Why are people fascinated with trains ?

[Anonymous]

I think its the redneck in all of us. We just like the idea of having control of power to do something not humanly possible. The bigger and badder it is, the more we like it. I have a really strong sense of this, because I am part redneck[C):-)] and part farmer. We just can't help it.

[Anonymous]

I once read the book "all aboard" all abouth Joshua Lionel Cowen and his Lionel train company. The author asked himself this question (why he like trains) many times over the years and finally came up with an answer to it all. Someone once came to a conclusion and shared it with him. The friend said "It is not the trains that you want, but what you really want is your father's arm around you" (His father was deceased.) Somehow I identified with this as my father was a model railroader and he is also deceased. Maybe the trains are a way of visiting with him, in a way!

[Anonymous]

I read most of these responses and feel the same way some of you do. Steam engines are the closest thing to a living, breathing being as a train can be. Watching all the movement as it's rolling by coupled with the sounds is just amazing. Actually running a steam engine? Incredible! (A Mikado on the Sumpter Valley RY. in OR.) My memories that probably solidified trains in my heart are a train ride when I was three and being dragged off by mom when we were at our destination. Seeing the long line of engines and cars moving on thin ribbons of steel but NOT seeing any movement as, it seemed, the train glided along it's way. Looking forward to seeing the caboose (sigh), counting the number of engines on the head end, amazement at seeing extra engines (before I knew they were called helpers) in the middle or end of the train and just the fascination at seeing something like that in action. I've never been enthralled with cars or ships but I did like planes. Still, nothing has replaced the awe in watching a train no matter what is going on with it.

[Anonymous]

It's in my genes.

[TBat55]

The art in engineering. The feeling you get when you look at something that you worked hard at for a very long time. All the pure work effort put into railroads. Millions of spikes, tunnels through solid rock, bridges over impossible terrian. Ya gotta love it.

[PennsyHoosier]

You always know what you're going to get with a train--but each and every one is different, too. For example, last weekend I was at the NS yard in New Haven, Indiana. I watched a NS mixed consist work its way through the yard, and then stop at a signal. To me it was simply beautiful, and would have liked to stay and watch. But I had to drive on. About 30 minutes later, I was at a Menard's somewhat north of the yard. I heard a whistle as I came out of the store. THERE IT WAS! What a great treat! Same train twice, in very different settings.

But guess who was standing in the rain?--just watching...

[Anonymous]

The Wonderment of it all ,As so Masterfully put forth earlier,by Student of the big sky blue.The reason and the means to escape reality for a fleeting moment or two.To wonder how it would feel to control something that has the power to build countries,to transverse great expanses of land ,where adventure awaits.to blast thru the darkness of night upon the cast iorn steed breathing fire,belching smoke and trembling the landscape with each passing mile.Even the sound of its horns,leaves many of us searching and straining to catch a glimpse of the power on the lead.What other machine can stir such emotion and draw so many different people togeather to openly share their feelings.

[PennsyHoosier]

You know, I love canals , too. But it is far more difficult to watch them in operation. I made a trip to the Allegheny Portage Railroad last Spring. The sheer effort of making that thing happen is incredible. But we see that everyday with the larger trains of the present.

Which is all to say, we have much to appreciate historically , as well as in the present in the railroads that we have to enjoy.

[camarokid]

Roadtrp: You said it all. I remember those same thrills as a young boy riding the CB&Q and the Milwaukee Road from Nebraska to Illinois in the 50's and early 60's. My sister and I traveled that route all alone when we were 10 and 9 years old! Imagine that in today's world. I always liked to flu***he stool and look at the roadbed below at speed. I also tried to stay between cars (until the conductor came along) to get a real feel for speed. So many memories to relive over and over again in my trainroom.

[cefinkjr]

A better question for me, at least, is why isn't everyone fascinated with trains? [?] They're weird !! [alien]

I can't remember not being fascinated with anything and everything related in any way to a flanged wheel on a rail.

[Anonymous]

I love trains now for 50 years and to this day I can not say why love trains. I quest we are born wilth it. I lost my glasses, so if any misspelled words, thats the reason.

[wpsteve]

Even after all these great replies, I am still not sure why I feel as I do. What I do know is on the highway if I spot a train coming I slow down so I get stopped at the crossing [:D]

This does not always make those behind me very happy[V]

Great topic, maybe someone will hit my reason on the head before we move on, all I know is it started sometime in the very early 50's and has not changed over the years.. Even the container trains are cool.. Fact, I find the new as interesting as the old, which drives the rivet counters on my railroad crazy..

If I like it, I run it as far as cars go.... Power, I try to stay in the mid 60's...

[ksax73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by yellowducky

There's just something about the movement along tracks.

I couldn't agree more.

[Anonymous]

Why am I fascinated by trains? Might as well ask why I breath !!

[rogerhensley]

Power and Mystery. Remember that I am 65 when I say that the steamer was alive and as temperamental as any lady. The modern high horsepower diesel is power and majesty in motion. The throb of notching up with 125 car consist touches the soul...

Mystery? I used to watch the Pennsy passenger trains run to Chicago and back toward Cincy at 2 and 4 in the morning. The car lights glowing faintly in the night as the loco sounded its whistle for the crossings as it slipped though the darkness. Where were they going? What were they going to do there (the passengers)? The train crew caring for their passengers throughout the night and on into the dawn.

The (then) long 50 car trains of 40 and 50 foot cars moving merchandise from mine to factory and factory to merchant keeping everything together for us, the consumer. Coming from nowhere and passing on the way to somewhere. What would it be like to ride? What would it be like to work on the rails? To drive that powerhouse on flanged wheels...?

Magic! Mystery? Ah, yes...

[Anonymous]

Invention, Entreprenuership, legislation, banking, civil engineering of roads, bridges, tunnels, mechanical engineering of engines, boilers, rails, safety engineering of brakes, couplers, the rise of labor, the developement of corporate management, fast restuarants (Harvey House), changes in American Diet(fresh lettuce from California), economic boom (rail was the first or among the first of dot com bubbles), expanding markets, cheaper goods(the rise of the meat industry), better mail(which made Sears possible), changes to meet new demands(look at the rise of intermodal), and many other things that escape me at the moment. In short, I see America.

[AggroJones]

Steam Locomotives are as close to living creatures as machines can get.

[Anonymous]

My reason is simply that something that big and powerful that can move that much equpment at such speed...simply amazing.

[Roadtrp]

For me it is the memories of trips in my youth on long distance passenger trains. It is hard to describe, but there was just something terribly special about train travel to a young boy.

Part of it was having your own room as you traveled... certainly better than being in the back seat of the un-air-conditioned family station wagon for cross-country trips. There was also the elegance and terrific meals in the dining car... quite a change for a kid who usually ate nowhere but the family dining table. There was the hazily remembered experience of waking up in the middle of the night while you were stopped in a station. Looking out the window and seeing the lights of the station but not knowing, or really caring, where you were.

And the strongest memory of all is the terrifying yet exhilarating experience of crossing from one car to the next through the vestibule. The vestibules in those days were nothing like the wimp-friendly ones you find on today's Superliners. These were vestibules intended for men, or for very brave little boys. They shook and rattled and made horrible whooshing vacuum sounds as you pushed the door open. The varying movements of the two cars were excruciatingly apparent as you watched the two metal plates shift from side to side. And of course there was that horrendous/glorious gap in the middle where you could watch the ground rush by at 70 miles per hour just a couple of feet below. You would step gingerly from one side to the other, and pray with all your might that when you pushed against the door on the far side you would again be greeted with that horrible whooshing vacuum sound and admitted to the next car. It was almost too frightening to think about what might happen if the door DIDN'T OPEN, but of course it was always in the back of a young boy's mind.

All of these experiences combined to create some of the most vivid memories I have from my childhood. In the end, that is probably the allure of trains for me. The luxury of your own room, the elegance of the dining car, the mystery of late night visits to places unknown, and above all the wonderful terror and excitement of successfully navigating the vestibule between cars.

How could you NOT love trains?

[:)]

[Wdlgln005]

The majic really kicks in when you get to see a steam train. All that machinery comes alive. The water & coal must be carefully managed. The fire MUST be fed, all the rods carefully oiled & cared for. Then open the Throttle and the whole thing begins to move. So much to watch, as the rods move the drivers. Smoke & steam coming out with each stroke, struggling & moving the train.

Then you turn on a good bluegrass band and watch the skilled performers imitate the sound. So many great tunes we all know and love since we were big enough to remember. Fini***his off with so many great books, like the Little Engine That Could.

[Anonymous]

"It doesn't matter where a train is going, what matters, is deciding to get on".

A line from the Polar Express.

Trains are simpily magnificant. There's no way to describe them.

[Anonymous]

Cars and trucks are almost plebian to average folks in a sense, not that they're nothing special, they certainly are in their own ways, but their not something you have to hunt for, in a way, you don't really look at a car, or semi pass by and think, "who, why, what, wear and how"

Airplanes, I can't quite comment intelligently on planes, they fly, thats neat, but the experience, they get you from Point A to Point B with speed, nice. But up in the air, you can't really see anything.

At least thats how I see it. I like cars and airplanes, but trains are something else.

Alvie.

[mcouvillion]

I'm still amazed that all that mass can move in a straight line and stay on those tiny strips of steel at speed! Remarkable.

Mark C.

[Hawks05]

i honestly couldn't tell you. for railfanning i guess its just the though of catching something out in nature and making it look good. just the pictures of trains are what got me hooked. again the size and power of them are cool. they also look really cool to to see go by.

i don't really know though what has me fascinated by trains. its just a thing i guess.

[yellowducky]

Razorclaw, your last line says it all !

[Razorclaw]

Trains-the power houses of past,present and future. Giants combining power,speed and desire in one awesome package. Creatures that can be majastic,desireable and saddening all at once. No one man or men can truly describe what we feel when we see the relics of a bygone era and yet. They are not really relics,they still exist today. They have not really changed thru the years and they still call out to us, saying "Look at us,Rome in all her glory was not as all-inspiring as we are. Other vehicles just can't cut it like these beauties.


Stephen[:I]

[yellowducky]

There's just something about the movement along tracks.

[PennsyHoosier]

Great post, James. You've captured my sentiments better than I could. For me, there has never been a time when I cannot remember being fascinated by trains. Don't know what did it to me (I'm the only one in my family), but that's okay. [^]

[Anonymous]

Simply Put. Adventure.

Like the Trojan Horse of Homer, Trains evoke a sense of wonder, awe and power. We wonder what it would be like to be like Casey Jones, and sit at the throttle of a "hot" train. Then we romance about the hobo of yesteryear, seeming so carefree and fleet of foot traveling where ever his heart guids him. And then seeing long silver comets streak along to great destinations far off, leave me with a sense of adventure that I would love to partake. There is an old poem that ends with the line, "And there isn't a train, I wouldn't take, No matter where its going." It describes perfectly how I feel.

James