Gosh, maybe it's the weather / What I like

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the price of gas, or a full moon, or amybe it’s who knows what…but the forum in general seems to be cranky, on many different issues, and on many different threads.

A re-occuring theme on many threads is that there just “aren’t any good topics”.(?) For the most part, I find all the threads interesting. The qualifier, is how interesting. They can range from a passing glance, all the way up to fascinating. (And I always marvel at some of the weird stuff that I find fascinating!) Giving that some thought, there must be 1001 different categories, if you will, of trains/railroads/railfanning, that interest us on this forum.

Here, in no particular order, are the main facets of this hobby that interest me:

Railroad history

Railroad operations

railroad structures/civil engineering

first generation diesels

railroad design/development of locomotives,both steam&diesel,rolling stock and structures

railroad operations in other parts of the country

railroad operations in other parts of the world (Hit a jackpot, for me at least, on the British&European threads, and I don’t even know why(?))

The Milwauke Road

railroads of the upper plains states

railroad books

reading posts from other fans of this hobby-we are gifted with some very talented writers here on this forum

maps,lots of maps

opinions of others

learning about steam engines-a real challenge for the mechanically impaired

That being said, I myself would prefer to hear what interests others, verses more crankiness and static.

What about trains/railroads/railfanning interests you?

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I have to admit - tis is a good idea. Now let me think:

In no particular order:

Photography
A little history
Local Trains
Layout - i.e. how sidings are laid out, how tracks reach certain areas.
Locomotives, steam, diesel, electric, esp switchers
A little about buildings and other structures
Tourist roads
and for some reason, grade crossings.

I’ll add more if I think about it…

3

In no order:

Shortlines

Railroad History

Signalling

M of W

Speeders

“Proposed” Rail Lines that didnt make it past the table

Steamers

Anyways, I’ve noticed to that the mood seems cranky with almost everyone tonight. It could also be that today is a Monday.

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I love the trip reports and accompanying pictures, the “Where Is It” threads, the down-to-earth detailed explanations about how things are done, and the camaraderie that exists between some of the members. I couldn’t care less about the more in-depth subjects other than for the entertainment of seeing who’s flaming who.

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No real order here …

Photographic history, I enjoy the images, including the background stuff, the old buildings and dress of the people that give or fix the point in time the photo was taken.

The nuts and bolts of railroading…(why are these bridges built like this, but those are not)

Locomotives…any and all, but a decided preference for switchers.

Depots…(any one have a photo of the Katy Passenger Station in Houston, or the old SP Grand Central?)

Favorite past time is comparing an old photo of what was there with what is there now.

And photos of the railroaders themselves…study their faces, it will tell you volumes about the kind of people they were, and depending on which generation they are from, what the world was like then.

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maybe we will find out who is and isnt a true railfan lol, all kidding aside heres my list

Todays railroad and where it is headed, since I’m a locomotive engineer doubly important for me.

History, I grew up in Colorado and the history of trains is everywhere, now that I live in Kansas railroad history seems to be neglected.

Modern Diesels, I love innovation, and today is truely fascinating

Steam, I have run steam at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO, #346, and I also enjoy my large scale 1/20.3 scale live steamers.

Western railroads, sorry but I grew up in the west so I tend to love the west, although I’m beginneing to find out that the east has some truely magnificent railroading of its own.

Trains, Trains, Trains, I think I enjoy all of it, I drive my wife crazy with my enjoyment of trains, I actually look forward to work!

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Good Topic, Murph!

I think everybody here knows that first and foremost I’m a rail photographer. I think the fun of railfanning to me is attempting to catch trains in the best possible way in shots that tell the story of railroading. I’m not the best at it, but give me time. I’m working on it.

Ever since moving to CO, I’ve developed an interest in the Narrow Gauge Railroads of my state. Back in IL, I always just kind of pictured the DRGW and maybe occasionally the RGS. Now that I’m out here, I’ve looked into it a little more. I would have never guessed the complexity or diversity of the lines out here, or the history.

I’m also starting to become more and more of a steam buff. The more I’m around steam, the more I want to be around steam. And it’s not just the big stuff (though that’s certainly attractive!). Even hanging around a small engine like C&S No. 9 two weekends ago is enough to satisfy me. Steam is just cool to be around!

Back in IL, I have a fondness for the granger roads and their histories. While I wasn’t born yet during it’s existence, the CB&Q has always held a special place in my heart. Some of my relatives knew Harry C. Murphy, and it’s fun to listen to their stories about him, and about the Q. Of course, the CNW has always been a favorite, too. I used to occasionally spend weekends at my aunt’s house in Elburn, so I spent a fair amount of time trackside there.

Really and truthfully, I love almost everything about railroads. While I don’t always chime in on subjects (there’s a lot about the hobby that I don’t know about), I do try to read as much of the posts as possible. There’s positively a wealth of information to be had here. I feel honored that I can hang around and try to learn. Thanks to all who share their knowledge!

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In no particular order…

Steam

Railroad History

Photos from trips or photos of steam

Lines that have been shut down (like Saluda) or lines that are currently being proposed

A lot of other various tidbits that show up here and there.

It’s kind of hard coming up with a list of things because it’s all pretty interesting. I’m always learning something new in here.

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RR history-on the flip side of that, the what-might-have-beens (unbuilt routes/relocations, stations, bridges, electrifications, etc.)

Connected with that, diagrams, plans and elevations-but please have dimensions to go with them! A photo of the excavation for Penn Station is all well and good but to know that the highest point is nine feet below sea level-well, that makes all the difference (obviously!).

Maps

Some stats, such as traffic volumes/tonnages

I like the stories of equipment developement. A thread from earlier this year that wandered into the hows & whys of Pennsy’s T1 developement and performance was fascinating-even thought I didn’t understand half of the technical stuff.

Now in person I love watching trains but photography isn’t my thing. Too static for a moving object of interest-though there are many evocative photographs I’d love to own.

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What I like about the railroads:

meeting all the different people here on the forum

learning about the different railroads

STEAM, STEAM AND MORE STEAM

photos of trains taken by railfans

the education I receive reading the posts of the ones who actually work for the
railroad.

the actual history of the railroad, and the different railroad lines, past and present.

11

… I like big butts and I cannot lie…

I also like trains

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I’m one of the guilty parties. But I think it was because gabe had to ask if the forum was dead. At least that’s who I’m going to blame it on.

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So what is it that you do like about trains/railroads/railfanning?

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just thought i would point out that futuremodal, michealsol, tomdiehl, anti-gates, and certain others havent respnoded to ths topic, hmmmm, beginning to wonder if they even like trains

Just my narrow take on the forum, i could be wrong

15

I just always liked trains. I don’t know why. I grew up 3mi. from an SP line and 7mi. from a running steam loco. I started drawing trains when I was 3yrs. old. Most of my earliest photos of trains were detail shots for drawing or modeling them later. I even worked for a tool&die shop that makes molds for model trains.
As for railfanning. I’m usualy hanging out with frinds, going on hikes, and believe it or not watching or chasing trains going up and down hills.
I will have to think about it some more so I can give a better answers.

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This is my first post here.

I’ve been working as an industrial archaeologist on the east coast for about 20 years, and railroad-related stuff crops up ever more frequently in what I do. I have recently been involved with several port projects involving railroads, so my list reflects that.

Railroad structures (and how they change over time). I would include everything from ballast to catenaries, and evrything in between

Railroad port operations (wharves and bulk material handling facilities, float bridges, etc.)

Railroad operations (organization of labor and tasks, and how that changes over time)

Railroad history

I’ve recently begun to dabble in railroad photography, but don’t have a lot of spare time to hang out at my neighborhood grade crossing, which sees a lot of CSX traffic.

17

Welcom to the forum! Yes sometimes it starts at the RR xings or taking you’re kids to a train show. Then you start taking fotos further and ferthr away from the xings and soon they call you a “Foamer”. Not that there is any thing wrong with being a foamer. (at least when you’re here) A foamer, some say, is someone who likes RRs so much they start foaming at the mouth when they see a train.
Sounds like you could have some info. from another view that most of us don’t get to see.

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Random List:

Chief Interests:
Architectural design
Architectural books

RR Interests:
Railroad history
Narrow gauge railroads
Narrow gauge RR history
Large scale model trains
Model trains general

Other interests:
Maritime History
Micro-cars
Anime
Music
Movies
Aviation History

Other stuff, but this covers most of the bases.

19

What do I like about railroads? Depends. There are so many aspects of this hobby my intrests are constantly changeing. Before the heat of the Summer I was into getting out and railfanning, mostly weekend trips to Cajon/Tehachapi/Beaumont/Barstow. Now that it’s too hot for me to go out I’m into other things. Lately I have been into running the dispatcher simulator I just got. This week I am detailing the first loco I have bought in a long time (SP 8179). Next week I might be into something else. Oh the variety.

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I’m one of the moodier people who’s been a grouch. You can blame part of it on the heat, part of it on interesting relationships between me and a couple of other Forum frequenters.

I tend to go for the historical aspect of things quite a bit–who owned these freight cars before their current owner (not so much the locomotives–others do a good job of that), whose line was that, look at those old pictures of this spot… stuff like that.

But I also like the here and now–I’m a news junkie when it comes to recent developments on the railroad, improvements on specific lines, new locomotives, new freight cars, new passenger routes. I become very depressed when Amtrak is mentioned (it just froze my computer for a minute, too–we must be related).

I, too, like making friends with other Forum members. Interesting, that, because I’m a “loner” most of the time. Nonetheless, I may have met in person as many, if not more, Forum frequenters than anyone else here, and I’m hoping to meet and greet a few more before the end of the year. I’m also part of a family of teachers (grandmother, mother, father-in-law, wife [trained as a teacher, anyway], sister, daughter), and some of that has rubbed off. I like to share what I know, and learn what I don’t know. I want to die knowing more than everybody else–because that will mean that I won!

But for me, everything boils down to trains–nothing beats seeing the actual operation of a railroad. I get to participate in the excitement for 40 hours a week, and do it on my own for a few other hours besides. I think the biggest thrill I’ve had so far this year was showing off the UP main line between Rochelle and Chicago to Mookie and Driver. I think they learned a few things from me, and the railroad did themselves proud.