Privacy

RailMonNA asks for information needed to run reporter accounts, publish train sightings, review report quality, and protect the site from misuse. This page explains what may be collected, what becomes public, and what choices you have.

Account Information

Reporter accounts store your email address, public username, first and last name, account status, and email verification history. Your public username can appear with reports. Your email address and first and last name are used for account review, support, safety, and accountability, and are not shown on public report cards.

Passwords are stored in protected form and are never saved as plain text. Email verification, password reset, sign-in, and account safety records may be kept so RailMonNA can protect accounts and investigate abuse.

Report Information

Train reports may include locomotive numbers, railroad, train ID, direction, time, notes, route details, and the place where the train was seen. Report updates, corrections, reactions, and review history may also be stored so the site can merge duplicate sightings, show current information, and handle quality issues.

Reports are meant to be public railfan information. Do not include private addresses, personal details about other people, emergency details, or anything you would not want shown to site visitors.

Location Data

You can view the main map without giving RailMonNA your location. If you use current-location features, your browser asks first. You can deny that request, revoke it later in browser settings, or move the report pin before submitting.

The final report location becomes public. Do not submit a private address, unsafe place, restricted railroad property, or location you do not want shared.

How Information Is Used

RailMonNA uses information to create and manage accounts, verify email addresses, display reports, improve map and report quality, respond to account requests, prevent spam or unsafe use, troubleshoot site problems, and keep required site records.

RailMonNA may also use report and account records to review disputes, investigate misuse, enforce the Terms, protect the site, or respond to legal or safety requests when required.

When Information Is Shared

Public report information is visible to site visitors. RailMonNA also uses service providers for hosting, email delivery, maps, and train information. Those providers may process limited information needed to provide their services.

RailMonNA does not sell your personal information. Information may be shared if required by law, to protect the site or other users, or to address safety, abuse, fraud, or security issues.

Your Choices and Controls

Creating an account requires agreement to the Terms of Service and acknowledgment of this Privacy Policy. RailMonNA records when you accepted them. Location access is optional and always uses a separate browser permission.

Signed-in users can download a copy of their account and report information from the Account section. You can also delete your account and choose whether your old reports stay public without your identity or are removed from public view.

How Long Information Is Kept

Account information is kept while your account is active. Train reports and their history may be kept so the map remains useful unless you choose a deletion option or RailMonNA removes the content.

Backups, logs, email verification, password reset, and abuse-prevention records may remain for a limited time after a change or deletion request. RailMonNA keeps those records only as long as needed for site operation, security, troubleshooting, or legal reasons.

Children and Young Users

RailMonNA is built for safe, lawful railfan use. If you are not old enough to create an online account where you live, use the site only with permission from a parent or guardian.

Outside Services

RailMonNA uses hosting, email, map, and train-information providers to keep the site running. Outside maps and data feeds may have their own privacy practices.

RailMonNA does not currently use ads or behavior-tracking analytics. This page will be updated before any tracking, advertising, or paid service is introduced.

Questions or Requests

Use the Contact page for privacy questions, account help, correction requests, or deletion requests. RailMonNA may need to verify the account before making account-level changes.