This week’s (May 10, 2004) Time Magazine includes a story called “Hobbyist or Terrorist?” which talks about railfans and the scrunity since 9/11. Within that story, Trains associate publisher Kevin Keefe is quoted. It’s pretty well done, in my opinion. The reporter spent a day with a railfan in the Philadelphia area plus got quotes from other sources.
It’s only one page (which even the reporter was disappointed in) but it’s interesting none the less.
On another forum the lady who wrote the article said something a monthy ago about it. I just read it on the BLE site and I think its pretty good. I was suprised that that guy had problems with Septa. I don’t have any problems with them (then again I haven’t been railfanning on Septa since 3/11).
Trains did a story on this a while back, I think in 2002 if I’m not mistaken. It was a good article and was well done. It’s kind of weird to hear time magazine is doing the same thing.
Read the article, but it left me kinda out there, it really didnt seem to draw any conclusion, other than railfaning is almost an exclusively male hobby, it isnt very well understood by those outside the hobby, and most railroaders are closet fans…the author never really answered the titles question, is it a Hobbist(railfan), or a Terrorist?.
Did like the reference to Trains mag, and Kevin Keefe’s being quoted.
Lends a little prestige to the authors sources.[:D]
Note that in many places outside North America, conventional railfanning as an individual is practially an illegal act. Not far from where I now live, I was photographing an old EMD switcher switching cars when both the stationmaster and a railroad policeman shoes up and wanted to confiscate my camera. Luckely I had both fan and professional railroad identification, and I told them I was writing an article for a Sound Magazine on Audio-Visual for public transit and they let me and my camera alone, but I have not done any “obvious” railfan photography since. The article did appear in Sound and Communications Magazine, “A-V for Public Transit”, with some of my photographs, and if I do anymore railroad photography I will carry a photocopy with me! Dave Klepper daveklepper@yahoo.com
While the article was a little light, it was interesting. I am not a foamer, but I do like to spend time near the tracks. I hate the railroad’s “new attitude” and think it’s ridiculous. In the last few months I have been approached a couple of times, and even asked to leave once. Nothing major, but still stupid.
On Tuesday I went to my favorite hot spot, a place that has basicly become off limits due to railroad police patrol. I was actually able to spend a couple of hours there, but of course I wasn’t alone. There were at least 10 railroad workers there. Of course they weren’t there to chase railfans away, they were building a switch.
I actually had a chance to talk to a couple of them. The one that I spent the most time talking to was very friendly. He even admitted that he thought the “security policy” was rather excessive.
I wi***here was some kind of screening and credentialing process for railfans. I think the railroads know that we aren’t the “bad guys”, but anyone found near the rails these days, is now suspect. Sad times indeed.
Seems that NJ Transit is taking this pretty seriously too, apparently this article says you have to apply and obtain a permit before you can take pictures of NJ Transit trains and property.
Here’s the quote off the BLE site from this morning.
[quote]
QUOTE:
Shutterbugs beware
(The following story by Tom Hester Jr. appeared on the Trenton Times website on May 20.)
TRENTON, N.J. – Impromptu photography is a lifeblood for railroad enthusiasts and for those who work in the transportation industry, but NJ Transit is trying to put a stop to it, claiming that for security reasons it has the right to control whether people take photos of its property.
The mass transit agency’s policy has raised civil liberty concerns among rail enthusiasts and an expert in photography rights.
“There’s no legal authority for anyone, including government, to prohibit photography of just about anything in public view,” said Bert P. Krages, an attorney from Portland, Ore., who specializes in photographer’s rights.
Although the agency hasn’t publicized it, a policy was implemented at least as far back as 2000 that requires permits for people taking photos of agency property, according to NJ Transit spokeswoman Janet Hines.
The free permits can be obtained from the agency’s real estate division, and it usually takes a day to obtain one after an application, which can be faxed or e-mailed, is completed, Hines said.
The agency, she said, fears people taking photographs of trains, railroad structures and other equipment may not always be train buffs, especially after the March 11 train bombings in Spain and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, although the policy was put into effect before both events.
“Things have obviously changed very much in the way we secure our system,” Hines said. “This is one of those things where our goal is to make sure our passengers are safe, our employees are safe and to protect our infrastructure.”
Hines didn’t know if NJ Transit p
The article seemed to have a subtle subtext that inferred that rail fans that practice this level of activity are at worst, obsessive-compulsives and at best are nothing more than amusing but harmless eccentrics. Neither characterization is fair nor does it capture the one important question that lies behind this kind of activity: Why? I think this article had more of a opportunity to explain the rational reasoning why some of us do what we do than it took advantage of.
Seems that NJ Transit is taking this pretty seriously too, apparently this article says you have to apply and obtain a permit before you can take pictures of NJ Transit trains and property.
Here’s the quote off the BLE site from this morning.
[quote]
QUOTE:
Shutterbugs beware
(The following story by Tom Hester Jr. appeared on the Trenton Times website on May 20.)
TRENTON, N.J. – Impromptu photography is a lifeblood for railroad enthusiasts and for those who work in the transportation industry, but NJ Transit is trying to put a stop to it, claiming that for security reasons it has the right to control whether people take photos of its property.
The mass transit agency’s policy has raised civil liberty concerns among rail enthusiasts and an expert in photography rights.
“There’s no legal authority for anyone, including government, to prohibit photography of just about anything in public view,” said Bert P. Krages, an attorney from Portland, Ore., who specializes in photographer’s rights.
Although the agency hasn’t publicized it, a policy was implemented at least as far back as 2000 that requires permits for people taking photos of agency property, according to NJ Transit spokeswoman Janet Hines.
The free permits can be obtained from the agency’s real estate division, and it usually takes a day to obtain one after an application, which can be faxed or e-mailed, is completed, Hines said.
The agency, she said, fears people taking photographs of trains, railroad structures and other equipment may not always be train buffs, especially after the March 11 train bombings in Spain and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, although the policy was put into effect before both events.
“Things have obviously changed very much in the way we secure our system,” Hines said. "This is one of those things where our goal is to make sure our passengers are safe, our employees are safe and to protect
CRAP! There go’s my planned NJT railfan trip[:(!] Another railroad go’s to the top of my least favorite least. They are letting the terrorist’s win by taking away freedoms.
Jay,
I agree with you inasmuch as the general media stereotypes nearly everything it consumes through some bizarre reductionist formula. By inference it assumes we are morons who will be incapable digesting complexities.
I don’t appreciate this trend throughout our society in the corporate info-tainment pablum we are spoon fed nor in the polarized views of what passes for statesmenship these days. I have been fascinated by all things mechcanical from an early age, especially trains. I resent being labeled as an eccentric when as you so aptly pointed out, the same does not apply to car buffs or for that matter ( pardon the stereotyping) sports fans. I have seen many a collectables show on television where some spent a lifetime collecting cookie jars or matchbook covers. Are these folks identifiable as foamers?
My family and freinds neither understand nor do they question my interests and at times, I don’t understand their fascinations but I don’t insult them or portray them as mentally imbalanced because I don’t “get it.” This seems to be a growing trend to label and sterotype everything. How about Liberals and Conservatives? I wish I had a dime for everytime I hear those two idiotic labels.
I think it is funny I that I was able to go to Andrews AFB Saturday (the home of Air Force One), walk all over, take pictures of all the airplanes, including shots of the F-22 and F-35 JSF, the F-111, B-1, and C-17, walk inside most of the transports and larger aircraft, see demonstrations of their capabilities and explained in detail by their operators and manufacturers, demonstrations of airborne assaults and rescue actions, but would not be able to take a picture of NJ Transit train. I doubt a terrorist would be in an area long enough to be noticed.
People always fear what they don’t understand. That ceramic thimble foamer hasn’t a clue as to why we’d want to watch trains, so we are to be feared. I work with enough security specialists to know that they can be pretty paranoid. In times like this, people actually listen to their blathering. Groups such as us are our own worst enemies in one way - we keep a low profile, partly from years of doing a little surreptious tresspassing to get a little better shot, partly because people don’t understand why we do what we do, so we don’t even bother to try explaining. People don’t know we exist, so when we come to the fore - watch out!
When I visited the Durand, MI depot last fall there were several folks quietly watching the action, talking, and listening to their scanners; I had camera in hand. Hardly a threat, unless a fear-monger gets ahold if it. Then we are spies, and worse.
I’d love some sort of ID, especially if it had an official flavor to it. Then, if you were sitting in an appropriate area, watching the action, and were challenged, you could show the ID and say “It’s OK officer…” Of course, I’m sure that getting the ID would involve somehow acknowleging that you shouldn’t trespass, etc, etc; so getting caught doing so would be that much worse.
That’s what it talks about in the above article about NJ Transit.
Before you take pictures they want you to fill out an application and send it in to NJT and then they will send a copy of your “license” (free by the way) to you.
Who knows what kind of info they want from you in order to issue a license…
I’ve had a chance to view the work of John Almeida (the man profiled in the article); he has a fabulous collection of Philadelphia-area video as well as being a moderator of the Lansdale-area railfan forum on Yahoo. He is EXTREMELY knowledgeable and has much to contribute to any discussion of railroading. I was also a little put off by the portrayal of him specifically and railfans in general, but it’s inevitable in this day and age. Sadly, you have to think ahead when you railfan…make sure you have all kinds of ID, a reason for being where you are and above all NO ATTITUDE. It’s not a very pleasant way to enjoy a hobby in a country where we take our freedoms for granted, but that’s how it is. I recently moved from NJ to Portland, OR and the atttitudes are like night and day. In NJ you can get arrested, get your film confiscated, or rudely be shooed away from your perch, even if it is on public (NOT RAILROAD) property. Here, I’ve only been asked once what I’ve been doing (in Union Station) and have had no problem hanging out anywhere I wanted to see a train or two. I’ve also been able to meet my wife for lunch almost daily, where we go to the airport and watch the planes land, which indicates the overall attitude towards curious onlookers, at least here.
I will certainly not report anyone unless they are tresspassing or stealing…and the special agent knows that too, he also knows most of the local railfans by first name.