Well ya ain't been run off ...

kdthomas · Mar 28, 2015

until ya been run out the rail yard by the BNSF Railroad Police

And yes, they have arrest authority in TX.

I seriously did ask (and get) permission from an employee (the "lead driver" in the control tower), but the cop didn't believe me.

Anyway here's the fruits after being "hassled by the man" (which amounted to taking my picture and recording my drivers license info)

grrr annoying block left frame, need to crop.

FITBMX · Mar 29, 2015

I like the railroad ties in color the best!
Jerks like that always mess up everything!!!

snowbear · Mar 29, 2015

He was doing his job.

I like both color images.

tirediron · Mar 29, 2015

snowbear said:
He was doing his job...

Nooooo.... not if the OP had permission to be there.

snowbear · Mar 29, 2015

Sure - cops are lied to all the time. I agree that a call to the operation tower would have been a real good idea. Maybe I didn't read the post properly but it seems he was allowed to photograph after the encounter.

kdthomas · Mar 29, 2015

Well actually, there was no gate, no "KEEP THE HELL OUT" signs or anything like that, so I set my happy a$$ to shooting. Then I saw a "visitors must sign in" sign, so ... I went to sign in. Found some people, they said talk to the tower people ... the lead driver. Okay, so I drive over, find two people who point out a guy who was the lead driver. Hey man ... can I shoot some pictures? Sure, just stay off the tracks and don't get run over. Thanks!

The cop wasn't really mean. He was annoyed, but very professional, no profanity, or shouting or anything like that. He just [said that he] couldn't believe that someone would tell me it was okay. I even described the guy to him. At the end of it he's said that I wasn't in any trouble but that I might be if I ever went onto railroad property again. I even showed him the pictures on the LCD.

The truth is in the middle ground ... these guys have a lot of responsibility, and at the same time (usually) a lot of liability and accountability. From his standpoint, there's some guy traipsing around that's going to fall or get run over and sue the place. Or worse, be some whacked-out looloo who wants to go all Weatherman direct-action on the place. He probably did ask the employee "did you let him in here?" what's the guy gonna say. "Um ... no I've never seen him before"

The real truth: I should've asked for security people. But I was having to balance losing the light and doing the right thing.

I got some shots and no one got hurt. Yay! :headbang: