Is it wrong to walk on the dirt by railroad track to drop off flowers for a lost friend?

Yesterday was a year since my friend died so my mother and I went to the tracks to bring some flowers to the place other friends of his did. I was having a peaceful time, until a railroad cop came. My mom said, "Hi, her friend died here a year ago so we were just bringing some flowers."
Then in a very rude way, he directly to me said, "Well, what does that teach you?"
And I ran to my car crying. He asked for our license plate number and my mom said, "So what are you gonna do? Write me a ticket?"
And he decided to do nothing, but ruin the peace and make everyone feel a lot worse.
I'm aware that it is trespassing, but I was putting flowers at the only place I could due to the fact he was cremated.
I had an adult with me so I wasn't going to get hurt or anything.
It extremely hurt the feelings of my mother, me, and everyone we told.
What's your take on the issue?
Additional Details
Oh and by the way, he was my friend. Karma's gonna bite you in the butt real hard if you don't start being a nicer human being.
Maybe instead of answering a confused person's questions you should go ask some for yourself about why people hate you.
Logical sense, huh?
Get the question straight first.

Ben H

Railroad property extends at least 50 feet from either side of the center line of the track. So, you were trespassing.

Specifically, the railroad wants to keep you well away from the track because a normal train extends a couple of feet beyond the track. Even if you're past where a train normally would be, passing trains can have dangling rods or cables even past this point that could do serious damage to you. A person who's distracted, such as you understandably were, could easily not notice a train until it's too late to get out of the way.

So, the officer was legally right to ask/insist that you to leave, and with good reason.

With that said, however, he definitely could have done so much more tactfully and respectfully. In light of the situation and your mother's explanation, he should have probably explained the above about why you shouldn't be there, and asked you to leave.

So, in short, in the future, it's probably best to memorialize your friend at some place other than right next to the railroad track. I can completely sympathize with your desire to leave the flowers at the site, however it's definitely not a very safe option for you. Alternatively, you could probably contact the railroad, explain the situation, and request an escort to the site.

Again, I'm sorry that you encountered an RP officer who was having a bad day or who had let the power go to his head.

john s

The railroad owns the land on either side of the tracks for thirty feet.If you want to avoid this problem in the future you can place the flowers near the road instead of down the tracks.Because of security threats the railroad is taking nothing for granted.If you were carrying something other than flowers you could have gone to jail.But the railroad cop was wrong to say what he did how he did.He might have been more sympathetic to the death of your friend.Instead he chose to be confrontational and said things that brought up painful memories.I definitely would have handled it different.
How exactly did your friend die?There are a few ways I can think of that would be accidental,or even purposeful.I would have asked what happened to your friend then asked you if you understand what actions caused the death of your friend.Not to make you upset but to see if you know the danger you are in by being that close to the tracks.I live near Fox River Grove,IL when a school bus was hit by a commuter train,killing seven high school children.It was national news and caused stricter legislation to be passed in regards to railroad crossings.But even walking along the tracks can be dangerous.Several people each year are struck by trains while walking.And the jet stream from a train traveling at 60mph is enough to knock you off your feet or draw you into the train if you are close enough.
You should try to find another way to honor your friend's memory.I know it is traditional to place flowers at the actual accident site,but you should not trespass or place yourself in danger to do it.

lurch

I'd go back any time I felt the urge as long as I was being safe and respectful regardless of the consequences. It's hard loosing some one you care for. It's harder not having somewhere to go for remembrance.
Have you thought of making a small memorial some where that was special to your friend or even the both of you, that would bring thoughts of a happier time to you?

Ryan R

Yes, it is wrong, for two reasons. First, you're trespassing on railroad property. Second, apparently you haven't learned anything about what happened to your friend. You and your mother were rude by trespassing.

Who says along the tracks was the "only" place you could put flowers? What's wrong with planting flowers in your backyard? If a friend of mine were to die in your house, do you think I should be able to just walk in whenever I feel like it and put flowers there? Of course not.

Everyone who has been struck by a train has said the same thing you claim: Oh, I won't get hurt.

I doubt very much your friend would want you to make the same mistake he made.

You were wrong. Don't be dead wrong like your friend.

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