I’ve just had an issue with photographing trains in Washington DC Union Station and would like some guidance - I don’t want to upset the law here!
My wife and I are currently touring the US, enjoying the many delights your wonderful country offers and I (a hopeless rail fan!), in particular, have been trying to absorb as much as possible of the rich and varied ‘Railway Scene’ that is on offer. I grew up in London but moved to Australia 40 years ago, so I’m starting from a very low knowledge base as far as US railroads are concerned. Anyway, this morning I took a MARC train from Washington, DC, to Baltimore (to visit the B&O Museum - what a great show! Thanks, guys!) and there, in the sidings just outside Union Station, was a fully restored and apparently operational PRR GG1 electric locomotive (Even I know about them!). I tried to take a picture through the carriage window but the angle of the sun and the dirt on the outside of the window defeated me. As I couldn’t get a shot from the train, I thought I’d walk to the end of the platform we had just arrived on but the view was blocked. I then asked Amtrak police if I could go to the end of another platform (definitely no further!) and take a photo of the historic loco. The lady police officer was very polite but quite firm and said that it was not possible to do that as it was a ‘safety and security’ issue.
Can someone please explain what’s happening here? I’ve been photographing trains for at least 50 years and know very well what you can and can’t do on a station platform from a safety perspective and, barring a few issues nipping into engine sheds when I was a kid (!), I’ve never had any problems. What’s the security issue here? (I presume it’s post 9/11) Is it affecting all US rail fans? (Or have I been misinformed and should I have pushed the issue further?) Do I have to be extra careful when photographing trai
The US is paranoid in this post 9/11 period… I’ve heard many stories about police telling railfans that taking photos of trains is a “terrorist act”… [banghead]
Now I’m afraid to do anything that might land any cops on me, I find myself worrying about being yelled at or arrested when taking photos or videos of trains, it’s gone so far that my greatest enjoyment of railfanning is watching the videos of them when I get home, plus of course the rush when the train is close (obviously a safe distance though, close as in 20 feet or so) and it’s impossible for me to focus on anything but the train in front of me.
I always try my best to look like a railfan, which hopefully will give people an idea of why I’m there without having to ask (or worse, calling the police) so for example I wear a shirt with a train logo, and I have the latest issue of TRAINS rolled up in my back pocket.
Call me parinoid, but after all the horror stories I’ve heard about railfans getting arrested and questioned, (not just online, a friend of mine was told by a Worcester policeman to stop taking photos of a bridge) I prefer to take all the precautions I can. I just wish I could enjoy the expiriance more, currently the only places I feel safe from cops is at the Steaming Tender in Palmer, MA (it’s pretty much the New England version of the Rochelle Railroad Park, complete with diamond and swarms of railfans) and Worcester Union Station.
As long as you’re not trespassing, you’ll probably be fine. Most police officers aren’t going to come down on you for taking simply pictures, more often than not. Railroad photography isn’t illegal, and if you’re told it is, ask for a specific ordinance(nicely, of course), and if it is, the officer will/should give you the specific ordinance. However, keep in mind that railroads and police officers alike can’t force you to destroy photos, as that’s not in their legal right. I myself have never had much of a problem with taking photos.
If you click on the Trains Magazine logo above you will get the magazine’s home page and there you will find a video with Don Phillips discussing photographers’ rights here. Although one might be subject to being stopped and questioned, if you are standing on public property or private property with permission of the owner, you are not violating any law. On the other hand, trespassing on private property, i.e. being on private property without the owners permission, will put you in violation of the law.
While the Union Station concourse is obviously open to anyone and could be defined as public space, permission to be on the platforms is limited to train passengers. You might view the action of the Amtrak Officer denying you permission to go beyond the platform where your train was stopped as enforcing public access limits.
As much as anything else, the officer that stopped you could have just been concerned for your personal safety. You know that you can be safe, but does the officer?
I have traveled to Washington 2 or 3 times a year for the last decade. Even before 9/11, security measures to protect government personnel and facilities were greater than might generally be found around the country. 9/11 just heightened the level of security and alertness on the part of the law enforcement community in the District.
Thanks, guys - your input has given me some confidence in dealing with this question. Who’d have thought us rail fans could be considered a national security threat?!!
That GG1 is on loan from the Pennsylvania State RR museum for Union Station’s 100th aniversary celebration. It has no transformer in it, so is not operational.
I never have too many problems, CharlesW. I live in Houston, Texas and I still haven’t had the cops get onto me or my dad (I’m still a kid so he tags along with me). Houston isn’t exactly the Tehachapi Loop but it can be interesting. The rail system in the U.S. is always full of congestion now, which can be a real challenge in rail photography. We are on the verge of having a transportation crisis and I think people are starting to realize that rail is the answer (hints why there is lot of congestion). I don’t know anything about railroading outside the U.S. but rail is the answer everywhere. I am watching a tape about the Flying Scotsman in Australia as we speak and the steamers there (the 1210, 3112, R761, and the royal 3801) are awsome! You guys have a great rail system as well.
Have a great time touring the United States by the way!
Its hit harder around here in Baltimore, and DC, because the capital is right here, you can still get pictures, but some officers over react. You should have been able to get a picture, just for a rail fan? its not like you want to make it explode. The museum owns there own GG1 but is in need of repair, this is the one from the crash in DC.
Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your trip in the U.S.
There may be two things in play here:Amtrak’s photography policy and Amtrak’s access to platforms policy in its stations. Amtrak’s policy in Washington, Union Station, and possibly its other stations, seems to be to limit access to its platforms to passengers who are boarding or leaving trains; that is, you can’t wander from platform to platform photographing trains. By the way Amtrak permits photography in Union Station’s concourse, food court, sales area, and waiting area.
Amtrak has a photography policy, but it hasn’t posted it on its web site; at least I haven’t been able to find it there.
