Passenger Trains > Amtrak statement on photography

Amtrak statement on photography:

"Security: While there is no prohibition against taking
photographs of Amtrak trains, photographs may only be
taken in Amtrak’s public areas, not areas restricted by
signs, barriers or locked entrances. Non-public areas,
such as railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment,
are private property; trespassers are subject to arrest."

-Amtrak This Week newsletter, 23JUL07

Try telling that to the @#$%^&*&^^@!!!*^#@@@$% at San Jose...

CDTX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Try telling that to the @#$%^&*&^^@!!!*^#@@@$% at
> San Jose...


Now Jeff, let's not get started on that topic again!!!

No, let's DO. Does this policy mean, then, that it's OK to take photographs from the platform of, oh say, Penn Station?

(Not that I'm going to have the chance to test that one again-- at least for a while --since I live out in Los Angeles)


kodachrome9319 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CDTX Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Try telling that to the @#$%^&*&^^@!!!*^#@@@$%
> at
> > San Jose...
>
>
> Now Jeff, let's not get started on that topic
> again!!!

ry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, let's DO. Does this policy mean, then, that
> it's OK to take photographs from the platform of,
> oh say, Penn Station?

Come on, what's not to understand? All you're going to try to do is spin it and spin it and spin it to try to make it work your way.

ry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, let's DO. Does this policy mean, then, that
> it's OK to take photographs from the platform of,
> oh say, Penn Station?
>
> (Not that I'm going to have the chance to test
> that one again-- at least for a while --since I
> live out in Los Angeles)

I'm definitely trying that out (as I live near Philadelphia).

Platforms of Penn Station are public areas, no? Especially if one just got off or about to get onto a train.

And the two Amtrak police officers that jumped on me back in May were in violation of their own policy. Good to know.....

I don't see the fascination with taking photos at NYP, its hot and smells and isn't exactly photogenic either.

Adam

Adamscharters Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't see the fascination with taking photos at
> NYP, its hot and smells and isn't exactly
> photogenic either.
>
> Adam



Oh, I agree - it's not too photogenic at all. However, my pictures there have always been at the times I either just got off a train or was about to get onto one.

Back in mid-May, I arrived there for a weekend stay in Manhattan on Train 94. When exiting the platform, I snapped a picture of the AEM7 at the head of the train.

As soon as I did that, I literally got jumped by a treo of Amtrak police officers who, after a very hostile interrogation session, made me delete that picture as well as several others I took from the train.

On my way back two days later, I didn't see those officers, but my plan is that the next time I see them, I gonna make it a point to walk by them, with camera hanging round the neck, smile, and wave. :)

1) Realize that unless you have a ticket, you can't enter areas that are for ticketed passengers only.
2) Bring a copy of Amtrak's stated policy with you.
3) Don't expect to be able to use a tripod on platforms without making arrangements in advance.

ChS7-321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> my plan is that the next time I see
> them, I gonna make it a point to walk by them,
> with camera hanging round the neck, smile, and
> wave.

Yeah, that'll show 'em.

And be sure to print out a copy of this thread, so they'll know where you got your information.

topper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > my plan is that the next time I see
> > them, I gonna make it a point to walk by them,
> > with camera hanging round the neck, smile, and
> > wave.
>
> Yeah, that'll show 'em.
>
> And be sure to print out a copy of this thread, so
> they'll know where you got your information.


You're missing the point - I will make sure not to take any pictures on that occasion.....just walk past, smile, wave, and have the camera on my neck. Just to annoy...

Smiling and waving is still allowed without a permit, right?

ChS7-321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> topper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > my plan is that the next time I see
> > > them, I gonna make it a point to walk by
> them,
> > > with camera hanging round the neck, smile,
> and
> > > wave.
> >
> > Yeah, that'll show 'em.
> >
> > And be sure to print out a copy of this thread,
> so
> > they'll know where you got your information.
>
>
> You're missing the point - I will make sure not to
> take any pictures on that occasion.....just walk
> past, smile, wave, and have the camera on my neck.
> Just to annoy...

And just for good measure, stuck your thumbs in your ears and wiggle your tongue at 'em.

> Smiling and waving is still allowed without a
> permit, right?

Hard to say. It's not covered by the directive.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> 2) Bring a copy of Amtrak's stated policy with
> you.

--------------------------------------

See attachment.

---

Thing that makes me mad is the paranoid idiots who try to "enfroce" rules like that and make it harder for us fans to enjoy ourselves. I for one never had problems shooting Amtrak and Metrolink at LAUPT or anywhere else where I got on either of those trains, but I still do watch to make sure no paranoid idiot is tryin' to accuse me on takin' pics of a trains because of the view of bein' a "terroist"

It bugs me that when the average suspect is anti-terrorist and told to stop doing something they should be free to do, Nothing like letting the terrorist have a small victory by revoking a free mans enjoyment. If those with terroristic intentions overseas run across some of these stories, I would imagine a smirk forms on their face.
I guess though when the authorities are asked what they are doing about homeland security, they are not saying that they are increasing camera wielding hobbyists encounters.

I fail to understand why you are accusing me of spin. Is your interpretation, then, that this policy does not go so far as to cover ticketed passengers on platforms?


'karlj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ry Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No, let's DO. Does this policy mean, then,
> that
> > it's OK to take photographs from the platform
> of,
> > oh say, Penn Station?
>
> Come on, what's not to understand? All you're
> going to try to do is spin it and spin it and spin
> it to try to make it work your way.

rob46580 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It bugs me that when the average suspect is
> anti-terrorist and told to stop doing something
> they should be free to do, Nothing like letting
> the terrorist have a small victory by revoking a
> free mans enjoyment. If those with terroristic
> intentions overseas run across some of these
> stories, I would imagine a smirk forms on their
> face.
> I guess though when the authorities are asked
> what they are doing about homeland security, they
> are not saying that they are increasing camera
> wielding hobbyists encounters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Believe me. I share your frustration. In the little over a year that I've been photographing trains (mainly the Olive Sub), I've been stopped and approached 3 times by local law enforcement. They asked the usual questions "What are you doing, let's see some ID", etc. One officer thought that this was an 'unusual' hobby. But I didn't raise my voice or lose my temper or anything like that, even going so far as to remove my sunglasses when talking to them and making eye contact. In short while annoying, I treated all three officers with respect, a cool demeanor, and politness.

Guess what?

All three responded in kind. In all of my years, I've had my share of encounters and scrapes with the law. With one single exception, all of them were professional and courteous, with one exception, who was a real ass.

And guess what? That one "ass" was the one I had when I was young and stupid and put up attitude right back at the officer. I was "simply defending my rights". Had I not been so belligerent with him, I might've walked away with a ticket or just a warning. Instead, I spent a night in jail.

Also try and see these situations though their eyes. Why do us photographers seem to make "easy targets"? Well perhaps maybe we are. It's human nature to go after the "low hanging fruit" and take the path of least resistance. (the same reason many police love to lay in ambush just waiting for a speeder or red light runner: easy pickens, easy money. No effort required.) And there we are just hanging off the first branch. Police are under a tremendous amount of pressure and scrutiny from both the press and their superiors to "be pro active". Getting names or making arrests LOOKS good in the eyes of the Police brass and the Press. Let the courts worry about whether or not it has any merit. Add to that mix the fact that most Americans seem satisfied with just an ILLUSION of safety.

And I'll repeat my assertion from a few months back. Those bent on mayhem WILL take any photos they choose, and do so surreptitiously, undetected by any and all security personnel.
...Lorenzo

X-2000R Wrote:
snip
> Add to that
> mix the fact that most Americans seem satisfied
> with just an ILLUSION of safety.

We seem to also be getting by with the illusion of civil liberties.

WP