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Re: Obnoxious People
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 05-29-2007 - 23:56
This ain't the first time! And it won't be the last!
The almighty news media often displays a much worse, even "Professional" obnoxiousness, than is typical of some railfans, who are most often mere amatuers at such behavior.
I believe it was 1972 when the "Flying Scotsman" paid a visit to Oakland Ca. Apparently, its owner had commissioned (according to the camera man) several professional runby video shots at various locations as it approached Oakland; one of which was set up right outside my work place on 5th - thus I too stumbled on to its comming. Very expensive and fancy audio gear was set up as well - for all the good that did. Of course as people were getting off work about then, quite a crowd was gathering round; mostly non-railfans, who are often just as interested as we are. You should have seen the crowd at the Western Pacific 3rd St Station - at least a thousand!
All was well until just as the train began to whistle the crossing. Just then, a local TV station (3 letters) news/traffic chopper literally SWOOoooOOPPED down like a bird of prey, blew dust and debree all over - nearly blew the leaves right off a nearby tree - did blow over some of the audio gear, and brushed a Western Pacific pole line as it hastily retreated (busted a couple of glass insulators). It couldn't have been more than 25 feet up! It then came back in for a second try (without any apparent regard for public safety) as the very unique Flying Scotsman Observation car passed by - - - IDIOTS!
Needless to say, what would have been a FINE treat for hundreds of people was nearly a serious disaster. Two policemen who had also happened on the scene did file a report. I never heard of any result; but Of course the media would never have reported on that anyway. And after all this, they didn't even cover the advent of the "Flying Scotsman in the USA at all - not one word from that channel.
Though many railfans may deserve ragging on; the media deserves it even more, with their consistantly bad behavior and baloney reporting - and almost without exception too!
OPB
The almighty news media often displays a much worse, even "Professional" obnoxiousness, than is typical of some railfans, who are most often mere amatuers at such behavior.
I believe it was 1972 when the "Flying Scotsman" paid a visit to Oakland Ca. Apparently, its owner had commissioned (according to the camera man) several professional runby video shots at various locations as it approached Oakland; one of which was set up right outside my work place on 5th - thus I too stumbled on to its comming. Very expensive and fancy audio gear was set up as well - for all the good that did. Of course as people were getting off work about then, quite a crowd was gathering round; mostly non-railfans, who are often just as interested as we are. You should have seen the crowd at the Western Pacific 3rd St Station - at least a thousand!
All was well until just as the train began to whistle the crossing. Just then, a local TV station (3 letters) news/traffic chopper literally SWOOoooOOPPED down like a bird of prey, blew dust and debree all over - nearly blew the leaves right off a nearby tree - did blow over some of the audio gear, and brushed a Western Pacific pole line as it hastily retreated (busted a couple of glass insulators). It couldn't have been more than 25 feet up! It then came back in for a second try (without any apparent regard for public safety) as the very unique Flying Scotsman Observation car passed by - - - IDIOTS!
Needless to say, what would have been a FINE treat for hundreds of people was nearly a serious disaster. Two policemen who had also happened on the scene did file a report. I never heard of any result; but Of course the media would never have reported on that anyway. And after all this, they didn't even cover the advent of the "Flying Scotsman in the USA at all - not one word from that channel.
Though many railfans may deserve ragging on; the media deserves it even more, with their consistantly bad behavior and baloney reporting - and almost without exception too!
OPB
