Railfanning: Where You Should and Should Not Do It

[@michaelmorgan7893]

When I lived in Bakersfield, I used to drive up to Tehachapi Loop, and back then, we could drive right up to the east end of Walong, there near the west face of Tunnel 10. Things would've been fine, except some of these railfans would bring their kids with them, and they would let their kids walk right in the toe path of the tracks right by Tunnel 10. And I can attest to the fact you can't always hear those trains coming back downhill especially on the back side of that tunnel, until they're there. Then, there was a nice place we had up on that knoll by the telephone pole, and that was a good viewing/filming area, but there again, people made it bad for the rest of us because of trashing the area, leaving garbage, etc. Or barbecuing (during fire season, not a good idea) and making all kinds of noise etc. Because that is a ranch, and it may disturb the horses. You're right, sometimes railbuffs are their own worst enemies. Sad to see that venue closed, but as in all railroad areas, safety is priority #1.

[@k1hasard]

You're right about rail fans being their own worst enemy. In my years operating NYC subway trains, I saw railfans do some ridiculous things that would not only jeopardize their safety, but annoy the crew members as well. One of the stupid things I was annoyed by the most was people firing a camera flash in my face as I entered a station from a dark tunnel. Yeah, I know it's so important to get that shot, but it's more important for me to see where I'm going and not be flash blinded where passengers are right on the edge of the platform. Rail fans would piss off the crews to the point where the guys would radio in and report them for doing things like that. They also had train keys and would like to enter locked cabs and other places that were not publicly accessible. Most railfans are alright, but those few make it bad for the good ones.

[@Qrail]

I used to work for an agency that shared right of way with SP. we had blanket authority to that area, and after UP took over, some people had to be told the truth. With regard to railfanning, SP seemed to be more mellow in the old days. Something I learned from my tenure at the agency. Wear your PPE, and be situationally aware when near the tracks. That was a good job on the video.

[@scottkwidzinski6658]

Kirk, Spock, Moe, Larry and TRAINS! This video has it all....love your stuff, man! Thanks!

[@billblomgren9618]

The eastern railroads are hostile to railfans, even when they are employees. I had an engineer tell me about one of the memos that got distributed... "When you are off the clock, you are off the property. Period. If you come on to the property for anything other than work, you are subject to arrest and termination"...ugh. Truly an unpleasant thing. In one area near Chicago, CSX has an enforcer that will warn you even if you are parked on a road... just 'near' "his property".... (Think of the area around Gary where the steel mill is. Anything that is, may have been might be soon and so on CSX owned or controlled gives the guy a power trip. In PA, the NS folk are a lot more relaxed, but still go after anyone other than on totally public property..like the bridges over the main line. Sad.. but it is a VERY dangerous way of life, and they have had injuries that could have been prevented if idiots had not decided it was cool to climb on cars and the like.

[@w.m.6018]

Many thanks Marc for this detailed informations what to do and what better Not to do for watching trains. 😀. I always enjoy your videos and hopefully the time comes back, thats allowed again to visit America as a Tourist...Take care and stay healty. Werner

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you, Werner. I look forward to your next visit and hope you and yours are well!

[@FPSRockstar]

love your videos. from a fellow railroader keep it up.

[@waynebarnhart7294]

Good Advice !! I been a railfan for 40 years.. Always respect private property. Weather private or railroad respect the same..

[@cherokeekid9491]

I always railfan from the public park next to the train station where I live. Good views, lots of action, and not interfering with the trains.

[@CaliforniaTrashmaster]

Thanks for your tips. I’m a young Railfan and go to the Cajon Pass a lot to make videos. Everyone has been very nice to me. Lots of the engineers honk a lot at me because they have seen me for years videoing up there. They even toss me stuff and sometimes stop the train to meet me. Maybe I will see and meet you one day. I really like going to Tehachapi and make videos of the Loop.

[@3sierra15]

I would add that locomotives are surprisingly quiet and can sneak up on you despite their size. And if you're wearing earbuds, the horn and bell may not be audible over AC/DC at 110 decibels. Seems like every year there's a news story about a jogger hit from behind.

[@donnahanscom6300]

I. Could Learn A Lot About Safety of Trains.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Another great video,I can relate to you very well since I have 25 years on the CP and unfortunately medically disabled so I enjoy the hobby part of it as well,I also have some clout on getting into places where the average railfan can not get to,However if I see my fellow co workers and such we tend to shoot the breeze for awhile,I still also have my ID.Hopefully one day I can get out and see that area.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

If you ever make it out here let me know. I'll show you the cool places! Thanks for checking it out!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@MarkClayMcGowan You are welcome and yes I will have to do that.

[@cscott670]

Great advice, thanks for sharing.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure

[@jeff9104]

Good information Mark, I do early morning mountain bike rides in Victorville (A.K.A. Victimville :-) ) around the Narrows and Mojave park area and I wave to all the trains that I see, one thing that I have observed is that the Union Pacific drivers almost always will give me a double tap on the air horn and a wave, the BNSE drivers almost never will tap the air horn, maybe it's company policy not to ? Nice info/safety video, thanks

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yes. UP has a horn policy when approaching anyone near the tracks. I notice BNSF is hit and miss so I assume they don't. Thanks for checking it out!

[@salstonightsbiggestloser]

I'd like to add to the wave. Before going, have a plan, and brief the area before getting to the site, 911, hospital, etc... Wear hiviz orange and a hardhat. Have a radio, the UV5R will work great to have an ear to the road channel in that area, just don't transmit unless you absolutely have an emergency on your hands. Depending on the climate pack plenty of food and especially water. You literally cannot have enough water put there. Lastly the environment, ascending and decending ballast, walking over the rail, under the rail, all of the above. Look, listen, and observe all around and at all times. When possible work in a team of 2. Snakes, bears, cougars, and other critters are other things to look out for. Please be safe and have fun out there.

[@daylightdave9405]

Very well done and said too..... A fellow Engineer told me a story about throwing a water bottle at sum stupid kids in the south Bay Area and he nailed one of them.... thankfully he didnt get a complaint... something I would never do or did in my short 12 yr career w/ the UPRR... and plus prior to that I worked as a Police Officer so Im pretty responsible. I always enjoy your videos and get my Railfan fix through you... Take care Mark..... Dave.... 😜 🤗

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

With the cameras on today's locomotives, throwing anything from the train for any reason would get you removed from service. Hitting a person with something would get you fired, no exceptions. I can't imagine being so upset about someone close to the tracks that I would take upon myself to risk injuring them. That guy wasn't concerned about their safety, he was just being an ass! He's very fortunate he wasn't reported!

[@beerguyflake2745]

Thanks Mark, all your videos are interesting. And you answer so many questions that I had.

[@budcurtis4512]

You project honesty. I enjoy your videos.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching! Plenty more to come!

[@sroevukasroevuka]

Im new to the hobby. Ive had 3 contacts with rr employees. One was a ns conductor he was fixing a knuckle he asked me not to take his pic i said no problem. He described what he was doing. I also interacted with a ns engineer on a commuter train he gave my grandson a hat and a key. My 3rd encounter was with an ns cop. Someone called me in i was not doing anything but someone thought i was suicidal after it was cleared up she gave me an ns police keyring a ns safety vest new in packaging and a look listen live decal and a bunch of rr safety pamplets to share. She asked me to stay off rr property and 25 ft from tracks i said no problem i have no intrest in treaspassing or getting killed. I was respectful and thats why these exp were positive.

[@jimesser477]

I did have a heck of a time hiking down the cliff and and climbing back up again. Thats on steep hillside up there!!

[@andross51]

Hi again mark, once again great video and advice! I am curious, I know the people at the Loop ranch are very sketchy about rail fans there but have seen footage by tunnel 9 and the crossing that goes towards that area, is that considered trespassing?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I see people shooting from along the fence below tunnel 9 which is fine. You're only on Loop Ranch property when on the road into the Loop.

[@PhotoBobSD]

Good advice!

[@jimesser477]

I may or may not have parked my vehicle at the gate at the 4th tunnel and hiked up to cliff to retrieve a drone that i lost connection with and didn't have the return to home altitude set correctly. Like i said, i may OR may not have done that haha

[@jonathanhusner8756]

Most railroad guys don't really mind I've had a few that called me even when pacing them along a road while driving some crews took that as suspicious. I've heard of crews also not liking flash from cameras at night. Most crews don't mind or are friendly as long as your respectful yes there can still be jerks its happened to me even when not bothering them. One time i had to yell at a crew because they were doing their job brief on a busy mainline when a train was getting really close to them and highballing it was MOW it was on triple track territory and they were doing their meeting on the middle track with an eastbound that was on the approach and highballing I had to yell at them. They got my message and moved right before he came by.

[@beeble2003]

Come on, don't fire a flash at anybody at night. You're blinding them for a significant amount of time -- dozens of seconds.

[@Jan-Sietze]

Your video was amusing to watch. Just curious; I work on the railways in the Netherlands and often walk on the 'inspection path' (1.25 meters from nearest rail), where the speed limit for trains is 140 km/h (87 mph). (I have instructions to greet the operator, but we don't wave! Then they make an emergency stop. ) What is the highest permissible speed on American railways? And what speed can a freight train do on average? Greetings from the Netherlands!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

We are required to be at least 15 feet from the tracks when trains pass no matter their speed. It's called a "cardinal rule" and you could be fired for not observing it. Amtrak (our national passenger service) runs trains in parts of the northeastern corridor at 100 but most routes are 80 mph. Fast freights (intermodals) can run 70 mph max. Speed limit for all other non passenger is 50. From Tehachapi to Caliente the freight speed is 23 mph.

[@Jan-Sietze]

@@MarkClayMcGowan OK. Then 4.1 feet seems very close when a train with 87 mp / h passes, but I feel safe with it. A high speed train also travels nearly 100 mp / h. There is no work on those track sections between train runs. Inspections are only carried out between trains, repairs are always done at night when the track is out of order and secured.

[@joehughes3413]

Im new to your youtube channel and so fare i love your videos. You do a good job

[@johnmeadows5645]

Most people are respectful and use common sense, but some are not. They are the ones that spoil it for others.

[@lukeylovestrains3151]

Great video!!!

[@that_rail_kid_]

I'm 15 about to turn 16 and what i can say I learned is be careful when you rail fan a new area i rail fanned CSX i stayed on public property for bit till me and the crews got to know each other then I move to being on RR property that has easy access and stayed out of the crews ways they even stopped to talk to me that where most of my cool encounters where and from there we just grew our bond and every thing was smooth selling even the high rails didnt care when I would be on RR property i just stayed away from areas where they had no signs posted no trespassing ..... then ofcrouise you have the crews who don't lie fomers

[@JF-lt5zc]

Don't be a foamer, then. Just be respectful like you described and be cautious. Remember, everything about the railroads that we love is someone's job and business. They are there to make money first and foremost. Safety is a huge concern because of lawsuits, which is why they don't want people on railroad property. So, be safe, keep your distance like Mark said, and enjoy what you can!

[@ronaldradtke8577]

What the tallest railway bridge is the western states ????

[@geohig01]

Thank you, Mark, for a common sense guide to railfanning. Respect for others is always a good plan.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Always my pleasure!

[@explorerone3752]

@@MarkClayMcGowan do you have an email i can reach you at, have an interesting question and potential opportunity

[@NiceMuslimLady]

Don't approach the railroad workers. But, if they INVITE you to approach, go ahead! I have had that happen to me a few times. You're not "trespassing" if you were invited in. One time I was out someplace and there was a broken gate. I was asked by one of the crews to stay there and make sure that it didn't hit any of the passing trains. When the signal maintainer came along, he showed me everything and how the crossing worked and let me "help" him work on the gate. he also showed me the bungalows (one was older with a lot of relays and the other one was newer with the really new computerized equipment). I was walking by the branch on a bike trail near the track and one of the guys on the crew saw me watching and said "hey, come here". When I went over he told me why they were there and what they were doing. He even gave me a box with some bottles of water in it...I still have it and the bottles, too. My family was always like "well, if you like trains so much, why don't you get a job with the railroad" and I didn't want to. I told them that I was afraid I would end up "not loving trains anymore".

[@thomasbethune]

Thank you for sharing some of the history of the SP Bakersfield Yard. I made my date there in 1965 as a switchman. I appreciate all your video's of the SP.

[@michaelthomas0655]

Great video Mark! What is the actual "legal" distance on right of way? I've heard 15'-20' from center of the railbed. Thanks again!

[@billtimmons7071]

Wise advice. Your one of a handful of really good rail fanning video sites because of your insider perspectives and your RR work history. When I was chasing the big Boy though Wyoming last year I saw some pretty bad rail fan behavior. Wyoming highway patrol and sheriff offices were very, very busy keeping folks from getting hurt. UP had to slow down their traffic at all the Big Boy stop sites because fans kept walking onto tracks and not paying attention. I thought UP did a good job clearing tracks, but man, some people ... keep up the great videos. You and your family stay safe through these weird COVID times. Sidebar: You see the new Ford Bronco? Might make a great rail fan vehicle for ROW's heh? Think I'll wait a couple of years so Ford can work out any bugs.

[@Socaltrainwatcher]

The big Tea Kettles always bring out the worst rail fans. My son and I rode on the Denver Post Train for 9 years and the insane driving we'd see from the rail fan caravan chasing the 844 was unbelievable. When the 4014 came to Southern California last year we picked a couple of spots to go to and would just sit and wait for it to arrive.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yeah, the RR does what they can to accommodate railfans for specials but some insist on bad driving and behavior. Dad and I caught 4014 at Kelso. The Bronco looks great but it's not in my budget! Next exploring vehicle will be a dual sport motorcycle.

[@ericth224]

Great video. Thank you for reinforcing with the public that it is just a matter of common sense. Keep it up and I look forward to your next video. We are heading up the mountain next week but because it will be a weekday I will not be going places I have gone on the weekends. Hope to see you on the mountain some time. One question...do you think train crews and MoW crews for the most part know rail fans want to respect the railroad and not cause problems or do dangerous things?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yes. Most crews are aware of the one bad apple theory.

[@RickyJr46]

In October 2019 I went out to the old steel trestles near Victorville, where the tracks cross the Mojave River, to photograph 4014 on its southbound run. Standing just south of the trestle, next to the dirt embankment, felt pretty uncomfortable as that monster began filling my viewfinder. I'm not sure if Ed Dickens decided to douse me for standing there, but my pant legs were soaked. Too damn close, bro!

[@remylopez4821]

Hey Mark good video bottom line use common sense I do a lot of my rail fanning in the Cajon Pass with my CJ-7 Tehachapi is a bit of a drive considering the traffic for me but I do get up there as much as I can unfortunately with this COVID-19 there won’t be a California hot Rod reunion this year so I will miss out my October trip hopefully by the time March comes around things will be better for the March meet at another trip up the hill I enjoy your videos sir

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you. I too, hope things are back to normal by then!

[@Cnw8701]

Normally when railfanning, I just find a public road that has a pullover spot, a public parking space, or an abandoned/unused road that's within clear view of the tracks, park my car, and mount my phone or camera on my dashboard. I NEVER go near the ballast, and if I walk toward the tracks, I always make sure I'm either on a sidewalk or public road/parking space.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Not a bad idea! Thanks for checking it out!

[@kens.3729]

We ALL know GOD either gave you or didn’t give you Common Sense at Birth. You Can’t Learn it.👍

[@HoosierDaddy_]

I don't really go out of my way to be a Railfan like some on KZbin, I just like trains and take pictures when they're stopped usually. I always thought those guys in the locomotives have to be on edge with people all around those moving hulks! Running an automotive shop, people constantly go into the garage areas under cars and around dangers they don't even know are there. It's interesting, but please stay back!

[@wasawyerjr7377]

Thank you for your videos, I have learned a lot from you. One of my interests is in how the radio systems work and interface - any pointers or ideas?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I'm sorry but I'm not very conversant with the communications systems beyond how the PTC radios interface with the signal system and since I no longer have access to signal cabins it would be difficult to go over it. I did a piece on tunnel radios I hope you saw but beyond that I'm lost! The comm tech I got my info from has moved to greener pastures and I don't know his replacement. I'll see how receptive he is to explaining some things and maybe do a piece on it. Thanks for checking it out!

[@wasawyerjr7377]

@@MarkClayMcGowan thank you, I did watch the tunnel comm video - I just found your videos today and I'm learning a lot. Thank you

[@chunky1529]

Good advice, Mark. I wish every railfan could see it.

[@beringstraitrailway]

Does Cajone have a rest stop where you can safely pull off the freeway to view the trains?

[@dmorgan28]

I enjoyed the video. Some very good sound instructions. I am a retired locomotive engineer and I’ve decided to subscribe. Thanks and have a great day

[@haywoodyoudome]

If you're out in the middle of nowhere and need to drop a deuce don't do it on the tracks. Pinching a loaf on a live rail line might sound like fun until the train comes and you're tripping with your pants around your ankles. It's just not worth it. Go find a safe spot to push brown.

[@garyrunnalls7714]

Great vids Mark, thx

[@dougackerman4182]

Love your channel Mark

[@rhvolboll625]

So you mean use common since?

[@georgegong6813]

Good 411 as usual. Thanks worth sharing this for those not in the know.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure