Why Trains?

[Anonymous]

What is it about trains and railroading that draws us to it and catches our interest?

[Anonymous]

If you have to have it explained you will not understand.

gwl
http://photosbygreg.20m.com

[Anonymous]

O.K. I guess I'll have to explain this better since greg either doesn't get it or is overly impressed with his own cleverness.

What I was asking is what is it that you like about trains and railroading enough to make a hobby out of it.

For me it started with trips with my Dad to the library in the town that we lived in. The library was across the street from the Southern mainline and I would race to a window to see the trains as soon as I heard the first horn. They were usually high hood GP30's and a mixed freight.

When I was a teenager me and my brother and our friends would hike down the old Clinchfield line. I started carrying a point and shoot 35mm with me hopeing that a train would come. Thats how I developed my interest in photography in general and railroads in particular. Also there were family outings to the Natural Tunnel in Virginia, and my Dad tkeing me out to watch trains before I could drive myself.

For a while through the 90's I pursued other hobbies, just lightly keeping tabs on what was happening with the railroads. But now that I'm back(as of Mar 01) I find myself asking and wondering why? What is it that called me back?

First of I like the power of it. To be there track side as a train goes blasting by or to watch as one fights grade and gravity is enjoyable. I also like the photographic aspect of it. The trains provide a very dynamic subject. I like finding new locations for pictures. The chance to see new things some not even train related but interesting anyway.

So I was asking what we as railfans find appealling about railroading?

[Anonymous]

Robert,
My attraction started as a train-set as a 3 year old and when I showed an interest my parents took me on preserved steam train rides and the spell was cast. Since then my love of steam as grown into this obsession. I volunteer to preserve rail history in the area I live and I marvel at the engineering (bridges, cutting,etc.) needed. Unfortunately diesels and electrics don't do much for me but each to their own. All I can say to people who wonder why we do it is - get your backside, trackside, especially at your nearest preserved steam railroad.
Darren

[Anonymous]

i guess the thing that most draws me to trains is the size and the power. i grew up in the diesel era, watching trains go by in california, and then when i moved to Texas. i have always been close to the Union Pacific tracks wherever i lived except for here in Missouri where there is a large BNSF yard in town i go to to watch trains every once and a while. the trains just look cool...all different styles and shapes and sizes, and all that power at your fingertips. i sure would have loved to see steam engines in action working regular revenue service.

[BNSFNUT]

I guess I got intrested in trains when I was very young as a branch line (LV) ran between the house and the garden. The crew knew my father as he worked for the Borden's dairy plants and inspected the incoming empty milk tanks before they were accepted. The would throw off the New York newspapers that they got and Myself and the little girl that lived in the other half of the house would race to see which one of us would get them. I still remember that "big" steam loco (realy a 2-6-0). I have stayed intrested for over 50 years and still cannot explain the attraction.
Clear signals
Jerry

[Anonymous]

A partial explanation, at least for us old enough to remember steam, was mentioned on a TV show ("Trains Unlimited" on the History Channel?)awhile back. Trains were the largest moving things on land, and steam locos were the only machine with virtually all of the moving parts visible on the outside. Also, as kids, we spent a lot of time hanging around the depot, yards etc. The workers were always friendly and fun to talk to. I still have a few pictures I took as an 8th grader inside a roundhouse, unescorted, of locos, wrecking cranes etc. Try that today, and you will at least be thrown off the property, if not arrested. As long as you stay off the property, I find today's crews are still friendly and always good for a wave and a couple toots of the horn when I'm Railfanning. To sum it up, today's trains are still BIG, powerful, and colorful. Sometime back, a friend asked me about railfanning as a hobby and I explained it this way. Chasing trains is a lot like fishing (Or a dog chasing cars)except that I don't know what I'd do with one if I caught it!! Ron.

[Soo2610]

Robert, I think you sum it up pretty well! I was raised along the Soo Line tracks in Illinois when they still had steam in passenger and freight revenue service.
Still remember train loads of steam engines heading for the scrap yards when they switched to deisel. Wish I had the foresight then to take some photographs!
Anyway, I've been hooked ever since and so are my kids. We enjoy spending quality time "Railfanning".

[Anonymous]

It's the sights, sounds and smells that attack our senses and drive our heartrate up.
STEAM MIXED WITH BURNING COAL;
DIESEL;FUMES;HISSING;CLANGING;GROWLING;
SNORTING;POUNDING;SQUEALING;WHINING;BLARING;
SMOKING;THUNDERING;BLINDING;DEAFING.
And watching those American heros wave to us, as kids and as adults, from the cabs of their Mighty Machines.

[jamesedwbradley]

A lot depends on your place and time; I grew up in a busy suburb (Larchmnt, NY) but the New Haven trains slamming by up to 70 mph were the biggest things around; also, I hate to admit it but think it was a 'Pavlovian' influence - my dad commuted to New York, and my "Superman" radio broadcasts were interrupted by a 5:25 pm trek to the station; this was followed VERY soon by DINNER, so I think the trains became subconsciously associated with food (I still like both trains and eating!). Trips to New York and wartime jaunts to Pittsfield, MA, didn't hurt either; the sight of Grand Central's main concourse was pretty heavy stuff to a 4-year-old. I was given Hungerford's "Locomotives on Parade" at age 9 and trying to imagine steam boiler pressure scared me (for life), but the electrics/diesels that I saw daily seemed more benign. It's been the greatest of hobbies, and is especially needed these days to help keep families together.
Jim Bradley Natl. Director Hawk Mtn. Chapter NRHS

[jamesedwbradley]

A lot depends on your place and time; I grew up in a busy suburb (Larchmnt, NY) but the New Haven trains slamming by up to 70 mph were the biggest things around; also, I hate to admit it but think it was a 'Pavlovian' influence - my dad commuted to New York, and my "Superman" radio broadcasts were interrupted by a 5:25 pm trek to the station; this was followed VERY soon by DINNER, so I think the trains became subconsciously associated with food (I still like both trains and eating!). Trips to New York and wartime jaunts to Pittsfield, MA, didn't hurt either; the sight of Grand Central's main concourse was pretty heavy stuff to a 4-year-old. I was given Hungerford's "Locomotives on Parade" at age 9 and trying to imagine steam boiler pressure scared me (for life), but the electrics/diesels that I saw daily seemed more benign. It's been the greatest of hobbies, and is especially needed these days to help keep families together.
Jim Bradley Natl. Director Hawk Mtn. Chapter NRHS

[favuprailroadfan]

Robert, my draw to the tracks and trains is explained in 3 words.

1. POWER
2. SIZE
3. STRENGTH
I grew up on the Golden State Route just outside of Liberal Kansas. Not a very busy line when I was younger( I am only 22 now), but I have seen this line go from dead, almost up for abandonment to busier than ever. It is the line by heart from Pratt to Dalhart Texas. Where all the grades are, speed restrictions, and all the other good stuff to goes with railroading. My life has always been railroading, eventhough I am married and have a little girl now. My interest in trains will never die. I hope to work for a railroad in my future. I
have had engineers explain to me how them engines work. I have also been allowed the priviage of operating a few engines. I don't know all the ins and outs of them, but I have studied enough, and had enough hands on that I can run one. My love for trains is in my blood, I have relatives working for the railroad, and ones from the past. So that is my reasoning for loving trains. My wife's family can't seem to understand my love for trains. They make fun of me, because I am always reading a magazine on trains. I just don't listen to them. But if they say they are worthless, thats when I say something to them. Even my wife can't understand but she is getting better, and she even wants to go chasing sometime. She even wants to go to Tehachapi, just to see the loop. That is a long drive, but if she wants to see that. I think she likes them also.

Dru

[Anonymous]

I guess to me its the ANTICIPATION and DRAMA that is involved. The waiting, the listening,and the wondering of what is going to take place. The feel,the smell and the sound. The arrival and departure. Its all good to me.

Dave

[Anonymous]

It's like fishing. You wait..........and wait......and then the big one comes along!

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone thats replied so far. I find the same things when I go train watching. I like the fishing analogy. I hunt also and it is a similar thing. Although I'm way more sucsessful at hunting trains than deer. I would like to keep this thread going. Also if you run into something while train watching that makes you stop and say this is why. Let us know.

[Anonymous]

A recent trip to the massive CSX yard in Selkirk, NY is the kind of thing that keeps me going! I can't begin to tell you the action that I saw there. Trains were moving constantly. The hump yard was totally cool. Foriegn roadpower was abundant! Rolling stock of all kinds passed by every couple of minutes! After 17 hours from the time I got out of bed and then walked back in my front door (and a 400 mile roundtrip by auto) needless to say I had nearly overdosed on trains. Man, I felt like I had taken a 2 week vacation.
It was a "good tired".

[Anonymous]

For those who don't fish, I'm kind of partial to the "Dog chasing cars" analogy! Ron

[Anonymous]

Ya know Ron, I don't fish. I'm more like the dog chasing the car! LOL! WOOF! WOOF! Here comes another train!

[BNSFNUT]

I like Dru's 3 things about train chasing, there is nothing like standing near a 12,000 hp or bigger lash up and haveing it lean into a coal drag to start out, the noise, smell and vibration are awsome.
His comment about his wife and family not understanding is a theme I hear many times.
But my reply what would your wife want you to chase trains or other women.
Clear blocks
Jerry

[favuprailroadfan]

Jerry, Absolutly correct! My wife is finally starting to get interested in trains too. She is throwing around the idea of going to the Powder River Basin and checking it out. It is a long 700 mile one way trip for us, but I bet it is well worth it. But there is one thing, she always complains that I read my TRAINS magazines ( I have all of them back to 1992) all the time. But I have seen read them too, so there might something getting started there. Personally, I have a wife and a little baby girl. I would rather chase trains than anything else. I live along the UP's Golden State Route in McPherson Kansas, so its not that far to go watch trains. THANK GOD.


Dru

[Anonymous]

I rember waching the big B&O F engines and the GG-1's from the ball field and the the steel trains going in to the steel mills in Baltimore My dad would take me to the mill and the size of every thing was so big. now Im hooked. Trains are like a brotherhood like law enforcement and firefighters. some just go into it more than others some of us are into the basics and the others are into the extream. I now watch the big CSX engines on the gulf coast I only hope the next generation of kids get out of the house and from in front of the TV and the computer and go out and see some of things we did as kids. GO GET'UM DOGS

[Anonymous]

I'm only 18 and unfortunately missed out on steam altogether, except for the shortline-museum prisons it lives in now. I've always had the bug for railroading, and so when I got my driver's license I got a job with a local shortline, the Black River & Western RR. I figured maybe that would get it out of my system. The fact is that you either love everything about railroading or you don't. I love it; I look forward to sharing that love with my children.