If there was a national database of railfans, where each member would be a confirmed railfan, and each carried a professionaly printed card (anti-tamper, forgery-proof?) indicating their membership, that would solve two problems:
1. Firstly the railroads and their police can ask any "suspicious" person lurking near their property taking photos for their ID, and immediately discount them as a threat.
2. Secondly, the same railfans can report suspicious activity of non-card-carrying lurkers to the very same railroads and their police for anti-terrorism purposes.
Everybody happy. Or is that too simple and already thought of?
Geoff M.
cajon Member # 40
posted
Read the threads started by RJMamula in this topic.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Not trying to sound rude here, but... why? He may or may not be a suspicious person, but I can't find anything about registered railfans, unless I've missed one?
Geoff M.
cajon Member # 40
posted
Could RJMamula qualify as a registered railfan. Some responders don't think so.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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I think I see your point now, which is why I suggest a "confirmed railfan" rather than just anybody signing up. Is that what you meant?
Geoff M.
cajon Member # 40
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Yes. But this 9/11 stuff is getting to the point of paranoia. Just go out & railfan. Just be careful & don't draw attention to yourselves by trespassing, etc.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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But "just being a railfan" is exactly the problem. People have been marched off by the police for taking photos on public ground, way off railroad property.
Geoff M.
cajon Member # 40
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Your reaction is the kind of paranoia that's all too prevalent on the railfan boards. NO substance. My friends & I are always out raifanning & NEVER being marched off anywhere. Try it you'll like it!
Eric Member # 674
posted
In this corner we have...
coach34135 Member # 1979
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quote:Originally posted by Eric: In this corner we have...
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Cops can't prove you are a terrorist or a railfan so they have no ground to take you in. Hell if ya gotta bunch of cameras, photos and mags in your car it's obvious you are a railfan.
csxfan_dan Member # 2099
posted
Busted for fanning..... got to add that to the others. Lets see last bust was 20 years ago. May as well start back with something. I.D. Card not on my life,Love my country don't trust my Govt.
[This message has been edited by csxfan_dan (edited 11-24-2002).]
MPALMER Member # 125
posted
Would this be like a US version of a 'platform ticket' that you can buy at some UK stations?
I personally don't want another id card, but I have on occasion gone to a station manager's office in advance to get an ok to wander around and take pictures. This was many years ago, probably after a couple of vandalism-caused derailments had occurred in the area where I live.
jmc80mac2 Member # 2076
posted
i can remember 5 years ago, I went to Las Vegas and went on a trip to Southern California. I stopped in Dagget and was sitting at the grade crossing where the Mohave Sub comes into the Needles Sub ( I am sorry if that is incorrect) I am from the eat. i had on my Conrail hat and a sheriff cam out of no where and went past me at a high rate of spped. he traveled down the road about 1 mile and then turned around. he stopped right in back of me, got out of his car, I was already out looking at a train and he asked me for identification. I gave him everything and as i told you I had my Conrail hat on. he did check me out, I did h ave to explain to him what I was doing there and he saw that i had a rental car. Once he saw that everything was Ok he did go in his way.
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