for Rail Security (CRS) members for selected geographic areas. Those alerts may be to increase awareness of criminal activity, terrorism risk, or other railway concerns in a specific area. The alerts may be used to distribute reward information on specific crimes.

We expect to distribute the alerts sorted by state.  As an example, if there are recurring criminal events in a specific Kansas community then all CRS members in Kansas would receive the alert email message. We will also post the alerts on the CRS website.

If you would like to have your email address removed from the CRS alert distribution please respond to resource.protection@bnsf.com with the word “remove” in the subject line.

Recently several CRS members have been contacted by police while trespassing on railroad property. CRS membership does not authorize anyone to trespass on railroad property. CRS members who trespass on railroad property are subject to arrest for trespassing. CRS members who trespass on railroad property create a poor image of CRS to the law enforcement community. Please help us maintain this valuable program by following CRS guidelines and by observing trains from public locations.

BNSF Railway Resource Protection Team

Report BNSF Railway emergencies and trespassers to the Resource Operations Call Center at 800-832-5452.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)

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