General Discussion (Trains.com)

 So, this has been bugging me lately, two conversations:

1) Recently, me and a co-worker of mine at Jewel exchanged our thoughts about trains, and he stated to me, "You're an odd one" for liking them, and continued, "I hate trains because they're loud and unnecessary."

2) A while back, while I was a sophomore (high school) still, a peer of mine said "Only I like trains" after I made him aware of my interest.

This ignorance and disrespect for railroading among today's youth is disgusting. Of any generation for that matter. Another concept I cannot grasp is how little many know about how railroads operate. I mean, COME ON! For instance, think about how many will understand sports jargon and auto terminology; it requires nearly the same amount of knowledge as a thorough understanding of railroad operations, locomotive models, rolling stock identification, etc. The same can be said for how many know what a Boeing 747 is but cannot identify an EMD SD40-2, a machine that's somewhat like the rail equivalent.

It's unnerving how many cannot go past "coo-choo" when it comes to rail. That old assertion, "Everybody loves trains," may no longer be applicable in today's society. Even those who claim to possess knowledge in rail only have an insanely rudimentary comprehension.

Why? What is the reason for this????? Peer pressure? Conformity? Everyone should be taught the wonderful world of railroading. 

People are seldom well educated about things that don't interest them.  Ever since the individual railroads dumped their surviving passenger business on Amtrak they have been working hard to get, and remain, below the public radar.

Almost every mention of railroads in the popular media is negative, from grade crossing accidents to derailments to labor problems to carloads of hazardous materials running away through the center of downtown...

Anytime there is a collision between a present or proposed rail line and the NIMBY/BANANA faction, the latter get far more press/TV time.  Reporters are enchanted by catchy slogans, and bored silly by rational arguments and hard statistics.

Don't kid yourself that the average pedestrian is well educated about aircraft.  My locals on the street squawk mightily about afterburner noise (Air Force Base 6 miles away) but don't know the difference between an F-22 and a C-130!  Likewise, for every person who can spout sports stats there are a hundred who can't.

As for being taught ANYTHING, the schools are too busy, "Building self-esteem," to teach grammatical English, simple math and the rudiments of hard science.

People who are interested in trains will do the research, learn the facts and enjoy railfanning and railroad modeling.  People who aren't, won't.

Chuck

It is the same for the major industries, and most worrisome of all, for the primary resource industries which are the original creators of wealth.  How many city dwellers fuming at a now-5 minute-long crossing blockage are keeping a part of their consciousness on the hard work done on the farms and other agricultural operations that generated the apple he is munching, or the mine where the heavy metals in his cell phone on which he is texting were extracted?

When coal was big, it also was a time where people had to be familiar with its provenance and its use.  How many people ever get inside an automobile factory today?  But buddy is first in line at the blocked crossing and seated in one.

We are a society that seems bent on disengagement.  We use any number of opportunities and gadgets to keep ourselves from having to actually deal with each other.  We do it at arms length.  My niece texts her mother one floor above her all the time at home.  How cute is that!

Trains, as far as they are concerned, are impediments that must be convenient for other wretches who depend on them for whatever that may be.  It will take big bucks and some creative and persistent thinking, and then concerted action, to get the culture to develop a positive regard for the primary industries and what they do, let alone trains that block so many crossings....apparently moving so dead-slowly all the time.   

At least farms have nice moo-cows.

-Crandell

I agree that railroads are mostly below the radar. There are some railroads that go out of their way to educate the public (notably CP's Holiday Train), but most people don't notice trains.

I would, however, contest your point that "all" younger people today disrespect and ignore trains. Perhaps it is you that is ignorant of the teen railfan community? There are plenty of teenaged and younger railfans and modelers, many of whom have skills in photography, videography, and modeling comparable to adult hobbyists. And most of us respect railroads for what they are, just like you adults.

I think most teenaged and youth modelers keep their interest in the closet because they are fearful of not fitting in. It's not considered "cool" to like trains, so most teens don't tell anybody about their interest EXCEPT on forums like these.

If you want more proof, see the two threads for teens on these forums. We even have our own forum elsewhere on the web, but I can't post a link without breaking Kalmbach's rules.

Teen Model Railroader Place

Teen Railfan Place

 I never once said ALL teens.

It's not just today's youth that is this way either. People lack understanding in general. I work at a local railroad museum and I met a nice lady, 40 - 50ish in age. She would never get on a train. "Amtrak has too many accidents". As I talked to her, I realiized that EVERY passenger train in her mind is Amtrak, whether it be the Washington Metro, NJ Transit, the California commuter train incident. I don't think she considered a freight train as Amtrak, but that could be, too. It's lack of education. The only railroad commercials that appear regularly here in the NY City area belong to Amtrak. (I have seen CSX and BNSF advertized, but that was on PBS stations as sponsors of programs). Fact is, Amtrak = US rail in the minds of most people.

    I have never been "harrased" because I love trains. I am never embarrased to tell people that I love trains. 99% of the time I wear a shirt with a train on it. Actually, people go away with a whole new perspective and outlook towards trains if you even give 30 minutes of education.

 50 or 60 years ago, there were fascinating locomotives with lots of motion, right out in plain view; and breathing smoke and steam; cabooses on the ends with brakemen who would wave at you, or throw chalk to you; trains that stopped at nearly every little station to set out/pick up cars or take on water (and you could stand CLOSE to them and WATCH while all this was going on.

Today, there are trains that (as a general rule) roar past you at 40 or 50 MPH; the locomotives have little CHARACTER (sorry, Diesel fans!); cabooses and friendly rear-end crew are a thing of the past; they seldom stop; when they DO, you're likely to get involved with the local law enforcement if you even WATCH too closely, let alone  try to get right down to the edge of the tracks...

I'm not sure I would be attracted to railroads, if they were just now appearing on the scene in their present form!

Rail awareness has grown quite a bit out here spurred by the expansion of Metrorail trolleys and Metrolink commuter trains, alot more people are riding the rails again, and that brings awareness about rail and crossing safety. We have had the 2 of the worst rail accidents here yet aside from a few cranks no one wants to see the commuter trains or trolleys go away. 

I am glad to say that i grew up in Transcona, which is a Canadian Pacific/Canadian National town and HQ for the Central Manitoba Railway, for me growing up, trains were a part of everyday life, and if you did'nt know much about them or like them, you were probably not from Transcona, i grew up watching Old No.3 of the Prairie Dog Central steam into Transcona Shops for repairs, and nothing beat hearing that classic banshee whistle. I am now a member of the Midwestern Rail Association and a volunteer at the Winnipeg Railway Museum. Check out our website @ http://www.wpgrailwaymuseum.com/