I am modeling a yard in Houston and the countryside in East Texas on my HO scale (for my grandson and myself). In the old days my Dad would talk to the Yard Master and I could move about freely.
My intent is to get many pictures, which I can study later for my layout.
Since 9/11 the rules have tighened quite a bit, so I’m told and I wouldn’t be able to get into a yard. I haven’t tried so I don’t know.
Is there someone in the crowd that could tell me if there is a procedure for seeking permission to take my grandson into the yard and take as many pictures as time allows. As usual, I’d like to get into the hump tower, so I could see the whole yard. I would like to get into UP’s Englewood Hump Yard, Houston, Texas, and two yards in Illinois, BN’s Clyde yard in Chicago and BN’s Yard in Galesburg, Illinois.
Hi, I would send a friendly e-mail to someone in Customer Service or Public Relations. Most railroad company websites offer a page of contacts. State flat out your intentions…i.e. Why you want to take photographs, where you want to take them, etc. They will either say “no” or connect you with the proper officials. You will probably have to sign a release that releases the railroad from any responsibility if you are injured or killed on their property. As for your grandson, I am assuming he is under 18? I strongly doubt that he could go with you. The key here is to ASK. All they can do is say no.
The only live yard that has tours that I know of is UPs North Platte yard and tower tours. It is not just 9/11 that’s changed the picture. Litigation for injuries had played the biggest part. Trespassing is really frowned upon. Manpower for guided tours of yards is not in the budgets.
I doubt you will get permission to enter the tower at Englewood, or photograph the yard from there or the hump…simply because both are pretty dangerous places for non railroaders…but you can get some good detail shots of the hump lead, the tower and the yard from Liberty road on the north side of the yard, and Wallisville road from the south side.
You can park and walk up on the Lockwood Drive over pass and shoot both east towards the hump and west and pretty much cover the entire yard including the “ramp” where they do a lot of intermodel.
They are used to railfans shooting from Liberty road, happens all the time.
Keep in mind the neighborhood is pretty much a ghetto there, so take a friend along, lock your car, keep it in sight, and go during the daylight only…
Also, try the ‘Birdseye’ view on MSN’s ‘bing’ map and aerial photo application - or others, such as Google Earth. Most places I’ve looked at can get down to around 25 yds. per inch, if I remember right, and at the oblique angle, show more detail and spatial relationships than a straight-down aerial - or that you would see even by actually visiting the yard.
I called in sick today, so I could see the yard. Quite impressive, the aerial view from the bridge and ground views are quite close to the action. The hump is about 100 yards from the street.
I just rent on a recon today, on the next trip I’ll have the camera in my hand, with spare film and batteries.
Whats more amazing is I’ve lived here thirty years and never accidently bumped into the yard. I would always spend my time in Spring, Texas watching the trains.
In Houston’s hayday there was 17 railroads that serviced Houston. I wonder if they shared the use of the yard, some in this community must know, speak up…
called in sick today, so I could see the yard. Quite impressive, the aerial view from the bridge and ground views are quite close to the action. The hump is about 100 yards from the street.
Better hope your boss doesn’t lurk on this list
I just rent on a recon today, on the next trip I’ll have the camera in my hand, with spare film and batteries.
So does my Canon A2000i PowerShot digital. [:D] Just a little ribbing, Mike. [;)] I know there are still some old school traditionalists out there. I can’t help but chuckle at the sight of the word “film”.
I saw the humor, I’m pretty thick skinned. I use to work for Texas A&M University, in a deep sea research department, all of our data(cores of the ocean bottom) was archived by film technology, then digital technology came on the scene, lets just say both camps have a good argument of which is best. But I think there are no winners, both technologies over excellent results.
Give it up! The railroad is paranoid and worried about lawsuts. Therefore, unless you can get a Trainmaster, Yardmaster, or someone with a little authority to escort you around, the situation is hopeless. Try going over to the crew lobby and see if one of the crew memebers can point you to someone with the power.
Some folks say the silver film technology gives longevity, the other folks claim digital has more clarity, so the argument goes on, much like the ford and chevy argument.
I’m glad that the word “lawsuit” popped up. That is what has killed alot of freedom off. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions anymore. “I picked up a sheet of paper, mishandled it and ended up with a paper cut. But it’s your fault that the paper was there to begin with!”
Look at old railfan excursion films from the 30s - 50’s. Excursionists had free run of a railyard. Freedom to climb on locomotives. Freedom to climb light towers for overhead shots. Those days are gone. What about the open gondola filled with railfans tacked onto the end of an excursion train doing 60mph. Imagine insurance companies allowing that today?! The best thing I ever saw was a gondola loaded with railfans on the Ma & Pa with the crew performing a flying switch of the car. A car load of railfans coasting freely through a siding to get it to the other end of the train! Today, that carload of railfans would be switched out throught he yard gate and the gate locked behind them.
In these days when railfan excursions are infrequently run, I’m happy with 1 photo runby. And that seldom happens anymore, especially here in the East. I can’t blame the railroads one bit. Want to screw something up? Involve human beings!
