Kids always get a wave…
LC
I always wave at the crew when a train passes by. I almost always get a wave back if they see me, but many times they don’t.
Like everyone else, I usually get a wave back. I have had some train crews open the windows as they approach and then wave. When the Tennessee Pass line was still in operation, I got to know a lot of the crews. When they seen me sometimes they would say hi on the radio knowing I had my scanner![:)]
I wave at every train an dalmost everytime some waves back.
I usually don’t wave if alone unless they wave first. But there have been times that I was standing there, snapping photos, and when I get home and view the photos, I see the crew was waving!
Maybe engineers still wave because they tend to come from small towns or rural areas where lots of people wave at strangers.
Back in the days of the Milwaukee Road engineers would frequently toss out train orders for railfans. There is an engineer on the former MIlw Road CP line through Milwaukee who flashes a blue flashlight at dusk.
An enginner of a Wisconsin Central/CN train stopped at a signal came out of his cab, approached another railfan and me, and gave us two bottles of ice cold water (it was a hot day), and talked about the closing of the Fond du Lac shops.
Down at Brighton Park IL a passing engineer on an NS frieght leaned out of the cab, grinned, pointed to the rails he was on and yelled “New York Central.” He was correct - those were former NYC tracks.
Dave Nelson
Most of the time they wave…but on two occassions there have just been grumpy-looking glances…
I usually get a wave - not often from the CSX engineers, but I don’t why that is. I once waved at an engineer running the B&O’s National Limited and was hit in the leg by a mailbag. I was at an non-passenger station in Illinois, although I can’t remember the town’s name.
I generally do and if I am stopped for a bit I offer a quick cab tour, kids always get a special horn toot as well. I figured thats what got me into trains when I was young, so why not pass it on. [8D]
I am the engineer that you wish was on every train…[:o)]
Once while waiting for a long B&O freight train to pass my very rural crossing in Southern Indiana, I spotted a hot box (actually on fire) on one of the cars in about the middle of the train. I franctically yelled “hotbox”, pointed and waved at the fellow in the caboose and he gave me a big smile and wave back! I went to a nearby country general store and called the railroad and I have to assume that they relayed it to the crew. No cell phones back then!
I’ll wave at people at a crossing if they at me,but alot of th’ time they aren’t waving th’ right hand signal,so I don’t.
And then there’s these new units with th’ blacked out windows. Alot of th’ time I can’t see anybody,n they’re a apin to try n open alot of th’ time.
So don’t take it too personally if you don’t get a wave back,and oh yeah,if your on th’ cornductor’s side,he’s probably asleep!
You use alot of abbreviations huh zapp…
just kidding i usually do too.
I always wave unless it’s too late or the weather is inclement. In what must by now be hundreds of sightings, I’d say I get a wave back between half and two-thirds of the time. I’ve only gotten the finger once[:0], and the flat or back-of-the-hand “no-nos” a few times.
Generally do much better with train engineers than truck drivers, also on the strongarmed “Blow your horn!” request.
Here’s a new one…last week I was shooting trains in my area and as a freight came, the conductor covered his face with his hands - looking like he was yawning/rubbing his eyes…but I’m guessing he just didn’t want to be on camera.
Anonymous, albiet 9 years ago…perhaps some of you will read this, I hope you do as well…I can tell you that there is a great deal of responsibility when operating and handling an engine…there are times where the engineer is at a key critical stage of operation and is completly absorbed in the handling of his train…same goes for the conductor who might be handling a great deal of track information that is required also to make sure the safety of many people is observed…dont stop waving, sometimes we’re just busy working…the mass majority of us love giving a wave, and a little honk of the horn when we can…sincerly, Conductor Wolverine
Hey might have been having a bad day…maybe he hit a car a week earlier…its the life…give some room…thanks, we appreciate it sincerly conductor wolverine
Just had a BNSF engineer wave- must have been having a good day.
Its was a good day…cause he was moving.
Talk about dredging up a topic from the past. I see that my posted response was made when I still had to work for another 4 1/2 years, now I’m coming up on 4 years retired. Which may go a long ways to explaining why I don’t post a lot anymore. Thanks for the blast from the past.
Well that brings up an interesting question. As a retired railroad guy, do you wave at engineers?