What do RR employees call "US" railfans?

I was surprised as well to find that fire fighters have something of a cult following too. My company recently rewired a few fire alarm systems in downtown and during the process I was throwing away the old fire alarm strobes, bells, etc. A gentleman came up to me and asked if he could take ALL of it (for a 30 story building that’s a lot of devices). He explained that he collects old fire fighting memorabilia - a

I drive a Ford Crown Victoria and I used to be a memeber of a online forum dedicated to the cars, every year many members of the forum would meet up at the assembly plant in canada where the car’s are made and take a tour [:)]

I also went on a few tours of the EMD plant in La Grange IL and had family who worked there it was really cool watching the locomotives being put together

I have never liked the term railfan. It sounds too silly/corny. The term though can apply to many different areas of the hobby: taking a train trip, going to a swap meet/society meeting/convention, museum, reading a book or doing historical research can all be defined as railfanning. -I agree totally what was stated in an earlier post the fact that so many new hires on todays railroads have little or no knowledge/interest of rr history or traditions. They are there to earn a days pay and nothing else matters. As a current worker, I though do have a strong passion of the history of the industry. However, I don’t want to see anyone out taking my picture while I’m doing my job. My advice to 'railfans is 'take this into consideration next time you’re trackside. If you are going to take a photo of a trainman doing their task, stay hidden just like the stealth team. I wouldn’t go this far, but ome of my co workerssay if someone tries to take their picture while on the property, they will get the bird.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure - you probably made him rich on E-Bay…

…I suppose I’m kind of speachless about this whole {railfan…foamer…and whatever name calling…}. I for one have no interest of taking any worker’s photo while he’s on the job, etc…If I’m trying to photograph RR “stuff”, it’s because of my main interest of the engineering aspect of locating and the history of constructing said RR. Example: Horseshoe Curve…or any railroad and how the Engineer’s made the climb to attain the summit and still retain a feasible grade in doing so, etc…Just my [2c]

You raise an interesting point from my point of view. I volunteer with a tourist railroad - we’ve got people watching everything we do (and we don’t always know who). I was working a train last weekend and handled the runaround at the distant point of the trip. As I’m connecting the brake hose between the engine and the consist, I hear the conductor behind me explaining to some of the passengers - in some detail - what I was doing. Good thing I was doing it right.

There are times that we almost have to use hand signals for such movements because we can’t hear over the roar of the camera shutters. [;)]

And I’d hate to think about how many family vacation albums I’m in.

Getting my picture taken is part of the job. No pressure there.

…Larry, there’s your chance to have someone nearby with already made up black and white photos of you doing your job…for a price…

It’s kind of funny the misperception with the photography thing. I’ve been taking train pictures for 38 years and I’ve had some crews act pretty steamed at me (very rare occurance mind you, but it’s happened).

The thing is, they’re not in my pictures. I’m taking pictures of the equipment. On the rare occasion that I aim a camera at a crew member, I do ask first.

But from the crews’ perspective, they see a camera pointing at them. Doesn’t matter that they are behind glass and I don’t see them at all… they think I’m taking their picture.

Truth is, 99% of the time, I’m not.

But you “look” so much the part! Like you should be in the picture!

Probably. Given that they made most of the stuff with asbestos back then, as far I am concerned I know nothing else. He can have fun with that one…

The final definition and detail information. Enjoy!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railfan

[oX)]

Back in the eighties, the SP crews use to call us railfans, “FRA”…Friggin’ Railfans Again…

These threads always amuse me.

While I have no desire for animosity, why do so many railfans have this morbid/genetic/inbred need to be validated by railroaders?

Give me one good reason why should I care/wonder/worry about what railroaders think of me or railfans.

Or bus drivers. Truck drivers. Bulldozer operators. Et al.

Inclusion.

You can call me what ever you like that will not make me stop watching the trains, building my layouts or watching model and real Rail Road videos on YOU TUBE.

Now I’m in a profession that no one wants to be a fan of or even take pictures of for that matter, I’m a heavy trauma EMT, even little kids don’t like us because of what we call the “ouch factor”.

But watch people driving by an auto wreck and they can’t get enough and thank God they do not get out of their cars to snap pictures, well except for the reporters and if they get too close the cops on scene will drive them away.

We hold an event twice a year that brings many children and their parents out too, it is called “touch a truck” and as I sit at the back doors of my big trauma rig I watch the kids climb all over the Fire trucks and Police cars as they eye ball us from a distance, when they are done looking at all the others they might come over too peek in the back of our rig (it cracks me up) and most of the questions have to do with the gore of our jobs.

BUT…we find most of our Fans are the fire fighters whom we rehab at fire scenes and the police that see what we do at bad auto crashes, shootings, attempted suicides and so on, when the fire fighters and Police need medical help then WE become their heroes…LOL!

Well, I need to go park my HO ambulance on my HO train layout…Happy Rails!

I don’t mind the term railfan. I do mind the more derogatory ones. When I photograph things I generally photograph the equipment too(Locomotives,etc). I actually hate photographing people,to be honest with you.

When I go out on my trips,I stay out of the way. I act friendly and wave to any engineer who happens to wave at me. They should be proud that there are people like me(not the crazy type,just those who enjoy watching trains from safe areas) who respect them and their profession,unlike all the idiots that zoom through grade crossings when the train’s 100 feet from it.

My rules for railfanning are simple. Stay out of everyone’s way(the railroaders,people who live/work in that specific area),and don’t do anything stupid.(Like trying to beat a train over the crossing or doing anything that would cause extra stress to the engineer,he’s already got enough to worry about)

That’s my .2

We’ve actually had a problem with that, due to a local news website that encourages such submissions… Snap a picture on your cellphone camera and it’ll be on the web in minutes. Literally.

The problem is that sometimes relatives see their loved ones vehicle all smashed up before they can be notified by the authorities.

If they take them from their car (at least in NH) nothing can be done but once they get out to do it they can and often are placed under arrest so that they don’t have their cell phone (due to being arrested) to send the picture until notification can be given to the family, the booking process allows time for the scene officer or scene commander (FD) to make the notification, most times the Fire Department will put up a wall of tarps on folding frames when it is a fatal, it is so sad that they even have to do it.

They post these threads so some people have something to pick apart.

I don’t care what they call me as long as I’m not called to late for supper.

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