I was wondering how many people out there truly enjoy rail fanning today with all of the Homeland Security and debates about public roads freedom of speech ect. Is it me or has what used to be a fun and innocent hobby become a topic of incredible debate? I am sure most of you spend a better part of your rail fanning time looking over your shoulder wondering who will drive up and either ask you what you are doing or try to harrass you? Time and again people drive by and yell the most dumb things out of there vehicles at us rail fans. These are the same people who go home and get drunk watching football and paint themselves there fav teams colors and act like complete fools. it seems more and more often that people think rail fanning is a “dangerous” tresspassing issue? And please if you are a wanna be rail crossing guard dont bother. Just months back I had a car full of guys drive past come back and try to hit me in the back with a full water bottle. two yrs ago some guys tried to drive back and confront us, but a police officer happend along to help us out. And I guess I am lucky to be 5’10 250 covrd in tats and lift and train in self defence. At the same time that has made it hard on me some times becuse I look diff I get looked at “twice”. Just months back I was surronded by cops becuse some kid said I looked suppicious??? HMMM I am a handicapped Veteran and my son is in the Army infantry. To my surprise two police officers were standing behind me but one knew me becuse I live down the street and see him daily along with a Highway Patrol officer who lives three houses down. Back to another topic of debate. Competition!!! How many times have all of us been rail fanning only to have some other “rail” fan get upset and leave becuse we tresspassed on there location? They are there trying to make some stupid video’s to sell on you tube ( you know all of the wanna be rail production’s) Or even more fun is the “proffesional”
It is pretty fun for me but then again all I have to do is look out my Picture Window and I get to see the BNSF Transcon right outside my window…
I do enjoy railfanning. If someone asks me what I’m doing, then I’m honest with them about it. “All I’m doing is taking photo’s of trains and enjoying learning more about them.”
-Justin
If anyone is interested, BNSF has a “Citizens for Rail Security” program you may join for free. Details can be found on their website. ‘Membership’ includes a card you can carry.
Define “railfanning”. If it is just car chasing trains and grabbing pictures, then, “no”. If it is searching history of a railroad or part of railroad either through books, video, memorabilia, etc., then “yes”. Riding trains for the sake of riding trains, “yes”. Modeling or toy train set up, “no”. Reading books and magazines, watching video, driving to see certain railroads, operations, and roadbeds, maybe catching a view of a train…maybe even taking a picture…“yes”. Is it the same as it was 10, 25, 35 or 50 years ago? No. It is different and we must adjust to the differences. Train frequency is not the same; railroad people are fewer and not the same; technology is not the same. Homeland Security should not be a problem if you kn ow how and when not to act “suspicious”. Know when to keep your camera out of sight and your mouth out of gear. Learn to look at a railroad, a train, a scene, an operation, with your eyes and not your camera. Buy a ticket and ride be it an Amtrak, commuter or tourist train. There are lots of ways still to enjoy and find fun in the hobby of railroading.
I have been railfanning for about 7 or 8 years ago along with my wife. We have had a great time and have never encountered any problems. We usually give a little wave as the train goes by, and more often than not, we get a wave in return, or a little toot, or a bell from time to time. Police have driven by and usually give a wave too. I’ve met some nice folks, but we are usually by ourselves. Of course, being senior citizens probably eliminates some worries. I should also add, we never encroach on private property, and having a zoom lens, I don’t need to stand right next to the tracks and worry a train crew. In other words, common sense seems to work for us. In nice weather, we go out once or twice a week, and will sometimes drive 2 to 3 hours and make it a little road trip. It’s a rather pleasant past time, and I’m always seeing something new.
Tom
I’m with ED Benton!### In the summer I can sit out on the back screened deck an hear the BNSF Southern Transcon traffic across the creek, and about an eighth of a mile away. Binoculars are available if needed. In the Winter I can sit in the recliner and watch the traffic[zzz] through the sliding glass door;, alerted by the horns blown for crossings both north and south of the house.### When I really want to get out, I go to Mulvane (at the old Santa Fe Station (now the museum for the town), and watch the traffic on part of the Ark City Sub and the Emporia Sub where they run together for a short distance past the station. Pretty good past time for a retired trucker.[sigh]### To the original poster[macsdace70]. You do not indicate where you live, so guessing about the area does no good. If there is a lot of railroad activity in your area, I would also guess there are others who enjoy rail fanning, as well.### I would suggest that you get together a small group of local railfans, and find a safer spot to watch trains. That would allow you to watch trains without bothering the folks with nothing else to do but make someone elses’ life miserable.### Further, you mentioned that you were a Vet. I would suggest that if there is a Veteran’s Administration Hospital near-by, you might look into volunteering there. I am a patient of our VA hospital, and have found much satisfaction in volunteering there, at least one day a week. It is interesting and you meet lots of folks coming to the hospital for treatment, not to mention pr
If the train’s the thing for you (as it is for me), I’d give these superior types a bit of the sarcasm (“Yes, sir–whatever you say, sir”) and make a gracious exit. If they’re only willing to impart their knowledge for a fee (be the fee joining a web site or getting to stand there while the high-and-mighty grab their shot at your expense), it isn’t worth it.
(And if you can ruin their shot while standing too far away fro them to do anything about it, so much the better! Wait…did I just say that?)
I happen to think that I have a few years’ worth of knowledge and experience in railroading under my belt. But you can bet that I won’t offer my comments or opinion to anyone unless asked. Or, if some know-it-all is blatantly spouting totally erroneous information, I may tell the listener descreetly that Know-it-all’s full of it, but not without giving the listener the correct information.
I happen to think enough of railroading and the hobby that I don’t ever want to ruin it for anyone else.
I went on my first railfanning trip last Sunday. I was back home visiting family and took a few hours out of my day and drove down to the Folkston Funnel and I had a great time. I meet several interesting folks, a couple from Vermont who were visiting their kids in Florida, another couple from Lake City Fl up with their kids, we all chatted and a great time while watching the trains go by. I would have stayed longer but a northbound CSX broke an airline and I did not know how long that would back things up. Folkston for the small South Georgia town that it is has taken notice and capitalized on their great train fanning location and have gone to make it a great place to go and sit back and enjoy the trains. Wish more places were like that.
Photographing trains is most lkely the part of the hobby where a railfan could have a problem these days.
I have only been bothered once by a “vigilante wannabe” when I was out photographing trains. He threatened to call the police. I told him to go ahead I would still be there. He drove away, stopped, got out of his car, and used his cell phone. I don’t know if he called the police, but the lightstarted to deteriorate so I left before they came.
Most of the other railfans that I have encountered have been friendly and helpful. The same with the public.
Hi,
I am new to this forum, in fact its my first post here!!! I have read all the comments here, and would like to share my inane ramblings. I drive passenger trains for a living for the NSW Government, and yes I am a buff to. I get a lot of flak from my work mates, but I ignore them, to me they are not worth the effort. As for trainspotters, or railfans, I do not mind them as long as they are not doing anything stupid. If I am at work and see them, I wave, or if I can pass on any info I have. On the whole, we are lucky here that the general public do not care if you are out photographing trains. The police do not go out of their way to harass photographers, as long as they are obeying the rules, and I cannot stress that point enough. I have enough to worry about before some idiot wants to try their luck against a train. Too many near misses. So enjoy yourself, get outdoors, have fun, and yes meet interesting people who share the same hobby. I hope I have not bored you all too much!! I wished I could of done my own spotting today, but I had some jobs to do at my mothers house.
Take care all!![:)]
I usually have a good time rail fanning. Usually local youth with nothing to do are the main cause of annoyance when it does happen.
There was a kid one time about 10 years old that biked up behind me on the side walk and I was on the grass about 20 feet away with my camera waiting for a train. I think he was waiting for me to notice him but I merely just ignored him. I did see out of the corner of my eye that he may have put something in his mouth and then throw up right there on the side walk that I had to walk past (because of fencing) and just rode off casually like nothing happened. I never really looked or payed any attention; just gave a brief glance of what he did before he rode off and I did not make any eye contact at all (coarse I was wearing sunglasses) and just did not give him the satisfaction.
That is really my worse experience but there are still people out there just seem to consider us “odd” for our interest. Oh well.
I can tell you that of my run ins with cops while railfanning 50% of the time the cops were cool and let me stay there and the other 50% of the time just told me to get out. And to be fair 100% of the time I had a run in with the cops I was trespassing (not on the tracks, but on a service road). Smart thing to do is to obey and just come back another day. Unfortunately in this day and age of homeland security and our litigious society best thing you can do is bite your tongue and obey the authorities, whether you agree with them or not, otherwise you’re bound for trouble.
It is a hobby that Matt and I enjoy.The only time I had to talk to the police is when someone else did something stupid.We follow the creed take pictures leave footprints.Good spots here in nw ohio are Deshler,Marion,Bellevue and Fostoria.
stay safe
Joe
Actually, the smart thing would be to stay away from that service road. You are going to end up having the same officer come out and he will be ticked off that he has to deal with you again…
I don’t fan too much anymore. But working 12 hour days on the railroad kind of kills a lot of the interest off.
To endeavour!
First of all! Welcome here! [#welcome]
There are from time to time some Australians who stop by here and post, a couple of whom, I think are railroaders, Hope you enjoy your visits here, a different perspective is always welcome.
With the situation, [st]weather-wise, down in Australia[um][st][st]; I hesitate to say this, but come on in, the waters fine around here!
Railfanning is…
what you make it!
Everyone does it a bit differently. For some, it’s a social event. For some, it’s all about photography. For some, it’s the visceral sensations of a train passing. For some, it’s all about understanding how things work or how things got to where they are today. Some like steam, some like passenger trains, some like coal trains. Some just like being around the equipment or track. Some like to recreate what they see or what they wish they could have seen in miniature. (Yeah, that’s modeling. But it’s rooted in railfanning) For some, they make it their job.
Some people seem to get a bit consumed by it all - often based on what else they have going on (or not going on) in their life - and it can bring out the worst in them. But, it’s not much different than any other thing people get interested in. It’s just people being people…
I grew up in Altoona, PA. I must have inhaled some locomotive coal smoke as a youngster, because I have been a rail buff for more than 50 years. I like to ride trains, watch them, and read about them. I have been a life long reader of Trains.
I have ridden over every mile of Amtrak’s current system, with the exception of Chicago to New Orleans and Atlanta to New Orleans. Some of the routes covered were when they were operated by the investor owned railroads, i.e. Richmond to Jacksonville on the Atlantic Coast Line, Jacksonville to Miami on the Florida East Coast Railway, etc. I have had a few bad experiences ridding trains, but most of my journeys were well worth the time and money.
I have also been on trains in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and Japan. The Indian Pacific was the best overseas train that I have ever ridden; in fact, it is number one or two on my list. The only American train that I have ridden that compared to the Indian Pacific was the UP’s City of Los Angeles, which I rode in 1957. Eating dinner in the dome diner was a real treat.
I have been hassled whilst watching trains only once. It happened in Dallas a few years ago. I was at Dallas Union Station observing Trinity Railway Express (TRE) operations, as well as UP and BNSF trains passing by the station. A couple of rent-a-cops accused me of loitering on the station platform. I was dressed in business casual attire; I certainly did not look like a tramp. I got their badge numbers and filed a protest with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit District, which is responsible for the station coppers. I got an apology from the President of DART.
Perhaps the best train watching experience that I have had occurred last year. I visited the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte, Nebraska. I had intended to spend a day there. As it turned out, I was there for three days.
Just a “foot” note to my post. Yesterday we were out near the CSX main line out of Stanley yard near the “Vickors” diamond where CSX and NS toledo east west cross. The weather was not very good . U know you get up and it looks ok then you get to where you are going and just like clock work the wind snow and bitter cold hit. U try to get your camera or video camera out and it is just miserable LOL. Like summer you get out on your day off on the weekend and it is just early in the morning but by 8 am the sun and heat and humidity are unbearabley nasty. AH rail fanning 101 the weather is never our friend. Also most of us are on a budget and have to drive our “work , grocery, bill paying and family cars”. U know as soon as you pull up U curse the spot and wish for a four wheel drive truck and to win the lottery LOL. Then after circle’n the spot five times we all get brave and risk those tiny little tires on our car and look over at your passanger and say if I get a flat it is gonna be ur falt LOL! U have to be somewhat brave, and just a little smart to go out rail fanning. I think most of us spend at least a fair amount of time the night before packing enough gear to invade a small country when we go rail fanning. this brings me to the top of my post. After we got out to “our” spot that we always share with other rail fans, even move our car and help out when other rail fans have any questions. At least we try to answer them as we are not experts just rail fans. Ok, anyway there was a car parked right next to the CSX main line I mean about two feet from it??? We decide at that point we were not gonna pull in becuse we did not want the CSX crews seeing us by them becuse we figure the train crew would not be happy. U have to ask yourself when is too close to close? when is jumping out of the car and taking pictures or video as close as you can get to close? U see people all the time get "b
One last though and I am done with my post here. Just so all of you guys and gals know I am not picking here or angry or anything childish as such. I would give the shirt off my back or change a flat tire for any one of you rail fans here. God has blessed us with this great hobby and meeting freindly rail fans is great! I guess a final more funny part to this post would be I wonder how many of us have model train layouts in our basements, garages, apartments or whatever we can afford and after we go out rail fanning we get so excited that we go home get out trains mag and read about what we were watching! Then we head into our train rooms and get out as many model train cars as we can put them on the track and place as many locomotives as we can then “call” up the dispatcher and yard master get that signal and move out!!!LOL Pick our conductor at the crossing. Ok, most people would say we are playing with toys or we are immature? No it is just FUN! Who said we have to grow up!!! I know I am a Vetran served in the military my son is in the military we are a union family and I am handicapped vet, but I could care less what anyone thinks of my hobby. My own father a long time CSX engineer of 39 yrs says I play with toys, yup I do and love it. The short time we are here we gotta have some fun. Then I feel bad for those who say they dont play with model trains they are mature men and it is only a hobby. yea right! If you buy Brass models and make every rail car look real, great for you. if you can only afford less priced models great for you! No one is bttr than anyone else. They belong to a model train club! ok, great for them but a lot of those guys are complete jerks who think thye are above all of us working class people ( I belong’d to model train club , but I was a p