|
|
| Railroad Magazine article on railfan harrassment...from December, 1940! (798502) | |||
 |
|||
| Home > SubChat | |||
|
[ Read Responses | Post a New Response | Return to the Index ] |
|
||
|
Railroad Magazine article on railfan harrassment...from December, 1940! |
|
|
Posted by ntrainride on Sat Jun 20 10:56:10 2009 This is especially directed to certain smug individuals on this board who think that railfan harrassment is a recent phenomena, blaming the legal problems railfans get into on, according to them, excessive concern about the possibility of terrorism. (You know, the references to diapers and whatnot) Folks making that claim should definitely read this article. And consider that it was written almost 70 years ago. It's a little long but I'm gonna simply transcribe this from the magazine:Fifth Columminists ALTHOUGH we all agree that every reasonable precaution should be taken to protect the United States against "fifth columnists", we see no good reason why peaceful railfans along the Eastern seaboard should be molested or thrown into jail merely for pursuing their hobby in a legitimate manner. We asked A. N. Wecksler of Washington, D.C. to put this problem up to leaders of the railroad industry there. Wecksler first approached Robert S. Henry. Mr. Henry is assistant to the president of the Association of American Railroads and head of the AAR public relations bureau, as well as author of the popular book, Trains. Mr. Henry declared that instead of discouraging the railcamera hobby, officials should extend courtesy and cooperation, provided the fans in no way jeopardize their own safety or regular operation of the roads. To hang suspicion of spying or fifth-column activities on rail photographers, the executive stated, is just a lot of poppycock. "Just how could a railroad photo help the Fifth Column?" he asked, pointing out that there were a dozen sources of pictures, drawing, designs and charts of the American railroad industry, including the yards and buildings, available to anyone free of charge or at small cost. Certainly it would be cheaper and easier, he said, to buy this material than to tramp around for miles makeing photos. "Why, to call a peaceful camera fan a fifth columist is ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "You probably couldn't take a railroad picture in the entire country that isn't on file now and easily obtainable." Mr. Henry said there hasn't been an engine produced in America in the last fifty years that embodies any secrets of design or power. This country does build fine locomotives, but their excellence is a matter of craftsmanship, not of secret invention. "It would be stupid of foreign agents to waste their time duplicating pictures already on file", he said. "No, the railcamera men are not doing anything that true American citizens should not do". Changing the subject somewhat, Mr. Henry called on railfans to cooperate with the railroad companies with regard to picture-taking, in order to safeguard the nation's lines of defense. There is, of course, the danger of sabotage. If people go out on the right-of-way without first notifying the railroad authorities of their identity and of their purpose, they are, to a certain extent, aiding the saboteurs. It is a well-known fact that spies have operated in many lands under the guise of photographers. Not evertybody who carries a black box is necessarily peace-loving or patriotic. "The box may contain something other than film," Mr. Henry warned. "There might be just enough explosive in it to twist a rail or do other damage." All of this, he went on, does not mean that railfans should not take pictures. It means simply they ought to make proper arrangements before doing so. As to what these arrangements are, each railroad has its own policy. Mr. Henry offers this advice: "Go to the nearest railroad agent or official; tell him who you are and what you aim to do. If it's a particular picture you want to take, tell him about it. He'll probably have some good suggestions. I am sure that agents and officials will cooperate, if approached in the right way; because the companies appreciate the interest stimulated by publication of railroad pictures." Another factor that makes it important for fans to obtain the proper clearance is the element of personal danger. A few months ago Mr. Henry sent out a letter to various roads concerning railcamerists. Shortly afterward, word came of the death of a photographer who had failed to move quickly enough from the path of a locomotive. "He took the picture," said Mr. Henry grimly, "but he nefer lived to see it developed and printed." Such occurrences give railfans a black eye with the railroads and give the railroads a black eye with the public. "I can sympathize with the fan who feels that he is in no way inconveniencing the railroad," he said, "but I can also sympathize with the person responsible for the safety of persons on the right-of-way." The AAR official wound up by saying there were occasional employees who didn't understand that the camera fans were friends rather than intruders, but insisted the leaders of the industry were more appreciative. Mr. Wecksler then put the case up to J.M. Hood, 49-year-old president of the American Short Line Railroad Association at his office in the Tower Building, Washington. The position taken by Mrt. Hood was similar to Mr. Henry's. The Short Line executive expressed surprise when told that harmless photographers had been molested while shooting pictures. He said he was taking immediate steps to inform the members of his organization of his vies and to suggest to them that camera men be helped, rather than hindered, in their hobby. "Personally," he stated, "I feel that railfans should be given every encouragement." The foregoing pretty well sums the situation as rail officials see it. There is, of course, another side to be heard from--namely, the civic authorities in small cities and towns. You'll find a sprinkling of super-zealous patriots and jitter old maids who rush to the phone to call the sheriff or justice of the peace whenever they see a man with a camera plodding along near a railroad track. The local John Law promptly sends out a policeman, who questions the railrfan and perhaps takes him back to headquarters. In such cases, there isn't much you can do except to explain patiently who you are and what you were doing, and back up this explanation, if possible, with good credentials. The absence of credentials may get you into trouble. Thomas Gutman of 34 S. Parkside Ave., Chicago, recently spent 48 hours in jail because he couldn't identify himself. Tom has two hobbies, rail photography and motorcycling, which he enjoys simultaneously. During the Labor Day week-end he made a railcamera tour of Iowa on his motorcycle, stopping here and there to take pictures. All went well until he reached the little town of Clear Lakes. While he was making shots of the Mason City & Clear Lakes interurban line, a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder and Tom found himself under arrest. Lacking credentials, no amount of explanation availed. "The police had never heard of railfans," he says, "but they did now of fifth columnists. They held me in jail for two days while Federal Bureau of Investigation men questioned me and even developed and printed my 15 rolls of exposed film! Of course, they could prove nothing, and finally released me. It was not pleasant to languish in jail for no reason at all. Hard bunks and grub didn't agree with me." Tom advises railfans to stay away from Clear Lakes. If you do go there, he says, you should notify the local police in advance and take plenty of credentials. One of the MC&CL shots he sent us, we expect to publish it in the near future. The print was made from a film developed by the F.B.I. |
|
|
|