Encounter With CSX Police @ Buffalo Central Terminal

videobruce wrote:A complete waste of time. They know what is going on there. They know the property limits. The letter needs to go to your elected officials as far up the chain as possible and I don't mean town/city/village either!

What good will that do? CSX police - private company. BCT folks - private organization. All private property involved here. There's nothing that the elected officials can do. Chalk this one up to a misunderstanding on the part of the RR cop and an inconvenience for the restoration group.

You don't seem to have any better ideas other than to be argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.

Look at it this way, the restoration group should be thankful that the CSX cop was there watching the area. What if it were a group of kids looking to vandalize the place he was stopping? I don't think the restoration group would be complaining then. The cop is not gonna know who they are and what they're doing there until he takes a few minutes to ask questions and collect ID's. Technically he's off his territory by only a few feet - but like I said, he doesn't carry survey maps with him and likely assumed the platform was CSX property. Obviously the Buffalo PD didn't see a problem and left.

I don't see what the problem is. When cops see people hanging around where they don't belong (or so it appears), they're gonna stop and question you.

What good will that do?

Ok, roll over and play dead.

You don't seem to have any better ideas other than to be argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.

The suggestions were presented and exactly what are you doing?

the restoration group should be thankful that the CSX cop was there watching the area

Where were they 15 years ago? All of a sudden everyone is concerned? The damage was done in the middle to late eighties and early nineties.

What if it were a group of kids looking to vandalize the place he was stopping? The cop is not gonna know who they are and what they're doing there until he takes a few minutes to ask questions and collect ID's

He has a very good idea who they are long before he sees any ID's. Who are you kidding? If he or any other cop that knows the area can't tell the difference between kids about to vandalize something and reasonable decent looking people looking at something he needs a different job.

When cops see people hanging around where they don't belong (or so it appears), they're gonna stop and question you.

Questioning is one thing, this goes well beyond that.

It's obvious you have never been harrassed!

videobruce wrote:Where were they 15 years ago? All of a sudden everyone is concerned? The damage was done in the middle to late eighties and early nineties.

Things were a little different when Conrail was in town, no preservation movement was in place and people weren't flying planes into occupied office towers. Conrail pretty much abandoned the place with no intention on preservation or continued operation - so they had no reason to care about what happened to the place. The station was built to last, so no imminent neet to implode the place. They didnt' care - the building outlived its usefulness.

He has a very good idea who they are long before he sees any ID's. Who are you kidding? If he or any other cop that knows the area can't tell the difference between kids about to vandalize something and reasonable decent looking people looking at something he needs a different job.

You'd be very surprised what you'd find if you ran a NCIC check on some "decent looking people" and some kids that look like they're about to vandalize.

Questioning is one thing, this goes well beyond that.

When the CSX cop pulls his PR-24 and starts beating a railfan senseless for no reason other than simple trespass, then come talk to me. Bottom line - he saw, he questioned, he left. Get over it.

It's obvious you have never been harrassed!

I've been "harrassed" and arrested before - big deal... cop was doing his job. In the end, turned out to be minor annoyances / inconveniences - charge dismissed, shook hands with the cop and life goes on.

I've been "harrassed" and arrested before - big deal... cop was doing his job. In the end, turned out to be minor annoyances / inconveniences - charge dismissed,

If you don't mind being put through that ordeal, inconveniced and publicly embarrassed, that's you, but I can't image too many others that would roll over and play dead.

what is the reason for saveing this abandoned building anyways is it going to be used for a museum, small stores, or offices?

videobruce wrote:If you don't mind being put through that ordeal, inconveniced and publicly embarrassed, that's you, but I can't image too many others that would roll over and play dead.

I knew the charge was BS, so did the cop (but he had to do it - these things happen when you get into a fight with your psycho ex), so did my ex when she had a few days to think about what she did, as well as the DA. Ex was a no-show at court, charges dropped. The alternative: tell the cop "f---- off pig", resist and be in a world of pain on top of charges of resisting and disorderly conduct. I treated the cop with respect and he did the same... let me sit in an open interview room instead of a holding cell, got me a soda, paper to read, let me use the phone to let my girlfriend know what was going on for the duration of my detention, etc... while we were waiting for the judge to come in for a quick arraignment.

Moral of the story - go with the flow, let the cop do his job and things in the end will be much much easier. You treat him with respect and he'll return the favor and you'll be on your way. Some cops are assholes - there's no dispute there, but the majority that I've dealt with over the years are true professionals.

SRS125 wrote:what is the reason for saveing this abandoned building anyways is it going to be used for a museum, small stores, or offices?

To preserve history.

I say attach shaped charges to the structural members on the first two floors, push the button and be gone with the eyesore in 30 seconds.

Buffalo is the armpit of NY who's heyday has come and gone as the place struggles with financial ruin from years of fiscal mismanagement. If the place can't afford toilet paper for it's offices - it sure as hell can't subsidize the restoration of a decaying structure in a bad neighborhood.

If there is no real reason to use this building for anything then maybe it should be leveled and the land redeveloped. I hope the state is not wateing my tax money on helping on this project. I can put it this way if this building were here in Auburn it would have seen Arosn fire then see the recking ball. Land would become a nice houseing project or a small strip mall or parking lot.

If there is no real reason to use this building for anything then maybe it should be leveled and the land redeveloped. I hope the state is not wateing my tax money on helping on this project. I can put it this way if this building were here in Auburn it would have seen Arosn fire then see the recking ball. Land would become a nice houseing project or a small strip mall or parking lot.

Heyy Yeaa!! Wow, thats the answer, I can't beleave we didn't think of that before!! Bulldoze our treasured past, and put up a f$%#ing mini mall!!

It is the hopes of everyone involved in the Central Terminal that the building will be restored to its former glory. We can no longer tolerate by our indifference the culture of destructiveness and neglect that have turned our cities into wastelands. The BCTRC has begun the process and taken the steps to rectify the historic wrong done to this landmark building. To ignore our past is to squander our present and condemn our future to failure. The examples of failure to heed this advice are everywhere.

To answer another question of yours, we just received a $10,000 grant from the state to plant trees along Memorial Drive. But, maybe a mini mall might look better. What does everyone think?

In a earler post, someone said that CSX drives a BRONCO

WOW! Those have not been built in 20 years, that thing must be a rust bucket by now.
Maybe CSX can't afford something newer. They keep paying big bucks for shiny new locomotives!

"To answer another question of yours, we just recieved a $10,000 grant from the state to plant trees along Memorial Drive. But, maybe a mini mall might look better. What does everyone think?"

Sim: NO NO NO. The 10 large should go to something useful maybe like

A multi story crack house with a clock or a casino.....
better yet make it the Western New York Institute for the Study
of Correct Speling
please opine

STEAM ON
/--OOO--~-oo--oo-

Yo, SRS125- what's with the sour grapes all the time? Why are you so grumpy all the time? You're taking it out on all of us here and the hobby in general. If you don't have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself.

Everyone else- don't jump all over SRS125 just because he's in a bad mood and felt like picking on the Terminal today.

Now- back to the topic at hand?

-otto-

Alcoman wrote:In a earler post, someone said that CSX drives a BRONCO

WOW! Those have not been built in 20 years, that thing must be a rust bucket by now.
Maybe CSX can't afford something newer. They keep paying big bucks for shiny new locomotives!

I think the poster used Bronco as a generic referece to a large 4WD SUV.

I really lost track of the topic here.
As far as the Central Terminal is concerned. I surely would like to see it
preserved but I sincerely question just what sort of a future it really has.
There is no doubt in my mind that Buffalo is suffering from hard times,
probably more than any other major metropolitan area in New York State.
Realistically, I do not see Buffalo making any sort of a quick recovery.
The major loss of heavy industry in the whole northeast has hit Buffalo
really hard.
Some of you may be thinking that I am hitting on Buffalo, this is not so, I
worked out there from Selkirk for ten years and liked working that line at
that time. Buffalo is not alone with this problem, just take a ride up the
Naugatuck Valley in Connecticut and you will see abandoned factories,
urban decay and other evidence of an area slipping downhill. You can
even do this one by train by riding the Metro-North Waterbury Branch.
I might add that I met some mighty fine people in Buffalo while I was
working the line.
It has probably been around 35 years since I have been in the building in
question but I remember how solid it appeared to be and what a
monument to transportation it was in its time.
I can think of a parallel situation in Albany where the old New York Central
station was closed down in late 1968 and laid vacant for a long time. The
building was solid but the roof leaked and there was a problem with much
water damage and other problems as well. Finally, a bank NORSTAR at
the time took over the property and restored the building for its
headquarters. It is still in use as a regional center for Bank of America.
Another similiar situation, also in Albany, is the old Delaware and Hudson
building in downtown Albany, the State University took over the entire
building at today, it is quite productive and useful. It is a beautiful
structure and stands out.
For the Buffalo building to survive, I think it will need a similiar savior,
maybe a bank, college or similiar institution to use the entire upper floors.
The old station area (waiting rooms, concourse etc) should be a museum
or some sort of a display area.
The neighborhood is no better than marginal at best and whatever goes in
there, if anything, will need security and that will cost money.
I wish the people in Buffalo much success and luck but I truly think they
face an uphill situation, not hopeless though.
Noel Weaver

Buffalo is the armpit of NY who's heyday has come and gone as the place struggles with financial ruin from years of fiscal mismanagement. If the place can't afford toilet paper for it's offices - it sure as hell can't subsidize the restoration of a decaying structure in a bad neighborhood.

Outsider myth #1 The "armpit" of WNY is Erie County gov't. The REAL reason Buffalo has problem (along with just about all cities in the NE is suburban apathy, you left with your $$ to suburbia, supposed greener pastures instead of staying where it was fine to live for 100+ years.

what is the reason for saveing this abandoned building anyways

This isn't the suburbs where everything is torn down that older than 5 or 10 years to make way for something else that will be torn down in 5 or 10 years.! Just as those foolish home remodeling shows that deplict a new house getting remodeled with it's cheap chalk dust & paper walls some people call drywall.

If there is no real reason to use this building for anything then maybe it should be leveled and the land redeveloped. I hope the state is not wateing my tax money on helping on this project. I can put it this way if this building were here in Auburn it would have seen Arosn fire then see the recking ball. Land would become a nice houseing project or a small strip mall or parking lot.

More forward thinking; another useless, tastless strip mall and parking lot! You people just don't get it! BTW, your tax dollars that you were crying about would only go to that developer for tax breaks.........

we just received a $10,000 grant from the state to plant trees along Memorial Drive. But, maybe a mini mall might look better

It could go to another ScabMart for another China importer/no pay for overtime/hire illegal aliens BlowMart store! Nope, that won't work BlowMart doesn't build in cities, more suburbian mentality.