Trains through the airport

Quite honestly, we don't believe in the TSA and don't fly while they have the Airports.

Having said that, I would believe that anything out of the ordinary including Handicapped or Special Medical Needs will trigger a search anyway. Silly and a waste of time.

The last two times I went through BWI, I got examined thoroughly twice each way. I wont be back that way anytime soon.

I'm technically on call even when I fly out of state, so I have more gear than normal, so it stands out when they scan the bag. TSA reacts to anything unusual, so I look at the operator's face and can tell when a supplemental search is coming.

As for trains, a locomotive is going to show up as a bizarre image on the x-ray, so be prepared to open it for inspection.

Personally, if I could afford the time and expense, I'd take the train everywhere -- coach more comfortable than airline "first class," less of a hassle, food, and scenery.

Matt,

I can guarantee that as long as you "TRAVEL THE RAILS" no one will ever HIJACK your train to CUBA.   

I just wouldn't take any toy train items through that hassle, even the small items and most certainly items like smoke fluid and tools.  Pack 'em carefully and ship 'em via your favorite service--UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.--whenever possible.

I realize that flying is an absolute necessity for some folks, but those who do fly these days--especially those who are frequent flyers--have my profound sympathy.

Taken toy trains to and from Honolulu numerous times! Never had a problem with them in checked baggage. I use the curbside check in saves a lot of hassle.

Gunny

I would normally agree that including them in the checked baggage is more convenient, but I trust the baggage screeners at some airports as far as I could throw a Big Boy. There have been way to many reports of items stolen from checked bags, especially around the holidays. Also, a steam locomotive has two negatives -- bulk and weight -- the latter of which could quickly push your checked bag over the 50 pound limit.

Have you ever tried to take ham radio stuff?

I love the policial cartoon which came up in newspapers during the movie "Snakes on a Plane".  The TSA let the snakes on, but wanted the H2O bottle one of the snakes had!

Dominic,

Yes I have, and it did raise a few eyebrows, but I made it thru OK!

Ed W1EFM

There was an episode of Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel awhile back that had Mike Rowe working as a baggage handler at an airport.  You guys thought the Fedex/UPS guys throw packages around, the airport guys are just as bad if not worse with that.  Things get tossed around.

Haven't flown since '99 when I got out of the service, and don't intend on doing so now... or ever. The TSA can keep their intrusive scans and body cavity searches.

Last Fall. I took a Railking Allegheny through Security at Charlotte Douglas Airport. I was bringing it back to NY to get it repaired. The X Ray showed and image of the engine and you could make out what it was. I had it double wrapped in two plastic shopping bags. TSA did a sniff test on it. The inspector new what it was and asked me if someone was getting a nice Christmas present. It was cleared within a minute and we proceeded to our plane.

I did have someone at the Charlotte airport to take this engine for me in case TSA would deny access on board. I would not attempt the return trip for the locomotive via air since i have no one at the NY end to take it in case it is denied.  The engine is repaired now and it will return to Charlotte on our next Summer Road trip.

I would not recommend taking trains on the plane !!

TSA - 50,000 security guards, working @ 450 airports.  Not a single terrorist unmasked, uncovered,or arrested since November 19th, 2001 when the program was instituted, well over 10 years ago.

I rather enjoy the search and go to the airport often even when I do not have a ticket.

The best way to deprive people of their freedoms and privacy is to take it away bit-by-bit.

I never tried to bring any trains in my carry-on luggage, but I did have an interesting interaction with TSA last year.

I was travelling back from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a business trip, and picked up a small jar of guava preserves that I packed in my hand luggage.  When I went through the screening, the TSA agent told me that I shouldn't have packed the preserves in my hand luggage.  "Next time, make sure it goes in my checked luggage."  Its funny because had I brought home a box of pastries with the same amount of preserves it wouldn't have been an issue.

We have made the move from taking "reasonable" precautions to trying to move to zero risk regardless of the inconvience or cost. 

Jim

p.s. regarding carry-on luggage, travelling back from Berlin, Germany, last year, Luftansa weighed all of my carry-on stuff, a small wheeled bag and my computer bag, and I was over the "carry-on" weight limit.  Lol, my next accessory for international travel will be a coat with many pockets!

Eric, I'm not sure that you are better off on a train, remember the movie "The Cassandra Crossing"!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cassandra_Crossing

I have taken trains/accessories on flights many times. I flew professionally for many years and have a very good relationship with most of the major carriers. I would for the most part when practical "carry-on" my train purchases from York. I always told the TSA folks BEFORE the item went through the screener what was coming their way. Most were fascianated with my items and I have NEVER had a problem. If the item was too big for the overhead, the flight crew would put it in a closet. I remember taking a GGD coaling tower that I purchased from our own Forum member Jeb at York as a carry-on.

Be upfront with the airline personnel and the TSA folks and you will not have a problem.

It's funny how an event can change your way of thinking. I like most of you hate the TSA but Monday my youngest has an interview at Dulles for a flight attendants job.
If the TSA is what it takes to keep her safe in her new line of work then I'm glad they're around.

David

I hope with all my heart that she stays safe.  I strongly doubt that the TSA will help her do so.  I read the anecdotes where they sound like everyday folks just trying to do their jobs but the ones I have seen haven't been that bright...

My aunt had Alzheimers.  While she was still able to travel but needed to be escorted in the airport, I had to meet her at Detroit.  I was wearing casual clothes.  Nothing in my pocket except my wallet and keys.  No "oddball" clothes that would trigger any reactions from anyone.  The only thing was that I had just lost a great deal of weight and hadn't bought a new pair of jeans yet.  They were about 4 inches too big and really needed my belt or they would drop to my ankles.

As required I went to check-in and got a gate pass after explaining the situation and showing ID.  I went to the TSA screening and was told to remove my belt.  I complied. Because I had a gate pass and no ticket, the TSA wanted to "wand" me even though I did not set off the scanner.  OK.  Since removing my belt, I was holding my pants up.  Before wanding me, I was ORDERED (not asked politely) to extend both arms.  I told the screener that if he insisted, I would comply but that because he already had my belt, my pants would fall down if I did so.  He looked at me like a deer in the headlights.  When he "came to" he told me I would have to extend both arms.  By this time, a supervisor came over and had to tell him I could extend one arm at a time after I explained the situation again.  I ended up being scanned multiple times on first on one side then on the other with alternating arms extended and under the supervision of at least two agents.  I was eventually cleared.   

Sure, the procedure was way over the top and extremely annoying but what made the biggest impression on me was the way the agents acted as if they were completely clueless as to what they should do because it wasn't spelled out for them in advance. These are not trained law enforcement officers (yet they carry a badge ) and they are not very bright.  If they are going to really make a difference, they need to be more educated and trained to think on their feet.

Any time I ever went through airport baggage check with a train, it was a hassle. The reaction from the X-Ray technician is always the same. Conveyor belt stops, hand goes up, "What's in this box?" I respond "A model train." They then proceed to pull me to the side, pat me down, yank the item out of the box and packaging to smear it with bomb detection wipes, then leave me to box it back up.

I never did think to tell them ahead of time I have trains in the bag and they might look strange on the X-Ray image. But I'm not sure it would help, as my mostly confirmed suspicion is that I am profiled almost every time I go through an airport. I am young (20) with a tan Mediterranean complexion (Italian). Trains or no trains, 9 of 10 baggage checks end for me in an additional search and pat down. Of course, I am always told that it is random selection, but we all know what a load of manure that is.

I can deal with all that, but what really sets me off is what they do to my father almost every time. He is a paraplegic in a wheelchair. First they wipe his entire chair down for bomb/drug residue, which is understandable I suppose. But when they pat him down and feel his leg bag, he's immediately sent to the back room. He tries to explain what it is but gets that same deer in the headlights look from the guard, who pretty much ignores him and sends him away to be violated in a virtual strip search. Like my "random checks", this happens to him about 9 out of 10 times.

I appreciate the intent of the TSA to keep passengers safe, but much of it is just so totally unacceptable and unnecessary.

David:

Good luck to your daughter with her interview. I have met thousands of them in my career and for the most part they really are sensational people who do a great job to keep their passengers safe and at the same time provide for the passengers' needs. Most have wonderful personalities and make your trip more pleasant. This is a real training ground to handle many difficulties that life can throw at you and she will grow in many ways because of this experience if she gets the job.

I hope she gets the job.

Most TSA personnel are very nice to deal with. Since I have two hip replacements, I was screened every time I went through security. If you tell them up front before going through the initial screening, they appreciate the advanced info.

Finally, this is a great opportunity to share a TSA story with you. I was returning home early one morning from a corporate Christmas party in Las Vegas. One of my managers had given me a wrapped Christmas present for one of my execs and asked me to bring it back home to give to him. I went through the normal TSA extra special screening and the TSA agent  kept going through my carry-on duffel bag. He finally after exhausting all options said sir, I am sorry but I have to open this package (the Christmas present). He asked me what was in the package and I told him I had no idea as it was a gift I was bringing back form somebody else. Well what was inside the package was a big hunting knife. Talk about trouble in River City. The agent immediately called over a supervisor and showed him the knife. The supervisor asked what had just happened and I gave my side of the story. The agent to his credit told his supervisor that you should have seen the look on this guy's face when I opened the package plus he shared my remarks that I was going to XXXXXXXXX this guy who asked me to bring the gift with me when I got home. The supervisor looked at me, said I believe what you are telling me, but I can't let you go on the aircraft with this knife. He said I could go back through security and go outside and mail it. I said, no, keep it, it is my gift to you. I could have been locked up but they were really nice guys who recognized I was telling the truth. So I really appreciate the TSA.

I will be going to Rhode Island in August to visit family.  My brother has some Lionel Freight Cars for me to take back to Tampa.  I will UPS them back home the day before I leave.  The last thing I want is difficulties at the Airport.

Allan is right on about Fed Ex or UPS to get the trains home.  Such are the times we live in.

Many thanks,

Billy C 

Thanks Brian,
She's excited .She's hoping to get on the European runs so I hope she does too.
She's a very outgoing ,independent kid, very self driven and an airlines dream at size zero . I told her I wouldn't be surprised to see her in the left seat one of these days and knowing her, if that's what she sets her mind to do it will happen.

I did the same thing as you. My wife and I were on a trip with her company to
Las Vegas , Well me being the old country boy that I am I had left that mourning doing my usual routine which was putting my favorite pocket knife in my pocket.
I just realized what I'd done as we got to security . I went straight up to the TSA guy and told him what I'd done. Like most said about being up front with them he was very nice but said I'd just lost a very nice pocket knife. I smiled and told him to enjoy it . Oh well

David

If he was really being such a nice guy, why didn't you get to take it back to your car?  After all, you were "up front with him".  This stuff will keep happening as long as people tolerate it.

Well the car was a half mile away and with our departure 40 minutes away I didn't want to risk missing my flight. The bags had already been checked and sometimes you just have to stop being  crotchety old fart and tolerate those things you can't change.
I still don't like the TSA but I'm not going to let it get to me. I now have a new favorite pocket knife.

If you've ever flown into Frankfurt and seen their folks standing there with full riot gear and machine guns, we still don't have it to bad in the good ol U.S.A.

David

I think Ben Franklin summed it up nicely:

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

I do believe John nailed it.

David,

You have some excellent points.  First of all, life isn't always a question about what you get it is about what you do and how you treat others.  Absolutely.  That they are human beings and deserve to be treated as such...  Again, absolutely.  I certainly never intended anything I wrote to imply otherwise.  That they are trying to do their jobs.  I'll give most of them the benefit of the doubt there although like with any job, some are there for the power trip.  Those bad apples are responsible for what they do and need to be weeded out but that isn't the problem I was writing about.  

In any case, they are all human but what does that mean?  Does it mean they shouldn't be held up to a high standard of professionalism and conduct? It doesn't to me.  At the end of the day, most of us are held accountable for what we say and do during the course of our jobs.  They should be no different.

I think we have to disagree on frisking someone in a wheelchair being necessary to prevent acts of terrorism.  Accepting outrageous behavior as being a sign of the times is really no different than turning a blind eye to any other form of outrageous behavior.  We need to stand up, have some backbone and draw the line.

Maybe if we started charging those who do such terror acts with treason, it might just stop.  The Constitution has the punishment for it.

hello guys an gals.........

onces the REX 84 program starts that would be the day our Constitution rights is gone. 

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Actually the Constitution allows for the conviction of treason only if testimony can be obtained by at least 2 witnesses; otherwise charges of treason cannot be levied against any US citizen.  The Espionage Act of 1912, which is a Federal law, is probably more in line of what you're thinking of as it gives a broader definition of treason than what the Constitution dictates and the requirement of two witnesses doesn't apply.

Profiling. schmofiling...Treason. sneezin...How many planes have been blown up over US SOIL since 9/11/01???  Maybe the TSA is more professional/knowledgeable than we give credit.  Wear tighter pants, remove your belt, do not carry knives,  and realize a handicapped person could have explosives or a box cutter.  I have flown ONCE in the last 10 years, so I will not hold myself out as an expert.  Be glad the Secret Service is not FRISKING you!!!

We don't have to worry about the secret service frisking unless we live in Brazil.
I heard they're changing the name to the Secret Serviced.

David

I have to fly sometimes as many as 6 times a month for my job.  When I'm on the road, if I have some extra time, I'll always try to visit one or two local hobby shops and, over the years, I've purchased many items that I had to bring home with me.  

Since I never check a bag when flying on business domestically, I must also carry on whatever train items I have purchased.  I always leave these in the paper or plastic bag from the hobby store and simply place the bag in the plastic bin to go through the x-ray machine.  Although the screener may occasionally back it up and take a second or third look at it, I've yet to have any TSA screener give me a hassle about whatever is in the bag.

Since the TSA and how they interact with folks has kind of worked it's way into this thread, I'll offer my best advice from years of flying.  First, wear shoes that you can easily slip on and off without having to untie and tie.  Before you get in the line for security, take everything out of your pockets; change, cash, keys, Chapstick, your wallet, cell phone, wrist watch, whatever and place them in your carry on bag.  Keep only your boarding pass and photo ID.  When you approach the TSA officers, keep your hands out of your pockets, make eye contact and ALWAYS be polite.  This doesn't mean that you won't occasionally come across a screener who is having a bad day, but from my experience, it normally seems to get me through the security screening process with a minimum amount of aggravation.

Curt

Curt,

Thanks for sharing some good information.

The logic is flawed.  No planes were used as terror weapons over U.S. soil prior to 9/11/2001.  That obviously did not mean that the measures being taken were effective enough.

And not to count rivits BUT...  those planes weren't "blown up" either.  They were flown into their targets except for the one where the passengers acted to retake the aircraft.  

As for explosives not making it aboard aircraft, there was the guy who DID have explosives in his underwear that *WAS* aboard a plane that he tried to blow up as it was landing in Detroit and there *WAS* the guy who tried to ignite an explosive in his shoe.  Both of them were already aboard their planes.  We were lucky on both of those incidents.  So the measures currently being taken are not so effective.

@Curt,

Excellent suggestions.  Is the reason you take stuff out of your pockets before getting in line so that you find any problem items before you have to give them up to the TSA and can either take them to the car or drop them in the mail?

Eric:

I don't worry too much anymore about having something on me that will not pass muster with the TSA.  As much as I fly, I know what not to bring with me.  I also keep what, for lack of a better term, I refer to as a "clean" travel briefcase.  I only use this when I fly so I know exactly what is in it.

The full body scanners in use at many airports pretty much require that your pockets be completely empty.  Anything left in your pockets will be apparent to the TSA officer who is viewing the scan and practically guarantees a second trip though the scanner.  Plus one of the things I always found most stressful about airport security before I started emptying my pockets ahead of time, was the fumbling around taking things out of my pockets, placing it in the plastic bins and then trying to remember to grab everything on the other side of the scanners.  If you put all the small stuff in a carry on bag before you enter security, it greatly expedites the security process, not only for yourself, but also for those behind you.  Plus, you don't have to worry about forgetting something in a plastic bin.

Curt