[C):-)] I have had this on my mind for awhile now. I do not consider myself a railfan , To me all these intermodels and coal and grain trains all look alike to me. About the only interesting thing on the rails today are the general manifests because some times they carry interesting loads, Granted to power today is hands above what they had 50 years ago as far as horsepower goes, but to me it all looks alike ,It doesnt help that we mow only have a handful of railroads compared to again 40 or 50 years ago So heres my point I consider myself a rail historian To me its more interesting to see an abondaned right of way and try and trace its orgins. Rememberinbg the times when every freight had a waycar and Railroads still ran passenger trains Just a thought or two Thanks Larry [soapbox] .
Agreed. Which is why I find short lines so interesting.
The only thing interests me with today’s parade of nearly identical locomotives hauling nearly identical loads is when there is something unusual, such as huge amounts of power or unique loads, and/or interesting scenery, and/or interesting weather. Probably because I’m more into photographing trains than I am into ‘just’ watching them.
Larry;
Step back from your keyboard! You’re showing signs of over-caffination!!
Be aware you may need a smoke break, No problem, if you are in California where you can get that ‘special’ brand of … around the corner!
You might bee a Railroad Historian: If you remember hand pumped section cars, stacks of cordwood for locomotive fuel. Block icing of reefrigerators ( rail cars, both freight and passengers) a real Highball- the railroad kind[bow]
Ferroequinology ( with apologies to Larry in Upstate NY)–The study of Iron horses-- I dont think it refers to anatomy either [ of either end}.[:-^]
Personally I think the British are far more colorful and pointedly descriptive of their terms for Trainspotters, et al.
Check some out in this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_UK_railway_terminology
As for myself I like to think of myself as an interested observer of all things rail relasted.
Long as yer not a foamer, we’ll get along jes fine. We don’ take kindly to foamers in these here parts, podnah.
-Crandell
Just like you can’t give yourslef a true nickname, you don’t get to decide if you are a railfan, foamer, buff, etc. Others decide that for you.
If you post to trains.com, then you are a railfan. You can also be a foamer. And a buff.
The bigger question: who really cares???
Technicians and geographers
Trains, January 1985 page 22
The two types of railfans
( “BEAUMONT, RALPH”, FRONTISPIECE, RAILFANNING, TRN )
Or now - historian ?
I am, at various times, pretty much every “classification” on could assign to someone interested in railroads.
Rail historian (in no small part because of my involvement in a tourist railroad running over historic tracks), rail archeologist (which can be pretty interesting), rail photographer, motive power fan, car fan (it’s fun picking out reporting marks or speculating on cargo), and sometime foamer (admit it, we all are, under the right circumstances - which would be any time our head snaps around when we hear a horn in the distance).
I’d opine that that makes me sort of a “well rounded” railfan.
I’ve met lots of well rounded railfans. But that is more of the fault of KFC, Dunkin Donuts, and MCDonalds…
I like railroads, particularly freight railroads. Falling into that general description is the operations of railroads, including the logistics involved in moving freight from point A to point B. Mixed freight interests me far more than intermodal or unit coal trains. I consider unit coal to be a conveyor belt. However, unit grain trains are a bit more interesting to me.
Years ago I called myself an “economic railfan”. The economics of the industry are fascinating. What are in those cars? From where to where? What is the value of the product? How much is being charged for the freight? How many carriers? Transit time? Reliability of service…etc.
History is beginning to intrigue me more and more as I age. Official Guides, Moody Transportation Manuals and internal documents are much more fascinating now. Towers and trains orders (and methods of movements) are of interest.
I couldnt identify locomotives today, but could 30 years ago. Today, it is either a GE or EMD…thats it.
My wife refers to me as “liking trains”. I photograph them occassionaly, but only if I am near one with a camera…I dont spend time anymore chasing trains.
My scanner is on constantly and I enjoy listening in.
As David P. Morgan once said “I like trains.”
Ed
I used to consider myself skinny, handsome, and with a full head of bushy hair! [:P] Now, I’m desperately trying to hold on to the just the handsome part, and even that’s subjective on a good day.[:O]
My interest in railroads is some interest in most everything involving railroads and transportaion, and more interests in a few facets of the industry. I really enjoy learing about operations and history. That narrows down to basically, why do railroads do something a certain way, and why did railroads do things certain ways in the past. Being a map junkie, I can spend countless hours trying to find old lines and ROW’s on maps, on GoogleMaps/TeraServer/Etc., and driving down dirt roads.
The advantage of not knowing much, is that there’s so much to learn. [^]
Ouch Ouch The truth hurts !!!
I enjoy just about any part of railroading. I prefer today’s operations, because I grew up with, closer to, and understand it, but I do enjoy the history of old lines.
I can agree with about everything you wrote, too. I hardly ever take pictures anymore. I bought a digital camera about two years ago. Everytime I go to use it I have to usually: A. replace the batteries and B. reread some of the instruction manual. That’s because it gets used so little. I’ve been trying to force myself to take it with me (my scanner, too) when I leave the house.
Part of the problem for you and me Larry, is that we see it almost everyday. Every so often when we have the time, my wife suggests we go out and look for trains. We usually don’t because usually we only have the time to stay around Boone on the UP. I see that every day. Unless there’s something special it’s just not interesting enough to go look for. Now, if I can go up north to see the CN or down along the IAIS (I still haven’t seen the RI heritage IAIS unit in person yet.) or the BNSF, that’s appealing. Even seeing the UP in a different area is more interesting to me.
Larry, I think our real problem isn’t the lack of variety, it’s that we remember what once was and miss it. I miss small town depots with an agent/operator and train order signal. I miss seeing cabooses (I only saw waycars along the BN or C&NW[(-D]) although after riding the “blizzard bus” I’m not sure anyone really wants them back.
There are other things too, but no matter, Larry we’re still railfans. We still like trains and that’s what counts. Things are different, but if you’re like me, you still turn to see what’s coming when you hear a whistle (most times anyway).
Besides, for me anyway, one can recapture what was in model form. In my basement it’s 1978, trains still have cabooses and timetable/train order operations rule the day.
What discription…I don’t know. Railroads…I am intetested {and have been for many decades}, in the concept of what makes up railroading. Mostly the actual engineered plant…{ROW}…I’m interested in large machinery designed to run on steel rails that must be on ROW’s engineered to have the least amount of grades, moderate curves and if possible, long tangents.
Old consists or new and current power or older…doesn’t matter. I like the monstrous power designed to move these tonnages across the land. Structure of plant…Tunnels…Bridges…complicated track layouts…Beautiul old railroad architecture in rail cars…depots…massive stations…and of course some of railroads sounds…and especially hearing a steam engine {rare now}, really working hard up grade, and better yet…several steam engines together to move tonnage…and lets not forget the passenger trains {mostly of the past}, and even abandoned ROW’s…both with tracks and those with just the ROW remaining. Some of the old abandoned lines have beautiful stone arches and many still in place. I can recall of one {have photos}, in pertictular near my home in Pennsylvania that still stands as plumb probably as it was when constructed near a hundred years ago. It’s been abandoned for at least 65 years now…and on and on…and just now i hear a train horn {NS}, in the distance…Like that too.
Larry, I too miss the days of 40 or 50 years ago, the passenger trains, towers, stations, the mix of locomotives, steam locomotives, mixed freight, the look and smell of the railroads back then. I too look at an abandoned ROW and just think of what once was as I find rail history facinating. But, today I still take photo’s, I am impressed with the power and its abilities, the unique trains that are dedicated to one particular service that obviously today’s society is in need of, looking for that one spot for that special photo that freezes a moment in time. Thats why we are railfans, the tremendous mix of the hobby that gives us options as to what we want on a particular day. Your more than a historian, your a fan that has a passion for this creature called a railroad and for that I am grateful to be in such company.
If you have any kind of interest in vehicles riding on rails rather than on roads, you are a rail fan. You might be a modeler, a historian, a photographer, a viewer (trainspotter?), operator, a toy train collector, employee, non employee, rider, non rider, collector of paraphanalia, collector of books or videos or photographs, like all railroads, like only short lines, like only branch lines, like only steam locomotives, like only diesel locomotives, only passenger trains, only freight trains, only rolling stock, only train orders, only operations; any one or group or all of the above and thensome You like trains first, specialize later.
I have two main interests: 1. past history of many lines, regular mainlines and interurbans and 2. current developments in passenger transportation and general modernization, both here and abroad. But I still turn my head when I see or hear a train coming.
I’m an unabashed railfan. I was crazy about trains before I got the job with CNW,and I’m probably just as crazy now that I’m getting close to retirement. My fascination for most of this time has been with freight cars and their history, so I’m in absolutely perfect job for dealing with my hobby. I still have no problem with watching trains near home or away, because I can see variety. Yes, I know enough about motive power to be convincing and answer a lay person’s questions, and know enough about road operations and signals to make the hobby enjoyable. Abandoned lines are also interesting–especially when they’re hikeable or bikeable. I think that I like to see railrods building themselves up–note my interest in the UP-Metra project by us. So I consider myself a well-rounded railfan (and yes, I resemble that remark!).
Carl:
You are a wealth of information for this forum and the hobby…and a professional railroader. Thanks for everything.
Ed
I want to thank everyone for the respones that this post recieved, Like i had hoped they were many and varied. Let me clairfy a couple of points. 1. like Jeff said maybe I am, too close to the subject and see this everyday and at that we only see the business end of the industry, And I can see the fasnation of trains and railroading to its fans. 2 I do take photos of trains, I even carry a disosible camera with me on the road just to try and catch something new and different,3. and like Jrff on my HO scale layout when it gets built it will be June 1954 and steam and 1st generation diesels will rule the road . Again thanks to all of you for your opinons ans ideas Larry