Is the Amtrak platform concidered “Public Property”? And I know the platform is a Railfan favorite. Can a RR cop or a City cop tell you to leave? Or for no reason at all? Allan.
Well I peronally haven’y been harassed by city or Amtrak police about being trackside. But I can imagine that since the City cops are “intimidating” and can bring you up on charges I think, even though, they are on no grounds to tell you to leave that they can. Hay and you know what, just wait until they leave then come back. At that point since they are “city cops” and most likely don’t know crap about railroads I would tell them some story of either you work for them, or have permission. I tend not to run into such a problem because most people think I work for the railroad when I go out railfaning, which is interesting.
Allan:
That’s a good question. In fact that is what the railfans in New Jersey are trying to sort out with the issue of New Jersey Transit requiring photographers’ to have permits to photograph New Jersey Transit trains from its station platforms. I think each public transit authority could be different. For example, I understand SEPTA in the Philadelphia area forbids photography from its station platform while MBTA in the Boston area requires photographers to have permits.
A rail platform, by most definitions, is not public property. It is public access property (many are designated for passengers only) and there is, I am told, a big difference.
In other words,Railfan at your own risk! lol.
Allan.
I think that is true. I’ve never been harrased on Metra platforms in Illinois (I’ve railfanned on about 4 or 5 different ones over the years) nor have I harrased on the Omaha Amtrak station. So I’m [%-)]. I’m guessing it just has to do with the local police and the local RR police.
I figures rather that make a bunch of suppositions, I should ask the best source of information on this subject. I sent an inquiry to Amtrak through their website asking about their policy. Within 5 minutes I got a reply. Copied below.
Dear Thomas Diehl,
Thank you for contacting us.
There are no restrictions on taking photographs on Amtrak trains and stations. We advise that you make your request with one of the attendants at the station.
We hope this information will be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Vito
Amtrak Customer Service
Thanks alot. Do you mind if I print that and take it with me when i railfan at the Amtrak station?[?]
I have no problem with printing it out. I plan to print out the message and take it with me on vacation when I ride Amtrak.
Dear Tom. Thank you so very much for your help.
You have answered my Question correctly,Again…Thank you!
Allan.
Unfortunately, I saw this going the way of the thread on general railroad photography, ie. bashing police and everyone that would ask a railfan the question, “What are you doing?” I thought it best to get the info directly from the company in question.
You don’t get harassed, because in Fostoria, Ohio, railfans sit at the “Amtrak Station” and platform and nobody gets harassed—in fact, they get waved to by the police. Although, since the station has closed, they probably get more welcomed. (didn’t know how to word that)But i’m not sure with an “opened” Amtrak station.
Richard
I sometimes get people who ask me the same thing. I tell tham that I am a Railfan and that I am Railfanning. They look at my like I am crazy LOL! Allan.
Sanity is not required to be a railfan. In fact, it’s usually a hinderance.
But then, sanity is overrated.