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Is anyone embarrased about our hobby?

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 10, 2005 9:13 AM
I dont belive that we are embarrsed about our hobby i belive some of our fellow railfans give us a bad image. As a member of the railriad industry i know of many men who are into trains and love their jobs and their not embarresed but when there is work to be done you are a railroader first. The guys that dont pay attention and are always looking for something cool make everyone nervous because they are not focused on the task at hand and that can be dangerous as for the Non Railroad employed railfans most have class they keep their distance and stay safe and really go unnoticed by us train crews. What bugs us is when people are in a unsafe position. No one wants to see anyone get hurt and when cars are pulled right up to the mainline or someone is walking around a interlocking or driving on company roads in a working hump yard. It gives us a bad name. My point is if we stay back and have some class about it noone will notice noone will call the special agent and the non-railfan railroaders will give us more respect intsead of closing the window and calling the agent.
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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, June 9, 2005 2:14 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

QUOTE: Vic: ...At least I'm not obscesed with sports ..... or getting rabid foaming at the mouth when my team wins.....


Ooops, you saw me last October????? That's okay, being a Red Sox fan I only get to foam every 86 years. [swg]

Usually it's more embarrasing to admit that I'm a citizen of Red Sox Nation than it is to say that I'm a railfan/model railroader! [(-D]


Regards

Ed


I think we can grant Sox fans an amnesty for that year.....I was thinking more of the rabid foamer Lakers and Raiders fans out here on the West Coast, you know your dealing with a nutcase when they have 105 purple Lakers flags stuck onto thier car or a giant billboard size rear window logo decal on the back of their truck.[:o)]

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by egmurphy on Thursday, June 9, 2005 8:26 AM
QUOTE: Vic: ...At least I'm not obscesed with sports ..... or getting rabid foaming at the mouth when my team wins.....


Ooops, you saw me last October????? That's okay, being a Red Sox fan I only get to foam every 86 years. [swg]

Usually it's more embarrasing to admit that I'm a citizen of Red Sox Nation than it is to say that I'm a railfan/model railroader! [(-D]


Regards

Ed

The Rail Images Page of Ed Murphy "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James Michener
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Posted by zardoz on Thursday, June 9, 2005 6:04 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by toyomantrains
Hey zardov- does the Infinite Improbability Drive ship have headlights? And if so- can you see the light when you turn them on??
Or do they turn into whales or maybe flowerpots [:D]

That's one of the "bugs" they're working on.

Plus they cannot figure out how to pay the crews. The wages (for some strange reason) are based on the mileage/hourly systems used on some railroads on Earth. But when the ship travels simultaneously through every point in the universe, it's impossible (or at least very improbable) to be able to figure travelled distance/time.

Of course, we all know time is an illusion (lunchtime doubly so).
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Posted by selector on Thursday, June 9, 2005 12:11 AM
Have you ever told someone that you are into trains, or model trains, or 'toy' trains, and for the briefest instant their face lights up? You've seen it, haven't you! They cover it up quickly, though, and feign disdain, or adopt a slightly condescending demeanor for the benefit of others who might be looking on.

Cowards, every one.

Nope, I don't feel the slightest bit embarrassed about my hobby. If, after I've listened to another person talk at length about himself, and about how great his boat is, or how much he has made on the market, or how well her child is doing in school, or...you get it..., and they quickly move off when I begin to tell them that I enjoy building model train layouts, then **** 'em.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 11:33 PM
Go Gabe GO!!!!!!
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 9:28 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Nope! And no one has hassled me face to face, either. But those people fall into two groups - either they are interested in any information I can give them, or they look at me like I am talking about spaceships!

So....what's wrong with spaceships? I use one each time I have to return to my home planet to give a progress report on the downfall of humanity. The ships have the newer tri-warp power generators, enabling it to cross over into the fifth dimension for quicker travel. I can get home in just under 30 kelgars (about 8 earth-days). Not too bad for a mere reporter! The leaders of our planet get to use the new quad-warp drives; this enables them to jump to the sixth dimension. They can really get around.

We are working on developing the Infinite Probability Drive; however, it is unlikely we will succeed. Too many weird thing happen during tests.

By the way, what you are thinking of me right now is sort of how my wife thinks of me when I tell her I am going out to "chase" trains. She just rolls her eyes, and accepts it, realizing I could have far more expensive, dangerous, or harmful hobbies.

Hey zardov- does the Infinite Improbability Drive ship have headlights? And if so- can you see the light when you turn them on??
Or do they turn into whales or maybe flowerpots [:D]
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Posted by UPTRAIN on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 5:58 PM
That happened to me once in Galesburg, IL...I wore a UP shirt! LOL j/k [;)]

Pump

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Posted by Bob-Fryml on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 5:57 PM
Originally posted by vsmith

At least I'm not obscesed with sports statistic's, player worship, or getting rabid foaming at the mouth when my team wins or loses, or throwing beer/seat/knive at another fan at a game who just happens to be wearing the other teams jersey.

Amen, brother. These brain dead, "ignorant, f@#k%&g morons" (a perjorative I learned decades ago from a railroad officer) who obsess about home teams, sports stats, and worship the crybabies who play their games need a life! The only worthwhile aspects of professional sports today are the scantily clad cheerleaders and sportswriter Frank DeFord's caustic, cryptic, vituperative, and sarcastic comments about organized athletics broadcast every Wednesday morning on National Public Radio.
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Posted by UPTRAIN on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 5:27 PM
Me....embarrassed, heck no! People at school think it's interesting because it's a more uncommon hobby. The school was going to do a story about me in the school newspaper about me and my train hobby. An engineer once told me to tell anyone that ever gives me static about my love for the hobby to kiss my @$$, because they are the ones who won't make anything of themselves, he went on to say that when I get a job with the railroad that they will look stupid because I'm already studying up. He also said you will love the look on their face when they see what your driving in a few years. (I guess he was working from expierence because he had been working for about 7 years and 2 hours ago when he went on duty he got out of a 2005 Chevy (heck yeah!) pickup.) So, they can just do what ever they want, (hope I ain't stepping on any toes) play paintball, ride 4 wheelers, go muddin', and fight, we'll see how many of them go pro in those fields while I'm railfanning and learning and in a few years blowing the horn for them at the crossing and seeing how many of them made something of themselves.

Pump

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 1:38 PM
No one ever felt it wierd that I liked trains. What folks did question was how I concidered myself a "fan." Most people felt a "fan" is some one who roots for something i.e team,horse race & such.Since there's no para mutual betting on trains racing against there schdules,it's nothing you could physically root for.They say I am mostly a train "observer" I know, that doesn't roll off the tongue as well as "fan." Easter
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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 11:31 AM
At least I'm not obscesed with sports statistic's, player worship, or getting rabid foaming at the mouth when my team wins or loses, or throwing beer/seat/knive at another fan at a game who just happens to be wearing the other teams jersey.

Nor do I obscese about the perfect trailer queen Harley/Hot Rod/Sports Car and invest 10's of thousands of dollars in a obscesevly perfect vehicle that I'll never drive.

Nor am I convinced that the United Federation of Planets is real and that Capt Kirk and Mr Spock are secretly watching me to make sure I'm worthey of contact in the future.

Nor am I sitting at the local Nudie bars shoveling dollars into the g-string of some girl whos standing next to me simply because I'm shoving dollars into her g-string because I'm convinced she's actually interested in talking to me.

All these are based on people I have met who's hobbies I consider more damaging than anything I've ever done with my trains. Every hobby has those that are way too obscesed with them, or take them far too seriously. As for the Geek factor, one of the advantages of age is that you become far less intersted in other peoples opinions about what your doing. No one at work pays any attention to the latest loco pic on my coputers wallpaper. I dont make a fuss about my hobbies, because they are just that, my hobbies, and no one even bats an eye (or rolls an eye) anymore. If someone doesnt like my hobby, too bad, I really dont give a dam what other people care, I just think whats so screwed up in thier lives that they have to take pleasure putting down other peoples hobbies.

I once met a lady who thought model trains were stupid and childish, then I found out she a HUGE teddy bear collector....I mean, go figure!

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Posted by gabe on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 9:16 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by SP9033

This is about the stupitest thread I've seen to date on Trains.

Me, I mostly tell everyone that I touch, I'm a railfan! Its this honesty that gets me the perks!

Jim


Aw, did this strike a little too close to home to Mr. Sterotypcial #1 I am somebody special, I know more than anybody else, I call everybody stupid, I chase off forum members crybaby.

Gabe
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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 9:07 AM
Zardoz - driver has been saying for years he is from another planet! I think he is starting to believe it, too! His pertains more to finding a parking place right in front, knowing (guessing) the right Jeopardy answer, pulling some things out of his, well somewhere, and being right!

Maybe with your travel abilities and his guidance, you could both take a little trip?

Send post cards!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by zardoz on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 7:27 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Nope! And no one has hassled me face to face, either. But those people fall into two groups - either they are interested in any information I can give them, or they look at me like I am talking about spaceships!

So....what's wrong with spaceships? I use one each time I have to return to my home planet to give a progress report on the downfall of humanity. The ships have the newer tri-warp power generators, enabling it to cross over into the fifth dimension for quicker travel. I can get home in just under 30 kelgars (about 8 earth-days). Not too bad for a mere reporter! The leaders of our planet get to use the new quad-warp drives; this enables them to jump to the sixth dimension. They can really get around.

We are working on developing the Infinite Probability Drive; however, it is unlikely we will succeed. Too many weird thing happen during tests.

By the way, what you are thinking of me right now is sort of how my wife thinks of me when I tell her I am going out to "chase" trains. She just rolls her eyes, and accepts it, realizing I could have far more expensive, dangerous, or harmful hobbies.
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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 6:44 AM
Nope! And no one has hassled me face to face, either. But those people fall into two groups - either they are interested in any information I can give them, or they look at me like I am talking about spaceships!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 3:02 AM
I have never been called any names for being a railfan, at least not in recent years. In the past, I have taken some of my friends with me when I have gone out on a railfan trip and next thing you know their hooked on trains too!!

I only get those annoying "choo-choo" train gifts from my mother, as she finds them "cute" and "fun".!
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Posted by CSXrules4eva on Saturday, June 4, 2005 12:51 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by trainman2244

I get called "nerd" and "stupid" for going and chasing trains, but ill just laugh when they have to work at McDonalds the rest of their lives and im in an engine[:D][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]


HAY YOU SAID IT BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!![:D][:D]
LORD HELP US ALL TO BE ORIGINAL AND NOT CRISPY!!! please? Sarah J.M. Warner conductor CSX
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Posted by bobwilcox on Saturday, June 4, 2005 9:44 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by SP9033


Me, I mostly tell everyone that I touch, I'm a railfan! Its this honesty that gets me the perks!

Jim


I agree. It is real important your comfortable inside you own skin. If your not you need to get there quick.
Bob
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 4, 2005 6:09 AM
This is about the stupitest thread I've seen to date on Trains.

Me, I mostly tell everyone that I touch, I'm a railfan! Its this honesty that gets me the perks!

Jim
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Posted by ValorStorm on Saturday, June 4, 2005 2:29 AM
I'm category 3. There are some hobbies where the enthusiasts aren't embarrassed, but should be. Train fanning isn't one of them.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 8:02 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Penn Central Black

People who have a problem with someone else having a hobby or likes and dislikes different from themselves are just plain stupid and ignorant.


Correct!!

If that is the case, time for new friends! My family and friends are fine. In fact a few friends have enjoyed it with me. RR's, for me, are a lesson in American History and I appoach the hobby in that way.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 3, 2005 6:11 PM
People who have a problem with someone else having a hobby or likes and dislikes different from themselves are just plain stupid and ignorant.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 1:48 AM
I sort of fall into category #1 & #3, because I like trains as much as anyone else, as well as having a little knowledge to share with the rest of us who are fans in the truest sense.
Someone mentioned about the bird watchers and some of the other oddites that others do. No one mentioned the people whogo out and chase golf balls around the course all day long. Sure it gives them fresh air, and some exercise (providing they are walking).
There have been a lot of questions about the different railroads in the Chicagoland area (which is my department), partly because I used to work for a railroad too. But so what.
I have other hobbies too, and one of them can coincide with what we do. I listen to fire/police calls on a scanner, but there are all of the railroad frequencies that I also have programmed into the scanner. The one frequency I love to listen to in the Chicago area is 160.545 which is used by the NS in and around Chicago and parts of Inidana.
Railroad police seem to have an interesting type of work. They also have more jurisdiction than a city police officer, but most of it is around their railroad.
Another hobby that I am into is Amateur radio; writing poetry; doing calligraphy work; helping out at The Jerry Lewis Telethon. There are those who say things about all of what I do, but I could care less. It goes to show you how ignorant people are to what others do. What do they do, beisdes go home and watch TV, or a ball game (which by the way, I am a Chicago Cubs Fan).
So let everyone say what they want, because we know we are better and seem to know more than they who think they know it all.

ralph zimmer ralphn9kym@aol.com
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 30, 2005 4:40 PM
Just remember, everyone's hobby is nuts except for your own!
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Posted by MP57313 on Monday, May 30, 2005 2:19 PM
At a retirement party for a co-worker last year, the presenters came up with a "Top 10 list" of things for the retiree to do after he quit work. #8 was 'wait by the railroad crossing and count the train cars'. I don't think the retiree was a railfan, and this was the only railfannish item on the list. But it was a gentle 'dig' at the hobby...
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 30, 2005 12:12 PM
I get called "nerd" and "stupid" for going and chasing trains, but ill just laugh when they have to work at McDonalds the rest of their lives and im in an engine[:D][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]
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Posted by chad thomas on Monday, May 30, 2005 12:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by SealBook27

I'm not nearly as embarrassed about it as my two daughter's. But they have a brother who is on my side, and my newest son-in-law is already interested in trains. When my daughters were still living at home, putting on a train video gave me the living room to myself.


I've been known to clear a room or two with train videos myself.[;)]
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Posted by chad thomas on Monday, May 30, 2005 12:06 PM
Hollywood never gets anything right. Why would they start with proper portrail of railfans?

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