BNSF Seeks Railfan's Help -- Have You Joined ?

[Anonymous]

What group of people, other than employees, are out watching trains on a regular basis? Railfans! What group of people would make a great source of additional "eyes" for a railroad? Railfans!

It looks like someone is finally wising up to the fact that railfans can be an asset.

http://www.bnsf.com/media/news/articles/2006/06/2006-06-07a.html

[DrummingTrainfan]

[tup] Finally they realize what we've known all along!

[Anonymous]

I wonder how the BNSF police feel about this?

[Poppa_Zit]

This mirrors a discussion I had about four months ago with BNSF's chief investigator in the Chicago area. At that time, he gave me a sticker for my truck that lists the BNSF's "report trouble and problems" toll-free call-in number, so I could have it handy.

It's a noble start, and long overdue. It's refreshing that finally -- FINALLY -- a Class I recognizes railfans do have some value and some of us can play an important role while we're out doing what we do. I view this announcement as the extension of an olive branch, and those of us who can act responsibly should act in kind.

Fife-like geeks who would walk around flashing the ID card to impress chicks or make citizen's arrests need not apply.

Now the rest of the railroads should get together and do this on a national basis -- issuing a "national card" instead of road-by-road.

[Anonymous]

I signed up Matt...? Do U know if this would be Affective in
Chili

[Mookie]

I am so on it!

[chad thomas]

[rrandb]

WOW are you telling me there are chicks that would be impressed with the ID card. Ah,,, Ah,, you don't have any phone #'s do you.... LOL

[videomaker]

This was announced a month or so ago,I thot it was put in effect at the time a friend told me about it..Im in...

[chad thomas]

867-5309

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

857-6309

no, no - it was 867-5309!

[chad thomas]

OOps, Sorry, it's been a while seince I called it.

[rrandb]

Which if my memory serves me correctly was the real phone # of one of the band members ex-girlfriends. Her father refused to change his number in spite of the huge amount of phone calls they got , OT.

[PBenham]

I was one of those dopey[%-)][D)] kids that called the magic number. I got an older fellow that spoke only polish! [:o)][D)][(-D] Seriously. I think the Bills will win the Super Bowl, the Sabres the Stanley Cup (Carolina in five) and the Red Sox will pull a 2004 before CSX wises up!![B)][*^_^*][X-)][D)][D)] as for NS-No[censored]. But, I think CN may try that!

[gradyo54]

Most railroads would welcome rail fans reporting problems on the road, in my area mid-central Illinois NS, UP, and CSX as well CN have their emergency phone numbers on grade crossing equipment. If you see any thing out of the ordinary call the numbers, But remember YOU are not the Police, Report, Identify, and if you have to Testify. Home land security means all of us looking out for the bad guys!!!!

[Lord Atmo]

good 'ol BNSF. maybe UP should get in on this. i go to one of their yards in Altoona, WI almost every day. as for CSXT, it would do them some good. what with all these reports and images on www.csx-sucks.com, maybe our help will put an end to all that stuff. but my hope is UP will start doing this.

[Anonymous]

Great. That's just great. Now every itchy trigger finger power hungry railfan will call the Railroad for just about everything. I mean it's bad enough stupid Railfans will the extra mile just stand in the middle or the side of a Railroad Track just get that roster shot. Like they do now. I think not. I won't sign up.

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

I think its a good idea. As long as it isn't over used with railfans calling in other railfans. Also it makes it pretty clear that this "DOES NOT ALLOW TRESPASSING". So stay off the tracks and property, or even "the card" won't protect you.

Keith Schmidt

[Soo 6604]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrandb

WOW are you telling me there are chicks that would be impressed with the ID card. Ah,,, Ah,, you don't have any phone #'s do you.... LOL

Who would have time for chicks when you would be holding an ID card. There is crime to stop. Time to put on the cape, grab a can of mace, new batteries for the scanner, charge the cell-phone, full tank of gas and off we go.

Sad to say, there will be some idiots that will take this to the next step. There will be abuses of this "about time they recongize us" program. Some might even try and be above the RR-law enforcers. Then again, who knows.

Just be responsible and smart, I guess....lol

[Soo 6604]

One thing about the CN and the numbers posted on the crossings, when you call that number, they have a trace of the number and if you call in a problem with a train, lets say a "louder-than-usual flat spot" on Train 342 (which is the hottest train on the Wisconsin Division), and you call it in and there isn't anything wrong when the train crew and possibly other maintenance people check it out. You can be held responsible for delaying the train and possibly a fine (for delaying a train) and possibly any monetary for the delay which results in late deliveries, calling in a new crew if the ones on it goes dead on law.

That is what I was told by a friend that is associated with the CN. (Not employed with them) Can anybody from the CN or the other RR verify this??

[rrandb]

Hopefully there will be an ID# with your ID badge so when you become a problem they can revoke your ID privaleges and then it's goodbye" GIRLS ". Where do I get one? [?]

[railfanespee4449]

I'm in if they let a teen join
PS Headed to Operation Lifesaver training the 19th!!!!!!!!!![:D][:D][:D][:D][8D][:)][yeah][wow]

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'll play the devils advocate.... but given the business relationship I've had w/ BNSF for the last several years, I don't exactly have unconditional trust for them.

Let say that BNSF wanted to get the names, addresses and phone numbers of people (we'll call them railfans) who tend to hang out around RR facilities, as possible suspects the next time something went wrong. How could they do that? Hmmm, maybe they could trump up a program that would get the fans excited enough to voluntarily "register" with the RR as a person who hangs out around the RR. Gee, and they didn't even have to violate anybody's civil rights to collect the information. Wow, seems like genius to me.

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dblstack

Ok, I'll play the devils advocate.... but given the business relationship I've had w/ BNSF for the last several years, I don't exactly have unconditional trust for them.

Let say that BNSF wanted to get the names, addresses and phone numbers of people (we'll call them railfans) who tend to hang out around RR facilities, as possible suspects the next time something went wrong. How could they do that? Hmmm, maybe they could trump up a program that would get the fans excited enough to voluntarily "register" with the RR as a person who hangs out around the RR. Gee, and they didn't even have to violate anybody's civil rights to collect the information. Wow, seems like genius to me.

Well, yeah, but to play the Devil's Advocate back atcha -- you could probably give them a phony name and address for this effort -- but couldn't they for years have done a more thorough job of rounding up such information simply by having someone record all of our license plate numbers?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit

Well, yeah, but to play the Devil's Advocate back atcha -- you could probably give them a phony name and address for this effort -- but couldn't they for years have done a more thorough job of rounding up such information simply by having someone record all of our license plate numbers?

........ which is exactly why I keep a set of stolen license plates in my truck and why I replace the regular plates with the stolen plates every time I go railfanning. <smirk>

But seriously - you make a good point - though, who knows, maybe they have been doing that.

[sschaer]

note license plates ? this is history....

do you have a cell phone ? ok, so the phone company knows exactly where you are. they analyse your way resulting in a behaviour pattern which allows to assume your intentions.

do you have a car with that satellite based emergency transmitter ? good, so they also know exactly where you are. analysis of your rout as above.


did someone say 'big brother is watching you' ??

[rrandb]

"Big Brother Loves You" Just because you're parenoid doesn't mean he's not watching you. Don't forget Santa Claus. [2c]

[youngengineer]

i think its a way for BNSF to track employees who are railfans and than go after them, just another paranoid thought.

[SSW9389]

This all sounds very similar to what Santa Fe was doing in the early '80s. It was called the "Railfan Patrol". A special agent came out from Winslow to talk with a bunch of us railfans around Flagstaff. He got our names, addresses, phone numbers, lecense, etc and told us how we could help the railroad be its extra set of eyes. The railroad was experiencing trouble with some of its wire being taken in remote areas. We were not to do anything other than observe and report. The Special Agent who talked with us was named Dominic. I can't remember his last name, but he had worked in the Chicago area and had some stories to tell.

[eolafan]

I just signed up on-line.