A question about train watchers?

Question

I was in a town the other day and strolling past a railroad crossing. I thought that something weird or bad was going to happen because all of these guys were standing around with walkie talkies and cameras. I asked one guy if something had happened and he said no they were "railroad-fans". he said they did this every weekend. The guyz seemed freindly enough, but wow were they incredibly weird. Sort of like my dad's ham radio buddies except with really bad hygiene.

Are train watchers mostly introverted middle aged guys? Some ladies strolled by, looked puzzled and then were giggling to themselves as they walked off-----obviously amused by these men. Are these guys married and have kids and everything? Is this some sort of club or gang or something for men who dont deal with women ?

Answer 1

ive seen some hardcore railfans too. some even remained jobless just so they could catch the rail action in the daytime. but ive seen the same thing with movie buffs who for example celebrity "watch". there's hardcore people in every hobby.

BTW, im sure there are female railfans (i remember a few posting here)

Answer 2

My Uncle is a rail road fan. He also worked for the railroad for 40 years. Not all are like that. He's also play's in an marching band. teachs sports. Him and my Aunt travel all though the country and vidio trains, go to musuems. And ride the rails. I love to travel by train also. They used to take me on trips when I was younger. And he showers everyday.

Answer 3

The proper term is Railfan. I belong to a club of model railroaders, sometimes they can be a strange bunch. Most are older guys with money who can afford the hobby. Anyway, railfans are all shapes and sizes, can't say I've ever hung out with true railfans, but it's fun to watch the big engines go by, for me, anyway. Railfans are probably old mechanical tech geeks, they love big, noisy, rail-riding equipment. Probably similar to computer geeks, but in a different way.  Have you ever watched Dead-heads follow a concert tour? They're unkempt, drive weird vehicles, etc. I guess any kind of faithful following may tend to distract someone from personal hygiene niceities, etc. LOL. I'd say most, though, are married to tolerant women, yes many have children, and share their love of trains constantly. They're not loners or women-avoiders.

Answer 4

Trainspotters, rail fans, train nuts, buffs, train watchers, foamers or whatever you wish to call them, come from all walks of life, as do hobbyists, collectors or people who like to hit weekend yard and garage sales.

I can't speak to hygiene, or lack thereof, as those whom I have encountered are not out of the ordinary, although, often times one will get quite dirty, climbing dirt banks, wading into shallow waters or even climbing creosoted telephone poles to get that illusive "perfect angle" for a picture.

But, if you really want to know what's going on at the railroad right that minute, whenever and where ever that minute may be, ask one.  They know about what's going on better than supervisors or people behind the ticket counter or waiting on a boarding platform.

And, if people are honest, there's a little bit of "train buff" in everyone. I often look into whatever profile info is available here when a person asks a question in the rail category. I have found that many new to Y!A ask their first question or post their first response in the rail category, yet no one thinks this strange.

Special train movements usually get evryone out of the house and onto the right of way.  In 1981, the UP ran the 8444 and 3985 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Sacramento, California, for the grand opening of the California State Railroad Museum. I was fortunate enough to have been chosen as a fireman pilot on these engines on the portion of their trip from Sparks, Nevada, to Raoseville, Ca.  Nearly every inch of the 137 mile route was several people deep in folks with cameras and video and/or audio recorders.  If I had a dollar for each time my picture was snapped that day, I would be a very wealthy man.

So, the hard core amonst the enthusiasts shouldn't be singled out for ridicule, as they often are. Everyone has a passion for something. What's yours? Would I think it odd? Would you care? Probably not.

As far as marriage and family is concerned, many make rail fanning a family outing. When out and about observing rail operations, there are some beautiful spots in which to make the observations and snap the photos. Is picknicking along the way, or in many instances camping, strange as well?

In addition, in a very real sense, they are additional human "trackside scanners," as I have been on trains where defects have been reported to dispatchers or supervisory personnel or police agencies warning of the danger.  It seems to me, with the general lack of mandated railroad security measures in the wake of 9/11, they should be thanked for spending long hours in the field, indulging themselves in their harmless passion.

To each his own, and from me, thanks to each.........

Answer 5

some railroads people call them formers (because they seem

to foam at the mouth when they see a train..

(but unfortunally a lot of railroad official detest those guys

like the plague (oh they ":could  be terrorists!:

and a number of them have been report to either FBI or Homeland security,,

yet foamers are really the eyes and eyes for the railroad

(just try telling that to a railroad official!

Answer 6

I'm a train fan myself. I'm 19 years old, been interested in trains since I was like 3 years old. I have good hygiene and have no problem with getting women, in fact, they seem to think it's a pretty neat hobbie to have. I actually got a few interested in them..lol. I'm just your average railfan, I do not go to great lengths to get that perfect picture. I never put myself in any danger, and I know my boundaries. I just enjoy watchin' the trains roll through. Don't need any pictures!

Answer 7

So, men who watch trains are a problem, but you obviously don't have the same problem with men (and there are plenty of them) who watch planes, tanks, ships, SUVs, HGVs, and so on.

I have been a 'train watcher' or 'trainspotter' or 'railfan' for most of my life. It is one of my hobbies which I share with many people and I have many others which I also share.

I don't agree with the tiresome stereotypes that you seek to regurgitate courtesy of this MB and anyway, when was the the last time you saw a classic, historical film or TV series that didn't depend for at least some of its effect on people who work at and restore vintage trains?

Pls list 2 me the exceptions, you might find them easier than the rule.

Peace and love

Answer 8

just for the info, im 20 years old, i have a model railroad, a railroad scanner and have many pics of trains and i have a girlfriend and work at the railroad so u see. its not just 1 age group. i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! and also we have many female engineers.

Answer 9

There mare fans of all ages. I knew a teenager who could tell me the train number,the track name it ran on, and where it was heading.

I went to collage with a man who main purpose in life was to hop a train and have his wife pick him up 30 miles away.

I see guys sit in their cars at the main crossing at the rail yard all the time. So even ask us it they can help when we are repairing the tracks.

Answer 10

yea

Answer 11

I'm not as much of a train watcher as I used to be. This would be because I'm not so much into it as I once was. These days with how everything has gone "Hi-Tech" and impersonal, train watching isn't as much fun anymore. Not all train watchers are introverted middle aged men. Some of us are married with families. Some of us are retired railroad employees. And some of us are even model railroaders. Oh, there are also some female train buffs in our groups.

Answer 12

If you think that's weird, go to any golf club house after about 3 PM and listen to the droolers re-cap every shot and foam as they re-tell the near par on hole 5.

Answer 13

for gods sake, stop profiling them!!

We railfans are mostly guys (there are women in our ranks) who enjoy watching and taking pictures of trains. Yes, some of us are wierd.

The walkie-talkies were either for communication with thier friends up the tracks to find out where trains were, or to listen to the RR radio to get alerts on when trains will be at that crossing.

Many of them have families, and they will sometimes bring thier kids with them (kids love trains) and give the wives some time off.

They arent a gang, they deal with women just fine. dont judge.

Answer 14

some people just have a love for trains or retired from the railroad they still love trains they have family and kids nothing strange about them except the fact is they like trains

Answer 15

Thats a very unfortunate stereo-type - unfortunate because its true for some railfans (the bad hygiene and the women thing). I don't much appreciate it at all.

To address the first thing, they weren't "walkie-takies", rather scanners (receive only radio) set to railroad frequencies. It gives you a heads-up for when the train is coming. Second, its also perfectly legal and normal to photograph trains. Plenty of people photograph aircraft, ships, birds, classic cars - an interest (specifically a photographic one) in trains is no different.

At any rate, I'm in the 18-25 demographic, have good hygiene, a very normal interest in women (I like every hot one I see), and am pretty much prefectly normal.

I don't railfan every weekend. Maybe just a couple times a month. I take my Nikon SLR with my 70-300mm Zoom telephoto lens, along with my 28-80mm Fisheye Zoom lens, and expose some Kodak Ektachrome 200 to some trains.

Some railroad's have company calendars and accept photo submissions. There are lots of train magazine and even more books that need pictures. Pictures that railfans in the 1800's-to present are considered priceless especially for history books and publications.

I plan to marry a woman, have kids, and continue photographing trains. There's nothing odd about it.

Answer 16

Is this any weirder than watching a bunch of men throw or hit a ball and screaming when you team scores?