No common sense? Hope there wasn't a train headed down that track.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2038520
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2038520
How NOT to Railfan
- Thread starter Carfreak4
- Start date
not the brightest headlight in the roundhouse eh?:hehe: though kudos to the kid who thought to turn his bike into a velocipede (i think that's what they're called).
but seriously dude, would it kill you to back that SUV up a couple of feet off the rails?
and people wonder why we get arrested for watching trains.
but seriously dude, would it kill you to back that SUV up a couple of feet off the rails?
and people wonder why we get arrested for watching trains.
jointedrail
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And this is a prime reason why real railroaders dislike railfans. Another reason to give legitimate railfans a bad name, and solid proof you CAN'T fix stupid.
Mike
Mike
So that's what a foamer is. Hah. I wonder if the cops have guns if they work for the RR. Just saying because they aren't policing in general but to keep the tracks safe just in case a foamer has a gun and decides to use it.
LOL, it's a wonder he managed to dress himself when he got up:hehe:
Yes the "cinder dicks" have firearms, they are in a very dangerous profession. Taggers and foamers and hobos aside, they encounter and deal with thieves and organized gangs, and protect the rail industry against acts of terrorism as well. These aren't "rent a cops", they have full police powers.
I'd go as far as to say almost beyond full police powers: In many cases they have authority across several jurisdictions or even several states. I was offered a job by Amtrak as a police officer in 1991, but I turned it down because the salary at the time just wasn't enough to support me and justify my moving to Washington, DC. In hindsight, turning it down was one of the bigger mistakes of my life.:'(
---Scott
So if you smoke weed near RR Props they could arrest you even if you aren't on or near the tracks or other off-limit areas. Not that I do smoke weed.
In general this is probably not a good idea, the guy in the shot now works for BNSF in train service, and at Granite City thats probably the Respondek Railroad and he likely knows the crew and knows he wont be in the way there. In general yeah a bad idea but in this case the photographer is probably not doing anything wrong.
Admission of guilt?
This is true; however, it really is just asinine to do something like that, even if a train wasn't coming down the tracks. What if he got the shot he wanted, but his car ran out of gas? Or the car stalled out on the tracks? Best case scenario, he's gotta push that car off the tracks. Worst, a train actually IS bearing down on him and squash goes the Chevy. Really just not a bright idea to do in the first place, no matter how "wrong" it may be.
Unfortunately, we don't know for sure if that's on his list of capabilities :hehe: .
1st off your contradicting your self. You ask "can I get arrested for smoking weed near the RR, even if I'm not near the RR?" which is it are you near it or not?
RR Cops have a certian buffer zone around railroad property they can patrol. They can (and have) perform search warrant on peoples houses not near the tracks. They can pursue you off their 'patch' provided they started on their patch*. They can also be called in to assist local peace officers if needed as well, often the rural RR cops have more terrorism & such training then a small-town PD. Although the local authorities prefer to call up the line to the Sheriff or Troopers.
So in short; if you were, per-say sitting in a park next to the tracks smoking a joint, then yes they could arrest you (of give you a ticket, depending on the local laws).
If you were speeding & crossed the tracks (at a crossing, or over a bridge) in theory** they can pull you over for that.
*Unless called in to assist other officers
**I've never heard of someone just getting a speeding ticket from a RR cop (people have, but its usually with another issue; like foamers chasing a train) but that doesn't mean they can't.
peter
Its just a question of calling someone out when you dont know the full details, Respondek doesnt run faster than 10-15 at that location, and the photographer is friends with the crew and owner of the line so he likely knew what was going on. So its unlikely there was any danger involved, asinine yeah maybe but I've noticed some people tend to get a holier than thou attitude when it comes to trespassing or things like this, anyone that has spent any time railfanning has tresspassed or done something stupid at sometime.
Oh, well if he is friends, then that makes everything okay. As long as he isn't just some random guy doing something stupid, that would explain everything!
No Ed i think it means someone is doing something stupid
I think It really sets a bad example for train watchers and buffs. I.E. - Us
Jamie