Railroad Cops

[donny douchebag]

I shared a range today with a big bunch of Union Pacific police officers. As I understand it their proper names are Special Agents.

Until today I had no idea this agency existed. On one's recommendation I researched the many things these LEOs do and the history of their organization. Interesting stuff. Does anyone here interact with them?

[ckim34]

I do from time to time because we have some UP trains that run through our town. Not too many of them to cover a large area. They usually call us for outside assist for railroad issues they usually wont come out.

[CaptMike]

one of their stations is close to my home and my kid loves trains, so I went over there and they are a good group of guys. Very few assigned to the station. They love the work, it is real quiet. They said that the most police action they get is when a homeless person gets run over by a train. They get to interact with the local city cops in those situations. They kept saying over and over that most of the time it is pretty quiet though. Might be a good place to retire to, from what they told me.

[Fjold]

A friend of mine's FIL is a retired Railroad Cop.

[socalsheepdog]

If this economy gets any worse, their work load might pick up. I watched an American Experience on PBS not long ago on the Hobo lifestyle in the 1930's. It was very interesting.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/rails-chord/

[HskrVern]

My uncle retired from BNSF doing this (survived the BN and SF merger). He was stationed up in the Seattle area.

[chiselchst]

Contact with RR LEO, yes. Maybe 25 years ago, a group from work was (stupidly) shooting along the RR tracks, in Port Costa. They approached, and asked us to leave - informing us that we couldn't shoot there. They were very pleasant and professional...

(funny part - when they rolled up on us, I hid a long gun along the insides of the RR tracks. After the LEO made contact with us, I said I didn't have a gun. Then soon I could hear the loud train horn approaching. I confessed, and ran and got my gun. He was cool about it all. Remember, in those days, people could shoot in MANY MORE areas without much of a problem...)

[incredablehefey]

an old friend of mine got killed by a "railroad cop", aparently my buddy pulled a knife when he was asked to get off the easement (there weren't even tracks anymore)and the "officer" shot him dead. in all fairness my bud deserved it