Railfans going overboard issue

[TrainNut85]

Just recently I've been keeping up on news and posts in michiganrailroads.com and I tend to notice that sometimes other railfans go overboard on posting what they saw. For instance, a Mike D. Shep posted about seeing the TSBY crew stopping to get coffee. My opinion on that is that was pretty stupid of him posting that, and not to mention the one engineer got talked to by his supervisor for that. Remember ppl we may enjoy every train that goes by wherever your at, just remember this, the guys that runs these trains are just out there to do their job. Not going against anybody here but lets tone down posting what we see go on. Another thing I just heard an engineer in Owosso just got fired for railfans screwing around on the property that this engineer gave permission to, to come onto the property of the TSBY(GLC). Lets have a little respect for the men and women that work for any railroad, otherwise its gonna be just like CSX property everywhere, where you can't be standing or admiring anything that runs by or sits!

[J T]

You make perfect sense and I will definitely try from my end to remain respectful of their duties (and personal issues).

[rsinoms]

dually noted. some railfan do go to far. thanks for reminding us to respect the rules of the rail and not just what rolls on them.

[~Z~]

I don't think we've had much of an issue like that here..thank goodness we aren't ran by michiganrailroads.com If any issues do come up, i try my best to clean things up as soon as it's going on, not days later...
I've heard plenty of things on the radio that are going on in train land that I know is inappropriate, so there's no point in posting it online, other than just to get those individuals in trouble.

[trainjunkie47]

Noted here as well. All of us need to realize that a great many photo ops come from the few who are willing to allow us to fudge the rules a bit. Whether the railroad worker is fired or simply disciplined, you can bet that the worker and his friends at work will no longer be friendly to railfans.

[BerkshireKid]

The engineer in Owosso hasn't been fired. He has a hearing sometime next week.

[AARR]

Mike D. Shepherd is a good man and meant no one harm. He has posted a bazillion times before that the MMRR and TSBY crews stopped for coffee / lunch. It didn't even raise an eyebrow.

Mr. TSB didn't care that his crews stopped for coffee / lunch. They had to have their work completed and be back before the next departure. As long as they could do their work safely inbetween that's all that mattered.

Suddenly mentioning that they stopped for coffee stirs up a hornets next because apparently the new CEO of GLC is running the company differently than the former CEO of TSBY. There is no way Mike, or anyone not affiliated with GLC, could have known that. However, those of us who were used to the old policies of TSBY realize that the new GLC policies are different and of course will respect them.

As for the GLC engineer who lost his job because he let railfans on the property it's sad, but if was informed prior to the incident that what he did was against GLC company policy then he has no excuses. But TSBY employees would allow railfans on the property and there were no consequences as long as the railfans were respectful of the property and behaved. Again, it's highly probable the new CEO is running things differently and like you all said, we have to respect his wishes.

[TrainNut85]

Yea that is a good point Don Simon. Don't worry I'm not putting a grudge towards Mike or anyone else, but I just don't want anything to turn into a situation likely with CSX, which in my opinion is unfriendly towards railfans. Like I said I have respect for any railfan that posts topics on this site or michiganrailroads.com(my second favorite site), its just that it bothers me when someone goes a bit overboard with what they see. Remember guys if it weren't for the guys that ran the trains, we probably be sitting by the side of the road staring at cars goin by(boring!!!).

[BerkshireKid]

Don and evryone else, please read that the engineer WAS NOT FIRED. I just talked to him and his hearing is next week. Please don't spread the rumor that he is fired.

[TrainNut85]

Thanks for the post on that tsby388, I heard that he was fired but its good to know that he didn't. I hate to see any railroader lose their job.

[PAT.C]

I AGREE WITH DON. MIKE D MENT NO HARM AND I'VE SEEN SIMILAR POSTS ON THE BOARDS IN THE PAST. THE THREAD DEVELOPED A LIFE OF ITS OWN DUE TO ===OVER-REACTION== BY A FEW PEOPLE. I ASSUME FUTURE POSTS BY ALL WILL NOT MENTION COFFEE BREAKS.

[TrainNut85]

Yea true to that Pat C. Some threads develop that way, but these days some issues are different.

[PAT.C]

I HAVE HEARD FROM GOOD SOURCES THAT--THINGS--HAVE CHANGED ON THE OLD TSBY ROUTE. ADJUST YOUR POSTS ACCORDINGLY.

[AARR]

I stand corrected on the GLC engineer. Thanks for the update.

[GreatLakesRailfan]

It was reported elsewhere that the GLC employees are union employees...could it be written into their contract that employees are entitled to a hearing under certain circumstances?

I'm hoping this is common knowledge (but if it's not, ignore it), but under the TSBY were the employees unionized as well?

Also, as for what PAT C. said, about things changing along the GLC/former TSBY, it makes sense...a new owner means a new company which means new people in charge, and new people with different points of view mean changes in policy...well, it makes sense to me anyway...but the fact that for the most part they haven't done a whole lot to break away from the old TSBy image (aside from the one repainted loco and the passenger cars on property), makes it easier to forget that it's not the TSBy anymore...