Opinions on railfans? Anyone.
1 Like
Well, 10ft away may be railroad property. Also, some people (me included) donât like strangers taking pictures of them
1 Like
Right now Iâm in an area where there is 2 tracks and grass on both sides. Public. Donât see a problem. And we can barely see you. Donât worry.
Maybe they did not want to work on the railroad as a kid. Therefore got a job on the railroad to stop the youngster achieving his dream?
âA Young Dreamerâ
1 Like
You really need to stop worrying what people think about you.
6 Likes
Most of the railroaders I know donât really have an opinion, one way or the other. Except maybe for those that get in unsafe situations.
Some understand railfans, some donât. I think the general population is more adverse to the idea of railfanning.l than most railroaders. Especially since the way people who like trains, real and/or model, are generally portrayed on TV or in movies.
Jeff
5 Likes
True. I do but still I just am curious.
1 Like
How are railfans portrayed in movies?
1 Like
Watch Big Bang Theory.
3 Likes
And Shrek. Shrek 2. Shrek 3 you can skip. Then Shrek 4.
2 Likes
I wonder how those railfans would like having people watching and photographing them at work?
I think railfans are portrayed in media as as goofs and nerds.
1 Like
What did author Nevil Shute (Norway) think?
Narrow traction bogies and an electric elk called Simon⌠the clarity is devastating, but where is the ambiguityâŚ
[For those who donât get the Gavin Millarrrrrrrrr partâŚ]
2 Likes
A friend of mine would occasionally park along the public road that crossed our tracks at the east end of the yard. He lived about 50 miles away and did this every week or two when business brought him to the area. He stayed off private, railroad and other, land.
One day the train I brought in was working the yard, working off a different than normal radio channel so as not to clutter the airwaves. There was concern from some of the local yardmen as to who he might be. I told the utility man who he was and that he was just a railfan, and to pass it on. It wasnât being a railfan that comcerned them, it was that he might have been FRA or part of a company âHit Squadâ (Officials from other locations) looking for possible violations. Once they new he wasnât looking for some obscure rule, or interpretation there of, to get them on, they didnât give him a second thought.
Most of us know we can be watched almost anywhere. Around terminals, there are cameras everywhere. Most likely railfans are also on camera in the high traffic areas. If you take pictures or videos and think something is amiss, DONâT post it on YouTube or other sites, and if you do, DONâT point out or ask about a possible violation. Sometimes things arenât what they appear to be. Rules do have exceptions and modifications under specific scenarios and locations that arenât appearant to bystanders. No need to go viral with something thatâs legal, but gets the attention of management hundreds of miles away who doesnât know local conditions.
Jeff
5 Likes
So you are saying if someone blows there horn more for a railfan, or does something that isnât particularly following the fras âguidelinesâ, donât post it?
1 Like
Most railfans have a little knowledge of operations and rules. There are videos out there where the poster either said it was a violation or asked if it was an actual violation. Why do so? One type is trying to show they know something, the other is (benefit of the doubt) trying to learn. Either way those posters could bring attention to some railroader. That railroader, under the specific circumstances, may not have violated anything, but might still have to explain himself to superiors. Thatâs certainly not going to endear railfans to him.
If someone waves to me, and I canât wave back, I will usually give two shorts on the horn. According to the rules, âAcknowledging a signal not otherwise provided for.â
Jeff
7 Likes
Iâm interested in what you mean by âAcknowledging a signal not otherwise provided for.â
1 Like
He means this:
3 Likes
Thatâs cool. Never heard of all that before.
1 Like
Some hand signals have a specific horn signal in answer to it, either by rule or specific special instruction. Those that donât have a specific acknowledgement are covered by the, ânot otherwise provided for.â
Iâm acknowledging that Iâve seen you. That you havenât given me a signal that requires me to take action. âAny object waved violently by anyone is a signal to stop.â Itâs answered by two shorts, too.
Jeff
3 Likes
So basically an excuse for a âhorn showâ? Thatâs how Iâm seeing it
1 Like