Super suspicious photo After getting a heads up from a friend who lives along the W&A of a CSX Q126 with a SD50-SD40-2 lashup, I headed out to Jones Avenue to catch it. While waiting i shot this NS Southbound freight behind a freshly repainted dash 9 passing through the alley of parked trains.
Not too long after this I was approached by a Atlanta police officer that asked me what I was doing. When I replied "watching trains" he proceeded to call backup in the form of 4 more bike cops and then searched me and questioned me about my activities. After asking the same questions for several minutes he said that he told me what I was doing was suspicious and was not allowed. I replied that I was on a public sidewalk and had the right to take pictures, to which he replied, fine if we see you taking pictures here we will arrest you for criminal trespass (Surprised he didn't say 911 law...) and to take this as a verbal warning. This isnt the first time Ive had law enforcement ask me what im doing, but this guy was a complete and total (insert word I'm not allowed use here), im still regretting not remembering to get his badge number until afterwords.
I had hoped that finally people were getting over their photography paranoia but I guess thats not the case. I didnt think this was necessary but I will now be carrying a copy of the Photographers Bill of Rightsand it wouldnt be a bad idea for others railfanning in big cities with the new hysteria created by the newest terrorist attempt. I guess that and say "Im waiting for the steam train" when asked.....
Oh and the Q126 never showed, last I heard before getting hassled was stop signal Howell Wye and there was no other place to shoot him with proper light except here.....
