Railroad question

[gramps]

Maybe Belmondo can help with this. Has anyone ever been able to "roam" in the train yard in Barstow, CA? Seems that is might be a good spot to get some train pics.

[Belmondo]

Gramps:
Barstow is a great place to trains watch. There's a lot of traffic though there. The railroads are pretty sensitive about people just wandering around on their properties, however. I've been chased in similar places...Reno/Sparks, Indio, and other major facilities.

As a rough rule of thumb, if the railroad has permanent facilities (i.e. a yard office, dispatcher, etc., they will also have at least occasional visits from railroad police who will give you a hard time. Ironically, almost anywhere on their systems along the thousands of miles of unsupervised mainlines, you can wander around to your heart's content.

In Barstow, on the east side of the yard, you can drive down to the tracks and get a good vantage point from there. Also, there's a neat little museum down there.

I have to confess that I'm not terribly familiar with Barstow. It's really just a place to get gas on the way to Las Vegas, and I rarely have the opportunity to explore. There are bound to be countless good places to watch trains, and it's a small enough town that it shouldn't take very long to find them.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[gramps]

Thanks much, the info on the east end and the museum is a start. I drive thru there about once a month. When I worked in So. Cal and would have to travel for the company I'd alway go by train. Going thru the Barstow yard was always sorta neat.

[stoneylonesome]

One must also consider the heightened security that we are now in, I would think that anyone walking around a yard with a camera is just opening themselfs up to be detained and questioned, best to find a way to get permission. I know here in Connecticut the RR has instructed the local police that they can arrest anyone found on the rights of way (property). This security stuff is now starting to verge on the ridicules, why out here you can no longer fish under a bridge, and everyone knows that's where some of the best fish are. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[RJSorensen]

I think a lot of companies are using post 9-11 as an excuse to do some 'nasty' things. Seems the the flag, motherhood and some apple pie make all kinds of silly things now OK. It ani't. A lot (IMO) of companies are using surveillance of the grounds and buildings, remote and live, with 'security' the stated reason. They are just using it to monitor the employees . . . what will cause the backlash? It is out there and coming.

[ILoutdoorcpl]

Hello. I'm a signalman with Norfolk Southern working on the Illinois division which includes two major yards, Chicago and Decatur. We have our own police that are based out of our larger yards and they will either run off or arrest tresspassers. My suggestion would be to look for a yard with an overpass or catch the trains as they are entering or leaving.
I cant even begin to count the number of times we have been photographed installing crossings and signal projects. We usually have no problem with it as long as the photographer is not in our way or fouling the track but keep in mind that this normally happens out along the main line somewhere and not in a yard.
Since 9/11 we have been issued photo IDs and employees are instructed to report anyone that looks out of place. You might want to stop at the yard office and introduce yourself to the railroad dicks (police) and see what they say. The worst that can happen is you're told you cant be there, if they catch you on the property you may end up being detained for a while.
Best of luck and I'd love to see some of your photos. Jim

[stoneylonesome]

Not all of it is related to 9/11 security, A lot of it is liability. Working in an Engineering Dept for a Town with a major RR line running through it, everytime we have to do work withen there right of way we have to go through a safety program and be issued a photo ID which is good for 1 year. The only reason on the RR part is liability, don't one run over by a train.

[Tom W]

Hello. I'm a signalman with Norfolk Southern working on the Illinois division which includes two major yards, Chicago and Decatur. We have our own police that are based out of our larger yards and they will either run off or arrest tresspassers. My suggestion would be to look for a yard with an overpass or catch the trains as they are entering or leaving.

You've got some friendly folks in NS - I've had more than one good chat with an engineer or conductor. There's some double-track near my home, and I work it occasionally for pictures. Once in a while, trains get stacked up and the engineer or conductor gets out to stretch his legs.

I cant even begin to count the number of times we have been photographed installing crossings and signal projects. We usually have no problem with it as long as the photographer is not in our way or fouling the track but keep in mind that this normally happens out along the main line somewhere and not in a yard.

I'd never thought that signal installation was photogenic, but then I've never watched it being done. I generally stick to trains themselves.

Since 9/11 we have been issued photo IDs and employees are instructed to report anyone that looks out of place. You might want to stop at the yard office and introduce yourself to the railroad dicks (police) and see what they say. The worst that can happen is you're told you cant be there, if they catch you on the property you may end up being detained for a while.
Best of luck and I'd love to see some of your photos. Jim

Heh heh - "railroad dicks" - I hadn't heard that term in many years. Used to get a little chuckle out of it, though (in that teenage "beavis and butthead" kind of way).

I agree, sometimes, the railroad folks are very friendly, but you don't want to go wandering around the switchyard. Better to get to know them and learn where you may or may not be allowed to go. As Jim says, its not just 9/11 but also liability issues. If you walk out in front of a train and get squished to smithereens, even though its your own fault, the lawyers will find a way to squeeze money out of the railroads.

[musthavemuzk]

OK since this seems to be all about RR pics any tips on getting good shots?

i grew up in Boone, IA where trains are a big thing. in town there is the Boone and Scenic Valley RR, the Kate Shelley High Bridge, Pufferbilly Days, the CNW was bought out a few years back by the UP. so trains are a part of the town.
with me way up north now and getting into photography i am always looking for tips and such to improve the shots i may end up with.

i have taken a few of the Kate Shelley and some at the Scenic line station. some good some not so good.

Monty

[ILoutdoorcpl]

Tom,
I've never thought of a crossing or signal installation as being something to photograph either, amazes me how many people do lol. One shot I've been meaning to do is at a gated crossing at night with a slow shutter speed to catch the gates coming down and the train on the island circuit. I think the blurred effect of the gates, lights and train might be interesting.