What do you call a railway enthusiast?

Question

What do you call a railway enthusiast?

Answer 1

A RAILFAN or A RAILNUT.

Answer 2

a train buff , trainspotter /trainfreak

Answer 3

rail fan,train buff, rail enthusiast!

Answer 4

Rudely here in the UK they are called anoraks. Never understood why rail enthusiasts are mocked when others who do things like eg follow football fanatically are not.

Answer 5

In the US, the ones who are well-behaved are called railfans.  They just like to watch trains.

The 'real special ones' are called foamers  (as in foaming at the mouth, like rabid animals.)  They think they are the only ones on earth, but they have absolutely no social manners or self-awareness skills.  They are frequently known to scream and yell at ordinary  people who might even cast a shadow on the ground (let alone stand in the picture), thereby spoiling the foamers 'photo of a lifetime' of super-duper locomotive 9999 as it comes down the railroad tracks.

Answer 6

There are various terms, some more derogatory than others!

For example, "anorak", "train-spotter", "train fan".

A few years ago, a term in common usage was "gricer", but technically "gricing" is only concerned with tunnel exploration. So a "gricer" was really only applicable to those who liked walking through railway tunnels. (Yes, there are such people around!)

Answer 7

trainspotter ??

Answer 8

Trainspotter (UK), rail fan, train buff, railroad enthusiast, follower, foamer, as well as some names in local areas.

A note about foamers.

The term "foamer" came from northern California, where the "Feather River Route" of the now absorbed (by Union Pacific) Western Pacific Railroad ran along the Feather River between Portola, California, and Marysville, California.

Along this route, the "foamers" had to be in the water to capture their best photographic angles.  Also along this route, the river is turbulent and pools form along the backwashes and eddys and usually sporting foam or froth floating on the surface.  As the enthusiasts were at that point in the foam, hence the term "foamer" was applied and, apparently, stuck.

Answer 9

railfan.  just like me :)