While rail fanning today, we were setting along an access road waiting for a westbound train, a man confronted us to ask us just what we were doing.
We kindly told him that we were waiting for the train to come through. He said that was ok. He continued on to explain that a few days ago there were 2 men who were “supposedly” watching trains. He ended up going on a drive, or something only to come back and find out that a new chain saw, a 3,000 BTU heater, and other valuables had been stolen.
Now, I pray that the rail fans were truthful. But the police seemed to think otherwise because of the tire marks in the yard.
One day I imagine that we will be confined to STRICTLY all public places to rail fan. One day rail fans might be looked upon as gangs are in LA are today.
Let’s hope not.
Justin
Also: I must add that the man was not rude, or disrespectful to us in any way. I admire that. Out of respect for him we did end up leaving, as not to worry him.
Ty - I take Justin’s statement to relate to places we can currently do some fanning that are publicly accessible but are, in fact, private property - say, a grocery store parking lot next to the tracks.
Technically, we are trespassing/loitering, but unless we are somehow inhibiting the customers, the business doesn’t usually mind (especially if we patronize it, too).
If the “sub-fans” are found to be doing nefarious deeds while hanging out on the property, pretending to be railfans, then we lose, too.
There are a lot of facilities other than RR’s getting a little tin hattish about people doing photography around them. Up near Sarnia a lot of oil refineries are starting to get so that even IF you are on ‘public’ roads you are still going to be approached and questioned. I’m starting to collect a bunch of photographers permits from these places just so that I can do what at one time was a ‘normal’ act.
Gotta do extra stuff to do a normal thing, folks[|(][:-^]
Larry, that is exactly what I mean. It would be a good Idea, if I would go into the say, store, or in this case, the office of the trailer park and see if it is ok if we set there, and photograph trains.
I will take this as a lesson learned for the future.
Oh, that makes much more sense! Justin doesn’t seem like the trespassing type! [;)]
Many a time I’ve sat in private but publicly accessible parking lots to photograph trains. I’ve never once been hassled. I suppose the same thing applies to station platforms, which are privately owned by the railroad in most cases, but are accessible to anyone.