I happened to see a thread like this on a different newsgroup so I thought I might start it here.
What is the craziest thing that you have done while railfanning.
I guess mine would have to be driving my parents station wagon with 5 other people in the car at 60mph + down a gravel road in Iowa while pacing the Union Pacific E-units. [}:)]
Luckily for us the road was pretty smooth and also that we had talked with a local resident earlier who told us that the road had a sharp right curve in it that led to a grade crossing. Otherwise I might railfanning from the big station wagon in the sky. [xx(]
I guess so far its been going a mile back in mosquito infested muddy, marshy, poisin Ivy infested woods to get a few photos of some abandoned former B&O RDCs in the yard, but it was well worth the need for a bottle of calimine lotion and anti-itch cream!
Well its when a train is coming at a crossing and I tell my wife here you drive.then we switch spots.She says someday she’ll leave me there:0).
stay safe
Joe
Whein My Dad and me were in Essex, Montana we went to look at the helper Locomotives across the Main Line then a Freight Train came at the worst possible moment so we had to walk about a 1 mile to get back also we almost walked on the Railroad property to see one of the snowsheids.
Now that was Dumb
Trying to take pictures of Amtrak and METRA commuter trains arriving and leaving Chicago Union Station while standing on the overpass (Roosevelt Road). In my enthusiasm, I was dumb enough to park curbside, thinking I’d get a few pics and leave. I left alright–after a cop pulled up behind me and questioned my reasons for being there. Some Chicago cops have no sense of enthusiasm! He was ready to cite me for being illegally parked, and didn’t see the legitimacy of my wanting to take a few snapshots. Guess I’ll need to find another locale. I didn’t think it was crazy, but the officer clearly did.[:(]
Chasing the 611 many times. My dad would drive as fast as the car would handle… and sometimes more. We darted crossing to crossing catching it with about 15 seconds to spare. We had just enough time to get the camera at the right angle.
I think it was in 1973 when the CN 6060 hauled a Michigan Railroad Club excursion that made a triangle from London to Stratford to Paris Jct. and back to London. I motorcaded on a 10-speed bicycle and took three pictures, one on each leg of the triangle.