Anyone had any encounters?
Plenty. Anytime that you hang around a railroad, they will get the railraod *** out there to see who you are and everything. One time, I got in trouble because somebody had broken out a siding signal and they thought it was me because I hung around the railorad all the time. I know better than that. Dang, I want to work for the railorad. Why would I go and damage it? They are always watching.
Laters, Dru
Acquited!!
The only time I had a run in with a bull was when I was 14 or 15.I was taking some pictures of C&O Alco switchers at the Parson ave yard in Columbus Ohio when he nailed me after I finiaking my pictures.All he said was for me to get my young *** off the C&O property and stay on public lands if I wio take pictures–move along now! I have had them to drive by and look me over but yet to stop and see what I am into.
I been railfanning 7 times so far this year and haven’t even see one-not that I want to you understand.
I have been among many who like to watch the BNSF at the Eola yard area and over the years had become friendly with Larry Petrovich (sp?) who was Captain of the BNSF Police unit in Naperville. He drove a Ford Explorer all decked out like a city police unit, radar, everything. He frequently would stop and chat with us on weekends, sometimes for a long time. He would also sometimes give us BNSF calendars and other “giveaways” from BNSF, A REAL GENTLEMAN. He retired about a year ago and moved to Texas or Arkansas (not certain which). Since then we have not seen a BNSF police officer in a marked vehicle once, but I am sure they are around but never bother us as we have been coming there for over twenty years. Bottom line, be a friend to the railroad, make yourselves known to local railroad employees (including police) and they will usually leave you alone and sometimes become your friends, as they know you will likely help them by reporting troubling things like vandals, dragging equipment, etc.
Hey James Aurora IL,
Down here in KY I had a NS police officer stop by our shop because we have a lot of people trying to beat the trains at the crossing that is beside us. I went out and talked to him a little and told him that it was a problem(about 6 out of 10 will try to race them). I talked to him about my taking pictures of trains and he said no problem as long as I stayed off the property. He even let me take a photo of his cruiser that particular day. Got to agree with you. It all matters to a little respect whether you are a police officer or just some Joe on the street. The only problem we have is watching these idiots try to beat a train so they don’t lose that 2 minutes.
Brian KY
We were in the yard building at whats left of Conrail & saw a N.S cop confronting a railfan taking pictures from under a overpass in our yard.He had made the guy stand under a no tresspassing sign & was taking his picture!To his credit he’s a young & gun / hoe type of guy,but that was alittle much…this happened in Michigan…