Western Railroad Discussion > Railroads view on railfans..

I probably already know the logical answer to this but wanted to hear from maybe some employees on this topic.
Logical answer of course would tell me Railroads probably don't care as long as fans aren't getting in the way of operations, (aka trespassing) that sort of thing.
This comes up because I purchased a camera. I started to wonder about good places for images. There aren't a ton, however one came to my mind near the Ogden yard. It's on a public access road that eventually goes from blacktop to dirt and probably only 300 feet (or so) outside where switchers work. Also an area units are parked while they wait for assignments. I want to get some decent images, but don't want yard workers looking suspiciously at me as I sit in the car waiting for something to come along.
Am I out in left field or are there things more I should know if I want to be this close to the yard.

I don't know Ogden at all, but under the current security environment, if you sit as close to the yard as you describe, you stand a good chance of being questioned -- perhaps unless this spot is already a known railfan hangout. If it's really a public spot, then you can't legally be run off, so the question becomes, how much hassling do you want to put up with? If your main goal as a railfan is to see every locomotive that ever goes in or out of Ogden, then you may just have to deal with it.

Well, I think I've just thrown that spot out the window then. I dont want to cause problems or get in the way so it's just best off I probably go with another option I came up with.
This road is not a know railfan hangout. It's just basically a dirt road that leads into an industrial area of the city.

Sitting in the car is what is suspicious. If it's -20, well, take your chances.

Get out, lean against the car and make sure your camera is in plain view to crews and other official types. You have to be careful about who sees you with the camera in urban areas, tracks attract some unsavory characters (and I'm not saying railfans, although some....).

I railfan often in Houston, in some really awful locations mostly. But I'm wary of whose nearby at all times. Keys in my pocket and car locked ALWAYS, whether i'm in it or not. When trains come, I'm in the wide open, my camera is highly visible and I'm trying to be very easy to judge as innocent.

Never had any serious issues that way...

In the current state of things (security, politics, etc.), being questioned is just unfortunately going to be part of the hobby for a while. Even though I don't tend to stay in one spot for just this reason, I've been approached by several officers (both railroad and non) in the last two years. Aside from one guy that definitely had an overinflated view of his role in the world, the rest have always been very professional and even friendly. Despite the fact that it's going to initially make your stomach turn knots, most of them aren't there to give you a hard time - they're just doing their job checking on anything out of place (and yes, that's you, the railfan). The railroad cops are usually easier than the non-railroad guys - at least they've seen railfans before, and while they might not understand (or even like) your hobby, they at least know of its existance. I've had to explain my hobby to more than a few state, county, and city cops, though. Having a railfan magazine or two along helps, and as I have a digital camera, I can usually show them what I've been up to all day. Most just laugh, shake their heads, and head off to look for real criminals.

My advice - stay on public property, look like a fan, and be open and friendly if the law decides they want to talk to you. Most of all, get out and enjoy your hobby. The occasional questioning is really an additional pain, but it's not going away any time soon, so I figure we might as well learn to deal with it and get on with railfanning. The worst they can do is look you up and then ask you to move along, but I've found that most will just leave you to enjoy the day once they figure out who you are and what you're doing. Besides, like I told a friend of mine yesterday that got a friendly visit from the BNSF PD (at his house, after running his plates - no trouble, just checking on people they frequently saw around with cameras), law enforcement stories are always great material for meets.

Nathan
http://www.drgw.net

Oh yeah, and don't look like espeeboy - he seems to be some sort of cop magnet, much like my old red Trans Am. ;)
Just kidding, of course, Ryan.

At SP/UP Roseville yard the yard's north side by the engine repair shop has a short chain link fence lots of people go up to it and get good shots.
On the south side across from the same spot is where its public parking and just open.Your about 10 feet from the tracks any weekend there is sombody there taking photos. I have never been aproched by anyone. it's a great spot trains comming down from and going up to Donner and trains comming and going from oregan and the feather river canyon pass by this spot.

Nathan said: "Besides, like I told a friend of mine yesterday that got a friendly visit from the BNSF PD (at his house, after running his plates - no trouble, just checking on people they frequently saw around with cameras"

Dan's reponse: this raises sevaral question among them
(1) why would the BNSF cops go to this effort for a "routine" matter ?
(2) Do RR cops have jurisdiction off RR property ?

I agree completely with Nathan, the more obvious you are the better. You'll get questioned for sure on occasion, be polite and honest and 95 percent of the time they'll go away. I've had cops come by later on or even the next day and inquire "your still here, doesn't it get kind of boring sitting around waiting on trains to come through every know and then?" Just BS with them, I'm honest,I'll fall asleep once in a while. Luckily the item we are waiting for isn't going to sneak up on you and although startled you'll still get the shot, usually with the crew laughing because they caught you sleeping. You would be amazed at what they see from a quarter of a mile away !!
If the weather is nice I'll actually bring one of those new collapsable lawn chairs and park that next to my car or sit under a tree ( The lock and dams along the Mississippi are great to do this) Put the scanner in one of the cup holders and I can sit there all day. The big thing is I'm out in the open with nothing hiding. If it's cold, yeah have magazines along weather it be MR, Trains,CTC whatever that verifies your just in to the railroad scene. And one last thing... Always wave!! At the crews, the cops driving buy, whoever. Been railfanning many times and often spend more than a day at the same local so the same cop or the same train crew may see you more than once, They'll recognize you and the wave just tells them your friendly. And don't be surprised by the crews giving a couple of short acknowledging toots of the horn. Have Fun !!

Lenny
BNSFCSX

Wichita Jct asked what authority RR cops had off railroad property. In Texas, they are essentially a deputy sheriff and go anywhere they need to, but need search warrants, etc., just as regular police do.

I've been to Odgen several times. There are plenty of places to take pictures without tresspassing. If you feel uncomfortable, you probably are in the wrong spot. Besides, there are so many places outside of Ogden to shot trains.

Suggestions:
1)The bridge over the UP tracks at 1100 West.
2)(Its been a while since Ive been there) but what about the north end of the old SP yard. There is a paved road that you can easily see the trains from. With UP in control there probably isn't much in the SP yard anymore.
3)leaving west on the old SP mainline over the lake.

Nick

One time I was video taping a train, and while I was sitting at that crossing, and car sped around the gates not but 15 feet from to loco. Luckly the train was only going 10 mph, but still. So I turned the camara to the car and got the license plates on tape. The engineer saw me do this and was sounding the horn and gave a big thumbs up. Well, I heard on the radio that they were going to stop to meet another train, so I went to that location to meet them, got out gave the cars info to the engineer, sat and talked to him for awhile, then got in my car and headed home.
Steven In So. IL

WichitaJct Wrote:
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Dan's reponse: this raises sevaral question among them

> (1) why would the BNSF cops go to this effort for
> a "routine" matter ?

What effort, they're doing their job.

> (2) Do RR cops have jurisdiction off RR property ?

Yes. Railroad police have federal powers and can conduct their own investigations off railroad property. They are also like any other commisioned police officer who has the power, duty, and right to stop and investigate any suspicious activity or crime. If it's out of their jurisdiction they'll call in another agency to make the arrest.

Jon

Just dont get pulled over by a 5-ton truck like Espeeboy!

Generally just State status as Peace Officers. Which is enough. rent-a-cops and security guards are just that but RR Police are in fact Police in most states and as such they do have jurisdiction off the property, just generally don't exercise it off the property.

In California the railroad police hold arrest powers anywhere in the state. The police recieve thier commission g=from the governer and are sworn in with statewide powers. They more power than any city or county law enforcement. I guess that there are more powerful than the CHP and on a par with the state marshalls but are still bound by all laws pertaining to arrest, search and seizure.

Railroad special agents in California have FEDERAL railroad authority. They have authority to cross state lines in doing their job. The have the same authority on and off of railroad property. They can and will back up other law enforcement agencies when needed. They are dispatched by the railroad as well as the sheriff's dept in the county where they are located
at any particular point in time. RR SA's run on local sheriff's radio frequencies as well as their own. They have more authority than any city,county,or state officer could ever have.


George,
Fontana,Cal.