Citizens for Rail Security (CRS)

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Hello All,

I got a security alert from BNSF loss prevention today as I am registered with them as a railfan,was wondering if any of you guys on here that are registered got the same email…

Thanks in advance,

2

I sent in a registration a couple of years ago but never got a reply from them. I did get the email, though…

3

Yeah I got the e-mail too. I registered quite some time ago and I actually used my little card and ID number to report a malfunctioning gate in Isanti, MN once.

4

I also recieved it today. I found the warning for railfans interesting.

5

The only reply I recieved was the “internet” supplied membership print page.

6

Ok, I just wanted to know if it was legit or not,I was going to pass it to some other folks I know if it was…

Thanks again for the quick responses…

7

what is the warning

8

Recently several CRS members have been contacted by police while trespassing on railroad property. CRS membership does not authorize anyone to trespass on railroad property. CRS members who trespass on railroad property are subject to arrest for trespassing. CRS members who trespass on railroad property create a poor image of CRS to the law enforcement community. Please help us maintain this valuable program by following CRS guidelines and by observing trains from public locations.

9

Yes, I also received the e-mail from BNSF. I may be among those railfans who “tresspassed” while in East Dubuque, IL about a month back. I was told by the BNSF officer I was about five feet inside their property even though my car was entirely on the asphalt of a public parking lot, but nothing came of it and he went on his way after I showed him my CRS identification card (and no other form of ID) and we talked for about two minutes.

10

I have both CSXs and NS 800 numbers in my phone just in case we see something.

stay safe

joe

11

As a foreigner (to the north) just what all this security for railroads for? Are there gangs of (other foreigners) out there blowing up the United States? I haven’t heard of many industries, other than airlines that have gone on alert like many Eastern European countries and their multi-armed border guards. At what point does the U.S. qualify an industry to be on alert? Yo-Yo factories? Belt makers? Pen Factories? surely there must be a list as to who must take effort to thwart breaches in security. If I am to visit the U.S. I must have a valid passport and a visa, both costing a pile of money, And remember, if U.S. citzens slink across the Canadaland border, you can’t get back without a passport.

12

Really dumb questions and comments…just do us a big favor and stay north of border and we will get along just fine.

13

I think I said my piece on Canadians in another thread. The reason they have problems making it through U.S. Customs is illustrated quite vividly in that post.

14

The alert was to remind us that going into yards was tresspassing whether we had a BNSF CRS card or not and was subject to being ticketed…( someone had been caught that had a CRS card) I DO NOT take photos in the yds,I dont like those kind of photos,so I stay out in the country where the scenery is better and your not hassled…But I do look out for hazards that the crews may not be aware of on their trains and report them if need be…

15

I was over in East Dubuque as well back in late June for a little while but never did see any BNSF police around either East Cabin or up by the East Portal area of CN’s tunnel.

16

I got it too - even though I’m in eastern Pennsylvania, a looonnnggg ways from any BNSF tracks or trains.

I seem to recall that there was a mention of in the future, possibly limiting/ targeting the recipients of these alerts to a certain geographic area. That makes sense - there’s not much percentage in letting me and tree68 know about a potential problem in East Dubuque - but eolafan would be a worthwhile contact.

Interestingly, this was the first time I’ve ever received such a missive, despite having been signed up in CRS for a couple years now.

  • Paul North.

EDIT - For what it’s worth, here’s the entire message as I received it, since nothing indicates that it is in any way confidential, ‘privileged’, intended for limited or restricted distribution only, etc. - PDN.

from

“Zillinger, Monte D” <Monte.Zillinger@bnsf.com>

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Aug 7 (3 days ago)