Railvan Winkle

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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well the title is a horrible pun, but i was bored. what does it mean? i’ll explain

i’ve been out of the railfan hobby for some 10 years or so when i moved to a new house (this was when i was 8 and my old house was where i had easy access to a railroad track, CNW at the time) and then when i had the chance to jump back in, i found almost everything has changed. CNW, SP, high hoods, most of the traffic on the track by my old house, gone. but i was told by 2 other members (one told me much more calmly than the other. not saying any names) that i’m not doing much of anything to enjoy trains like i once did. i should have gotten used to the changes, but instead i grew angry and protested them. everyone knows what i said and all the unnecesary crap i’ve pulled. and before i ask my question, i’d like to say i’m sorry. i should not hate UP for trying to be a successful corporation, i should not hate the safer upgrades to locomotive cab designs, and i should not hate a paint scheme becuse it doesnt gleam more pretty at night or doesnt have any pizaz to it.

my question, how can i best get back into the hobby and enjoy it like i did before? does anyone know of any track near the Eau Claire area of Wisconsin that is heavily used and if so, do you know approximately when the trains pass? i have loved trains since i was 3. bashing them isnt loving them. and i dont ant to be a hater anymore. so i ask for help

please dont grill me if this topic is a waste of time. i just want some simple help

&

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In this day and age, with such things as Internet forums, it’s been easy for you to make a jerk out of yourself. Can you imagine someone being away from the hobby for ten years in the 1950s when steam disappeared, and raising a ruckus like this? How would he go about it–pestering magazine editors by mail? Wouldn’t get quite the show, would it?

Just relax. Read the old magazines you may have, or get some older ones, if the current ones aren’t good enough for you.

How mobile are you? When I was your age (and dinosaurs roamed the earth), I was stuck in a college miles away from the nearest tracks (close enough only to hear the lonesome whistles across the countryside) with no way to get anywhere. I had some back issues with me at school, and a typewriter, with which I began corresponding with people who later became the nucleus of the C&O Historical Society, and the West Michigan Chapter of the NRHS.

If you are mobile enough, I’d find a place where “when” isn’t important. Look over what’s available to you–equipment, interesting trackage, abandoned roadbeds, and whatever. You’re probably within an hour’s drive of Winona–that would probably be a good bet for you, what with DM&E, UP, CP, and BNSF all in the area. Or how about CN’s line just north of you?

But don’t discount Eau Claire, either. UP has done some good things with that particular line recently, in terms of upgrading track conditions (sure they were even better once, but I’ll bet you don’t remember that!). And we have the Roadrailer trains that go through there nearly every day.

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i caught that roadrailer a lot, but it gets pretty repetitive. even the power never changes. sure it’s fun to see, but the good stuff is all at night after i cant stay for that long (parents dont like me biking that late)

so if UP is upgrading the track, will that mean more traffic? even one daytime manifest would be enough for me. i wouldnt even care if it was always the same UP SD70M with the same number for the power, the rolling stock would be different every time and that’s enough for me.

Altoona sub IS getting a lot of maintenance though. until i get a job, i wont be very mobile. but i’ll be at other trackage when that day arrives. and with UP improving the track in my area, they might get new customers. which means more freight and soon, an additional trains to move the extra freight. and if that happens, i’ll be on cloud 9. i wish UP the best of luck in this

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Ditto on what Carl said. Personally, I think finding a fellow hobbyist who is mobile could be a huge advantage.

I was lucky in my pre-automobile days to have an older cousin who is a big train buff. We often did trips out to Savannah and Clinton. Occasionally, on a long weekend, we might head all the way out to Boone, IA for a dose of the Boone and Scenic Valley and the Kate Shelley bridge. Chasing down Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern ALCo’s was always fun, as was trips to the Bloomer Line to catch “almost” C,B&Q locos in Chinese Red. The list just goes on and on.

If you can hook up with a fellow rail buff, I think the possibilities are almost endless (especially in WI…I really miss taking pictures on the CP from the Dells to La Crosse…lovely stretch of track, especially in Autumn!)).

Even if you can’t, it might be worth your time and moeny to pick up an old film camera, and start learning a bit about photographing trains, which is my main passion.

Tip: Look for a manual focus Canon or Minolta body. Since the lenses aren’t compatible with the newer digital bodies, they can be found dirt cheap. If I had to do it, I’d look for a Canon AE-1 (make sure it doesn’t have the dreaded A series shutter squeak, though!), and a 50mm f1.8. Or if you’d prefer a mechanical body, it’s hard to beat an FTb. In either case, you should be able to get the combo well under $100 if you do some shopping. In time, as finances allow, add a wide angle (the 28mm f2.8 is oh so cheap, and dreadfully good), and a mild telephoto (85mm f1.8 is great, but also think about the 100mm f2.8…by far and away the sharpest FD lens I ever had). Also invest in a good tripod. That stuff isn’t too heavy, so it doesn’t have to be great, but you also want something fairly steady. That’ll allow you to shoot in darker conditions (maybe even a night shot or two).

If photography turns out to be your thing, I can share literally hundreds of websites where you can learn an awful lot. Some are rail

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Hey LA, are you aware of the upcoming train show at Regis? October 7 and 8, hosted by the Indianhead Model Railroad Club. I’m hoping to come up for that show, using the excuse of visiting my sister and getting some fall foliage shots.

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How about learning about freight cars?

I never had the interest myself, but I’ve known guys that would see an ordinary looking gondola (well- ordinary to me) and get all excited, procaliming to each other “did you see that Reading class F232???!!”

It would add another dimension to watching trains. Plenty of CNW rolling stock out there, yet. I’m sure there are plenty of books and websites on the subject.

Otherwise, since you do like the CNW - learn everything you can about them. Then you can also join the historical societies (as others have mentioned). Or you could go the photography route…I’ve done that. Getting the perfect train then becomes less important than getting the perfect photo. I can never achieve either, though.

gp80

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LA, At first I wasn’t going to respond to this, or your other comments in another thread, because you always get defensive and insulting. But I think I now see a big part of your problem. You say you need to get a get a job, so I assume you don’t have one currently. Therefore you are probably broke. You should probably be spending more time looking for work and less time whineing in this forum. I’m not saying that to be a jerk. I have been out of work before and it sucks not haveing any money to do anything or buy models or books. A poor railfans options are pretty much limited to what you do, ride your bike (or walk or drive if you can afford the gas) to the nearest tracks and take what you can get (unless you can find a railfan buddy like Chris sugests that you can tag along with). That situation can really suck. Like for you that’s only being able to see trains at night. For me a couple years back when I was stuck in Alturas (on a line the UP abandoned as a through route) it was only being able to see the 3 times a week Lake Co. train and the one UP a week.

With money your options become many. You can afford to take trips to new places or return to places you enjoy railfanning at. You can afford to get things like scanners, and cameras to make your trackside time more enjoyable. Or if you are into modeling you can get the models and supplys you want that make your modeling time more enjoyable. With money you can afford to get the books and magazines that are rr related if reading & learning is you fortay.

There are so many aspects to this hobby I could go on for days. But most all take money. And yes this can be an expensive hobby. My point is haveing an income makes all the differance in the world. And even a little makes a differance. When I was going to school and working part time for $175 a week that was enough to be able to go to Cajon Pass or Tehachapi once a month. Anyway something to think about.

I m

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I can understand your predicament. I too am a teenageer, pre-drivers licence age (for just a short time longer), and so it’s not incredibly easy for me to railfan either. The nearest line to me (about a mile way) sees three trains a week on this part of the line, and so I don’t see a whole lot there. Of course the CP line through Wisconsin Dells is only about 10-15 miles away, and I’ve got a scanner and can hear the action every day, but I don’t get over there that much to railfan.

But like others have mentioned, the key I’ve found is to find a railfanning buddy. I met a guy a little bit older than me through a model railroad club (my other hobby), and he and I get out railfanning on day trips every few weeks or months, usually up to LaCrosse or towards Prarie Du Chein, sometimes up towards Junction City too. And occasionally we’ll take a longer trip and head down towards Savana or accross the BNSF main in Illinois. And of course, we do railfan the local CP line some too, although usually we prefer to get away to somewhere not that close by. I give him a few bucks to help out with gas, and pay for my lunch while we’re on the road, but it doesn’t cost nearly as much as if I were to go on my own, and I have a lot of fun talking with him while we travel and wait for trains. I’d see if you can search out a railfan buddy in the area, maybe from some sort of a local railroad-related club, as there are bound to be a few.

You are actually located in a pretty good location there for trains if you can find a way to drive a little ways. You’ve got the UP Chicago-St Paul main only a few miles away; you’ve the BNSF Transcon main to the Pacific northwest (with something like 30 trains a day), a little ways to the west, and you’ve got the CN main from chicago to Superior just a little to the east. And both a little bit to the south and just accross the Mississippi River to the west you’ve got the CP Main from Chicago to the Twin Cities. There is also a shortline a little wa

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i do enjoy freight cars. CNW hoppers and autoracks are my favs. oh and the RI hoppers. but they’re all fun to see. thanks to all of your assistance, i have discovered money as the primary reason i’ve become negative. that and loving CNW too much. i may soon get a job. this one store seemed to like me during an interview and i hope they consider me.

MSTS is something i want. but not until i can afford it and raildriver. because when you have a console with levers in front of you, it just doubles the enjoyment out of the game. i played it before and had a lot of fun. however it became boring because i was limited only to what came on the cd. i was unable to download all the extra goodies like CNW schemes on the locomotives, SD45s, alternate routes, etc. but if you’re telling me i could create a whole digital CNW world on that program, then you sir have made my day! is it possible to create the main from altoona to st paul on MSTS? if yes, i will buy this VERY soon. would i be able to run locomotives in a custom scheme of the railroad i made up?

the show at regis will be a definite yes for me. the club i’m in may run their layout there if it’s ready (we got rid of our older to to begin anew). hell, i’ll still show up regardless. i love all things train (just in different ways. like fanning passenger trains is boring, but riding them is one of the funnest things i’ve ever done).

i did not know so much was around me. the UP Chicago-St Paul Main is the track that goes through Altoona. for a main that connects 2 huge cities, one must wonder why only 2 maifests use it… it’s not a great place to fan during the day. the CN main sounds like the track in Chippewa Falls, and the shortline is probably Wisconsin Northern up by Bloomer. currently i cant go to the CN track, but have great interest in fanning there. is the BNSF transcon main that track along the Mississippi river? it’s a lot further than you’d think. my family plans vacations to that area, but it is a place i love to be.

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You can create routes in MSTS, and if you wanted to, you could create the main from Altoona to St Paul with the MSTS route and Geography builders. But from the little research I’ve done and what I have been told, it is very, very complicated and takes a lot of work to go about building a route that functions properly. I’ve been told it really helps if you a computer programmer, as there are a lot of complicated things that need to be worked out in order to get the route too look right and run properly. I’ve heard it can take months or years for the average Joe like you or me to to create a route, it’s not the kind of thing that comes quickly. But if you are willing to work at it, it can be a lot of fun, or so I am told.

A raildriver is a really nice luxury to have with MSTS. I was able to talk my parents into buying me one for Chrismas a few years ago, and it is awesome. It’s nice to have the actual levers instead of just pressing Keys all the time.

If you are interested in gettting MSTS, and want CNW equipment and stuff for it, you can go to www.train-sim.com, and they’ve got a lot of awesome downloads. You have to register, but it’s free to do so, and all downloads are free. They only allow a certain amoun

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ah yes. there’s 2 raildrivers. one is a console with levers. the other, much more expensive one, is a total mock-up of a locomotive’s console. that one may be mine in a few years. but i’ll currently just save up for the more simple lever one. i’ve used and enjoyed it before. it really does make MSTS more enjoyable.

in those downloadable routes, are there other trains programmed into them tht pass you at spots? or is it always just your train?

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Train Sim does have good downloads, no doubt, but if you want good CNW stuff, thats not where you want to look. www.dieselswest.com Its payware, but it has authentic sounds, awesome cabs, and the engine itself looks awesome. They sell the following for CNW, GP40s SD40-2s C40-8s C44-9Ws I have them all, and they are pretty sweet. The dash 9s are actually pretty cool to run (and Ive never been a fan of them). Alec

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payware? how much does it cost? and can i get CNW SD60s, SD50s, or SD45s anywhere?

i’ll gladly run the -9s. i’ll run anything CNW. except for those crandall cab things

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Even the Baldwin GPs?[}:)]

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ROFLMAO! Ya, those arent the prettiest girls on the block… Alec

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If you think the Cradall cabs were bad to look at, you should have had the experience of operating one. If you’re interested, I’ll tell you about it.

btw: as a clue, we refered to the locomotives as being “crandallized”

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When I was growing up, I was fortunate be living here in the Chicago area… I was 4 blocks from the then ICG Freeport Sub, and about a mile from Proviso Yard (CNW, now UP) My father was a big train buff, and it rubbed off on my brothers and I, for the most part. But, I can understand being frustrated, and not very mobile, and unable to find good places to watch trains.

If you have ever been, or can ever get to the Chicago area, places to watch trains abound. In fact, I live right along the IHB main, the tracks are literally 100 feet from my apartment door… I love it.

A word on MSTS… I have tried to build a route with the Route Builder function. Be forewarned, it takes alot of patience, BUT, at www.train-sim.com, there are downloads a plenty, and quite a few that make route building easier. It will never be perfect. You don’t have to be a programmer to use the Route Builder, you just have to be patient. Most anything you could want for your route, from trees to buildings is available for download from train-sim.com, but it’s best to have a high speed connection to make for quicker downloads. MSTS is a fun program, with lots of addons available through that website, check it out. It helps fill the time of my little ones during the winter when we can’t go watch trains. Also, learning how to photograph them is also fun… I recommend digital, but, if you can’t afford that, find an old film camera, or perhaps, visit a used camera shop to see what they may have. I love shooting pictures, check out my link in my signature.

And, good luck, and have fun. And also, if you want to know how to learn how to enjoy the hobby? Let go of the negatives… Hey, I hated it when the ICG went away, but, nothing can be done about that. I enjoy the trains for what they are. I have noticed that railfans tend to be territorial, and they tend to identify with one railroad, and so

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yes i am interested. was it fun?

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On MSTS most of the routes have seperate downloadable activites that you can get, and many of them have trains you can pass or that pass you. However, usually they use the default BNSF dash 9s and stuff like that instead of the cool stuff that you really want. You can easily create your own simple activities to have trains meet and to pick up and set out cars and the like, I do it myself some. train-sim.com also has a bunch of free tutorials that teach you how to do things like that, and most are fairly easy to follow and do. It’s what I did to learn how to tweak a few things, and now I set up my own activities (like locals on a busy mainline, or just a long main line run on a busy single track where you are constantly meeting other trains).

Your right, the big raildrivers really are expensive, but they do seem pretty cool. I doubt I’ll ever get one myself, I’d much prefer to be using an actual one on a little shortline or regional railroad some day…

Noah

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working on a shortline would be really fun. it takes no time to get to know everyone else on the crew and you become like a family or so. i should look into that some day. it must be easier than working on a class 1 i would imagine. i might get the big RD. but not for a very very long time