Im a fan/not a boss

While in Lockport this past weekend I came across the CSX Lockport job
working the Delphi Harrison plant in west Lockport. I've been trying to
catch up with this job for along time and my stupid luck finally fell right.
Problem is I spooked the crew as they switched out the plant as I watched from Stuart Saunders Blvd along the south side of the tracks.
They gave me more than a passing glance and after a conversation
between themselfs gave me more stares. Talk about unnerving!!
The last thing I want to do is make anyone nervous or annoyed ,working
or not. When I realised what was going on I exited my car and strode
over trackside to talk to the conductor who was at the east switch of
runaround. A smile broke out when I assured him I was not a boss but
"just " a goofy railfan. I told him I thought bosses hid out in the weeds
trying to catch crews screwing up but he told me not always.

What am I doing wrong? This has happened to me before.
Twice last year in Dewitt a crewmen came up and interviewed ME.
First y-220 as they worked the Chrysler plant one afternoon and the
NYS&W sy-1 as they were waiting to get out of the yard.

When I railfan I try very hard not to look like a foamer( no " I love
SD-40's" tee shirts, no enginner cap with 97 fallen flag buttons,etc) but
just my normal casual street clothes. I don't have "offical" looking decals
on my non discript Dodge P/U or the wifes Intrepid. I must look offical
( what ever that means) or something but its getting old fast.
Are these crews that much under the gun in this post merger era or is
it something else. Im not close to looking like a terroist(I think) or maybe
not. notLOL. Has this happened to you people? How about some of you
operating craft personnel out there,please chime in. I feel like quitting.

STEAM ON
/--OOO--:-oo--oo-

You have to kinda take it in stride. We know the company mangement has people out watching us. It's not a real big deal, but more akin to someone peering over your shoulder waiting for you to forget to dot an i or cross a t, and take you outa service for it, all while your writing that 1,000 word essay due for class tomorrow. Since M.Ward came to CSX this last year as COO, they have put alot more preasure on lower management to get out and observe those crews and catch 'em violating rules. I also believe they are required to observe so many crews a month. We even have a access to a reporting site which we can lookup our record and see when we were observed and if any violations were noted. Secondly, we're alot more observant of "who" is watching and for "what" reasons since 9/11. It's just the sign of the times.

I just started my trainservice classes out west on Union Pacific and we watched a video on this very subject. I don't know about bosses spying on crews, but Railroads are EXTREMELY nervous about people watching their operations since 9/11. We were taught to make as many observations as possible about ANYONE seen observing and/or photographing anything railroad related and report them to the RR Police or even local authorites if necessary. Having been on the other side of the fence, I can sympathize, but now it's my job. Please be careful and do what the train crews tell you and don't be defiant. We are allowed to physically remove people from the property if it's not a risk to our safety. As a former bar bouncer, I can pretty much say with certainty that a belligerent railfan will not pose a problem to me. It's a shame that it comes down to this, but times have certainly changed. Good luck and I hope you don't have any more problems.

Steelwheels,
A friendly word of caution about handling "trespassers". Be careful! You'd be much better off if someone was interfering with your operations by callin the Police, (railroad or local) with litigation problems and all, not to mention, it's not part of your job assignment and could cause problems with your employer. not to mention civilly you'd be personally liable for your actions. Let the boys that get pd for that handle it. We're pd to handle frieght cars, not people.
Good Luck, have a safe career

Bring a newspaper, drink some soda, park where everyone else does (if not on someone else's property). I'd almost say they are trying to figure out who you are...or if they are trying to figure out your someone they know and can't remember you name!

I have a friend who drives a white cargo van he gets the same same thing from many of the CSX MOW and Train Crews. Some people look a little odd I guess. I had a short run in like this once while in Savannah, NY when CSX was replaceing ties 2 mow guys thought I was a formen. As odd as it was I was driveing a White Ford Escort I told them that I was just a railfan and offered to drive them to there truck which was about 3 miles down the road.

I am familiar with the area that 0-6-0 was in. Old Saunders Settlement Road. There's no traffic there and anyone driving down that road or parked along there sticks out like a sore thumb.

I used to watch from my bike with my scanner, but that was way back in the early 90s way before 9/11.

0-6-0 did you swing by the FRRR yard while you were up there? I was in town this weekend and drove by, nothing notable.

WANF-11, what did you think about the B794 conductor gettin hit by a rock thrown by youths in your home town last thursday night? I would be very interested if you might have heard who threw it, and so would the Monroe co Sheriff's. Conductor recieved a nasty abraision across his chin checked out ok at hosp.

My wife showed me that in the paper. It's terrible. Lousy hoodlums.

Sorry I dont know anything about it. I live some distance away from the tracks, but if I hear anything I'll be sure to let the authorities know!

chaser; Yeah I did check out the FRRR yard but it was pretty quiet. I know
they worked Thrusday as their setouts were picked up by the local I
saw on Friday. Now I need to spot the train working the switch back
up to the chemical plant off the Sommerset line. Speaking of which ,how
many other switch back operations still exist in New York State. I can't
think of an other.
STEAM ON
/--OOO--:-oo--oo-

roadster wrote:Conductor recieved a nasty abraision across his chin checked out ok at hosp.

Very lucky that's all he got. Gunshots fired at trains in the vicinity of CP373 is not unheard of around here.

0-6-0, I have been a railroad employee going on 18 years(come January 20th). I have worked with all types of characters and have met quite a few trackside as well. Most everyone knows me as a "buff" at work, and I know for a fact there are more out there in the rank and file than we may be led to believe. That being said, I think what has happened to you can be attributed to a couple of factors. If a crew has been under the gun by management for say the past couple of weeks and are being monitored(for any number of reasons), the last thing the crew needs is someone approaching them, or seeing the same vehicle drive past them more than once. it's more paranoia than personal. Second, several employees are just that; employees who have no interest in the railroad aside from their time on duty. they do not like being watched; feel like they are working in a fish bowl, and simply want to be left alone. Problem is, these types sometimes have no sense of diplomacy or tact and will even go out of their way to harass and annoy railfans.
I was recently asked by a friend and railfan(but not an RR employee) why when he is out trackside in the mornings none of the crews so much as smile and even give nasty looks sometimes. I explained that at 7AM, or even 11AM, most of these guys have been up all night while he was home sleeping and are understandably tired. I work with a conductor who is not a buff by any means but knows that there are those with an interest in his livelyhood. I have seen him invite guys and their kids into the engine while we are stopped(and I've done the same) and he knows that the smile on a child's face(young or old) is priceless. For someone who is not an enthusiast, he has remarkable tolerance, both of my interests and those of others.
I was (as were a lot of us in the industry) told after September 11th that we are to be extra vigilant in our duties and report that which we are suspicious of. I see the same guys in the same spots on the mainline I operate over, and have seen these guys long before the Terrorist Attacks. I know (I like to think I do, anyway) when someone is harmless or has an interst that send up the flags and sets off the alarms. But with paranoia about mangement, about potential vandals/terrorists, and about that which is unknown, There will be instances like those you relate. Please don't give up the hobby becasue of it; its not worth it, and it only gives someone else some perverse satisfaction. Railfan responsibly, and over time those who see you on a regular basis will eventually come to the knowledge that you mean no harm. Don't get discouraged.

I was very matter of factly told several times not to include the crews in my pictures by some crew members. As a rule I don't- primarily because they asked. Likewise I go to great digital lengths to make sure everyone has safety glasses/hearing plugs/hardhats/feet where they belong, etc.

That said; more of the crews than not give a genuine wave back. I still think they say "f**king nut" when they do it...they might be right.

Tom H>

As a railfan, I always try to put myself in the position of the rail employees. I work in an office, and I try to imagine how I would feel if a couple "office buffs" were hanging around outside watching what transpires. I'm sure I would feel a little uncomfortable. Perhaps they are the office buff equivalents of foamers, and just barge onto the property of my employer to engage me in a debate over flourescent lighting vs. incandescent. My reaction would probably be "I never thought about it" or something like that. But I might find it to be an imposition that they are a distraction in my workspace.

Now if I am distracted at work, it's not a big deal. It would be an inconvenience, but nobody is going to get hurt. But a distraction to an engineer or a conductor spotting cars could get somebody killed. I don't know how many times I've seen railfans call over to an obviously busy rail employee to ask some inane question.

As railfans, we ask a lot of railroad people. Nobody wants to work in a fishbowl, and I don't think too many people would feel comfortable in their jobs with other people hanging around taking their pictures, listening to their communications, and second-guessing their decisions. Despite what a few foamers out there might think, railroads and their people are not a form of entertainment. Railroads are a business, and to the employees, they are their livelihoods. We owe them that respect, as well as gratitude for their patience.

that was great, I don't think I've read a better comparison. Thank you,
Idiot Railfan. I used to be on that side of the camera, (seems like ages ago) although the job has altered my views of the hobby I still enjoy seeing and speaking with buffs when I have a free moment. If I'm busy I am concerning myself with my job and the numerous safety issues and preformance, and may not be smiling as I contemplate holding onto the side of a boxcar which I am about to shove about half a mile. It's nothing to do with the buffs. Just continue to respect the private property, and enjoy the hobby from a safe, and legal viewing area.