BTW before we get a further tirade, "fomites" is a medical term referring to objects containing an active source of infection (it's from fomes, the Latin word for 'tinder').
It is not, was certainly not in "the 1940s and early 1930s", and to my knowledge never has been an acronym or initialism for any kind of railfan. It does, on the other hand, have amusing connotations for certain kinds of fanac.
geomodelrailroadermost of us railfans​ have autism
As I said on the other silly thread and as Tree stated, most railfans, even "foamers" are not on the spectrum.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Thanks RME. There are multiple levels, and at some point it goes into the twilight zone. The vest I wear at the NMRA conventions have cloth patches from all from past conventions I have attended. Several convention goers have them. They are sort of akin to travel stickers found on luggage from days gone by. If I missed the convention, no patch. I may have the patch, and the convention "car", but not sewn on.
It opens up dialogue between folks you have never met, as in "I see you you were in Houston in '89, did you get evacuated by Hurricane Chenille? Then the conversation quickly goes to the Northern Pacific somehow.
Time, travel, expense which can be huge, even danger!..drive by shooting in Philly, shots in LA, yeesh. Denver was good...I will never forget Denver, could write a pretty good book on the Denver experience.
So, yes, in a sense we are all a bit obsessed putting ourselves through all that travel and expense but it is after all who we are.
I've never gone the "patch 'n pin" route but I can agree with Miningman that items of railfan apparel can be great ice-breakers and conversation starters.
Case in point, when I rode the C&O 614-New Jersey Transit excursions in the 90's not long after NS dropped the steam program I wore my very colorful "611, The Thoroughbred" sweatshirt on the trips. I can't tell you how many people I had conversations with, usually starting out with "You rode behind 611? Oh, wow. WHAT HAPPENED?" This was from other riders and train crew as well.
My standard answer was "Who knows? There's lots of stories flying around, pick the one you like and stick with it, no-one can say you're wrong. I WILL tell you NS dropping the steam program has broken as many Southern hearts as Appomattox did!"
Anyway, the "Thoroughbred" sweatshirt has been carefully stored away, I can't wear it anymore. Somehow or another it (ahem) shrunk over the past 20 years.
These comments about folks who are on the spectrum make me a bit uneasy. We are all unique and the most interesting among us tend to be a bit quirky. A hobby like ours attracts some attention and sometimes some ridicule. Obviously we don't all suffer from debilitating problems. Those who do have to live with those problems deserve our sympathy and support; not our ridicule. I hope my earlier citation of John White's humorous observation is taken in the good natured way he intended, and not as an insult.
Tom
I think ACY's on to something. Sometimes I think we in this country take some things way too seriously, and should cherish our eccentrics the way the British do.
Or just show a little more tolerance, at any rate.
Firelock76I've never gone the "patch 'n pin" route but I can agree with Miningman that items of railfan apparel can be great ice-breakers and conversation starters.
Hmmm. I'm wearing my 611 shirt now. Picked it up in Roanoke a couple years ago. I also wear bibs a bunch at work. But that is because they're comfortable and you need something to catch all the dirt and grease out here. Not many wear them anymore, though. I don't know if it's because of the Johnny Railroader thing or what not? Beats having a belt cut into you as you lace up hoses and throw switches all day.
PS -> I take everything seriously. (looks over at avatar...)
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Deggesty...does anyone like that show up at the Adirondack Scenic Railroad?
Sure. Even some of our volunteers regularly share railroad pictures, past and present, on FB and other forums. I've spotted folks in the unlikeliest of places, set up to shoot stills and videos.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Railfans certainly include all sorts of people.. some are like me.. they're middle aged and give off an anti-social vibe. Others are more mainstream and attempt to downplay the fact that they're railfans.. and then there are those one would never guess are fans.. like the three older women to spend their Saturday evenings together at Bayview Junction waving at trains. Who's nutty? It's matter of perspective.. thank god we're not all the same.
BOB WITHORNYears ago my wife started calling our types "T.D.'s" as in train derelicts, I had 'T' shirt done up proudly proclaiming the fact cause I is one.
Not railroad, but I've got one that says "EMS Artifact," which anyone who knows anything about EKG's can appreciate. Been in that business for a longggg time.
Firelock76 I think ACY's on to something. Sometimes I think we in this country take some things way too seriously, and should cherish our eccentrics the way the British do. Or just show a little more tolerance, at any rate.
I think the nickname is hilarious and wouldn't care a bit about who used it and when. If I ever took pictures from a ROW I would get official permission first so that they could potentially be sold back to the railroad if they were any good.
Firelock76Or just show a little more tolerance, at any rate.
I'm all about tolerance - as long as it's you being tolerant of me....
I think ACY and John White got it right here. A foamer is one who foams at the mouth at the sight of a train. Never heard anything about it being an acronym.
If you're foaming at the mouth for any reason you need to see a doctor..
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