Re: (erielack) If you thought NJT restrictions on photography are tough, watc...

[Dlw1el2_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 7/25/2005 8:12:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
TrainGG1_@_aol.com writes:
 
 
Guys, I don't want to get into any kind of lengthy debates here, but I just  
might add that good judgement is always the best solution in this day and  age.
 
Am I a terrorist?   NO,    Thus, I don't ever  worry about Police.  If they 
come around, I will explain myself and move  on.   That's my simple solution.
 
You have RR employees that will immediately radio in anybody they see  taking 
photos, cause they have been told to do that!   Others, will just use good 
judgement, and assess the  individual, location, and situation.  Over a three 
day period last summer I  was blown in three times on Sherman Hill.   The middle 
of nowhere, could not  fit any better, but three dedicated employees, out of 
about 60 or 70  trains thought they were doing there job.  Did I wait for the 
UP police man  from Cheyenne, to make the hour drive out to me?   Nope,  just 
moved on to a different location, and thus no  explaining had to be done.   I 
guess, all I'm saying is there is  enough rural, not at the station platform,  
but  back from track side, locations in this country to still enjoy  the 
hobby incognito. Is that altering and changing ones normal  Railfaning habits?  
Probable Yes!  But its 2005 and  this is the world we live in.  Since 9/11, and 
after the bombings in Spain,  and England, and the ones that WILL happen next, 
cause that  WILL happen, I lean towards being understanding of are  
government and the situations these  _*&&^$@#)&*(^#^&%_ (mailto:*&&^$@#)&*(^#^&)   have 
put us all in. I guess that means I"m putting them ahead of my hobby, with  
the accent on HOBBY.
 
NOW, to insert my own foot in my own mouth after just saying all that, I  
wanted to relate an incident from last week.  While trying to get a  photograph 
of an FL 9 on the Danbury Line, I couldn't find that rural, back form  the 
track, shot I just spoke of. It was train time and I  had to do the old  90 degree 
framed at the crossing shot, which happened to be at a  station.  YEP, TWO 
armed and in uniform,  National Guard guys   had just hopped out of a military 
Humm ve and were going to be there  for the entire evening rush.  One Guardsman 
did come over after the  train left and politely asked what I was taking 
photos for.  A polite, just  myself, seemed to be more than enough.  He said ok, 
NO  problem,   and we both went on about are business.   Good Judgement  
prevailed.  Did my age and looks have some effect on the situation?   Sure, but I 
would  hope that good judgement had a lot to  do with it also. Would I have 
ceased and desisted if he had asked me to.   Sure.  It wasn't a mater of life or 
death.  What they are trying to  protect could be, and I understand  that. 
 
Just my own ( old fashion ) thoughts.
 
Bob Bahrs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One  response to my offerings on railfanning in today's paranoid world, this  
 
response came:

Bill,

Good advice that you have given  here.  Question:   have you encountered any
situations where  you were harassed or had to duck  for  cover?

Chuck

Interesting you should ask that question. Within  the last year I have been  
twice asked about my picture taking --  both while photographing transit  
busses.  Once was in Kankakee,  IL while photographing River Valley Metro.  
In that 
instance, I was  with a friend of mine from Milwaukee. The drivers  
apparently 
got  shook up with these two fellas taking pics and called a  supervisor. The 
 
super showed up and asked what we were doing and why and upon   explanation 
that 
we were transit fans (and both worked in the transit  industry  -- Dave for 
Milwaukee County Transit and I for Metra) we  engaged in a most  friendly 
conversation about transit operations in  general and in River Valley  Metro 
in 
particular. End result was that  we ended up finding out more about  their 
operations 
that we already  knew.

The other instance was in April. Three of us were in Beloit,  WI  
photographing Beloit Transit. Again the drivers were taken aback  that 
someone  would be 
photographing their busses. As it turned out  the Motor Bus Society,  which 
had 
recently had a convention in the  Chicago-Milwaukee area had visited  Beloit 
and 
the super was familiar  with bus fans as a result. Again, really nice  folks. 

On the rail  side, in May of 2004, a group of us were photographing at  
Joliet  
Union Station. There had been rumors of fans being hassled there,  but  over 
a 
dozen guys/gals were there on a lovely Saturday taking  pics (sound  
familiar, 
Bob Clegg?). The city of Joliet owns the  facility and even has a PD  office 
in the station. The ONLY time  anyone was bothered was when a fellow  
attempted 
to walk across the  tracks. The officer informed him that crossing the  
tracks 
is a  safety issue (no argument there) and that he must remain on the   
platform. 

Mr. Steinberg's comments about "Acting suspicious is not  the way to not  
look 
suspicious!" is not without merit. Of course, as  a train is approaching you  
would out of necessity have the camera  ready to shoot BEFORE the train  
approaches. It is rather obvious to  the observer that you are indeed taking 
a  
photo. As for the  "stealth" chasing of trains (change of clothes, parking 
the  car 
way  from the photo shoot, etc.) I "practice what I preach" and feel that   
this 
would minimize someone being able to "track you down" as a   photographer.

As an aside, over half of my railfan activities are  conducted using public  
transportation. Of course, many times this is  not an option, but for someone 
 
living in a large urban area such as  Chicago, this allows me to take a 
bus/train  to a site, take my  pictures (nice thing about psgr trains is that 
there is 
a  schedule,  so you know when they are expected) and move on.

Stay safe out  there...

Bill Shapotkin


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