It's a sad for BNSF Railfans. > Following came from a Omaha Newsletter: > > Also, I was informed of a new BNSF declaration that > "ALL PHOTOGRAPHY is prohibited on(of?) BNSF property > unless specifically authorized." "Violations of this > should be reported immediately to proper authorities > for investigation and/or prosecution with all > information including description of individuals, > time/place of incident and vehicles > description/ license numbers."
Don't see this listed on the Media News Releases... Let them try to stop photography "of" anything from a public place. Now if you are "on" their property that is another thing. This 9/11 paranoia is getting way out of hand in so many ways... :zip: :zip: :zip: :zip:
Bleh. On their property is one thing. But if you are not, they have no jurisdiction. :thumbs_down: Boxcab E50
ho hum......... Boy, am I gonna have fun in Sherman next week. Long as I'm off the rr property, they can do nada. Ditto in Saginaw. I respect RR property enough to stay off. And being hardnosed about trepassers is nothing new- shoot, I was railfanning NS in Macon last summer, and they have signs stating that violators will be arrested and vehicles impounded. Shooting from the approved spots (a nice little turnaround at the north entrance to Brosnan Yard) I was never bothered. At the places where I shoot, I'll be fine. This notice isn't going to dissuade me from railfanning for one minute.
I'm really starting to dislike modern railroading more and more. Guess I'll just stick with reading about the glory days of steam.
What? What about me a BNSF card carrying citizen. You know the CFRS (sp) that they had on BNSF web site they wanted railfans to sign up for. I carry my card in my railfan truck in case someone wants to see it. As for me I with the other comments like above^^^^^^ :zip:
I bet home land stupidity had a hand in this on some degree. After the news earlier this week, it wouldn't surprise me. inch
Methinks BNSF is cracking down on trespassers on RR property, which is their right. I wouldn't give 1 nanosecond of worry to that notice. Again, OFF of RR property, you are covered. They can niether arrest you or confiscate your camera or film/digital chip. Let's be reasonable about this statement- do we actually think that BNSF will now send bulldozers into Rochelle, IL, to raze the railfan viewing area? Or head into Saginaw, TX to wall off the tracks with a high wall? I don't think so. Let others be worried- I'm going railfanning.
I can't wait for the next BNSF coal drag to come up through my backyard - I'm gonna shoot some pics, and see what I can do to get them to the BNSF (tarnished) Brass!!! I suspect they intend for this to be a prohibition of photography on BNSF property without permission. I run into this sometimes in Garrett Indiana - usually some probably well meaning maintenance person will come up and say photography isn't permitted - then I politely inform them that there is no prohibition in the public domain, and that the area I take pictures from actually belongs to the City of Garrett - The Garrett Historical Society parking lot.
We had some problems in the UK with staff being belligerent about taking photos of trains on stations. But after a lot of adverse publicity, the train companies issued statements that they welcomed railfans on their property, as they are knowledgeable about railways, are valuable extra sets of eyes and actually added to the security of the railway. Common sense at last! Edit: This only applies to public areas, and trespassing is definitely not allowed.
Seems to me that this notice is just a good reminder not to trespass to get that quality pic- either get a zoom lens for your camera, or dream of what could have been. Being detained for trespassing isn't worth getting that shot. The rest is all paranoia. Stay off RR property, and you're legally covered. No laws exist anywhere prohibting you from taking pics of trains as a general rule, despite what some Barney Fife Wannabe or hardheaded RR employee may think. (and thankfully those type of folks are in the minority). Myth busted! Back to railfanning.............
I see BNSF engines here now then on these CSX tracks, guess they'll be upset if I got a photo or two. Been to cold to much railfaning though. CSX and IC/CN have been purrty good to rail fanners here anyway. I sure hope that don't change. inch
Is there a rule of thumb as to the width of the Right of Way for the RR? Sometimes its not always clear.
No. There isn't. It varies. And, just because you are outside of a fence, and the tracks are on the other side, is no guarantee. People do encroach. Easements are granted... Most r-o-w are at least 50 feet wide. That's 25 feet out, from track centerline, to each side. Some can be 100 feet, and more. Then there are instances where it's tighter. I've seen it down to 20 feet in total width. It's easiest to try picking a very public place. A street. Sidewalk. Park. Business parking lot. Etc. Boxcab E50
Well i normally don't take pictures on RR property anyways. I have made a forum on my train forums the title is Railfanning rights also i know somone who is gonna make a website if it gets any worse.
I'll admit I've been within 25 feet of the tracks (not saying that its smart), though I do favor sidewalks, streets, overpasses, parking lots, etc... Being relatively new to this hobby(obsession), I've not wanted to misstep. I don't like the idea of causing a crew on a train any more stress than they already have. Also I guess that is why I like reading the posts on the trainboard. I've learned alot. thanks
Sounds like business as usual to me. Something found in 'a Omaha newsletter' probably isn't the end of BNSF railfanning as we know it. Every rulebook I ever saw has a prohibition similar to this tacked in it somewhere and most major RRs prohibit photography or trespassing of any kind ON their property. This one has a little more boilerplate to it but so what? Aside from that, the "(off?)" part of the quote reads like a little something for extra effect that BNSF maybe didn't put there.