by emfinite
Well today was my first time getting busted for railroad photography.
The day started at 8:30am at Farmingdale station watching the morning rush go by. I decided to drive to Hicksville and possibly catch a freight train and get a photo with fresh snow. I parked my car, walked up the staircase on the east end of the station and went to the far west end of platform B (apparently, you're asking for it if you seclude yourself down there with a camera!). I am taking photos up the wazoo of both eastbound and westbound trains waving to each engineer that goes by, which in return got me a wave and some cases a toot on the horn.
I recognized an engineer I knew on a train that originates in Hicksville (#1233) and he asked me to come inside so I didn't freeze my ass off, so I did. I got my first real look at the cab of an M7 while he showed me the process of going through a brake test. He also let me turn the lights in each car on and off from the computer screen (that computer is awesome!). But the time came for his departure and I got off the train.
So about 30 minutes later I am still snapping away, same location on the platform. I turn around and look east down track 2 and a shiny badge catches my eye. I said to myself, "here's one for Railroad.net!!!"
The officer walks up to me and asked me how I was doing. I gave a cheerful, "good morning, sir!" He asked me what I was doing taking photographs of the railroad station. I told him I was shooting trains and that I was a railfan. He passed good judgement on me and knew I was harmless. He asked to see the shots I had on my digital camera, so I showed him while he was copying down the information off of my license and also jotting down a description of my clothing. I kept my cool the whole time and remained friendly to the officer. Both of us actually made conversation with each other and he commented on how he dislikes the M7s and that he graduated from the same high school I did. When done communicating back to headquarters saying that it was a "controlled situation", we chatted a bit more about "incidents" like this that get posted on the internet and how people bit*h and moan about the subject.
I brought up the topic of the MTA giving railroad photographers licenses to shoot on station platforms and he agreed with me and said he was all for it. He said it was a shame that a few people ruin it for everyone and I agreed. I told him that railfans can spot things that are out of the ordinary. Just as I finished that statement, an off duty engineer waiting to deadhead looked at me and said, "another railfan terroist, huh" with a smile on his face. I said, yeah, and all of us chuckled.
I mentioned to the officer how my shots sometimes are published in Railpace Magazine (Rumourpace, right Mike?) and he said he would love to see them. As he escorted me down the steps back to my car, I told him I would run and get the magazine to show him. He loved the shots and took a few minutes to look at them and then apologized for "ruining my day." I told him I knew he was just doing his job and I respected the MTA's wishes.
I have a pretty neutral stance on today's events, but I figured I would share the experience with everyone. I am not mad or dissapointed. I know that a few people on this forum have had run-ins like this with local or MTA police and have had a hard time. Believe me when I tell you this, remain cool and be friendly with the officer at all times. Cooperate and make it obvious you are just there for your beloved hobby and you will have no problem. Sure, I was shooed off the platform today, but I didn't fight or have a hard time with the officer, it ended on good terms. The officer that questioned me today was more than supportive of railroad photography and even pointed me to a website he enjoys.
Joe
The day started at 8:30am at Farmingdale station watching the morning rush go by. I decided to drive to Hicksville and possibly catch a freight train and get a photo with fresh snow. I parked my car, walked up the staircase on the east end of the station and went to the far west end of platform B (apparently, you're asking for it if you seclude yourself down there with a camera!). I am taking photos up the wazoo of both eastbound and westbound trains waving to each engineer that goes by, which in return got me a wave and some cases a toot on the horn.
I recognized an engineer I knew on a train that originates in Hicksville (#1233) and he asked me to come inside so I didn't freeze my ass off, so I did. I got my first real look at the cab of an M7 while he showed me the process of going through a brake test. He also let me turn the lights in each car on and off from the computer screen (that computer is awesome!). But the time came for his departure and I got off the train.
So about 30 minutes later I am still snapping away, same location on the platform. I turn around and look east down track 2 and a shiny badge catches my eye. I said to myself, "here's one for Railroad.net!!!"
The officer walks up to me and asked me how I was doing. I gave a cheerful, "good morning, sir!" He asked me what I was doing taking photographs of the railroad station. I told him I was shooting trains and that I was a railfan. He passed good judgement on me and knew I was harmless. He asked to see the shots I had on my digital camera, so I showed him while he was copying down the information off of my license and also jotting down a description of my clothing. I kept my cool the whole time and remained friendly to the officer. Both of us actually made conversation with each other and he commented on how he dislikes the M7s and that he graduated from the same high school I did. When done communicating back to headquarters saying that it was a "controlled situation", we chatted a bit more about "incidents" like this that get posted on the internet and how people bit*h and moan about the subject.
I brought up the topic of the MTA giving railroad photographers licenses to shoot on station platforms and he agreed with me and said he was all for it. He said it was a shame that a few people ruin it for everyone and I agreed. I told him that railfans can spot things that are out of the ordinary. Just as I finished that statement, an off duty engineer waiting to deadhead looked at me and said, "another railfan terroist, huh" with a smile on his face. I said, yeah, and all of us chuckled.
I mentioned to the officer how my shots sometimes are published in Railpace Magazine (Rumourpace, right Mike?) and he said he would love to see them. As he escorted me down the steps back to my car, I told him I would run and get the magazine to show him. He loved the shots and took a few minutes to look at them and then apologized for "ruining my day." I told him I knew he was just doing his job and I respected the MTA's wishes.
I have a pretty neutral stance on today's events, but I figured I would share the experience with everyone. I am not mad or dissapointed. I know that a few people on this forum have had run-ins like this with local or MTA police and have had a hard time. Believe me when I tell you this, remain cool and be friendly with the officer at all times. Cooperate and make it obvious you are just there for your beloved hobby and you will have no problem. Sure, I was shooed off the platform today, but I didn't fight or have a hard time with the officer, it ended on good terms. The officer that questioned me today was more than supportive of railroad photography and even pointed me to a website he enjoys.
Joe
I was chatting with the engineer and didn't think to take a shot.
