Watching our railroads

A while back I started a thread about the RR using us railfans to help “police” the rails. Most responded that it won’t happen and I agree but I still think it’s a good idea. The following article is from the aviation magazine called Airliners and written by Jon Proctor.
Our airports and railroads should adopt a similar approach.

“PLANE SPOTTERS GET RESPECT”

While some authorities are chasing them away, police in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland are signing up plane enthusiasts to help them fight terrorism by reporting any suspicious activity around the cities’ airports. Signs are being placed around airport perimeters urging them to join the cause.

“Plane spotters have a great deal of specialist knowledge , and we have decided it would be a good source of intelligence to use this,” said Police Inspector John Beresford. “Since September 11, we have been on a heightened state of alert around airports. Edinburgh is in quite a rural location, so there are no households who might be able to keep an eye on activities. They know the airport staff, when and where planes arrive and take off and what security passes look like. So if they see anything suspicious then we want them to let us know.”

Police are adapting similar tactics at Glasgow. “This is a new initiative,” A spokesman said. “Plane spotters have a good knowledge of airport activity and we are keen to work with them to increase our intelligence.” Added Chris Yates, aviation editor of Jane’s Defense Weekly: “These guys do get a good view of airport activity and would probably notice any significant changes. I can see it working.”

So can we. Are you listening, U.S. airport managers and police?

[and railroads?}

Ehhhh, I will be the first agree with you SST that it is a good idea... However, Police, US Airports and especially the railroads really want nothing to do with railfans. Also, there is a totally different mentality in Europe, believe me, they trust each other far more then we trust our own mothers. People in the U.S. are glad to call the police in the off chance that they might have caught a terrorist watching the trains, police would be swamped with calls 24/7 if people were encouraged to watch the rails. Railroads keep to themselves, which is why all the major companies employ there own police forces.

There is a program that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, of which i am a member, has called "Airport Watch" which promotes the pilots, mechanics and others at general aviation airports to be on the lookout for suspicious persons and report them to the police or TSA. That's a bit different than railfans, though.

see http://www.aopa.org/

The big issue here is recruiting, background investigations, training, retention and liability. The RR's don't have the manpower to send someone to check on every little thing - especially if you get someone who's gung ho on reporting everyone they see crossing the tracks as a shortcut, or fishing on a 4-track trestle with only one track in service and anything else that's simply too minor to make a fuss out of.

I think most people have enough common sense to detect when something's "not right" and to call 911 or the proper authorities. In this day and age of post-9/11, people are always being asked to be more vigilant and to report anything out of the ordinary.

Many police departments are starting volunteer programs to free up officers for the real crime fighting. However, they're also starting to come to realize that such programs are costing them and it gives them another set of headaches to deal with (volunteers who turn out to be cop-wannabe's and the problem types that tend to infiltrate such programs).