RAILFANS NOT ALLOWED

[DougNash]

I think the recent TRAINS article about railfans is rubbish. This country has gotten totally paranoid about the littlest thing. Instead of worrrying why the fan is out takinbg pictures of locos or passenger cars, start worrying why and how 19 scumbags got in and out of this country multiple times undetected and then took advantage of how benevolent we are of "equal opportunity for all" and duped our own educational processes to study in flight school. Wake up...the streets aren't paved with gold anymore. They're so stupid anyway, they could have gone to STAPLES and bout MicroSoft Flight Simulator 2000 and saved a lot of time and effort.
True, a fan should ALWAYS make himself known on company property, and with the exception of 3 situations (the TRRA, BRC and JZ (Yugoslavia)) I was ALWAYS afforded an extra above board courtesy when I had visited the yard office and identified myself as an employee of another railroad, no matter WHICH country in the world I have been in.
And least we forget, only 14 years ago, it WAS totally dangerous to be a railfan in Eastern Euroopean countries under Communist rule. A little tactfulness, souveniers and employee interst would gain access to some places, but with thew caution it WAS forbidden to photograph certain railroad things (Bridges, tunnels, interlockings) but others were greatfully appreciated. As a few past TRAINS articles of Ron Zeil's adventures in steam-laden Russia mentioned, snapping flash bulbs in the faces of the Police or Milicia were NOT the way to go. We should use a little sense here, and prove to the right/wrong "tunnel mentality" cop world that being a railfan, while it does not fit their "security guidelines" ergo it MUST be wrong is a totally respectable pastime that can and should not be regulated by ANY government.

I've found the perfect use for Duct Tape...across Tom Ridge's mouth so he can't issue any more stupid dictums that have the potential to affect us in our hobbies.

[cabforward]

if terrorists could be identified when they enter the country, they could be ordered to buy amtrak tickets only.. then they would get fed up waiting for the train that never came, go home and forget about it.. they might do better to send junk mail to everyone saying they won $10 million, and they can pick it up at (fill-in a name you prefer here)'s office.. ha-ha!

[eolafan]

Although I am one who generally tries to show a high degree of partiotism and work with law enforcement all of the time, I must say I agree with much of what you say. Example: Last evening my wife and I watched COPS on Fox TV and they had a segment showing a "sting" operation targeting prostitution "Johns" in South Carolina and the first sap they "caught"in their sting opertion did not get out of his car in the first five seconds (he no doubt was taken by surprise by about ten cops and three or four camera people from COPS with all of the lights) they pulled him out forcibly and wretled him to the ground, tearing his shirt and skinning his arms and face so blood was flowing! This was, I am convinced, done all for the benefit of the cameras. Hurrah to the S.C. sherrifs deputies who really got the bad guy off of the streets, while some REALLY bad guys selling drugs, etc. are still off doing their thing. Let's not forget what is really important for Americans to do, including supporting our troops who are now starting to bleed and dye in Iraqu, and also those things that are not important, like worrying about railfans innocently taking pictures as they have been for fifty or more years! This paranoia is nothing more than CYA on a grand scale. Now I will climb down off of my soap box and go watch trains (and perhaps take pictures of a few...oh, did I just admit to that?).

[DougNash]

Dear James (Aurora): Thank you for your reply...it's true this country is getting fanatically nuts over just about everything. Don't get me started about prostitution....having been to Europe many times, this country is obcessively hung up about the sex-for-sale trade. It flourishes in many countries legally because it is a "life basic". This country we arrest and publicly humiliate people for the same thing. Your tv show probably was for the benefit of the camera.
Good picture hunting in the "Land of the Burlingtons".

[Anonymous]

hey james i am a sinor in high school and i am on spring breack up here in minnesota and right know i just got my camera and video camera ready for a morning of train whatching at my frends house so far at 9 in the morning we had 7 BNSF trains go thrugh so it sounds like a fun day ahead but i aint railfaning. ha ha ha!!!!!!!! farmall kid