Why are trains so cool?

Question

Why are trains so cool?

Answer 1

I personal Love trains though i have never been on one except one time at the zoo . I think the reason why people love them so much is because they are a classic transportation That have been around for over a hundred years! kid's like them because of the cool whoo whoo whistle although there are some adults who are fascinated by the whistle too ! another reason because of the famous Classical Christmas book that most children have heard ,read or even watched  "The Polar Express " The thought of a magical train taking a child or a true Believer in Santa clause to the north pole is something Truly Wonderful all by it's self ! Hope this answers your question ,Heather

p.s For me the book" The Polar Express" is what got my fascination with train's that and the old coco cola Christmas commercial and ever since i read that book it has been one of my all time favorite Christmas books to read at Christamas !

Answer 2

They just are man. I got 7 detentions for cutting school last week to see the Milwaukee Road 261 leave Union Station here in Chicago. And you know what, it was worth it! All engines are beutiful, except for all of the boring GE's. If you have never seen a full sized steam locomotive in operation, go see one. Its beutiful. Every railfan should. I just saw the 261 the largest operating coal fired steamer in the world on tuesday. And today I saw several narrow gauge steamers in action.

Answer 3

Probably the air conditioning. Nowadays most modern trains have this: in the sweltering height of summer you step on board and a refreshingly cool breeze wafts against your face.

Answer 4

They are cool! I've been working on them for almost 32 years and i still get a thrill out of them.There's no denying the rush of having thousands of horsepower at your command.What's really fun is when you get a light train (3,000 tons or so) with about 5 engines.Like a hot rod on rails lol. I wish we had more steam engines still in existence for everyone to enjoy as there is nothing else like them. As Bob said they are like living breathing beasts. They deserved a much better end than they received. They helped build a nation and their ancestors still carry on the tradition today just without as much flair and grace.

Answer 5

Well, they are rather unique, are they not?  And pervasive as well.

The railroads meant expansion on every continent they have traveled upon.  They were at the heart of the industrial revolution, as were steam engines in general (Google 'Cornish Pump').  There isn't a human being alive that doesn't have the image of a steam locomotive in the recesses of their mind.

Though many rail-fans enjoy modern operations, it is the steam engine itself that created the fury in the beginning.

They excite all the senses and, though some would say lacking a soul, they are living entities, and always a "she."

When standing at rest, panting from long labor, the pounding of the air pumps, shaking the engine, is her heartbeat.  The water her life blood, with wood, coal or oil her food.  The aroma, blended of steam, hot grease and oil and smoke her heady perfume.

Out and running, her voice is the whistle on the wind, crooning long and low through the darkness;  the cranks, eccentrics, side rods and wheels are her legs in dizzy dance;  The barking of the exhaust her laborious protest...

And, as with all ladies, she needs to be just treated right, with lots of tender care.

To my mind, none were deserving of their unceremonious, ignominious demise at the business end of a scrapper's cutting torch.

So, when ya think of it, as people are more than willing to disparage trainspotters, foamers, enthusiasts... whatever you wish to call them, I would argue that those folks are both deaf and blind, not being able to see or hear nor appreciate the sights and sounds of this truly one of a kind mode of transportation, and that is their unfortunate loss.

As a practical matter with modern operations, there is no better display of thousands and thourands of horsepower overcoming gravity with thousands and thousands of tons of freight in tow.  The numbers get fantastically high quickly and trains actually show up on seismographs when moving...  that's pretty amazing.

Looking at operations from a more scientific standpoint, the physics involved are actually quite complicated, highly dynamic and producing extraordinary force levels, more than any other type of ground transportation.

So, when looking at it as a whole, there is actually something of interest to almost everyone, not just foamers.  The difference is, no one likes to admit it, lest they be dubbed a "loon" by the aforementioned deaf and blind.

So, call me a loon...

Addendum:  Franklin, you've made my day!  Take the pain my man...  It's a great opportunity you had, one that many will never have.  It's obvious you appreciated this bit of history!

Speaking of History, let's not cut any more classes, eh?   If you may want to get a job running them some day, cutting classes isn't going to help.

Answer 6

Because trainmen are cool.