When I was seven years old, I had been going with my grandfather to the Downtown Riverside Metrolink station for a while. I decided to borrow my mom's digital camera one day when I was seven and photograph the Metrolink train that was about to leave. Next thing I know, I have a Metrolink conductor, A CONDUCTOR, telling me, a seven year old boy, I can't photograph the train. What did he think it was, a camera shaped gun? Not knowing any better, I put my camera away and watched the train depart for L.A. Union Station. When we walked back over the bridge, my grandfather sternly asked the security guard there what was the deal. From what I remember, the security guard was a pretty big @$$ about it. It wasn't until today I thought of checking the Riverside County Transportation Commission's website for a policy. Nothing. I checked every page on the website. Nothing related to Metrolink photography. I checked Metrolink's website. Same story, nothing. In fact, the only one that does have a policy is Amtrak, and they don't own the station, RCTC does. Last time I was there, 12/21/11, the 10 A.M. security guard gave me a whole bunch of homeland security crap, but let me stay after some persuasion. then another shift came in. They approached me, and I got my railfan's rights documents out. Surprisingly they said quote "We just want to let you guys know that you can stay here for as long as you like". That changed my whole view of the Riverside station. In fact, one of them who had a strong Jamaican accent seemed very impressed with my videoing, and the hobby itself. It is not too often I thank rent-a-cops, but that day when I left was the rare occasion I did.
Next up a story from Oceanside, CA back in June, 2012. I was there to catch a Metrolink train up to Riverside. A Surfliner and deadhead Coaster came in before my train left, however. For the approaching Surfliner, there was a baggage guy with a girl as a passenger, which I'm not sure is even allowed. As I was filming the Surfliner leaving, he said "No no no, you can not do that!" I thought he meant I was in his way, which I was, so I moved a bit closer to the track so he could get by. He told me I could not be on the platform without a ticket. I proceeded to tell him that I had a ticket for a train to Laguna Niguel that was coming soon. He gruffly went off and parked the cart on the other side of the platform with the girl. They stayed in there. When I caught the deadhead coaster coming in, I "accidentally" got him and the girl in the picture.