last week, i was in toluca, mexico for yet another business meeting. toluca is about two hours west of mexico city.
after the meeting, i bought a city map and made my way toward the nearest set of train tracks hoping to find some FERROMEX locos to photo.
i found the tracks, and an old, abandoned platform to photograph from. there was a switcher working the yard and some other TFM equipment scattered about. nothing terribly interesting happening, but enjoyable, all the same.
the tracks were on the edge of a neighborhood, so there was an amazing amount of pedestrian (and canine) traffic crossing the tracks while the trains were moving about.
i was a little nervous standing there with my digital camera in hand, but no one bothered me. almost...
i was about done taking pictures and getting ready to head back to my car, when i heard someone say something (in spanish) behind me. i turned and noticed a young fellow (20-ish) walking toward me.
an adrenaline rush kicked in as he got closer. i thought that he was going ask for money or worse... go for my camera.
he repeated his statement, "tienes una permitta para photographia?"
i understand enough spanish to gey by - he was asking me if i had a permit to photograph the trains!
RUH-ROH!
i gave him my best "dumb look" and acted like i did not understand what he was asking me.
he repeated his question.
another dumb look.
i was hoping that if i acted dumb enough, he would just walk away, or tell me to leave.
instead he pulled a walkie-talkie out of his jacket pocket and started communicating with someone.
BIGGER RUH-ROH!
adrenaline goes into overdrive, at this point!
i am imagining that he is calling in the reinforcements (the federales), and i am about to disappear into some mexican jail - never to be heard from again.
he motions for me to walk with him.
i play dumb again, but reluctantly begin to walk with him.
for one very brief moment, i contemplate making a run for my rental car that is parked across the street.
then i imagine myself getting tackled in the middle of street and making a bad situation even worse.
wisdom DOES come with old(er) age.
so, i follow barney fife to wherever we are going.
we walk to the end of the platform. i am expecting to see the local police office.
luckliy, it is just a small railroad office.
barney motions for me to enter.
once inside, i notice a young kid - even younger than barney - sitting behind a desk (if this kid wasn't still in high school, i'll eat my camera!).
i am very relieved to see that he is not wearing a uniform or a badge - and no gun!
he asks me (in spanish) why i am taking pictures of the trains.
again, the dumb look repsonse, on my part.
i tell him that i don't speak spanish (in english).
surprised, he says, "no spanish?"
i say, "no spanish", while trying to remember NOT to speak spanish to him.
he waves his finger and says, "NO PHOTOGRAPHIA!"
i act like i finally realize what they are talking about. i motion that i will leave.
luckily, that is all that they want me to do.
i just wish that barney would have told me to "vamoos" in the first place.
anyway... i did manage to get some photos... just nothing worthy to post.
since all of you who read my story have asked for some photos... here they are.
as i mentioned in the story, they are not worth submitting for review, since the lighting is bad.
i love to make photos in mexico. the scenery, the people and the culture are awesome! most importantly, the weather and lighting are usually phenominal.
sometimes, on days like this, the lighting can be troublesome, even if it is spectacluar. while i was making these images, a beautiful late afternoon/early evening sun was over my left shoulder, and there were huge white clouds in the distance, beyond the trains. the problem was, trying to properly expose the trains, while managing the sunshine reflecting off the white clouds in the background. i ended up exposing for the train details, since they were in partial shadow. in return, the clouds got totally wiped out by the over exposure.
moving to the other side of the tracks was not an option, since there was a lot of track side equipment and other railroad property that i did not want to trespass on.
of course, i was already trespassing by standing on the old platform where i took the pictures from. and, that's what got me into trouble, in the first place
Nice shots Jeffrey.I like the paint of loco that written TFM on it its like kansas city Southern paint.Do you know what TFM meaning?
__________________
mohamed
bnsf-born 2 fight
big boy 4-8-8-4 ''best of the west''
(if you like an idea,thought alot in it and worked hard for it.you will get it) click here 2 c my pix @ rp.net
Nice shots Jeffrey.I like the paint of loco that written TFM on it its like kansas city Southern paint.Do you know what TFM meaning?
Bare in mind, KCS actually owns TFM and it's now referred to as "KCS de Mexico" .
One has to wonder how, if possible you can obtain a permit to take those photos? I wonder if KCS public affairs would enlighten you as to the motions required?
One has to wonder how, if possible you can obtain a permit to take those photos? I wonder if KCS public affairs would enlighten you as to the motions required?
Sean
this question kept me thinking last nite...
i doubt that "a permit" is really available. is it really likely that a railroad would give me permission to trespass, possibly interfere with work, or worse yet, get injured?
kinda doubtful.
i think that barney's question was;
1) purely rhetorical. he wanted to see what i would say. if i said "yes - i have a permit", he'd ask to see it. and, i'd be busted - like i was. if i said, "no - i don't have one.", he'd ask me to leave, or follow him to the security office - like i had to.
or (more likely)
2) as was mentioned by mike, it could have just been his way of trying to get "a tip" (a "bribe" seems like such a harsh word - don't ya think?).
"wow! do you mean that i can buy a permit from you - right here on the spot - and i can take picutes of trains all afternoon??? and it will only cost me 100 pesos ($10.00)!!! this is my lucky day!!!"
__________________
mohamed
bnsf-born 2 fight
big boy 4-8-8-4 ''best of the west''
(if you like an idea,thought alot in it and worked hard for it.you will get it) click here 2 c my pix @ rp.net
I think the only way to get a permit (if there is such a thing) is if the railroad hired you to take pictures. But the railroad companies probably have their own photographers on staff. I just don't know.
Last edited by Studogg120; 10-11-2006 at 04:53 PM.
Reason: Missing word(s)
I think the only way to get a permit (if there is such a thing) is if the railroad hired you to take pictures. But the railroad companies probably have their own photographers on staff. I just don't know.
Judging by some of the photographs RR's use, especally, say, the BNSF calendar (I know its done by employees, but man, some of those shots...), I doubt that...
KSC owns TFM? I never knew that. I guess that would explain the TFM AC4400CW I saw here in the Pacific NW I saw a few months back...
Yes yes, bribe is such a harsh word. I should phrase it better. More like "greasing the wheels of justice."
__________________
~Mike Bjork
UP's new slogan for Amtrak:
"We'll help you spread you wings and fly right into a siding!"
they don't like us in mexico, either...
I am very curious!
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