OK…this seems like a silly question, but I’m genuinely curious. I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately and my normal rail activities have lost a bit of their luster. In the past month or so, I’ve pointed a camera at railroad subjects three times, and I haven’t been thrilled with the results.
So…how do you all go about your hobby? You can be as basic or detailed as you like – I’m just curious what else is out there in the railfanning world that I may have missed because I spend too much time contemplating the world through the tiny window of a viewfinder.
Put the camera down and just enjoy the moment. Personally I enjoy just watching the trains go by with my eight year old son (who likes to wave as they go by). I also enjoy railroad reading and learning things…currently working my way through a book on signaling. For me sitting at trackside on a nice summer evening beats watching for what passes as entertainment these days on TV.
I’ve been wondering how long it would be before I heard this, CopCarSS. To me, for one…and I know others feel the same…railfanning today has dwindled down to nothing more than taking pictures: if you can’t shoot it with a camera, it’s not railfanning. But railfanning is and can be so broad, or is and can be so narrow; it is simply up to the individual. Start with toy trains, then to scale modeling of your choice: as a kid I played with Maerklin and Lionel on rainy days or when home from school; otherwise I was watching trains out my window. Study, or at least learn, the history of railroading in general or your favorite railroad or branch in particular. There are abandoned rights of way to be explored, little pieces of hardware and paper that tell reams of stories and huge pieces of equipment from locomotive to cars, et al, that depict those stories. Collect something pertaining to your specific interest or railroading…yes, old slides and b&w photos qualify as a collectable as do tickets, train orders, lanterns, books of rules, public and employee timetables, any piece of paper or print materials with a railorad logo. There are thousands of book titles that cover all phases of the hobby as well as all railroads; if not, do some detective work, some research, and write a book or article on what you find is missing. Get involved with a museum or tourist operation, a rebuilding/refurbishing project of a station or locomotive. Ride trains whenever and wherever possible. Photography is not the only phase of being a railfan.
As for me, I like the history of specific railroads that have been part of my life and of others that have some kind of fascination. I have always been enamored with operations thus have public and employee timetables plus rule books, etc. of specific lines (because of the evolution of railroads by mergers and sales); use
I rarely have a camera with me (except perhaps my cell phone camera all the time) and so I basically sit and relax and watch the trains go by…very simple but very nice (in my opinion).
I’ve been aiming my camera at trains and related topics for over 40 years now, and while I may not always be thrilled with the results, I haven’t stopped enjoying it. The pictures are not always perfect, but going out to take pictures or just take in what’s happening is still FUN!
If I’m not doing that, I’ll read a book or leaf through some ancient issue of TRAINS or observe the operations around me on the ride to and from work (Metra’s Southwest Service).
When we go to Deshler we also have trains that we can run on their Ho scale layout.If a train comes by I look for special and unusual cars(thanks carl!!).I also lend a hand in being a tour guide to those that are new to Deshler.
A significant part of my railfanning is pure chance. I happened to be waiting at an intersection in Syracuse yesterday when Amtrak rolled across a viaduct in front of me.
Traffic on the CSX Montreal Secondary is scarce, so sitting and waiting (without some idea of what’s moving) can be really boring.
On the other hand, when I’m in Utica, usually to work one of our trains, it’s fun because the CSX Chicago line is next to our platform and most traffic comes through at speed.
I like chasing down ghost from the past. This involves traveling nearly impassable roads in the Canadian Rockies and Southern British Columbia. There are so many RR artifacts up dirt roads and even uninhabited towns still standing. I feel like I go back in time on every trip. Turntables, bridges, buildings from the 1800s still sit undisturbed in many places.
The truck is still covered in dirt from our trip in August. My son asked why we didn’t wash it. He said people at school keep asking him why it is so dirty. I asked him if he told them about our adventures and where we went and that’s why it is so dirty. A big smile came to his face and he said “don’t wash the truck Dad” People might think we just get groceries in it like they do.
I have also noted that RR authorities are very relaxed out in the boonies and in the past I have been pointed in the right direction for RR things I have been looking for.
In the past, I enjoyed interacting with railroad employees and riding trains. Now, I interact with other raiilfans on the forums sponsored by Trains and Classic Trains and by a trip, with my wife (who also enjoys riding trains), once every year or so.
Chris, the folks who are saying “put the camera down” may not know you very well. But as hard as it may be to get your head around this, you should approach a train-watching trip ready for photo opportunities but not thinking about them first off. Just sit back and watch, and listen. Have camera at the ready, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t find something.
When I’m out there, I don’t have a camera–I do have a notepad and a pen handy, and possibly this laptop will be along from time to time. I don’t railfan the way I used to (watching the cars come by at work). I don’t let a lack of interesting freight car sightings disappoint me, and (perhaps most importantly) I don’t quit watching after the locomotives have gone by. But when I’m out there, it’s to see things I didn’t get at work–the sound of engines opening up, dynamics whining, signals changing, situations developing and resolving, and so on. And I can be closer to the cars, and thereby get more (or at least different) information from them.
My railfan activity is hampered right now by projects at home. But I foresee the times when Pat will want me out of the house, and I’ll spend those times by the tracks–either on foot or on the bike, or driving if there’s someplace slightly further afield that I’d like to go (or if weather prohibits the biking or walking).
Ennui, I think it’s called - Ian Fleming had his character Goldfinger call it ‘‘aciddie’’ in one of his early James Bond novels of the same name, as I recall.
One of my most memorable railfan experiences was near sunset one day after I’d shot off all my film - this was back in the fall of 1970 - and ex-NKP Berkshire 759 or 765 came roaring past us at about 70 MPH on the former PRR 4-track main at Duncannon, on its way back from a day going around Horse Shoe Curve. I was able to soak in the whole thing - especially the rapid drumbeat of the exhaust - without any distractions for about 2 minutes or so that it took to approach, pass, and disappear into the distance. It takes courage and faith to leave the camera out-of-hand to do that, but I think it sharpens the senses. I recommend that anyone who is normally involved with a camera do that from time to time.
Carl has also sharpened my appreciation for what’s behind the motive power - everything from the unusual reporting marks to the nuances of car construction.
I also like scouting out scenic places for future photographs.
Rail-trails are scarce out your way, but that’s also a fun way to appreciate the history and how they fit into the terrain, economy, and society.
Look at the details and patterns - old rail sections, the structures, their arrangement from the track, the types of bridges, the lineside appliances and structures such as signals, etc.
Why not go to one of the local yards and find a legal, safe, and comfortable place to watch from, like the sidewalk of an overhead bridge ? Particularly if you have a scanner with you. Ask yourself what patterns, images, scenes, or people and actions you’d want to photograph to illustrate and preserve t
I used to photograph or video every train, but I found it kind of silly to go see the real thing and only see them in the tiny viewfinder of my cameras… No fun whatsoever… I can buy much better photos and videos of the same (or even things I will never get to see in-person) so why waste my vision in a viewfinder when I can see the real thing right in front of me.
I also spent some time making videos of idiots running the gates where I used to railfan a lot. Unfortunately, I missed the more spectacular incidents because I put the camera away too soon (like the guy that went around 6 autos waiting at the crossing, missing a locomotive by mere inches… It would have been a 3/4 head-on collision due to the way he had to cross the tracks going around the gates… and he made an obscene gesture toward me as he went past! Sure wish I had waited a couple of seconds longer before I put the camera down, would have made a great YouTube video… especially because his face would have been easily recognizable by his friends, relatives, enemies, and maybe the police!)
But that favourite railfanning site is now gone (city built an overpass there).
I still take my camera with me to my new fanning site for those really rare occasions when there might be something of interest to capture for my memories, like a rare car, or something wierd on a flat car (I saw airplane wings spanning two flatcars once, but I didn’t have a camera with me that time, so I can’t prove it!). My new site has so little street traffic I seldom see anyone run the gates.
The new site is at one end of a switching yard and I enjoy watching them sort cars, but as I have stated on another similar thread on this forum, I usually am not “seeing” what is there, but rather “seeing” in my minds eye what used to take place at active terminals years ago. Instead of just the one or two men on the ground and one engineer in the cab, I “see” many men doing railroad work, car knockers checking the wh
Got to agree with Johnny! Pretty much similar experience and enjoyment. The wife was NOT a railran in her former life, Now we chase the occasional train, especially like to chase some UP Steam when in our area. Then the occasional trip and throw in some railfanning in unfamiliar areas.
I so rarely see any trains besides the commuter rail and light rail/subways - in the process of commuting on them every week - that I always shoot photos or video. I still carry my camera every, but unless the weather conditions are really cool (sunset, fog, or snow) I just watch and admire. As a side benefit of enjoying the details and sounds, the Transit Police don’t have any reason to bother me.
Interesting question Chris. We’re all interested in slightly different aspects of the same broad topic: trains. Personally speaking I enjoy shooting locomotive roster shots (more than 400 to date), figureing out where old routes went, and attempting to get “scenic” pictures when I know something’s coming, and the occasional video.
If you’re “bored” with what you’ve been doing, try something different. Sometimes I (and others) sit trackside and tailgate while watching trains.
I used to do the weekend thing where I drove 45mins to an hour away (to the nearest mainline) and take photos. Then I hired on.
I have my cameras, but barely get out anymore. Just too much working, and mostly night work. Somehow spending a day watching trains doesn’t intrigue me much anymore. Every once in a while I get in a mood to take some photos, but without regular practice, my photos are suckish. Then I might get in a mood to go see some museums/historical railroads, or trolleys, or whatever else.
Mostly my railfanning is a quest for information.
I do like road crossings and industries, though. Places where the railraods interact with the public. that always intrigued me.
I too have been in a slump lately, and also very busy at home doing projects. I have found just listening to the scanner and keeping up with what’s going on in the area is also enjoyable. And can be done while attending to other activities.
The other night I laughed with the CP dispatcher and a night crew who had just run over a Milwaukee Police Bicycle…left between the rails on a bridge approach…better than TV!
The good thing about slumps is that usually, out of the blue, something comes along and re-sparks you.
I go about being a railfan in a few different ways. When I am home or at work I read a lot of train books, I read Trains, Railfan and Railroad, and TRP. I am currently building a N scale model railroad of modern BNSF equipment, and my family and I try to take train trips at nearby musuems and and such… We have a transportation musuem within 30min away that has dinner trains, Pizza Trains, a Pumpkin train, and Christmas trains… My 2yr old daughter LOVES trains so whenever we are out I always stop when I see trains on the nearby tracks and we watch them go by together… No cameras or anything… She just jabbers on and on about all the cars, how noisey it is, where is it going and such… That is railfanning to me…
If I am making a special day of it like I do when we go to Kansas to visit my wifes family, I go out alone, or with my daughter, take food, drinks, and I sit, read train books or magazines, listen to talk radio and mostly watch the world around me as I sit and wait… I get as much out of waiting for the trains as I do photographying them… It is quiet, peaceful, and time to relax…
Most of my real life experiences with railroads are in being around the local tracks. From my office, I can hear the horns of trains approacing on the BNSF line that skirts the edge of the property about 1/2 mile away. I get to see an endless parade of unit grainers, unit rock trains, unit ethanol trains, and the local.
I’m always watching for the unusual item on a train. Recently, CSX, NS, and CN have been providing power for quite a few grainers. The best thing I saw, was unit trains of windmill parts. I tracked those to a BNSF logistics unloading area at a nearby fertilizer plant.
Always with an interested eye toward railroad history, I like to track old right of ways, and thier layouts though small towns. Maps, especially old railroad maps also hold a certain fascination.
