I am modeling a yard in Houston and the countryside in East Texas on my HO scale (for my grandson and myself). In the old days my Dad would talk to the Yard Master and I could move about freely.
My intent is to get many pictures, which I can study later for my layout.
Since 9/11 the rules have tighened quite a bit, so I'm told and I wouldn't be able to get into a yard. I haven't tried so I don't know.
Is there someone in the crowd that could tell me if there is a procedure for seeking permission to take my grandson into the yard and take as many pictures as time allows. As usual, I'd like to get into the hump tower, so I could see the whole yard. I would like to get into UP's Englewood Hump Yard, Houston, Texas, and two yards in Illinois, BN's Clyde yard in Chicago and BN's Yard in Galesburg, Illinois.
Thanks,
MikeF
Hi, I would send a friendly e-mail to someone in Customer Service or Public Relations. Most railroad company websites offer a page of contacts. State flat out your intentions...i.e. Why you want to take photographs, where you want to take them, etc. They will either say "no" or connect you with the proper officials. You will probably have to sign a release that releases the railroad from any responsibility if you are injured or killed on their property. As for your grandson, I am assuming he is under 18? I strongly doubt that he could go with you. The key here is to ASK. All they can do is say no.
Mike
The only live yard that has tours that I know of is UPs North Platte yard and tower tours. It is not just 9/11 that's changed the picture. Litigation for injuries had played the biggest part. Trespassing is really frowned upon. Manpower for guided tours of yards is not in the budgets.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Mike,
I doubt you will get permission to enter the tower at Englewood, or photograph the yard from there or the hump...simply because both are pretty dangerous places for non railroaders..but you can get some good detail shots of the hump lead, the tower and the yard from Liberty road on the north side of the yard, and Wallisville road from the south side.
You can park and walk up on the Lockwood Drive over pass and shoot both east towards the hump and west and pretty much cover the entire yard including the "ramp" where they do a lot of intermodel.
They are used to railfans shooting from Liberty road, happens all the time.
Keep in mind the neighborhood is pretty much a ghetto there, so take a friend along, lock your car, keep it in sight, and go during the daylight only...
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edblysardMike, I doubt you will get permission to enter the tower at Englewood, or photograph the yard from there or the hump...simply because both are pretty dangerous places for non railroaders..but you can get some good detail shots of the hump lead, the tower and the yard from Liberty road on the north side of the yard, and Wallisville road from the south side. You can park and walk up on the Lockwood Drive over pass and shoot both east towards the hump and west and pretty much cover the entire yard including the "ramp" where they do a lot of intermodel. They are used to railfans shooting from Liberty road, happens all the time. Keep in mind the neighborhood is pretty much a ghetto there, so take a friend along, lock your car, keep it in sight, and go during the daylight only...
Hey, thanks for the info. I will be with my friend that never lets me down. 1911A1 auto 45.
---MikeF
Overhead photos may help.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
ericspOverhead photos may help.
I know exactly where this is.
Is Englewood the yard that's about 4.5 miles NE of downtown Houston? I recently noticed it on Google Earth.
Ted M.
got trains?™
See my photos at: http://tedmarshall.rrpicturearchives.net/
Englewood, East yard and Settagast are all right at the intersection of IH10 and Loop 610 in North east Houston.
Settagast is just north of Loop 610, Englewood and East yard just south of it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=+houston+texas&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.440076,56.337891&ie=UTF8&ll=29.805646,-95.293779&spn=0.031429,0.055017&t=h&z=14
About a mile down the road from my yard on Wayside and Clinton.
Also, try the 'Birdseye' view on MSN's 'bing' map and aerial photo application - or others, such as Google Earth. Most places I've looked at can get down to around 25 yds. per inch, if I remember right, and at the oblique angle, show more detail and spatial relationships than a straight-down aerial - or that you would see even by actually visiting the yard.
- Paul North.
I called in sick today, so I could see the yard. Quite impressive, the aerial view from the bridge and ground views are quite close to the action. The hump is about 100 yards from the street.
I just rent on a recon today, on the next trip I'll have the camera in my hand, with spare film and batteries.
Whats more amazing is I've lived here thirty years and never accidently bumped into the yard. I would always spend my time in Spring, Texas watching the trains.
In Houston's hayday there was 17 railroads that serviced Houston. I wonder if they shared the use of the yard, some in this community must know, speak up....
----MikeF
MikeF I called in sick today, so I could see the yard. Quite impressive, the aerial view from the bridge and ground views are quite close to the action. The hump is about 100 yards from the street.
Better hope your boss doesn't lurk on this list
Film?
"Ted Marshall"
called in sick today, so I could see the yard. Quite impressive, the aerial view from the bridge and ground views are quite close to the action. The hump is about 100 yards from the street.
Don't laugh my Cannon still takes good pics.
MikeF Don't laugh my Cannon still takes good pics. ---MikeF
So does my Canon A2000i PowerShot digital. Just a little ribbing, Mike. I know there are still some old school traditionalists out there. I can't help but chuckle at the sight of the word "film".
Ted MarshallMikeF Don't laugh my Cannon still takes good pics. ---MikeF So does my Canon A2000i PowerShot digital. Just a little ribbing, Mike. I know there are still some old school traditionalists out there. I can't help but chuckle at the sight of the word "film".
Give it up! The railroad is paranoid and worried about lawsuts. Therefore, unless you can get a Trainmaster, Yardmaster, or someone with a little authority to escort you around, the situation is hopeless. Try going over to the crew lobby and see if one of the crew memebers can point you to someone with the power.
Film? My Canon G-III QL (bought 31 years ago) still does what I want it to do, so I am satisfied with it.
Johnny
joesap1Give it up! The railroad is paranoid and worried about lawsuts. Therefore, unless you can get a Trainmaster, Yardmaster, or someone with a little authority to escort you around, the situation is hopeless. Try going over to the crew lobby and see if one of the crew memebers can point you to someone with the power.
I've decided the closest I'll get is through a camera.
--MikeF
DeggestyFilm? My Canon G-III QL (bought 31 years ago) still does what I want it to do, so I am satisfied with it. Johnny
I've got both kinds, I'm happy with each.
Some folks say the silver film technology gives longevity, the other folks claim digital has more clarity, so the argument goes on, much like the ford and chevy argument.
joesap1 Give it up! The railroad is paranoid and worried about lawsuts. Therefore, unless you can get a Trainmaster, Yardmaster, or someone with a little authority to escort you around, the situation is hopeless. Try going over to the crew lobby and see if one of the crew memebers can point you to someone with the power.
I'm glad that the word "lawsuit" popped up. That is what has killed alot of freedom off. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions anymore. "I picked up a sheet of paper, mishandled it and ended up with a paper cut. But it's your fault that the paper was there to begin with!"
Look at old railfan excursion films from the 30s - 50's. Excursionists had free run of a railyard. Freedom to climb on locomotives. Freedom to climb light towers for overhead shots. Those days are gone. What about the open gondola filled with railfans tacked onto the end of an excursion train doing 60mph. Imagine insurance companies allowing that today?! The best thing I ever saw was a gondola loaded with railfans on the Ma & Pa with the crew performing a flying switch of the car. A car load of railfans coasting freely through a siding to get it to the other end of the train! Today, that carload of railfans would be switched out throught he yard gate and the gate locked behind them.
In these days when railfan excursions are infrequently run, I'm happy with 1 photo runby. And that seldom happens anymore, especially here in the East. I can't blame the railroads one bit. Want to screw something up? Involve human beings!
Hi
Welcome to the forums.I know you said you were interested in western railyards.If anyone wants to look at NS and CSX Tower A at CUT(cincinnati union terminal) is open on saturdays.Just thought I'd pass it along.
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").
I agree with ed about the neighborhood around englewood. it is down right dangerous.LIberty road side especially. I found that if you go before noon its not as bad.
JoeKoh Hi Welcome to the forums.I know you said you were interested in western railyards.If anyone wants to look at NS and CSX Tower A at CUT(cincinnati union terminal) is open on saturdays.Just thought I'd pass it along. stay safe joe
DEFINE: Open. Do you mean the railroad is using it or that the employee lets visitors in or that the railroad allows visitors only at these times?
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.
"Deep Sea Research" in Aggieville, TX? Wow! I did the same in Vermont, while matriculated at "UVM", back in the late '70s. They called us "Septic Tank Pumpers", in those days, and that's what we did. "PC", apparently, came early to Texas.
Hays
P. S.: it was all "un-reportable" income. Also, UVM = 'Unemployment of Vermont".
MikeF I am modeling a yard in Houston and the countryside in East Texas on my HO scale (for my grandson and myself). In the old days my Dad would talk to the Yard Master and I could move about freely. My intent is to get many pictures, which I can study later for my layout. Since 9/11 the rules have tighened quite a bit, so I'm told and I wouldn't be able to get into a yard. I haven't tried so I don't know. Is there someone in the crowd that could tell me if there is a procedure for seeking permission to take my grandson into the yard and take as many pictures as time allows. As usual, I'd like to get into the hump tower, so I could see the whole yard. I would like to get into UP's Englewood Hump Yard, Houston, Texas, and two yards in Illinois, BN's Clyde yard in Chicago and BN's Yard in Galesburg, Illinois. Thanks, MikeFMike, Let us know what they say if you send an email or letter off..I would be interested in in their answer... Thanks
MikeFMike,
Let us know what they say if you send an email or letter off..I would be interested in in their answer...
Thanks
henry6 JoeKoh Hi Welcome to the forums.I know you said you were interested in western railyards.If anyone wants to look at NS and CSX Tower A at CUT(cincinnati union terminal) is open on saturdays.Just thought I'd pass it along. stay safe joe DEFINE: Open. Do you mean the railroad is using it or that the employee lets visitors in or that the railroad allows visitors only at these times?
CUT is a museum now in cincinnati.Tower A is operated by the Cincinnati Model railroad club.It is normally open on saturdays and special event days(summerrail etc) or could be open if you contact the model railroad club.Hope this helps
Joe
MikeFDeggestyFilm? My Canon G-III QL (bought 31 years ago) still does what I want it to do, so I am satisfied with it. Johnny I've got both kinds, I'm happy with each.Some folks say the silver film technology gives longevity, the other folks claim digital has more clarity, so the argument goes on, much like the ford and chevy argument.---MikeF
...or the EMD and GE argument...
DeggestyFilm? My Canon G-III QL (bought 31 years ago) still does what I want it to do, so I am satisfied with it. I've got both kinds, I'm happy with each.Some folks say the silver film technology gives longevity, the other folks claim digital has more clarity, so the argument goes on, much like the ford and chevy argument.---MikeF...or the EMD and GE argument...
These are fighting words, I'm partial to EMD. I've designed stationary power systems using EMD and GE. GE is cheaper, but EMD will run longer. The traction motors are a a close match, but the prime movers are separate animals.
We got 40,000 hours out of our EMD's between major builds. And the rebuilds only took three days. I would use two of our mechanics and contract two EMD mechanics, have all the parts staged. As far as rebuild cost, it cost less to rebuild the EMD's than it did our Cat's. The power pack design that EMD has is hard to bet.
Security today is insanely tight in many aspects of the transportation industry, considering post-9/11 regulations. I'm certain that a simple talk with the yardmaster will not cut it today, more likely, you'll be signing papers for days, and undergoing immense background checks,etc.
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