diff --git a/trackplacer.lua b/trackplacer.lua
index 1dbdffa..8ff9a63 100644
--- a/trackplacer.lua
+++ b/trackplacer.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 --trackplacer.lua
 --holds code for the track-placing system. the default 'track' item will be a craftitem that places rails as needed. this will neither place or change switches nor place vertical rails.
 
-local print=function(t, ...) minetest.log("action", table.concat({t, ...}, " ")) minetest.chat_send_all(table.concat({t, ...}, " ")) end
+local print=function(player, t, ...) minetest.log("action", table.concat({t, ...}, " "))
+   if player then
+      minetest.chat_send_player(player,table.concat({t, ...}, " "))
+   end
+end
 
 --all new trackplacer code
 local tp={
@@ -173,9 +177,16 @@ function tp.register_track_placer(nnprefix, imgprefix, dispname)
 		wield_image = imgprefix.."_placer.png",
 		groups={},
 		on_place = function(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
+		        local name = placer:get_player_name()
+			if not name then
+			   return itemstack
+			end
 			if pointed_thing.type=="node" then
 				local pos=pointed_thing.above
 				local upos=pointed_thing.under
+				if minetest.is_protected(pos,name) and minetest.is_protected(upos,name) then
+				   return itemstack
+				end
 				if minetest.registered_nodes[minetest.get_node(pos).name] and minetest.registered_nodes[minetest.get_node(pos).name].buildable_to
 					and minetest.registered_nodes[minetest.get_node(upos).name] and minetest.registered_nodes[minetest.get_node(upos).name].walkable then
 					tp.placetrack(pos, nnprefix)
@@ -198,47 +209,61 @@ minetest.register_craftitem("advtrains:trackworker",{
 	wield_image = "advtrains_trackworker.png",
 	stack_max = 1,
 	on_place = function(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
-		if pointed_thing.type=="node" then
-			local pos=pointed_thing.under
-			local node=minetest.get_node(pos)
-			
-			--if not advtrains.is_track_and_drives_on(minetest.get_node(pos).name, advtrains.all_tracktypes) then return end
-			if advtrains.is_train_at_pos(pos) then return end
-			
-			local nnprefix, suffix, rotation=string.match(node.name, "^([^_]+)_([^_]+)(_?.*)$")
-			--print(node.name.."\npattern recognizes:"..nodeprefix.." / "..railtype.." / "..rotation)
-			if not tp.tracks[nnprefix] or not tp.tracks[nnprefix].twrotate[suffix] then
-				print("[advtrains]railtype not workable by trackworker")
-				return
-			end
-			local modext=tp.tracks[nnprefix].twrotate[suffix]
+	   local name = placer:get_player_name()
+	   if not name then
+	      return
+	   end
+	   if pointed_thing.type=="node" then
+	      local pos=pointed_thing.under
+	      if minetest.is_protected(pos, name) then
+		 return
+	      end
+	      local node=minetest.get_node(pos)
+	      
+	      --if not advtrains.is_track_and_drives_on(minetest.get_node(pos).name, advtrains.all_tracktypes) then return end
+	      if advtrains.is_train_at_pos(pos) then return end
+	      
+	      local nnprefix, suffix, rotation=string.match(node.name, "^([^_]+)_([^_]+)(_?.*)$")
+	      --print(node.name.."\npattern recognizes:"..nodeprefix.." / "..railtype.." / "..rotation)
+	      if not tp.tracks[nnprefix] or not tp.tracks[nnprefix].twrotate[suffix] then
+		 print(name, "[advtrains]railtype not workable by trackworker")
+		 return
+	      end
+	      local modext=tp.tracks[nnprefix].twrotate[suffix]
 
-			if rotation==modext[#modext] then --increase param2
-				minetest.set_node(pos, {name=nnprefix.."_"..suffix..modext[1], param2=(node.param2+1)%4})
-				return
-			else
-				local modpos
-				for k,v in pairs(modext) do if v==rotation then modpos=k end end
-				if not modpos then
-					print("[advtrains]rail not workable by trackworker")
-					return
-				end
-				minetest.set_node(pos, {name=nnprefix.."_"..suffix..modext[modpos+1], param2=node.param2})
-			end
-			advtrains.invalidate_all_paths()
-		end
+	      if rotation==modext[#modext] then --increase param2
+		 minetest.set_node(pos, {name=nnprefix.."_"..suffix..modext[1], param2=(node.param2+1)%4})
+		 return
+	      else
+		 local modpos
+		 for k,v in pairs(modext) do if v==rotation then modpos=k end end
+		    if not modpos then
+		       print(placer,"[advtrains]rail not workable by trackworker")
+		       return
+		    end
+		    minetest.set_node(pos, {name=nnprefix.."_"..suffix..modext[modpos+1], param2=node.param2})
+	      end
+	      advtrains.invalidate_all_paths()
+	   end
 	end,
 	on_use=function(itemstack, user, pointed_thing)
+	        local name = user:get_player_name()
+		if not name then
+		   return
+		end
 		if pointed_thing.type=="node" then
 			local pos=pointed_thing.under
 			local node=minetest.get_node(pos)
+			if minetest.is_protected(pos, name) then
+			   return
+			end
 			
 			--if not advtrains.is_track_and_drives_on(minetest.get_node(pos).name, advtrains.all_tracktypes) then return end
 			if advtrains.is_train_at_pos(pos) then return end
 			local nnprefix, suffix, rotation=string.match(node.name, "^([^_]+)_([^_]+)(_?.*)$")
 			
 			if not tp.tracks[nnprefix] or not tp.tracks[nnprefix].twcycle[suffix] then
-				print("[advtrains]railtype not workable by trackworker")
+				print(name,"[advtrains]railtype not workable by trackworker")
 				return
 			end
 			local nextsuffix=tp.tracks[nnprefix].twcycle[suffix]
@@ -246,7 +271,7 @@ minetest.register_craftitem("advtrains:trackworker",{
 			--invalidate trains
 			advtrains.invalidate_all_paths()
 		else
-			print(dump(tp.tracks))
+			print(name, dump(tp.tracks))
 		end
 	end,
 })
diff --git a/trainhud.lua b/trainhud.lua
index 601b28f..81b9e94 100644
--- a/trainhud.lua
+++ b/trainhud.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ end)
 function advtrains.set_trainhud(name, text)
 	local hud = advtrains.hud[name]
 	local player=minetest.get_player_by_name(name)
+	if not player then
+	   return
+	end
 	if not hud then
 		hud = {}
 		advtrains.hud[name] = hud
@@ -53,4 +56,4 @@ function advtrains.hud_train_format(train, flip)
 	elseif vel>0 then
 		return firstLine.."\n"..secondLine.."\nPress up to accelerate, down to decelerate, sneak to stop."
 	end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end