These are the only things on the rails which don't need a locomotive to pull their cars which is astounding considering they use locomotives to pull just about anything minus MOW not required to be on a flatbed car.

Ahhh yes. Good old babies... <3

Ahh Fostoria, OH. I need to railfan that place someday!

They are doing a lot of great work on a rail park there. You can sit in the old Amtrak station, or go up the road a little to a gravel parking lot. Just stay away from the F-Tower AND OFF THE TRACKS! True story, my bro was taking pictures on one of the tracks, train rolls by, 10 minutes later a cop shows up.

Oh, I have no doubt. In the months after 911 I know of a couple of popular railfans on alt.binaries.pictures.rail newsgroup arrested for taking pictures near the diamond in Fostoria. One even had to sign a statement under duress saying he will never take pictures "in the area", EVER again. The newsgroup members felt he should try and take them to court over it.

Yah, the months after 911 sucked for railfans.

I've only in the past year started taking pictures again.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2211911/ (Just over a year ago)

I didn't realize that fallout. Fostoria is known as one of the best spots in the nation for fanning. It's also about to get better too. Huge rail park is planned for the future.

Yah, anyone taking pictures near rail yards, mainlines or even within sight of tracks ran the risk of being asked what they were doing, even parents with children watching the trains. Crews were instructed to report anyone, including a person with railroad related caps, jackets and a scanner as they could only be a terrorist. :)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040524-638410,00.html

Good to hear there's rail growth in the area, that's awesome!

From what I was told by whom I assume is the President of the local Rail Society, a lot of work is going to be done. Already land has been acquired, a building demolished, and a junk yard cleared. She told me that a National Guard Army Corps. of Engineers unit will be moving in a rail depot (C&O I think), putting in a parking lot and viewing area. It's going to be an awesome place to watch trains, probably going to be the best in the nation. Here is a link to the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society's web page. You can see maps and future development plans there. http://www.fostoriairontriangle.com/

As for my brother, it was the cops telling us that we need to not trespass. He was cool with us. This wasn't the first "rail fan" call he'd gotten, and won't be the last.

A very interesting article. Sad though. I can tell you with almost 100% confidence that it is safe to rail fan in Fostoria, as long as it's in approved areas.

Awesome that they are creating a place for railfanning!

Yah, it seems the paranoia has let off quite a lot, and it good to hear that Fostoria has let up a bit.

I had friends in Minnesota that were taking pictures from a public bridge (near BN's Northtown) that were told to leave in spring 2002, they even ticketed them as loitering. When that happened I just completely stopped railfanning altogether, I really dislike dealing with railroad special agents.

I've not read alt.binaries.pictures.rail for quite some time now so here's to hoping those railfans that had been bullied in the area now can take pictures again!

great find.

Thank you. I plan on eventually putting up a few more of this one and the Geometry car. Right now, I just don't have the time.

ok can't wait to see them