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

[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]

[chicagorails]

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

[chicagorails]

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

[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

[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]

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

[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]

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

[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]

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.

[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.

[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?"

[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 -

[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.

[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.

[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

[eolafan]

I just signed up on-line.

[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.

[youngengineer]

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

[rrandb]

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

[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' ??

[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.

[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]

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.

[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]

[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? [?]

[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??

[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

[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

[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.