To the fan I had arrested today...

[DRBusse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF railfan.

So lets say I want to Photograph a Locomotive or a piece of Rolling stock,ok?
Let's say this could be in C.B.,Iowa.
Who must I talk to see if I could get permission to do this? The Train Master?

Simple answer.

Do it from somewhere OTHER than railroad property and you don't need anyone's permission. Stand at a grade crossing, on the sidewalk, on a public street or in a business parking lot. Just stay off railroad property and you don't need any permission from the railroad, and you'll be much safer anyway.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DRBusse

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF railfan.

So lets say I want to Photograph a Locomotive or a piece of Rolling stock,ok?
Let's say this could be in C.B.,Iowa.
Who must I talk to see if I could get permission to do this? The Train Master?

Simple answer.
Do it from somewhere OTHER than railroad property and you don't need anyone's permission. Stand at a grade crossing, on the sidewalk, on a public street or in a business parking lot. Just stay off railroad property and you don't need any permission from the railroad, and you'll be much safer anyway.

Let me play the devil's advocate here, and assume that you can't see the subject rolling stock from unrestricted property. Yes. Call the trainmaster. Tell him what you want to do. If he says no, listen. If he says yes, accept gratiously, thank profusely, and don't abuse the priviledge. Even if he says no, he might provide the information you need to get the shot, ie, planned movements, etc.

And by the way, you might want to consider getting permission from me if you have to go on my property to get your shot. Just because you're not on railroad property doesn't mean you're not trespassing. Publicly accessable is usually fine, as suggested.

[Anonymous]

ED,how old was this character???? you would think age would add to maturity of mind.

[coalminer3]

Phrases I've heard on the job. The tough part is the house visit later...

Hazard recognition? I don't need to worry - that's for other people.
Hazard awareness ? I don't need to worry - that's for other people.
Unsafe conduct? Me? What Was I doing?
I can outrun that rail car, dozer, grader. hauler, scraper, etc.
Seatbelts just restrict my moving around.
PPE? I won't be in there just a minute.
The machine will stop in time.
The operator knew I was there all the time.
What do these wires do?
Just reach in here with that screwdriver.
An accident? It won't happen to me!

work safe

[Junctionfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by erikthered

I don't have any problem responding to calls on criminal trespass. People amaze me, however, when they get arrested for it. (It's a misdemeanor, by the way, here in Alabama.) There is a lot of spouting about their Constitutional rights (especially when they are wrong), much inquiry about my badge number, and a lot of other nonsense as I wrap them up, put them in the back of my car, and take them for a five hour stay at the County Hilton.

Haven't had anyone sign complaints yet for RR trespass- wish someone would, there are some neat locomotives I want pictures of... but I can hope.

People who do criminal things are stupid, retarded, and nearly every intelligence slam I can think of. They have to be... otherwise this pore ol Southern depty would have to out think them, and I am too old to waste the effort to catch the ENRON crooks when there are so many ordinary run of the mill dumkopfs out there for me to choose from.

I am reminded of a weekend I spent on private property (a clay quarry) where there were gates, a million "No Trespassing" signs, and it was right next door to a dirt racing track. Over 10,000 people attended the races that weekend... and 14 of them got busted in the quarry for criminal trespass on their four wheelers. One decided to try and escape by attempting to run me over with his four wheeler... and is still in jail, nine months later.

The average person does have a survival instinct and a desire to obey the law. Your average idiot criminal does not. (Sometimes he can't read, either, which makes the "No Trespassing" signs moot.) Witness the idiot who, in my county, tried to steal copper wire from a substation. He jumped a concertina'd fence, climbed a tower and used a pair of metal bolt cutters to get his copper wire. Rescue workers had to climb 20 feet to get the body down...

Keep calling the cops, Ed. The life you saved might be your own conscience.

Erik

I can't believe people are that stupid as to get wire that way. I guess being in emergency services, encountering stupidity must be constant, annoying yet remarkably fasinating.

[espeefoamer]

Back in my younger days,when I used to tresspass in railroad yards,I was always as careful as possible.Once,I was not quite careful enough,though,as I came close to being hit by an SW1500.That would instantly have ended my railfanning[:(].When asked to leave,I always complied,though,as I didn't want to cause any trouble.