I posted this on Model Railroading forum too so I could get everyone’s opinion.
Yesterday, at lunch time I was heading home when I decided to first, get a hamburger at my favorite restaurant: IN-N-OUT Burger and go a block down to the new Corona Station in the City of Corona, just outside of Los Angeles. As I sat on the platform eating my fries, Metrolink stopped on in and was out as fast as it came. Very soon after, the light behind the Commuter train turned green. I then finished up my lunch and crossed the tracks via the high bridge so that I may get that perfect shot of the BNSF freight blaring through. Well, it never came before I decided to vacate the premises when a security guard started yelling at me from the main platform, asking why I was taking pictures. I then crossed back over (via Walkway Bridge) where he called for backup as he took down all my information with 20 questions. I explained that I was only out photographing trains to complete my fix for the hobby that I love. He informed me in his Jamaican Accent that I was trust passing and that I had no permission to take pictures of anything involving trains or this station.
So my question is: was I in the wrong? Should I need to have permission from the City or the county before I place foot anywhere near a station with no intention to board a train but to photograph it instead? Has anyone else had this problem?
Sounds to me like a rent-a-cop just trying his best to be an bad-*** A-hole taking out his ego issues on a convenient target, the railfan.
Never had a problem in the past, spent time on the platform at Fullerton no issues, even have a small cafe there with tables. Spent alot of time parked in my car next to Pomona Metro link station cops driving by alot there also, no issues there either.
I’ve been to just about all of the stations in the Los Angeles area and San Diego area too, and I have never had a rent-a-cop give me trouble. This guy must have been looking for anything to do.
When I lived in Van Nuys I had a regular spot next to the brewery. One night I went down there to watch a train roll through as I had done hundreds of times before. This spot was at the dead end of a public road. Right after I got there (and just as the train was going by) this private security guard tried to run me off and threatend to call the cops. Well I left, and about two blocks away I turned around and chased down this security guard and asked him for his name and his supervisors name and daytime phone number, and told him I was on a public street. He changed in attitude in 1/2 a heartbeat. Then he told me I was OK to stay there and appologized to me. I was still mad that he made me miss the train though.
I was taking photographs on the westbound platform at the New Brunswick, NJ station a few weeks ago. An eastbound NJ Transit train pulled in and took a shot of it (although the lighting was not good for eastbounds at that time of day). Anyway, as the train was leaving, i noticed the engineering waving frantically at me indicating that i shouldn’t take any pictures. I guess he didn’t get the memo from NJT president George Warrington that hobby/recreational photography is now permitted. I know the New York MTA (LIRR; Metro-North) issued a policy statement last month that photography is permitted on their railroad properties so long as you stay in areas that are open to the public and are not endangering yourself or others.
Does anyone know what Metrolink’s photography policy is?
In his Jamaican accent, huh? I would have asked to see his green card, but then again I can be just as much a jerk as they can(aslong as I am in the right).
You did nothing wrong!!! It is too bad but the age in which we live post 911 everyone is paranoid. I know there is a valid point to be more cautious but it is carried to extremes.I wish it was back in the 70s and 80s when the only problem at trackside was people asking "why in the h*ll would anyone want to take pics of trains!!! hahahah
Should we put our camera away for a while? I really don’t want to go check in with the athorities very time I want to take a picture of a passing train, but on the other hand I am a law abiding citizen who wants to do what is right.
Saturday night I took my son after dinner to Pomona to see a couple UP trains go by. I pulled off a public street to an area where I’ve never been but by the tracks. As the freight train rolled by a officer pulled up on me and shined his flood light into my car. My car was running and I had my parking lights on as we faced the train. He then turned around and left. Now I know that I was in the wrong there–I’m sure that I was on railroad property, but he didn’t do anything about it. I, in turn, turned my car around and followed him out, passed him, and he still had nothing to say to me.
I think in this case the officer was making sure you werent doing anything else like smoking crack or talking to Hugh Grants ex-rent-a-girlfriend. Some areas of Pomona have a rather high crime rate and is NOT a good place to hang out in at night.
I was just over at the SoCal forum reading that there were two shooting incidents out around Indio and two UP crewmen were shot. One was suposedly gang related and happened est of Indio. The other was thought to be accidental from someone target shooting. For the time being trains between Beaumont and Niland are getting armed escorts.
We are all facing this problem during these times. When and where can we enjoy our favorite pasttime.
Here are a few things to consider:
Is a publicly funded railroad property truly open to the public? Here in the northeast, homeland security is still in the forethought of transportation issues (air/road/rail). The closer you get to D.C., the more chances are you will be encountered by some type of authority person (police/security/rr employee). No problem there. To the great unwashed, our hobby is still an odd pursuit. You need to check with your public ordinances to make sure you are in the right. 2) The general public is not privy to b.o.l.o.s (Be On the LookOut) that the authorities may have. Face it, Los Angeles is still on Al-Queda’s “to do” list (*Remember the thwarted attempts at LAX?). With the recent history of Madrid and London, rail has finally jumped to the forethought of security considerations. 3) In my professional experience, a huge percentage of law enforcement personnel (as well as security types) were not employed at their current positions, and the newer the employee, the more aggressive (and sometimes a bit zealous) they will tend to be. Be patient folks. Old timers will remember the restrictions they faced during WWII (the *** actually planned to blow up the tunnels at Gallitzin). Answer questions in a friendly tone, and keep a disarming personna. If an authority figure presses you to leave, smile and leave. If you feel the need, glance at his name or car number and fire off a letter when you get home.
fifedog, good to know. Oh and I did leave the station though the guard did not tell me to, and I was very cooperative though I disagreed at the present time.
He did tell me that if he didn’t question me and take down my info that he probably would get into trouble when big brother upstairs saw me on the cameras walking around taking pictures and nothing was done about me.
That definitely adds a spin to things too. If it’s a favorite spot of yours, seek the advice of the station master or security chief. I would. Good luck.
You guys have given a lot of good info, so who will sum it all up for all of us so that we may be in the right next time. We are ambassadors for this hobby you know. We should represent it well.
