Cinncie is a fine city for trainwatching BUT I think any article that advises driving around taking pictures really has to go into at least some detail about the safety or relative lack of safety in a given neighborhood. The locals know this but this series is obviously not aimed at locals. My own railfanning in Cinncie found me rather suddenly in some rather unsavory aras. Ditto for Kansas City and Phoenix. Phoenix natives were horrified when I told them where I had been out with camera etc.
A recent convention in St Louis even had to warn attendees not to wear certain color clothing for a tour because each color has its own gang affiliation.
Now that is an excellent point!
I think one would hate to get killed while taking photos of trains. Perhaps dress-up like an official of the railroad (not to impersonate one!) but blend in, so that the local gangs would think twice about shooting you, or pay you no attention.
Hmmmmmm…
-Wolv33
CEO Midwestern Double-line Railroad
Excellent Point! I am a native of Cincinnati, but not having visited it in a number of years I would not know what neighborhoods are safe to either watch or photograph trains. However it is often difficult for any magazine to directly say “keep out of certain neighborhoods because they are crime ridden.” The best advice I have heard about railfanning in urban settings is to look at the neighborhood, and if looks run down or trashy it may be crime ridden so go somewhere else. But wherever you go you have to be careful, and use common sense; SLR’s or camcorders are inviting targets for thieves so be careful about displaying them.
This is a really tough call.
I live in the City of Pittsburgh’s East End within walking distance of CSX and Norfolk Southern lines. While I have never experienced any problems while watching and photographing trains in the City, others, particularly those who base their perceptions of the City by what they see on local TV news, would advise visitors to stay away from areas that they perceive to be “bad”.
One such area is Pittsburgh’s North Side. The North Side has a bad reputation among many who do not live in the City, but I have found that West Park in this neighborhood is an excellent place for railfanning. Apparently others feel the same way as evidenced by several photos in train magazines.
So if Trains Magazine ever does a Pittsburgh article, (and I hope that such an article is produced) to whom will the staff speak to dertmine areas are safe?
Yes, there are places in Pittsburgh and surrounding that I would not take a camera nor linger to watch trains. Having street smarts helps. However, how one responds to this issue depends upon how he or she feels about urban communities and the people who live in them.
PS: I was in St Louis in 1997 and rode the entire Light Rail Transit line and got off at every station to take photographs, including East St. Louis. At no location did I ever feel unsafe.