Railfan is an American English term for an enthusiast or hobbyist of railroads, usually including historic and modern trains. Railfans can be found worldwide; in Australia the term is gunzel.
Activities
Trains
Most railfans are interested in trains. In the United States, railfans are sometimes known as "foamers". This comes from slang used by railroad workers, who have noted that some people start "foaming" with excitement whenever they see a train. It is a slightly derogatory term but railfans have adopted it with pride. In Europe and especially the United Kingdom, the term "trainspotter" is sometimes used, although this refers to the specific activity of watching trains and tracking the locomotives which pass, and has a much narrower meaning than railfan.
Train photography is common among railfans; most railfans do so from public property unless they have permission from the property owner. Occasionally they run into problems with law enforcement, especially after September 11, 2001, because they are sometimes thought to be terrorists. Railroad companies also sometimes dislike railfans, considering them a nuisance. Railfans respond that their presence makes the railroads safer, since they typically know what is normal behavior and can spot someone who is up to no good.
Radio scanners are common equipment for listening in on railroad frequencies in order to know when trains are about to arrive. Model railroads including model trains are common hobbies for railfans when not out watching trains. Toy trains are less accurate but also popular items.
Other activities
Some railfans are interested in other aspects of railroads not directly dealing with the trains. It can be interesting to study the history of the railroad companies, their infrastructure and operations, including never-built plans. Abandoned railroad grades can often be found long after the railroad stops using them.
Various magazines, clubs and museums are designed mainly for railfans, concentrating on the history of trains and railroads. Some clubs organize fantrips, either by car or by train; the New York Transit Museum owns some old equipment with which fantrips are occasionally run on the New York City Subway.
See List of railroad-related periodicals.
Reasons
Sometimes the appeal of trains is nostalgic, recalling an earlier era when the railroads played a central role in commerce and transportation, and the train depot was the center of every town. Sometimes the appeal can come from a fondness for the power of large machinery. Sometimes there is an appeal of the scenery of the railroad running through large, uninviting terrain, or the gritty ambience of the urban train yard. In this sense, railfanaticism is related to urban exploration, especially that of abandoned factories. Some people also enjoy the graffiti that can be found in train yards.
Many people who would not otherwise think of themselves as railfans just like trains. Most cannot explain why. Songs and stories have glorified railroading ever since the invention of the locomotive, especially in the United States, while children's toys and books about trains continue to be popular. The Railroad Tycoon series of simulation computer games is another example of railroads' enduring popularity.
Railfan hotspots
Various places are popular for train-watching railfans due to the lagre numbers of trains that pass through or nice views.
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Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania
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Rochelle Railroad Park in Rochelle, Illinois
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Tehachapi Loop in Tehachapi, California
- Hair in Dalton, Georgia
- Tennessee River Bridge (Tennbridge) in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Howell Tower in Atlanta, Georgia
- Folkston Platform in Folkston, Georgia
- Gallitzin Tunnels in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania
- 23rd Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee (where the TVRM, NS, CSX, and C&C converge)
- "The Funnel", from Latah Junction on the west side of Spokane, Washington east to Sandpoint, Idaho
- BNSF's Seligman Subdivision, Needles, California to Winslow, Arizona
- The footbridge across the Montana RailLink yards in Missoula, Montana
- Wall Avenue in Ogden, Utah
Railfan jargon
Railfans have a lot of jargon that can be foreign to other people. Some railfan terms are:
See also
External links
Last updated: 08-01-2005 03:47:37
