Dale,

Those are some nice photos you took. But, with all due respect, what you were doing was freeloading. The GGRM and PLA exist because of volunteer efforts and monetary contibutions. If we all freeloaded and felt entitled to these kinds of events they simply wouldn't happen.

You knew that's what you were doing. I was there and overheard you asking around as to what time the train was leaving. Then you and your buddies started nosing around the PLA steam shop and the GGRM guys had to stop their safety briefing to make sure you weren't stealing things.

Then, when the train leaves, you and your buddies show up to the photo spots and pretend like you belong there. You knew what this event was. Don't act stupid and play victim. You guys followed the train and took photos for free. This is like showing up to a party in a public park and taking food. Sure, it's a public park. But that doesn't entitle you to food. Might as well borrow a police car. Hey, it belongs to the public, right?

Perhaps you just wanted to photograph the bridge and the depot and those pesky locomotives got in your way. How rude of the GGRM to put them there!

This was a different kind of event. Whereas people usually pay to ride the trains, this time people were paying to photograph the trains. This was the same thing as sneaking on and riding for free.

Dale, next time you feel the urge to take photographs but don't have the money to pay for a ticket, maybe just go up and explain yourself to the staff. Perhaps you can help clean up, donate some of your pictures to their website or newsletter or just fork over $10 for a donation. But to pay zero dollars, partake in a costly photo session and then have the nerve to complain about it in a public venue? That's classless.

I enjoyed my time out there and I think it was worth well more than what I payed for it.

Thanks to the PLA and GGRM guys for making this happen.
John S.