During my travels last night at work I noticed a large volume of new additional signs near the tracks. PRIVATE PROPERTY NO TRESSPASSING These you can not miss, they are large, and on each side of the tracks and one each side of the crossings ( yes 4 at each crossing), and several evenly placed anywhere near where the public can gain access to the tracks. I live and work in a great rring area, we have the main line running through our town where all east bound traffic passes, with the occasional weigh freight that has to go against the grain to deliver products to lineside businesses. This is a major track that accomodates numerous railroads : Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Via (passenger), Rocky Mtn Scenic ( private tourist), Southern (rail link) and a multitude of maintance equipment (rail grinder, sperry, etc.) It was about 4am that one of the container unit trains had to make a stop to pick up more cars and was waiting for the green light so I stopped and went up in the cab and had a chat with the crew. Yes times are a changin, with not only the threat of terriorism but with the way companies are going now a days with some fairly large layoffs creating disgruntled former employees and of course we can not forget the individual who has not enought to do in life and wants to creat some action, this results in the potential increasing for the unfortunate to occur. With this said one can not blame the companies, they are protecting THEIR property and employees, as well as the public.
What does this mean for the local train watcher and railfans, well I guess we are going to have to respect their wishes and start taking pictures form the roadside and not wandering a ways down the tracks to that favorite spot or to get that great shot.
So far we here have a great rapore with the railway employees, they know, as we stand there camera at ready, that we are not a threat and are just there to take pictures or watch the trains as they work, they always just wave and say hi, and have allowed us a great deal of leniency, this may come to an end, and it will not be the poor employee fault who has to come up to you and ask you to leave. I am working again tonight and will give the rr police a call and if they are out this way have tea with them and get their views on this, but I think I already know what they are going to say.
Just something to concider. Ron..
What does this mean for the local train watcher and railfans, well I guess we are going to have to respect their wishes and start taking pictures form the roadside and not wandering a ways down the tracks to that favorite spot or to get that great shot.
So far we here have a great rapore with the railway employees, they know, as we stand there camera at ready, that we are not a threat and are just there to take pictures or watch the trains as they work, they always just wave and say hi, and have allowed us a great deal of leniency, this may come to an end, and it will not be the poor employee fault who has to come up to you and ask you to leave. I am working again tonight and will give the rr police a call and if they are out this way have tea with them and get their views on this, but I think I already know what they are going to say.
Just something to concider. Ron..