Cops and Railfans Don't Mix

[ZekTheKid]

Today marked the first time ever a cop has ever talked to me while railfanning.

There I was, waiting by a crossing for a trash train to come in a few minutes, and this cop in a tow truck pulls up to me. In my head I'm thinking ooohhhhh sh*t cop vs railfan! He asks what I was doing there. I said 'watching trains'. And he gave me an explanation about how I should back off because another cop could ticket me for standing too close to the tracks when I was a good 5 ft away from the tracks. But in the end he said he's just trying to keep me out of trouble. I could understand that, but 10 cops drove by and did nothing.

Scared the hell out of me, but I know every railfan has run into something like this.

[BKRR605]

Today marked the first time ever a cop has ever talked to me while railfanning.

There I was, waiting by a crossing for a trash train to come in a few minutes, and this cop in a tow truck pulls up to me. In my head I'm thinking ooohhhhh sh*t cop vs railfan! He asks what I was doing there. I said 'watching trains'. And he gave me an explanation about how I should back off because another cop could ticket me for standing too close to the tracks when I was a good 5 ft away from the tracks. But in the end he said he's just trying to keep me out of trouble. I could understand that, but 10 cops drove by and did nothing.

Scared the hell out of me, but I know every railfan has run into something like this.

I havent

[buzz456]

Ten? Must be a high crime RR area.

[ZekTheKid]

Ten? Must be a high crime RR area.

Well railfanning in the most culturally diverse place in America always has cops roaming, because the spot I usually go to looks kinda shady in some areas.

I havent

Lucky you.

[NStrains]

Out of 10 that just means he's the only one who knows the dangers of being too close and wanted to make sure you knew. And I believe most railroad's Right-of-Ways usually extend no less than 15ft either side of the outside rail.

[ColoradoRailfan]

Were you at a station? Because if you were out in the open near a crossing with no station near by, you should have standed at least 10-15 ft from the nearest rail.

[ZekTheKid]

Were you at a station? Because if you were out in the open near a crossing with no station near by, you should have standed at least 10-15 ft from the nearest rail.

Yes I was a little down the tracks from a station.

Out of 10 that just means he's the only one who knows the dangers of being too close and wanted to make sure you knew. And I believe most railroad's Right-of-Ways usually extend no less than 15ft either side of the outside rail.

Where I usually go (this event took place down the tracks from where I usually go), I stand on the inside of the station platform. Not only that, it's probably one of the safest places to go railfanning without any trouble, it being a museum and a station at the same time.

[JerryC]

I've had train crews that didn't like having a camera pointed at them point me out to passing cops. One of them followed me and ran my tag. In the end there wasn't really anything they could do, as I usually don't get up on the right-of-way. I try not to do crossings anyway. The bell is annoying as hell for recordings, and there is always the possibility that some idiot is going to try to beat the train at the last moment and end up with twisted metal or flying bodies taking me out too.

[ZekTheKid]

The bell is annoying as hell for recordings.

Here in MD most crossing bells ring for a couple of seconds until the gate is down, and it stops ringing after that.

[ErikGorbiHamilton]

Dad and I have had problems with police before, But it isn't really a Issue until you have to talk to Military Police



Thank god the train in question showed up!

(For the record we weren't on Military Grounds. We were on a Connector road that joins McChord Field with Fort Lewis that is outside the grounds. it is assumed that MP's have jurisdiction over that section.)

[JerryC]

The bell is annoying as hell for recordings.

Here in MD most crossing bells ring for a couple of seconds until the gate is down, and it stops ringing after that.

The locomotive bell, which rings when the horn is blown for the crossing, is also quite annoying.

I forgot to mentiom the time I was questioned by a track gang about possible company affiliation. In 92' I was out chasing trains when I came across a crew working on a turnout. I thought what they were doing waa interesting, so I stayed to watch. I was in an adjacent store parking lot, but after a few minutes passed, a gruff looking fellow in a hardhat ambled over and asked who I was. A little put-off I asked why he wanted know. He said he thought it looked suspicous that I was watching them with a camera in my hand. Realizing how it must have looked to him I explained I was just a foamer roaming the line on my day off. The guy was still suspicious but a little more friendly, said that occasionaly they would spot a Company rep nearby watching them and that the Unions were none too happy about it. He left, I got his drift, moved on down the line.

[buzz456]

Tell them you work for a newspaper. That'll get them to go away.

[ZekTheKid]

Tell them you work for a newspaper. That'll get them to go away.

I don't think they'll believe me, considering my age.

[buzz456]

Tell them you work for a newspaper. That'll get them to go away.

I don't think they'll believe me, considering my age.

Maybe you could masquerade as Jimmy Olsen.

[RickKfoury]

I've had a few run-ins with police while out on the chase. Some have been tense, but you're fine as long as you're not intently trespassing and can explain why you're there and what you're looking for (and honestly, what railfan can't talk about that at length?) After explaining myself I've even had a few nice conversations with officers who showed genuine interest and even gained some valuable information about going-ons in the area. I even met an officer who was a railfan and professional photographer himself. It's just something that happens and will happen and it doesn't have to be tense or frustrating. There will be some officers that might be a little terse, but most respect what we're doing with our hobby. I wouldn't say that cops and railfans don't mix, in the end we're just like anyone else they might inquire about hanging around industrial apparatus that most people wouldn't find interesting.