I work for **RR. Ever since 9/11 every train crew receives an advisory with their track warrant that tells them to immediately report any suspicious activity on or near railroad property. Being in the control tower of a rail yard which is near a river, yard crews and train crews give me many of these reports in reference to the river bridge. Depending on how the crew describes the activity, I either report it to the RR police, or ignore it, because on any given day, and especially on river bridges, we always have trespassers. I would be more inclined to have the tresspaser removed for safety reasons, than as a terrorist threat. They walk all through the yard, climb in cars, and dangerously climb between cars, seriously risking their lives out of ignorance. I can recall only a handfull of times in over 40 years, where we arrested a tresspasser. I have personally contacted trespassers (without benefit of gun and badge) and have removed them by simply stating to them that they are trespassing, and if they will leave the property, I will not call the police. It works 99% of the time. It is rare for a trespasser to put up an argument, and even rarer for them to become agressive, unless you are talking about a rail yard near the Mexican border.
In my humble professional opinion, I would advise against placing a cache near a railroad structure but if you do, use a little common sense and don't put it on a bridge or tunnel, and definitely don't put your name in it.
I believe that 911 hysteria is what got HillWilly busted.
By the way, check this cache out. It was created by a RR Special Agent (policeman). It is right next to the tracks, although he didn't place it there. Ask him what he thinks?
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=10858
[This message was edited by Tweedler on June 09, 2002 at 12:33 PM.]
[This message was edited by Tweedler on June 09, 2002 at 12:38 PM.]