Over the last several years, railfanning in my part of the world (in my humble opinion) has gotten a LOT, LOT less interesting. What used to be several shortlines and regional railroads, right in my backyard, that had interesting rosters have now largely been taken over by a single class 1, who has a roster of equipment that is way less interesting, has eliminated a lot of operations, closed shops, etc. [:(]
I’m sure others have endured the same in this era of mega-rail mergers. What have you done to keep it interesting when all the intersting stuff seems to have gone away?
Become obsessed with shortlines, industrials and subdivisions of major railroads. Look for oddball equipment (I’ve been researching CSX road-slugs, for example). There is “interesting” stuff out there, you just have to look a little closer.
I’m more interested in the overall opeartions, and have been for the past 15 years or so.
Engines do nothing for me; but car routings, traffic patterns, and dispatching is way more interesting to me than the superficial stuff any day. Not only what is in the cars, but why, how often, and what the end result is for the public. One person cannot possibly grasp the entire network of rail traffic patterns and consumption of those same goods in North America…though it’s fun to try.
I think the answer is to branch out into different aspects of railroading. The rail scene in Britain has become more homogenized in the last 10 years (apart from the variety of paint jobs!) so I’ve become more interested in heritage railways and foreign ones.
I am on the same page as AmtrakJackson. I have drifted to being more of an economic railfan. Thirty years ago I was interested in the head end…the locomotives. Today, it is much more about what is behind the locomotives and the operations.
Where does that train originate and terminate? What kind of cars on the train? How many cars?
What are the operations on the local lines? Do the trains follow a schedule? Which sidings are used for meets?
Yesterday was an interesting day here. CN stalled a train and had to get it pulled up the hill. Meanwhile a coal train (17,000 tons) sat behind it…and was even heavier with water in the hoppers. Trains had to push and pull both trains.
By listening in on the scanner to the interaction of the dispatcher and crews, it becomes very interesting.
Then, the Circus Train came thru on the NS…I missed it as I was ingrossed in the drama of moving 150 cars up the hill.
Railfanning for me today is about working around the house with two scanners running…and listening in. If something interesting is coming or if the sun is out, I will hop on the bike and go take a picture or simply watch.
Hire out and actually DO the job. It adds several whole new dimensions. Plus there is your B*tt being on the line everyday…nothing makes it more exciting than that.
JUST SEEING TRAINS IS FUN ENOUGH!!! I was born into this era of “boring trains” so this is all I know, and I can appreciate an SD90 or SD45, Its all interesting to me!
Wow, if you think it is getting boring now you can imagine those of us who got to see dozens of different carriers, paint schemes, and lines all gone now. MAssive variety kill from 1980 onward and so many places with no lines or train service at all any longer.
I have my slide collection to remeber when I found it exciting, but I parked my camera long ago and have never had any itch to take photos any more. Don’t miss it and am glad for what I did take and kept. A model RR focused on your primary interests can help. When we do start to build one we decided to do teh EL and LV in upstate NY in n scale. Relive when it was exciting. No shame in moving on, when what you are doing no longer interests you, shift what you are doing or how you enjoy it. Just becasue you went out and shot photos, does not mean you have some mandate to continue if it’s no longer your bag…
The answer is Hot Chicks! That’ll make railfanning more interesting. Start bringing Hot chicks with you when you guys railfan. You’ll like the companionship and we’ll like the scenery…Problem solved.
I look thru old ETT’s and remember the good times. I also listen to a scanner to hear what’s out there. I go railfanning, but mostly in my usual spots.
In my area Amtrak, BNSF, Metrolink and UP are all close by. It’s mountain railroading getting in and out of the Los Angeles area so there plenty of units on each train. The traffic has increased on the UP coastline so there are more trains to see.
Model railroading is another good way to keep the interest. A person can run what they like at any time.