A NY Times story that should also raise concerns here in Ohio or wherever a railroad yard is located.

 

March 27, 2006

Despite 9/11 Effect, Railyards Are Still Vulnerable

By DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI

 

NEWARK — Two signs just inside the entrance of the Oak Island rail depot here hint at dangers inside. "Our Employees' Safety Is in Your Hands." one reads. "You Are Accountable for Your Safety," reads another.

 

Beyond those two placards, however, there are few visible signs that security is a high priority at the railyard, just three miles from downtown Newark and seven miles from Manhattan, where 90-ton tanker cars full of deadly chemical gases are routinely stored and shipped.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/27/nyregion/27secure.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

The Norfolk Southern facility east of Fort Wayne is pretty tight, I think. They always have been, from a liability standpoint; the railroad bulls are old-school and remind me of Pinkerton thugs from the 1920s, and they're armed. They've never been railfan-friendly and would pounce on you in a minute for trespassing, although in the past I didn't have any problems when taking photos from the public road that runs past the edge of the yard.

 

I've heard recently of people being pulled over for taking photos from their cars, or even being stopped and checked out for driving by too slowly. I used to trespass regularly on the overpass through downtown, but haven't tried it in quite a while. I suppose I should start listening to my scanner and see if train crews are reporting trespassers and photographers. I had one run-in with the RR cops quite some time ago, and don't care to repeat it. They're very rude and intimidating and make the Union Station security look like pussycats.