http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199 Well, I decided to stop off at the Loop to take a few pix before I headed home to La La Land, and guess what, I was run off by the rail police!&nbsp; The guy was real nice, and I asked him why it is suddenly a problem for rail fans to hang out there.&nbsp; After he figured out I wasn't a real threat he explained that there have been many instances of theft, vandalism, and attempts to derail trains.&nbsp; How times change.&nbsp; I've been going to the Loop off and on for over 18 years taking pictures of trains and making audio recordings and this is the first time I have ever seen a rail cop.&nbsp; I even got a cab ride on a work train many, many years ago.&nbsp; Not any more!&nbsp; Oh well, glad I have all the pix that I do, these may be the last! Well, I decided to stop off at the Loop to take a few pix before I headed home to La La Land, and guess what, I was run off by the rail police!&nbsp; The guy was real nice, and I asked him why it is suddenly a problem for rail fans to hang out there.&nbsp; After he figured out I wasn't a real threat he explained that there have been many instances of theft, vandalism, and attempts to derail trains.&nbsp; How times change.&nbsp; I've been going to the Loop off and on for over 18 years taking pictures of trains and making audio recordings and this is the first time I have ever seen a rail cop.&nbsp; I even got a cab ride on a work train many, many years ago.&nbsp; Not any more!&nbsp; Oh well, glad I have all the pix that I do, these may be the last! en-us Yea, I know theft has become a real problem lately... I used to go down there a lot with an old friend - another photographer - who passed away a few years ago. Maybe you knew him? Frank Richter? Anyways, you get a whole new perspective up close. I imagine there is a safety issue for them too, to have people on railroad property if you got squished by a train... but it's a shame you got run off. I've enjoyed your pictures. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71651 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71651 Yea, I know theft has become a real problem lately... I used to go down there a lot with an old friend - another photographer - who passed away a few years ago. Maybe you knew him? Frank Richter? Anyways, you get a whole new perspective up close. I imagine there is a safety issue for them too, to have people on railroad property if you got squished by a train... but it's a shame you got run off. I've enjoyed your pictures. aww man...&nbsp;&nbsp; Sorry to hear that Greg.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm glad you got some great pictures before they kicked you off though.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are many train buffs that are going to be disapointed as well I bet. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71718 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71718 aww man...&nbsp;&nbsp; Sorry to hear that Greg.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm glad you got some great pictures before they kicked you off though.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are many train buffs that are going to be disapointed as well I bet. What a bummer. :(&nbsp;&nbsp; Isn't the loop like a major tourist attraction here?&nbsp; It can't be an uncommon site to see people taking pictures there.&nbsp; Strange that they suddenly are running people off.&nbsp; There's even a sign on the 58 that says Tehachapi Loop! http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71793 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71793 What a bummer. :(&nbsp;&nbsp; Isn't the loop like a major tourist attraction here?&nbsp; It can't be an uncommon site to see people taking pictures there.&nbsp; Strange that they suddenly are running people off.&nbsp; There's even a sign on the 58 that says Tehachapi Loop! They don't mind folks being up on the hill where the historical marker is, but they don't want them to be down by the tracks.&nbsp; That's where most of the real rail fans go, though. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71811 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71811 They don't mind folks being up on the hill where the historical marker is, but they don't want them to be down by the tracks.&nbsp; That's where most of the real rail fans go, though. <p>I figured it would happen sooner or later. I remember reading and hearing about the problems that have started to happen around the tracks so I knew something was going to have to change. </p> <p>On Holloween I saw a RR police car at a house in town. It was a first for me and on top of that it was a K9 unit. </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71816 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_71816 <p>I figured it would happen sooner or later. I remember reading and hearing about the problems that have started to happen around the tracks so I knew something was going to have to change. </p> <p>On Holloween I saw a RR police car at a house in town. It was a first for me and on top of that it was a K9 unit. </p> There has been a rash of thefts from trains lately. Their MO is to stop the train by placing something on the tracks, then while the trail is stopped, they open box cars and toss items off until the train starts to move again. They then pick the stuff up and high tail it out if there . It has been happening more in the less populated areas i.e.- between Keene and Caliente. The Railroad has increased Police presence in the area. One of their officers lives here in Tehachapi. They have gone to marked cars- for a long time their cars were unmarked. So, Greg, I'm glad you had a good contact with the officer and understand their plight. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_72113 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_72113 There has been a rash of thefts from trains lately. Their MO is to stop the train by placing something on the tracks, then while the trail is stopped, they open box cars and toss items off until the train starts to move again. They then pick the stuff up and high tail it out if there . It has been happening more in the less populated areas i.e.- between Keene and Caliente. The Railroad has increased Police presence in the area. One of their officers lives here in Tehachapi. They have gone to marked cars- for a long time their cars were unmarked. So, Greg, I'm glad you had a good contact with the officer and understand their plight. That's too bad.&nbsp; I have had several visitors through the years who were overjoyed to get up-close photos of the Loop.&nbsp; &nbsp; I don't like stopping on the hill.&nbsp; There isn't enough space to feel safe from the drivers, especially with small children or elderly standing out there to look. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_72875 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_72875 That's too bad.&nbsp; I have had several visitors through the years who were overjoyed to get up-close photos of the Loop.&nbsp; &nbsp; I don't like stopping on the hill.&nbsp; There isn't enough space to feel safe from the drivers, especially with small children or elderly standing out there to look. .<br /> <br /> What lens effect is that with the pics in the slideshow? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_74849 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_74849 .<br /> <br /> What lens effect is that with the pics in the slideshow? It's an SLR lens with a graduated blur effect.&nbsp; Gives a nice motion blur and out of focus effects.&nbsp; On very wide shots it gives an illusion of almost being a toy or model picture.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.lensbabies.com/">http://www.lensbabies.com/</a><br /> I have the Lensbaby 2.0, the 0.6x wide angle converter, and the 1.6x telephoto converter.&nbsp; Just now getting used to them, I like it so far, pretty fun.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> I've added some more pix to the slideshow with that effect. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_74856 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_74856 It's an SLR lens with a graduated blur effect.&nbsp; Gives a nice motion blur and out of focus effects.&nbsp; On very wide shots it gives an illusion of almost being a toy or model picture.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.lensbabies.com/">http://www.lensbabies.com/</a><br /> I have the Lensbaby 2.0, the 0.6x wide angle converter, and the 1.6x telephoto converter.&nbsp; Just now getting used to them, I like it so far, pretty fun.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> I've added some more pix to the slideshow with that effect. Blame it on Halls. He must have the railroad police on his payroll also. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_93268 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/GregL/7199/#c_93268 Blame it on Halls. He must have the railroad police on his payroll also.