military

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A couple limited military train shots

I was focusing on the meeting of this KCS military train and the approaching UP intermodal train. You can at least see the load compositions if not the flat car details. Looks like two medium size vehicles per flat. I've seen a few others through here in Biloxi, MS that had pretty much the same type of loads. Have not seen any carrying tanks or other armored vehicles yet though...

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Just an FYI, if you become a BNSF Citizens for Rail Security, one of the rules is you won't take pictures of military trains.
 
Its a general "rule" not to shoot military trains for security purposes... However, does everyone listen? Nope...
 
firetacoma said:
Just an FYI, if you become a BNSF Citizens for Rail Security, one of the rules is you won't take pictures of military trains.
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jbaakko said:
Its a general "rule" not to shoot military trains for security purposes... However, does everyone listen? Nope...
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I have never heard that before, although I have never asked either. I can definitely understand the basis behind though.
 
I'm sorry but this "rule" makes no sense to me. First, not all military equipment is moved in solid trains. I've seen DODX flats with everything from Humvees to M1A1 tanks being moved as part of a regularly scheduled freight. Should you stop shooting pictures just because there are some military units in the manifest?

Even if it's a solid military movement, what information is being given to what enemy? Many of these movements are new pieces of equipment being delivered from manufacturers and an even greater number are simply deploying equipment from one base to another. If the military is concerned about not having the public see what's being moved, that's what canvas is for. Given the amount of money that's been spent developing vandal proof auto racks, I'm pretty sure the government could develop the same type of thing for military equipment if it was deemed important to national security.

Finally, what information is being given to the enemy we are fighting? Do you think insurgent fighters in Iraq or Afghanistan actually care about what's being moved here? If it shows up in one of those two countries, they'll try to destroy it but they have no massive amounts of military equipment they are moving around trying to fight pitched battles. This type of rule made sense in WWII, Korea, and even Vietnam, but it makes no sense today. This is another example of post 9-11 paranoia.
 


This issue has been discussed over on RRForums as well as other lists (like Trainorders). While most folks understand that there's really no prohibition, we also don't post them right away. Some folks will wait a month or so, then post. The idea behind that is that the info is old enough so there's no real immediate danger.

I see no harm today if we post a military movement that happened back in, say, July 07.

Kennedy
 
I see no harm today if we post a military movement that happened back in, say, July 07.
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I can certainly agree on that, and if I might add don't put a date on it and it will add to the confusion.

Willis
 
I guess the idea of not posting right away and not dating the picture can't do any harm although I also don't see what national security purpose it serves. Seems like encrypting radio transmissions on trains moving military equipment would be a lot better idea than worrying about pictures, since sabotage here will have a much bigger effect than Osama and the boys seeing a picture on a railfan web site.
 
As everyone has said, there's no law against it, really. However it is frowned upon, due to the fact or terrorism. During a training exercise, while I was a Marine, we were not allowed to have camera's or camera phones on hand while loading a train car.
 
I'm not surprised. Loading a railcar is real-time. Normally, us non-military types that aren't on the reservation has no visibility of this. The main worry are the folks there, and since probably all DoD facilities prohibit cameras.... The only ones are places that are publically accessable; if you're at some public team track siding, you're probably not going to be able to prohibit picture-taking. Especially if I'm standing in a public park.

Kennedy
 
Speaking of parks . We had a old World War Two troop carrier located in a park in our city. A lady started a campaining to have it removed because it was a bad example for children to see . Can you imagine. They see more violince on TV then an example of what kept our country free. Well happy to say they laughed her out of the council meeting . How people forget .
 
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