I like BNSF’s idea of registering railfans. Not only does that engender goodwill it will eventually pay off in spades if they take it to the next level.
Many of us work in other transportation fields and/or are well versed in engineering, mathematics, and the sciences. Maybe the next step would have us become more than just the “eyes and ears” to report suspicious activity. We could be enlisted to solve problems too…like that coal dust problem on the joint line in Wyoming. By registering railfans (and thereby getting some basic information about them) BNSF could easily put that question out to about 600+ professional engineers…and pay whoever comes up with the best solution a bonus of some kind.
Registering fans does indeed sound like a smart idea. Do you know whom to e-mail at BNSF for me to register myself? I’m a big fan and visit Rochelle often. - a. s.
Or even a national railfan registry along with a website. Have this all arranged by the railroads and NOT the government. Sometime in the last 20 or so years I was watching a train go by at a crossing. I hear the thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk noise and along comes a car with a broken flange. I didn’t have the RR phone number. I think I called the police and they were no help. I think I do have UPs number in my organizer. Reminds me I should put it in my cell phone. UP has one line just to the south of town.
It’s good PR and also tells us the RRs know we’re watching them. If we’re going to be trackside watching the goings on we might as well show some good faith back by helping out if we can. I’m registered. I wish there were other orgs/RRs that did this.
…I don’t know…If people in the business couldn’t find a solution, how could opening up the question to the audience produce anything better? Let me know when they start asking for solutions from lumber salesmen.[:)]
You might be surprised…some years ago I worked for a large truckload carrier. Like most businesses we had some thorny problems to deal with, and our owners (a large multi billion dollar conglomerate) had a penchant for bringing in smart people who had no background at all in trucking. Since they were SMART and unencumbered with the “prevailing wisdom” of it’s always been done this way they were able to think out of the box and to come up with some really innovative solutions. Quite often the folks who are involved with it on a daily basis are too close to it…an outsider with a fresh perspective may see a solution that an insider can’t…
You know in 1900 a couple of HS dropouts from Ohio named Orville and Wilbur Wright had a crazy idea…that man could actually FLY in heavier than air powered aircraft. The experts said it couldn’t be done. Well…we know how that turned out.
BTW…I MAY have a solution to the BNSF coal dust problem…but they’ll have to ask me…
Speaking of which, I’m going to have to go un-bury the book thread again fairly soon. I’ve got a really fun book I’m hoping to finish off this week. I think I’ll have a blast writing a review up for it! Stay tuned…
NS and CSX have a solution and so does BNSF. Its called let the shippers pay for it!! Thats what they want. they have a solution but god forbid that we pay for it.
Not just the Joint Coal line thaqt gets dust. All the way across wherever these trains run coal dust blows off so why no major problems elsewhere? I have been on loads where you hit a crossover ,switch,or low spot and the dust is so thick you cant see past the 5th car!
I like the registered railfan program.Like someone here posted,he saw a problem and called it in. Keeps me safe so I am all for it.
You will get a link or an email (I forget which I got!) to a document you can print out and keep saying that you’re a registered participant in this program.
I think a National Rail Enthusiast Association would be cool to start. Couldn’t use National Railfan Association…might get some folks confused!
If you replaced “National” with “American” in the above example, it would acronym out to “Area.” If you made it “North American Rail Enthuasist Association,” you could pronounce it "Nary A,’ as in “Nary a railfan dislikes common-sense security precautions.” Just a thought.[8D]
Does anyone else find this a bit…I don’t know, “intrusive” maybe?? Back in BN days, I used to take pictures from the sidewalk on a public road bridge going over Northtown yard. If I went back there now, I don’t think anyone working for BNSF has any right to stop and question me as to what I’m doing, and second, if they do, why should I have to show them some printout showing I’m a “registered railfan”. It’s almost like saying I need to get a permit to do something that’s already 100% legal. The website looks like they’re being paranoid, trying to tie everything in with 9-11 and Homeland Security.
No. It’s 100 percent voluntary. You seem to be quite uninformed about this program, yet are drawing erroneous conclusions.
Where does it say you have to (if and when questioned) produce a printout showing you are a registered railfan? If anyone is acting paranoid about this, it ain’t BNSF.
Please, let’s not start any more nescient discussions about photographers’ rights!
Try THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS, by David McCullogh of TRUMAN fame. Deals with the Panama Canal from both French and American perspectives; also deals (briefly) with the railroad magnates of the early 1900s, who of course had their own ideas about how to use – or not use – the new canal.
