Site Update # 8
New additions/updates since 8/4/2007, as of 9/18/2007:
*Added Google video capability and new post category, "Vid of the Day." The initial video quality was below average, although with a bit of tweaking I feel it is up to average standards. Perhaps someday they or another free video host provider will allow for better video resolutions...
*Updated CSX Local/Yard Power on the sidebar.
*Added photo of NS 3317, a new addition (since June) to the NS "Fostoria fleet" of high nose SD40-2's (which also includes Fostoria "veterans" NS 3320-3328).
*Added a handful of trains to the Fostoria Train Schedules page....I am hoping to add more as soon as possible. As I have had time I have busy tracking down trains for which I don't yet have photos. I also plan on added a couple of more levels of detail for each train, such as typical motive power seen on each train, etc...any suggestions are appreciated and can be e-mailed to Fostoria Rails!
*Updated header photo and caption information.
*Added photo and information to the sidebar about Sunny Farms Landfill in Loudon.
*Update on "24 Hours+ Trackside in Fostoria" post: This has taken a LOT longer than I originally planned! In the future I will know how I want to do this and will be able to post much more quickly. All of the photos and videos are edited, uploaded, and ready to post. I just need to finish writing the story...
*Added a links section on the sidebar for "related sites" that have useful, similar, and/or additional information, photos, videos, etc, from or about Fostoria.
*There has been lots of news here lately, and even more rumors regarding railfanning in Fostoria. I will post about this in greater length in the next news update. For now, I will say that the vast majority of what I have read or heard regarding railfans in Fostoria, whether or not we are welcome here, where we are welcome, and by whom, is either NOT true at all or has been GREATLY exaggerated. There apparently ARE some things going on, but as one who has lived in Fostoria for 2-1/2 years and makes it down to the Iron Triangle most days, even if only for a few minutes while passing through on other business or to and from work, I have NEVER had a problem or run in with Fostoria police or with CSX or NS employees of any kind.
I can only think of two times I have ever even drawn a railroad employee's attention: Once I had someone ask me about what I was doing, and that was a unique situation where an off duty NS employee was interested in my activity, and, although I wasn't on railroad property, I could see why he stopped me to inquire. I probably would have done the same thing if I were a railroad employee.
The other incident happened this summer when an F Tower operator (who had never worked the day shift here until recently, and perhaps was unused to daytime railfan activity) somehow got the impression that a group of us were not behaving safely near the tracks. He simply alerted an uncoming train to watch out for our presence and to be careful. I (and everyone else I railfan with, including the group I was with that day) play it smart and don't do stupid things anywhere near the tracks (I save my stupidity for elsewhere!); but I know that unfortunately not everyone does this!
I will save the rest for the news update, but I've been getting e-mail inquiries and wanted to set the record straight: Please do NOT stay away from Fostoria because of anything you have heard or read about recent events here. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail me, and if you have any additional, CREDIBLE AND VERIFIABLE information as to what has been going on, please do the same. Thanks!
*Added Google video capability and new post category, "Vid of the Day." The initial video quality was below average, although with a bit of tweaking I feel it is up to average standards. Perhaps someday they or another free video host provider will allow for better video resolutions...
*Updated CSX Local/Yard Power on the sidebar.
*Added photo of NS 3317, a new addition (since June) to the NS "Fostoria fleet" of high nose SD40-2's (which also includes Fostoria "veterans" NS 3320-3328).
*Added a handful of trains to the Fostoria Train Schedules page....I am hoping to add more as soon as possible. As I have had time I have busy tracking down trains for which I don't yet have photos. I also plan on added a couple of more levels of detail for each train, such as typical motive power seen on each train, etc...any suggestions are appreciated and can be e-mailed to Fostoria Rails!
*Updated header photo and caption information.
*Added photo and information to the sidebar about Sunny Farms Landfill in Loudon.
*Update on "24 Hours+ Trackside in Fostoria" post: This has taken a LOT longer than I originally planned! In the future I will know how I want to do this and will be able to post much more quickly. All of the photos and videos are edited, uploaded, and ready to post. I just need to finish writing the story...
*Added a links section on the sidebar for "related sites" that have useful, similar, and/or additional information, photos, videos, etc, from or about Fostoria.
*There has been lots of news here lately, and even more rumors regarding railfanning in Fostoria. I will post about this in greater length in the next news update. For now, I will say that the vast majority of what I have read or heard regarding railfans in Fostoria, whether or not we are welcome here, where we are welcome, and by whom, is either NOT true at all or has been GREATLY exaggerated. There apparently ARE some things going on, but as one who has lived in Fostoria for 2-1/2 years and makes it down to the Iron Triangle most days, even if only for a few minutes while passing through on other business or to and from work, I have NEVER had a problem or run in with Fostoria police or with CSX or NS employees of any kind.
I can only think of two times I have ever even drawn a railroad employee's attention: Once I had someone ask me about what I was doing, and that was a unique situation where an off duty NS employee was interested in my activity, and, although I wasn't on railroad property, I could see why he stopped me to inquire. I probably would have done the same thing if I were a railroad employee.
The other incident happened this summer when an F Tower operator (who had never worked the day shift here until recently, and perhaps was unused to daytime railfan activity) somehow got the impression that a group of us were not behaving safely near the tracks. He simply alerted an uncoming train to watch out for our presence and to be careful. I (and everyone else I railfan with, including the group I was with that day) play it smart and don't do stupid things anywhere near the tracks (I save my stupidity for elsewhere!); but I know that unfortunately not everyone does this!
I will save the rest for the news update, but I've been getting e-mail inquiries and wanted to set the record straight: Please do NOT stay away from Fostoria because of anything you have heard or read about recent events here. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail me, and if you have any additional, CREDIBLE AND VERIFIABLE information as to what has been going on, please do the same. Thanks!
