Scanners and "The train Paparazzi"

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Rick M

Senior Member
I met a group of guys on a local FB page group (CnyPhotogeeks) and we got together Saturday to shoot trains. One of the guys picked up a scanner, it was beneficial to hear the train/dispatcher chatter. We were able to hear trains being dispatched and the conversations. One train that past dubbed us the "train Paparazzi" and called in our location. That was our cue to move on, I think it may have saved us all a ticket!

This is the one he picked up, it is programmed for the different frequencies so you don't have to do much and it works great,

Amazon.com : Uniden Handheld Scanner - Black (BC75XLT) : Radio Scanners : Electronics
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Issue with these scanners is they interfere with other scanners and can effect response time to emergencies. Eg traffic congestion to an emergency. Please consider these issues if you do use them, emergency vehicles have right of way.
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
I'm thinking if it's only scanning the specific rail frequencies (a very small band) it wouldn't interfere with emergency frequencies?
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Rick M said:
I'm thinking if it's only scanning the specific rail frequencies (a very small band) it wouldn't interfere with emergency frequencies?
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Not always the case in certain countries. Scanners scan more than just rail frequencies, it includes all emergency channels and on a normal mobile phone you can pick up alot. This does interfere with arrival times as everyman and his dog is trying to se what is going on. One of my pet hates....
 
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Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Rick M said:
I'm thinking if it's only scanning the specific rail frequencies (a very small band) it wouldn't interfere with emergency frequencies?
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Qouted from the site.

[h=4]Uniden BC75XLT Handheld Scanner[/h]The Uniden BC75XLT is a compact handheld scanner that is ideal for listening to events as they unfold. During severe weather or other disasters, listen to reports going directly to emergency agencies as it happens. The BC75XLT covers the bands used by Amature Radio Operators for Emergency reporting including NOAA weather broadcasts, as well as frequencies used at other events such as auto races, local events, and more.
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Sandpatch

Senior Member
I've carried various railroad frequency scanners for 30+ Years. They cannot transmit -- they're receivers only, so cannot interfere with any transmissions. I carry one much like what's in your link. Many years ago I bought a super-duper telescoping antenna, supposedly tuned for rail frequencies. It works well, but it's kind of unwieldy, so I put it on only when I find a grand spot that I'm willing to set up and wait at. Otherwise, I keep the "rubber ducky" antenna on. I fabricated a mount for my scanner in my truck, easy on easy off and good reception:

http://blg.nikonsrc.com/image/NYEan...yHU9dE8JQmtoKug6n4_vWgJX930eKw/item.JPG?rot=1

"Train Paparazzi" -- that's funny! Probably a good thing that you shoved off upon hearing your presence announced. I've done the same.
 
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J

Just-Clayton

Senior Member
What's nice here rick is that I can go to the train depot when I want. A friend of mine works there. So, I can take pictures. I just have to find a good day to go.
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
Scott Murray said:
Not always the case in certain countries. Scanners scan more than just rail frequencies, it includes all emergency channels and on a normal mobile phone you can pick up alot. This does interfere with arrival times as everyman and his dog is trying to se what is going on. One of my pet hates....
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Yes, that is all true but not for my purposes. With this scanner you can isolate to the very narrow rail band. I'm not an ambulance chaser :).
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
Sandpatch said:
I've carried various railroad frequency scanners for 30+ Years. They cannot transmit -- they're receivers only, so cannot interfere with any transmissions. I carry one much like what's in your link. Many years ago I bought a super-duper telescoping antenna, supposedly tuned for rail frequencies. It works well, but it's kind of unwieldy, so I put it on only when I find a grand spot that I'm willing to set up and wait at. Otherwise, I keep the "rubber ducky" antenna on. I fabricated a mount for my scanner in my truck, easy on easy off and good reception:

http://blg.nikonsrc.com/image/NYEan...yHU9dE8JQmtoKug6n4_vWgJX930eKw/item.JPG?rot=1

"Train Paparazzi+ -- that's funny! Probably a good thing that you shoved off upon hearing your presence announced.
Click to expand...

Nice mount!
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Sandpatch said:
I've carried various railroad frequency scanners for 30+ Years. They cannot transmit -- they're receivers only, so cannot interfere with any transmissions. I carry one much like what's in your link. Many years ago I bought a super-duper telescoping antenna, supposedly tuned for rail frequencies. It works well, but it's kind of unwieldy, so I put it on only when I find a grand spot that I'm willing to set up and wait at. Otherwise, I keep the "rubber ducky" antenna on. I fabricated a mount for my scanner in my truck, easy on easy off and good reception:

http://blg.nikonsrc.com/image/NYEan...yHU9dE8JQmtoKug6n4_vWgJX930eKw/item.JPG?rot=1

"Train Paparazzi" -- that's funny! Probably a good thing that you shoved off upon hearing your presence announced. I've done the same.
Click to expand...
My reference with interfering is people knowing whats happening and impeding on the emergency traffic to the incident, most incidents that I attend are time critical and I just want to know that this is an important factor in response time, there have been many times that response vehicles have been held up by citizens using handheld to get to a scene to take photos, although I condone photography I do not condone it when lives are at stake.

If I am wrong in saying this then ok I step aside.
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Guess its different in Aus and other countries as why I tend to cover a wider band and not just one country.
I am just stating issues that I have to endure and so do others. Most of the time the are called rubber neckers and cause just as much trouble and accident as the original accident. If we can reduce that then thats great.
 
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Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
PS I am one of the ones that listen and can save a life if I make it there in time.. Doesn't always happen, we get caught up in traffic, there are other minor accidents along the way.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Scott Murray said:
My reference with interfering is people knowing whats happening and impeding on the emergency traffic to the incident, most incidents that I attend are time critical and I just want to know that this is an important factor in response time, there have been many times that response vehicles have been held up by citizens using handheld to get to a scene to take photos, although I condone photography I do not condone it when lives are at stake.

If I am wrong in saying this then ok I step aside.
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I think the original point you made was that the scanners caused the problems and not the people using them when they went to a location where the problem was. There is a big difference. Train spotting is not an emergency location unless they decide to wait on the tracks.
 
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MrF

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
I think the original point you made was that the scanners caused the problems and not the people using them when they went to a location where the problem was. There is a big difference. Train spotting is not an emergency location unless they decide to wait on the tracks.
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That's how I read it too - that operating a RX only device would somehow interfere with radio traffic which is not the case. I will 100% agree with Scott on the point he's actually trying to make, that some people use scanners to tell them where to go to get 'cool' photos for facebook and such and get in the way of people trying to save lives and property.
 
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hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Rick, did you and your group go to a rail yard to photograph the trains? You take lots of awesome train photos so I presume you live somewhat close to tracks. I can see the benefit of using a scanner so you'll know when a train is headed your way--I never gave any thought about using one to identify when trains will be going past. Nice idea! :)
 
S

Sandpatch

Senior Member
hark said:
... I can see the benefit of using a scanner so you'll know when a train is headed your way--I never gave any thought about using one to identify when trains will be going past. Nice idea! :)
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I've found that if I'm in unfamiliar territory, an employee timetable (or Internet research) is a handy thing to have on hand to reference mileposts, locations and train numbers that may be called out. Otherwise, I'm sometimes at a loss as to explain what is happening. I also monitor the End-Of-Train device frequencies, as they regularly broadcast a brief packet of data to the locomotive and the noise (a burst of tones) is a good indicator that something is very close by.

Knowing how to read lineside block signals is a big help too.
 
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R

Rick M

Senior Member
hark said:
Rick, did you and your group go to a rail yard to photograph the trains? You take lots of awesome train photos so I presume you live somewhat close to tracks. I can see the benefit of using a scanner so you'll know when a train is headed your way--I never gave any thought about using one to identify when trains will be going past. Nice idea! :)
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We went to a few hot spots in the area. There is a large yard in the area but it is too well patrolled.
 
S

Sandpatch

Senior Member
By the way, block signals are often marked with milepost information as seen in this shot at Fairforest, SC at MP 456 between Spartanburg, SC and Greenville, SC. Fairforest is 456 Miles by rail from Washington, DC where this line on the Piedmont Division began. I circled the milepost plate in red so that it'd be easier to find in the picture. You'll hear mileposts called out by automated lineside hotbox and dragging equipment detectors as trains pass by them; knowing where you are on the line is a big help in train photography.
 

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