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Caption: Railfanning as I knew it years ago used to be so up close and personal. Here's a fondly remembered photo taken at Bayview Jct., as westbound #83 behind VIA 6768 is held for the eastbound #74 led by VIA 6534. Its a nice sunny afternoon, and much to my surprise Vic Smith, whom I had met before, was aboard. He called me up. It turned out that William Bell (on the left) was on his last run, and so photos were in order to commemorate the occasion. Here they are 'kabbitzing'...or, 'goofing off' if you'd rather, after I took the "official" retirement shots. To think they were worried that the last run would come with no one to take their photos en route!!! The fun days of interacting with employees on the railroads, especially the Class 1s, is mostly over and to many of us this part of being trackside is sorely missed. The Good Old Days already? My gosh.............
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Wonderful.
Thanks. Ya can’t fake great buddies.
There are so many treasured memories of interacting with crews; especially as a kid. It’s a pity that such comradery is virtually gone.
Nice story Arnold. I hear you totally. I wish there was less fear in the world and more respect and trust. Most people are good people, and I’m sure these fellows were no exception. I still get waves from crew members as they roll by and it always puts a smile on my face
The essence of ‘respect.’
This picture represents a time when people, provided they did nothing really stupid, would be left to their own devices. The words Security and Liability were not at the front of everyone’s vocabulary. Those times have, unfortunately, passed us by. A very poignant moment in time with this picture Arnold.
Great shot Arnold.
I agree with everyone else…seems like there’s just one person that can spoil it all for the rest of us, where security and liability are far more the norm these days than trust and respect. Nowadays, to get a shot like this, happens only by pure luck and nothing as up close and personal as you have captured here.
I think you have seen my pure luck photo, and I wish I was inside with the crew of this train: a href=”http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=24489> http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=24489
Thanks for the comments, guys. Most of us, I’m sure, will deduce the beginning of the end to the ‘fun times’ was apparent right after 9/11. So many of us vow we will never let terrorism affect us, but, alas, it has to the point that anyone born after 1990 or so will never quite understand….except thru photos.
It’s so true. And in-cab cameras have already started making inroads,
and will soon be mandated on all railways, virtually eliminating any in-cab encounters such as this for good. Won’t be long either.
I had my awesome in-cab experience in 1989 aboard CP 4244. Was truly a different world then, and as the years between grow, it is increasingly obvious that our world has not changed for the better.
As long as people keep saying things like this is all in the past and this will never happen again, then it won’t. Having the idea that certain things in the past are gone will only make that idea true, it’s up to railroaders and railfans to interact with each other rather than being fearful of what may happen. That friendly nature that used to be more common is still there, however people are just to fearful to engage with one another anymore. It seems most railfans today want to shoot their pictures and then leave. Although there are strict laws in place, there’s nothing wrong with asking questions and being personal again. I’ve been invited into cabs, stations and onto private properties many times because I took the time to be personal with the railway personal, and they seemed to like that. I’ve had great conversations with railway police, to the point where they’ve let me onto railway property just to get a better shot. Having a pessimistic view of railfanning will only keep you at a distance and thus not allow personal shots like the one above to happen. Of course though, I’ve had negative experiences with people around the railway, to the point where the police have been called on me, several times. But not breaking the law I’ve always been fine, and I didn’t let those moments detour me. If you think things are getting worse, then change your life for the better
****Nice comments, Myles. It is how you come across in the eyes of others is how you gain access to a lot of places these days. It doesn’t help to take a young filly along with you as well.
“I mean it doesn’t HURT…” oops…..