I wouldn't call myself a railroad enthusiast, but I'm still thrilled that I don't have to worry about being arrested if I happen to see a photo opportunity, and I happen to be standing on a train platform.
Add another feather in the ACLU's cap.
Railroad rescinds ban on photos from Metra platformsFaced with opposition from railroad enthusiasts, the Union Pacific Railroad announced today it would once again allow people to take pictures from Metra station platforms on the Chicago-area routes it operates.
A month ago, the Union Pacific, which operates commuter trains under contract with Metra, decided to ban photography from platforms on Metra's UP North line to Kenosha, Northwest line to Harvard and West line to Elburn. The railroad cited passenger security as the reason for the ban.
I have never really understood why photographers are assumed to be security risks. Not that a lot of the anti-terrorism bs makes sense, but especially the ban on photographs seems weakly reasoned.
The revised policy is still a bit open ended though
If railroad officials spot people taking pictures of railroad operations on public property, the employee may stop and question the photographer if he or she thinks the activity is suspicious, the railroad stated.Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis has said the photography ban was imposed for the safety and security of passengers. A similar ban has been in place at Ogilvie Transportation Center since the days following the September 2001 terrorist attacks, he said.
Rail enthusiasts, though, argued that banning photography from Metra platforms was a violation of their 1st Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.
