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

[Mookie]

If you are worried about your privacy being invaded, then you will be glad to know the VA is on the job! No more worries. Now it is reality.

We park where we aren't tresspassing; the police go by us regularly - (to and from work)
and no one has hassled us except the bugs! But we did find a broken rail and reported it, and I know Joe has reported several problems on his watched railroads.

It will be what we make out of it.

Mook

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

If you are worried about your privacy being invaded, then you will be glad to know the VA is on the job! No more worries. Now it is reality.

We park where we aren't tresspassing; the police go by us regularly - (to and from work)
and no one has hassled us except the bugs! But we did find a broken rail and reported it, and I know Joe has reported several problems on his watched railroads.

It will be what we make out of it.

Mook

Good eyes Jen.

[jchnhtfd]

Mookie is absolutely on it -- this is a great program, and a real gesture of trust from BNSF (which, in spite of some of the remarks, has always had a pretty good relationship with the fans, relatively speaking). But it will be what we make of it. If we want to be taken seriously, we need to be responsible and reliable.

[DPD1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 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

I hate to be negative, but I think you can almost guarantee there will be people that try and ruin it for everybody. Lets face it, there's some real nuts in the hobby... When you've got guys that openly admit to doing things like wearing hard hats and safety vests to scam their way into yards and other stuff like that, you just know some guys are going to abuse this. We will have to be diligent in policing ourselves, and hopefully stop anyone from ruining it for all of us.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Featuring the TrainTenna Railroad Scanner Antennas -

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: I hate to be negative, but I think you can almost guarantee there will be people that try and ruin it for everybody. Lets face it, there's some real nuts in the hobby... When you've got guys that openly admit to doing things like wearing hard hats and safety vests to scam their way into yards and other stuff like that, you just know some guys are going to abuse this. We will have to be diligent in policing ourselves, and hopefully stop anyone from ruining it for all of us.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Featuring the TrainTenna Railroad Scanner Antennas -

You're right, there are some real nuts in this hobby, and I think I've run into most of them at one time or another. And a few "squirrels" looking for those nuts. [:D]

Seriously, I say let's give BNSF the benefit of the doubt here and assume they are fully aware of what the negatives might be and decided to go ahead with the program because the benefits should outweigh any negatives. After all, aren't they on the point of dealing with "the nuts?"

[Anonymous]

I see several references to "rights being violated". How is your rights being violated when it is voluntary? The problem some have had with the government is that they just do it and you have no input.

[Anonymous]

Who needs to sign up? It's pointless. Just take your Cell phone with you when you go out Railfanning. And if there is something that doesn't look right,then call the BNSF.

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

Who needs to sign up? It's pointless. Just take your Cell phone with you when you go out Railfanning. And if there is something that doesn't look right,then call the BNSF.

You gotta sign up to get a card so it'll give you a feeling of importance.

[Anonymous]

I sure hope this works out but I do have a concern that if a non-member calls in trouble they might discredit it.

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hugh Jampton

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

Who needs to sign up? It's pointless. Just take your Cell phone with you when you go out Railfanning. And if there is something that doesn't look right,then call the BNSF.

You gotta sign up to get a card so it'll give you a feeling of importance.

I'm just glad they did not designate a space to put a railfan's picture on the card. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

How long until a call goes out for the apprehension of all "undocumented" railfans?

What will the punishment be for not having your "orange card"?

Will I need a "railfan passport" to visit other railroads?

How long before we have to register our cameras as weapons of lethal insecurity? No pictures of military trains you know!

Not wanting to burst the bubble of those registered railfans, who are at this moment getting their orange cards laminated, I dont think cool hats and badges are following anytime soon.

You could try and find one of the NS Safety Ranger caps, they have a six point badge on the front, that should suffice those impressed by the idea of being a "Citizen for Rail Security".

I also wonder how long it will be before one of these "Foaming Citizens of Rail Security" injures himself while taking the law into his own hands in an effort to save America?

Let the lawsuits begin and how long will it be before railfans are cursing the BNSF for countersuing those who were trying to secure America?

As for myself, I will continue my undocumented railfanning.

I'm in it for the fun, not the glory.....................

Ford Simcox

[rrandb]

We will be ordering caps, badges, lovely collered with embriodery emblem shirts as soon as we launch the next phase. A BNSF " Citizens Patrol" rail "FAN" club. We don't need any stink'n NS caps cause we'll make our own. LOL Okay so every died in the wool foamer already has the 800 #'s logged in his cell phone for every line that he just might come accross. There may just be some newbee's who will be introduced to the joy of watching trains roll by. This program will be no better or worse than the sum total of it's participants. That will be some of us and maybe the new guy who just might learn the ropes. Its always been tough to be the rookie. It will only be what you make of it.[soapbox] Thank you and I will get down now.

[Anonymous]

Just what would this card enable me to do that I currently cannot?

This card is only good for getting your name on the BNSF data base and stroking the collective egos of the "Foaming Citizens of Rail Security."

There is a reason the term "foamers"is generally considered a derogatory term.

No doubt this program encourage many new foamers.

Ford Simcox

[chicagorails]

a tip of the hat to bnsf....next?

[chicagorails]

a tip of the hat to bnsf....next?

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KCMOWMAN

Just what would this card enable me to do that I currently cannot?

This card is only good for getting your name on the BNSF data base and stroking the collective egos of the "Foaming Citizens of Rail Security."

There is a reason the term "foamers"is generally considered a derogatory term.

No doubt this program encourage many new foamers.

Ford Simcox

I'm for " Responsible Individuals At Least Facilitating A Nacent State" You can have all the foamers you can stand. I will be with the responsible R.A.I.L.F.A.N.S. such as my 8 year old daughter who I will continue to encourage to become one too. I pray we never meet you. It might discourage her. [2c]

[Anonymous]

/quote] I'm for " Responsible Individuals At Least Facilitating A Nacent State" You can have all the foamers you can stand. I will be with the responsible R.A.I.L.F.A.N.S. such as my 8 year old daughter who I will continue to encourage to become one too. I pray we never meet you. It might discourage her. [2c]

[Anonymous]

Now boyyyyyyyyys, let's play nice, please.

[cr6479]

Does anybody know the phone# for csx in the rochester NY or on the www.csx.com websit so i can sign up????

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KCMOWMAN

/quote] I'm for " Responsible Individuals At Least Facilitating A Nacent State" You can have all the foamers you can stand. I will be with the responsible R.A.I.L.F.A.N.S. such as my 8 year old daughter who I will continue to encourage to become one too. I pray we never meet you. It might discourage her. [2c]

QUOTE:
What exactly makes me less than responsible?

What laws have I broken?

"You can have all the foamers you can stand." What the heck does that mean?

What is nacent? Get a dictionary,read it while waiting for the next train.

Your life must be very empty to waste a prayer on railfanning, save it for something important.

Simcox

Sorry for the typo. Nasent. You will now be able to find it in your dictionary. It means a new begining which is what I would call a railroad that is asking and encouraging citizens to watch trains. This has not always been the case. One does not have to break any laws to act irresponsiblty. The act of lumping all railfans under the heading "foamers" will meet the definition. While I personally have never met or have any desire to meet these " Foaming Citizens of Rail Security" it does sound like you have. And you sound a lillte bitter. Matbe not, thou I will give you the benifit of the doubt. For someone who is an "undocumented railfan" that is your perogitive. I personally would have no qualms about carring an I.D. card whether I need it or not as I have nothing to hide. The best way to encourage new or young railfans and prevent them from becoming "new foamers" is by mentoring them on the right thing to do. I'll be with the railfans. While my life is hardly empty I have choosen to use it for many important things and railfaning is one of them. Save yours for what you want. [2c]

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cr6479

Does anybody know the phone# for csx in the rochester NY or on the www.csx.com websit so i can sign up????

I trust you are kidding![}:)]

[cr6479]

PBenham. YES i was just kidding around.

[Anonymous]

If only there were some way to get all illegal immigrants interested in trains and register...

[zardoz]

Gee, three pages of ranting and raving about this.

It's simple: sign up if you want to; do not sign up if you do not want to.

[railfan619]

I think it's a good thing that atleast one railroad is doing something like that now if the other railroads will follow such as UP,CSX,CN,SOO,CP and the others to and yes I signed up the first day I just have to print out my ID thingy and I hope it will work and then the others will fall in to place after a year or two.

[Anonymous]

And ill bet you 10 to 1 that most Railfans will abuse it too. Allan.

[joegreen]

Well I think it's cool BNSF is doing this, they are now officially recognizing railfans as another set of eyes. I most likely won't sign up, I don't really feel I need this "ID" since there's phone numbers at every RR crossing nowadays.

From what I've read on various forums there's about a 50/50 split between the railfans that do want this and the railfans that don't. Those that don't think this is a way for BNSF to track them......kinda reminds me of the hippies' deal with the US government[:p]. I know there are railfans who will get this card thinking they have an all access card but will quick realize there are rules/guidlines, very inteligently written on the back of the card..................so unless you can't read or are an idiot I don't think that railfans tresspassing will be much of a problem, however I do think that many people will want to be the hero and report every somewhat suspicious thing they see which we all know will be a headache for BNSF and it's railroad police men

I personally would give this program a few months and by the end of the summer a topic should be started asking people how it all went for them.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joegreen

Well I think it's cool BNSF is doing this, they are now officially recognizing railfans as another set of eyes. I most likely won't sign up, I don't really feel I need this "ID" since there's phone numbers at every RR crossing nowadays.

I completely agree [:)]

[rrandb]

I know the police recieve false or mistaken calls everyday on there 911 system and are trained and preparred to deal with it. BNSF police are too. Its that 1 call in 100 that is important that will make this work. Ask any cop. All day long its mostly false alarms till something real occures.

[Anonymous]

Basically the bottom line is...

BNSF is offering a program that acknowledges railfans as being an asset to help protect the RR. If you want to sign up good, if you don't, that's fine too. [:D]