Carrying electronics and trains through airport security

[daniel_leavitt2000]

My point I was trying to make earlier is it isn't just you that would be affected by a suspicious package event, it is the whole damn security line.

There are enough clowns who:
Don't take take off their belt or shoes.
Wear shoes that require more than 30 seconds to lace.
Have pockets full of keys and loose change.
Women who wear more jewelry than Mr. T.
Insist on packing their laptop/tablet at the bottom of the carry-on.

These people waste everyone's time and it is just rude. We have had the same rules for 15 years and I still see people with water bottles.

I try to be as efficient as possible to get through security. This includes:
Not wearing a belt or jewelry.
Nothing in my pockets.
Shoes that I can step into rather than have to lace right away.

Laptop is stored on the top flap netting of the carry-on. Unzip, and  flip the top of the carry-on over and the laptop is exposed separately.

My carry on is arranged so that the keys, watch, wallet, charger, headphones, medication and jacket/sweatshirt are in a slip I can pull from the bag while loading in the overhead compartment. This keeps them off me in security and lets me access them at my seat instead of getting up and rummaging though the overhead compartment.

If I need to stop walking from the time I reach the carry-on processing belt to the time I step though the metal detector, I'm doing it wrong.

Lately, I have needed to open up my camera bag and expose every lens packed. This required some planning ahead of time, but I do that now just like I do with laptops.

The camera lenses was what got me into trouble in Switzerland a few years ago. There was a credible threat that terrorists were using large zoom lenses to carry explosives. I had to prove my lenses (all 10 of them) would work with my camera.

[u18b]

I did contact tsa through that @asktsa thing.  I got a non-committal reply saying I don't need any special preparations or paperwork to take electronics through security.  Just to keep it out separate and explain what it is in advance before going through.  They then dodged all responsibility by saying, "And of course, it is ultimately up to the particular agent" whether something will be permitted.

So no, asking them doesn't get me any sort of advance check or permission.

I don't think anyone has said anything so far.... but to be honest.... I'm nervous on your behalf for the locomotive itself.
What if an agent demands to inspect it?
Will you be able to stop ham-fisted agent fumble fingers from breaking something off of this exquisite piece of art?

Maybe it will be OK.... but I just don't trust a system where the agent has all power and authority and there is absolutely nothing you can do except get yourself arrested.  Some kind of protest and paperwork afterward does not repair damage already done.

This is the most astonishing N scale model I've ever seen. 
I hope you can report when you get back that all went well.

[Philip H]

I have carried a half dozen locomotives through TSA in the last year, and never been asked to inspect any of them, much less to take it out of the box. even with Max's excellent work in brass, I think the x ray for baggage will see right through it.

[Showme]

  Daniel, I agree 100%. Seen my share of newbies go thru security that hold up the show. I do the same as you, knowing what will go and what won't. With my job, fly out of Springfield MO to Somewhere USA. The last project was into San Antonio. In my old age my butt and belly have traded places, so I wear suspenders. I found out first time thru SAT, the suspenders won't go. But, they always will on the SGF end. Kinda hard holding up the britches with one hand and getting to nearest restroom to put them on, but that's life. I appreciate the TSA being vigilant and helping me get safely from A to B.
  As far as trains in carry on, the agents have gotten to see a lot of them at every airport I have been thru. No problem, they are just doing their job. Over the years probably 100+ locomotives with no refusals or confiscations. I never attempted any other electronics though.

Bob

[up1950s]

So UPS , FEDEX , DHL  flights are the easiest way to ship electronics . When they start barometrically triggering them just after takeoff . we are back to shipping by boat and train .

[mmagliaro]

I don't think anyone has said anything so far.... but to be honest.... I'm nervous on your behalf for the locomotive itself.
What if an agent demands to inspect it?
Will you be able to stop ham-fisted agent fumble fingers from breaking something off of this exquisite piece of art?

Maybe it will be OK.... but I just don't trust a system where the agent has all power and authority and there is absolutely nothing you can do except get yourself arrested.  Some kind of protest and paperwork afterward does not repair damage already done.

This is the most astonishing N scale model I've ever seen. 
I hope you can report when you get back that all went well.

I worry a little about this, but only a little.  It will be in a snazzy padded box that makes it look liks an expensive gift, and I will have a stack of large glossy photos of it as part of my presentation.  So I don't expect a TSA agent to insist on lifting it out of the box.  I will just have to explain what it is and how delicate it is, and hope that they will let me take it out myself to show if it really comes to that.  My guess is that it will go right through inside my bag and they won't even ask about it.

There's always the 1% chance that the agent you get is an absolute idiot or bully, but to be fair, I've never had one act like that in all my air travel.  They usually seem patient and are trying to help me get through and on my way.

Another factor is where I am.  People working at the Portland, OR airport are mighty darn nice.  It is, after all, the US's rated #1 airport!

[strummer]

Another factor is where I am.  People working at the Portland, OR airport are mighty darn nice.  It is, after all, the US's rated #1 airport!

I read somewhere that Oregonians are considered the "Canadians of the US", because we're so polite... 

Thanks for listening.................see? 

Mark (also) in Oregon

[Angus Shops]

Now that we've used Max's name and the words "electronics" and "time bmob" in the same post, it may be that Max ends up at a certain US facility in Cuba rather than Vancouver.

[up1950s]

Now that we've used Max's name and the words "electronics" and "time bmob" in the same post, it may be that Max ends up at a certain US facility in Cuba rather than Vancouver.

But he will be politely escorted there .

[mmagliaro]

Now that we've used Max's name and the words "electronics" and "time bmob" in the same post, it may be that Max ends up at a certain US facility in Cuba rather than Vancouver.

Actually... nobody used all 3 of those terms in the same post... until you did.   

That's okay... you misspelled "bmob".   I'm safe.

[peteski]

I don't think anyone has said anything so far.... but to be honest.... I'm nervous on your behalf for the locomotive itself.
What if an agent demands to inspect it?

I thought I covered that in the 4th post in the start of this thread.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=44345.msg569950#msg569950

I think Max should put the locomotive in in its box separately to be scanned and explain the the agents that is it very delicate and to let him show what it looks like.

Back in 1994 (yes, before 9/11), I took a 1:6 scale motorcycle model to Japan.  It was packed in a custom wooden box the size of carry-on luggage (it was my carry on).  I sent it through the scanner and explained to the agents what it was. They let me open the box to show them the model. They were impressed and didn't even  handle it or took it out if its foam cradle.  If you behave in a civil manner, don't panic or look nervous, and be friendly, the agents should reciprocate.

[bbussey]

Regarding N scale models, I've never had a problem having them in a carry-on bag through TSA.  They've never been given a second look.  And I have TSA pre-check status.

[nuno81291]

Had a tomix tram come through in my carry on without question. I did however have a false positive for explosive residue on the sweatshirt I was wearing  as a person of middle eastern descent this was troubling

One time had a very special electric guitar as a carry on they wanted to open the control cavity and inspect. I politely told them the background of the guitar and that I would prefer to open it in front of them which they had no issue with. Not as easy an item to break as your steam engine but I was very happy they obliged my request.

I did accidentally have a folding multi screwdriver tool and bastard file in my boot bag (I use as my carry on for ski trips) that the TSA agent let me keep after explaining why I had them. Overall nothing but good experiences with security. However my guitar controls look perhaps a bit less suspicious than your controller.

[Point353]

Take the modified MRC 1300 power pack instead.

[mmagliaro]

Take the modified MRC 1300 power pack instead.

You missed a few posts.  I'm mailing the controller, not taking it through the airport.  This is just the engine
that we are talking about.

The only question I have is whether to just put it in my carry-on and let it go through the scanner, or take it out separately and explain it to them.  My fear is that I might make more trouble just by calling attention to something that they might not even notice if it's in the bag.  And if they DO notice it in the bag, I can always take it out and explain it and I doubt they would see this as something sinister - being a little train.