Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks?

John Ross · November 2nd, 2009, 11:15 AM

Is there any distance requirement for shooting display fireworks near railroad tracks? The place I'd like to shoot when my license comes through is my property on the Mississippi River (in rural Missouri), where I've been shooting consumer stuff for 40 years.

I shoot over the river, so duds aren't an issue. The tracks are on the other side of a rock wall, about 30 feet from where the mortars are located.

I know when the trains run, and no, I don't shoot then.

Would the AHJ decide this?

JR

pyroscott · November 2nd, 2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Ross

Is there any distance requirement for shooting display fireworks near railroad tracks? The place I'd like to shoot when my license comes through is my property on the Mississippi River (in rural Missouri), where I've been shooting consumer stuff for 40 years.

I shoot over the river, so duds aren't an issue. The tracks are on the other side of a rock wall, about 30 feet from where the mortars are located.

I know when the trains run, and no, I don't shoot then.

Would the AHJ decide this?

JR

Just like any other show, if the property comes within your fallout zone, you need to get permission for whoever owns the land, put them on the insurance waiver and ensure that there will be no trains there when it is show time. I have to do this all the time with the shows I do at Coors Field, as it backs up to the train tracks too. One year we had to delay the show because of trains being within the fallout zone.

Scott

Shooting Star Pyro · November 2nd, 2009, 01:24 PM

And if your fallout area goes over the Mississippi River, you need approval of the DNR and the authority having jurisdiction over the waterway.

You could face serious fines and legal issues if you don't.

St1dinoh · November 2nd, 2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooting Star Pyro

And if your fallout area goes over the Mississippi River, you need approval of the DNR and the authority having jurisdiction over the waterway.

You could face serious fines and legal issues if you don't.

don't forget the EPA and the coast gaurd (if it's navigatable)...

PyroMania · November 2nd, 2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St1dinoh

don't forget the EPA and the coast gaurd (if it's navigatable)...

How about the fish? Has anyone asked the fish?

**JoeRatman** · November 2nd, 2009, 02:25 PM

If I remember correctly, if it is naviagtable, you will need something like 165 days lead time to get the permit.

frogtoad25 · November 2nd, 2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PyroMania

How about the fish? Has anyone asked the fish?

Yes, they enjoy the shows...

Lights attract fish at night, anyone try fishing during a firework show?

Arthur Brown · November 2nd, 2009, 02:55 PM

How frequent are the trains? Can you arrange with the company to shoot in a suitable gap in the traffic? 30feet is far to close to ignore the trains

nater219 · November 2nd, 2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St1dinoh

don't forget the EPA and the coast gaurd (if it's navigatable)...

Back when I was a lifeguard at Cedar Point, part of my duties were to keep people out of the lake during the show on the 4th.

These guys helped, always amazed me how many people wanted their boats in the fallout zone.

swordfish7 · November 3rd, 2009, 03:39 AM

HALT!!! You're in a firework fallout zone.GO back or you'll be blown to smithereens.So far New York has'nt put that kind of gun boat on lake Erie

nater219 · November 3rd, 2009, 04:21 AM

I could not find a picture of the exact gun boat. There's a port security unit out of Marblehead. It's a small speed boat with a 50cal mounted on the front. 2 seater, no canopy.

shorelinepyro · November 3rd, 2009, 04:41 AM

i shoot 2 shows in connecticut and each of them are literally 20 ft away from the train tracks. one of the shows always get postponed every year for 5 to 15 minutes because we have to wait for the last train to go by and its speed is about 2 mph so it takes forever. i know each state is different but i will ask the guy who gets the permit every year what the steps are for getting a permit like that. The same show is also shot over the major river that is right next to us and you can navigate in it.

John Ross · November 3rd, 2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeRatman

If I remember correctly, if it is navigable, you will need something like 165 days lead time to get the permit.

The river there is about 1000 yards wide. Boats stay out about 300 yards from shore, in the channel, so they don't run aground. There are buoys out there to mark the channel for this reason.

Is the area of the Mississippi River outside the buoy markers, where the water is a couple feet deep, "navigable" because one COULD have a jon boat, raft, or canoe in that area?

Understand that having lived there since I was born (in 1957) I have NEVER seen ANY watercraft within 250 yards of shore. And I have never seen a jon boat, raft, or canoe anywhere on the Mississippi River at any point where the river is straight and runs freely, as it does in front of my property.

I'll call the Coast Guard about this, but I suspect they'll laugh at me...

JR

Celestial Displays · November 17th, 2009, 04:54 AM

I'll bet you a steak dinner they won't be laughing .... Prepare to to get writer's cramp filling out the paperwork!

doesitinthedark · November 18th, 2009, 11:02 AM

John,
Hi!
"I shoot over the river, so duds aren't an issue."
I think they might become an issue......I don't know how they are today, but shells I've dealt with in the past, the lift was incased in a plastic bag. You could soak them in water for several days and it would still be dry! I know this to be a fact as one time I intentionally placed 2 duds in a cooler that was empty except for water, drove several days back from a show, and lift was still dry....stars and burst too. SO.....say a shell drops in the river, it could find its way downstream and possibly someone might find it. Although, with alot of shells having double time fuses...most of them...if they go up...they go off. LOL
Allan

November 2nd, 2009, 11:15 AM	#1
John Ross Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 75	Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? Is there any distance requirement for shooting display fireworks near railroad tracks? The place I'd like to shoot when my license comes through is my property on the Mississippi River (in rural Missouri), where I've been shooting consumer stuff for 40 years. I shoot over the river, so duds aren't an issue. The tracks are on the other side of a rock wall, about 30 feet from where the mortars are located. I know when the trains run, and no, I don't shoot then. Would the AHJ decide this? JR

November 2nd, 2009, 01:24 PM	#3
Shooting Star Pyro Supporting Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 952	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? And if your fallout area goes over the Mississippi River, you need approval of the DNR and the authority having jurisdiction over the waterway. You could face serious fines and legal issues if you don't.

November 2nd, 2009, 02:25 PM	#6
JoeRatman Administrator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6,592	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? If I remember correctly, if it is naviagtable, you will need something like 165 days lead time to get the permit. __________________ PGII Certified Licensed MN Outdoor Fireworks Operator Licensed MN Indoor/Proximate Fireworks Operator

November 2nd, 2009, 02:55 PM	#8
Arthur Brown Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 583	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? How frequent are the trains? Can you arrange with the company to shoot in a suitable gap in the traffic? 30feet is far to close to ignore the trains

November 3rd, 2009, 03:39 AM	#10
swordfish7 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hamburg,New York Posts: 163	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? HALT!!! You're in a firework fallout zone.GO back or you'll be blown to smithereens.So far New York has'nt put that kind of gun boat on lake Erie __________________ For those about to rock...'FIRE' Member--WNYPA

November 3rd, 2009, 04:21 AM	#11
nater219 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 247	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? I could not find a picture of the exact gun boat. There's a port security unit out of Marblehead. It's a small speed boat with a 50cal mounted on the front. 2 seater, no canopy. Last edited by nater219; November 3rd, 2009 at 04:42 AM.

November 3rd, 2009, 04:41 AM	#12
shorelinepyro Supporting Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NewEngland Posts: 144	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? i shoot 2 shows in connecticut and each of them are literally 20 ft away from the train tracks. one of the shows always get postponed every year for 5 to 15 minutes because we have to wait for the last train to go by and its speed is about 2 mph so it takes forever. i know each state is different but i will ask the guy who gets the permit every year what the steps are for getting a permit like that. The same show is also shot over the major river that is right next to us and you can navigate in it.

November 17th, 2009, 04:54 AM	#14
Celestial Displays Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 11	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? I'll bet you a steak dinner they won't be laughing .... Prepare to to get writer's cramp filling out the paperwork!

November 18th, 2009, 11:02 AM	#15
doesitinthedark Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 18	Re: Display Fireworks shot near Railroad Tracks? John, Hi! "I shoot over the river, so duds aren't an issue." I think they might become an issue......I don't know how they are today, but shells I've dealt with in the past, the lift was incased in a plastic bag. You could soak them in water for several days and it would still be dry! I know this to be a fact as one time I intentionally placed 2 duds in a cooler that was empty except for water, drove several days back from a show, and lift was still dry....stars and burst too. SO.....say a shell drops in the river, it could find its way downstream and possibly someone might find it. Although, with alot of shells having double time fuses...most of them...if they go up...they go off. LOL Allan