![Police car](BH-police-car.jpg)
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- As this police car passed through the shimmering heat waves rising from last night’s north bound freight, I wandered if maybe it was driven by the same officer I had met as I prepared Sancho to shoot the photo I posted on May 19. Just before I shot that picture, I parked our red Ford Escape in the overflow dirt parking at the Alaska Railroad passenger pickup site and launched Sancho from the roof. I had already figured it out and quickly positioned Sancho about about 60 feet away from me on the other side of the tracks. I heard the whistle blow. The train was coming!
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- I was surprised to suddenly hear a man’s voice call out from just behind me. “Is everything okay?” I looked back and there stood a police officer. “Yes,” I said. “I’m just getting ready to photograph the train with my drone.”
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- “We got a call that you were driving on the tracks,” he said, politely.
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- “That’s crazy,” I said. I could tell by his expression that he saw it was crazy, too. He seemed a little embarrassed to even have to ask.
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- “Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re fine, but we have to check it out. Where is your drone?” I pointed to Sancho, red and green lights flashing yet still hard to see against the hill behind him.
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- “Where? I don’t see it.”
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- “Right there!” I pointed again. The whistle blew again.
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- “I see it now. You’re good. I just need to see your driver’s license.”
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- “Please don’t make me miss my photograph,” I pled.
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- “I won’t. I just need to call in your driver’s license.” The train was less than half mile away, coming fast. I dug out my license. “Want to see my pilot’s license, too?”
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- “No, just your driver’s license.” He went to his car and called it in.
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- “Don’t worry at all,” he said when he handed my license back. “You’re fine. Just don’t fly your drone in front of the train. I hope you get a good picture.”
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- The train barreled toward us. He got into his car. The train rumbled and screeched past. I got my picture.
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- Last night, I wondered if it was the same officer in this police car. I wondered if he had recognized me, off in the distance down below, taking pictures in the rain through the open window of the red Ford Escape. 5/30/21
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Photograph courtesy of Bill Hess
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