| Community Response |
Locomotive Details |
Location/Date of Photo |
 | | Views: 2,812 Favorited: 4 | | Since added on December 31, 2017 | |
|
» BNSF Railway (more..)
» GE ES44DC (more..) |
» West of Erie Street Yard
» Spokane, Washington, USA (more..)
» August 08, 2016 |
| Locomotive No./Train ID |
Photographer |
» Unknown
» Unknown |
» Frederick Manfred Simon (more..)
» Contact Photographer · Photographer Profile |
| Remarks & Notes |
| “Corpus Delicti” ~ Does my shadow catching a ride on a Z-train constitute a crime? If you think about it for a moment, it seems hardly far-fetched, these days. The world at large has indelibly changed in heretofore unimaginable ways. And, so it has for us railfans as well. Gone are the days when railroads saw us as a bit odd and laughable, but by-and-large harmless. The events of 9/11 have taken their toll, and the effects thereof have trickled down to us and how we pursue our interest in photographing trains. Being on private property without permission is de facto trespassing. That said, and despite the ubiquitous signage posted by railroads warning of trespass are at times ambiguous, even lacking. Case-in-point: recently I was in an open, empty lot off of a public road: no sign, no fence, nothing, nada! The right-of-way yards from where I was. It wasn’t but a few minutes later that a sharply-uniformed and polished-badged Special Agent appeared as if out of nowhere who firmly – though cordially – confronted and advised me, in no uncertain terms, that I was trespassing. I cautiously retorted that I meant no harm and my photographic interests, moreover that there are no signs and no fences but that I would comply and leave, yet not after having to tender my ID. The moral of the story? When out enjoying the hobby, assume nothing except that unless you are certain you are on public property, the chances are that you are trespassing and subject to a fine if not arrest, even both. It sucks: but it’s nonetheless a fact. So, while my wraith may be on railway property with impunity, I cannot expect the same liberty in person. By policy, rail crews are instructed to report anyone who is or even appears to be trespassing. Understandable, yet I would also add that responsible, safety-conscious rail enthusiasts should be seen and treated as advocates for railroads, not as thrill seekers or menace-mongers, much less as the enemy. (08Aug16 ©) |
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