I've never seen or heard the word "foamer" used to describe "over-the-top model train enthusiasts". If the etymology of the word continues to evolve like this, will soon we hear rabid Cubs fans calling themselves "Cubbie foamers?" Huh?
Chicago Tribune Transportation section 09/23/2007
Excerpt of story about European model train layouts
"At resale, the model will be worth a lot more ... unless nobody wants it. We could be looking at scrap here," he says.That's not likely as long as there are "foamers" (over-the-top model train enthusiasts) around. In the model-train community, foamers distinguish themselves with their passion, which can be hard to pick out of a crowd where "This car stops for all trains" bumper stickers, weekly get-togethers and buying a house near the tracks is the norm."Yeah, I was a foamer," Egan says. "With maturity comes understanding. [Now, I think] 'Yeah, it's a train.' Marriage also gave me a glimpse into reality."
Read entire story
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
It wont catch on..
that was just one ignorant reporter misusing the term "foamer" to descrive model railroaders..when everyone knows the term describes "over the top railfans" only! ;)
Most likely the term foamer will continue to describe railfans only..not model railroaders.
Scot
scottychaos wrote: that was just one ignorant reporter misusing the term "foamer" to descrive model railroaders..when everyone knows the term describes "over the top railfans" only! ;)Most likely the term foamer will continue to describe railfans only..not model railroaders.Scot
I think it is unfair to characterize the reporter as "ignorant". She obviously got that term from the "Egan" guy in the story, who readily and eagerly applies it to himself.
To say "everyone knows the term describes over-the-top ralifans only" is not true. Only some railfans and railroaders understand that term. As vast as its resources are, even Dictionary.com does not offer a railroad-related definition of the word "foamer".
Remember that there are various degrees of enthusiasm. If "foamer" is an actual description of someone who is overly enthusiastic about something (in this case, it's trains) then we're all foamers in one way or another, aren't we?
This is a classic case of ignorant, inferior complex, name-calling.
People who use this term commonly use other names like "geek" and "nerd" to decribe those who study a lot and are good in school or can fix your computer or whatever.
Those who use this ugly name to describe train lovers don't deserve our recognition. Yes, there are those who seem to be overly enthused by trains but ask yourself this question: what, if anything may "I" be overly enthused with? Ever see a guy drool at a car show, boat show, strip club? I have. Are they "foamers"? If your answer is yes then you're an ignorant name-caller.
I like trains but not to the point to where I might be perceived as being obsessed with them. I like trains and railroading in general and can spend hours if not days trackside or anywhere near the tracks where I can watch trains all day long. I have a life and know that there is more to take interest in than trains. But, call me a "foamer" and I WILL take offense and you and I WILL have issues that you WILL have to answer for.
Ted M.
got trains?™
See my photos at: http://tedmarshall.rrpicturearchives.net/
Ted Marshall wrote: Remember that there are various degrees of enthusiasm. If "foamer" is an actual description of someone who is overly enthusiastic about something (in this case, it's trains) then we're all foamers in one way or another, aren't we?This is a classic case of ignorant, inferior complex, name-calling. People who use this term commonly use other names like "geek" and "nerd" to decribe those who study a lot and are good in school or can fix your computer or whatever. Those who use this ugly name to describe train lovers don't deserve our recognition. Yes, there are those who seem to be overly enthused by trains but ask yourself this question: what, if anything may "I" be overly enthused with? Ever see a guy drool at a car show, boat show, strip club? I have. Are they "foamers"? If your answer is yes then you're an ignorant name-caller.I like trains but not to the point to where I might be perceived as being obsessed with them. I like trains and railroading in general and can spend hours if not days trackside or anywhere near the tracks where I can watch trains all day long. I have a life and know that there is more to take interest in than trains. But, call me a "foamer" and I WILL take offense and you and I WILL have issues that you WILL have to answer for.
wow..dude, you seriously need to lighten up. I really hope you are kidding, but I doubt you are..relax before you give yourself a heat attack!
its....a.....hobby....its...supposed...to...be....fun....dont...take...everything....so...seriously...
Im very offended by people who are so easily offended..
ohhh!! I get it now!
you ARe kidding!!
you were going WAY over the top to show how out of control foamers are! so you acted like a foamer to make the point..
good one!
you were a little too convincing though! it really looked like you were actually serious! *whew*..glad you werent! because that would have been seriously disturbing if you were!
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...
I think there have been a couple of other threads where the term "foamer" has been eloquently and adequately defined.
Are there degrees of "foamer" in all of us? I suppose that could be true.... But, I am not going to go into that one.
I'll just leave this one right here....
i always thought "foamer" meant a railfan who cant get trains off their mind ever. as in:
"hello, ladies. check out these awesome SD70 pictures"
that wont go well....
personally that's what i go by. a usual life and a railfanning life. but i have been called a foamer for liking SD70Ms, ACEs, GEVOs, etc, moreso than the SD40-2s i get up here. which seems a tad extreme if you ask me. i mean sorry if i disagree with the majority of the railfanning community. but that;s just what i like. can't help it
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
What is the difference between someone that:
A.
has a bumper sticker that reads, "I brake for trains",
and one that reads, "Da Bulls!", "Go CUBS!", or "How 'bout them Yankees/Dodgers/Mudhens/Pickelheads"?
B.
takes photos of every locomotive on the roster of some railroad,
and someone that has a copy of every photo of Elvis ever taken and has all of his records and videos and crys when the burg of Memphis is mentioned.
C.
will drive several miles to sit trackside to see a train go past,
and someone that will stand in line for 6 hours to buy overpriced tickets to some halfwit singer's concert so they can sit 1000 feet away from the stage and swoon when he sticks his tongue out?
D.
that has hat pins with railroad logos on them,
and the fellows that strip to the waist and paint themselves in grease paint the colors of their alma mater, or wear a large yellow lump of foam on their head that looks like a wedge of cheese, or has a HUGE foam glove with an index finger pointing upward and the words, "We're number 1".
How many Railfan "Foamers", crowd around a TV camera, make faces and scream? How many Railfan "Foamers" jump up and down, scream and cry, hyperventilate and pass out when an SD40-2 rounds the corner like some star-struck Rock'n'roll fans do when their tone-deaf idol spits on the stage.
I have seen a few railfans consume a fast food burger and sip from a soft drink while out railfanning (do it often myself!), but how many take a Bar-B-Q grill, 16 toobsteaks (& buns), 12 burgers (& buns), and all the "fixin's" (catsup, mustard, relish, etc), baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, and a cooler of more beer than they can legally consume (and expect to drive home unimpaired) and make a tailgate party out of it?
How many railfans pay $1500.00 for season tickets to go to the tracks less than 10 times a year?
Now, you tell me... who is the "Foamer"?
I thought so!
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
puttlagger wrote: scottychaos wrote: that was just one ignorant reporter misusing the term "foamer" to descrive model railroaders..when everyone knows the term describes "over the top railfans" only! ;)Most likely the term foamer will continue to describe railfans only..not model railroaders.ScotI think it is unfair to characterize the reporter as "ignorant". She obviously got that term from the "Egan" guy in the story, who readily and eagerly applies it to himself.To say "everyone knows the term describes over-the-top ralifans only" is not true. Only some railfans and railroaders understand that term. As vast as its resources are, even Dictionary.com does not offer a railroad-related definition of the word "foamer".
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Are there varying degrees of foam? Foam lite? Foam grande?
tree68 wrote:Foamer: Someone who appears to be way more obsessed with trains than you are....
I think Larry described it best.
The way I see it, we all like trains. So much that we're here as often as we are. Heck...what's the name in the upper lefthand corner?
Nobody wants to think that they are obsessed with anything, whether they really are or not. Actually, only a doctor can properly diagnose obsessive disorder but we needn't get that deep. So we spot someone who seems a little more extreme than ourselves and then put the label on him.
We all need to take a good look in the mirror and realize that we're nobody to label anybody else no matter how extreme they seem. Besides, calling someone a "foamer" is tantamount to making fun of them. Our parents or at least mine taught us that it's mean, it's hurtful and it's wrong. What happened to respect for your fellow man or in this case, hobbyist?
Think of this: There's a guy you always see every day at the same spot along the tracks who snaps pictures at an oncoming train, waves at the crew and then starts writing down numbers on a notepad. He's always wearing train t-shirts and hats and carries a grip filled with snacks, batteries, issues of Trains magazine and other useless railroad stuff. He's also probably toting a laptop with him which he immediately downloads his pictures to in order to publish on the web.
Now, that's over the top by comparison to myself, but that's ok, it's his thing.
He's probably a super nice guy and I could probably learn a lot from him if I just give him a chance. But since I've labeled him a foamer, I probably wont approach him for fear of becoming a foamer myself. That's sad.
After reading the entire article, I am impressed by the high level of misinformation both stated and implied. The author failed to acquire any understanding of the hobby. It appears that a local hobby shop owner managed to mislead her and turn it into a puff piece to boost the sales in the very small U.S. market for European prototype trains. As a nice touch the web site url for the World's Greatest Hobby campaign is wrong.
Enjoy
Paul
Semper Vaporo wrote: What is the difference between someone that:A.has a bumper sticker that reads, "I brake for trains",and one that reads, "Da Bulls!", "Go CUBS!", or "How 'bout them Yankees/Dodgers/Mudhens/Pickelheads"?B.takes photos of every locomotive on the roster of some railroad,and someone that has a copy of every photo of Elvis ever taken and has all of his records and videos and crys when the burg of Memphis is mentioned.C.will drive several miles to sit trackside to see a train go past,and someone that will stand in line for 6 hours to buy overpriced tickets to some halfwit singer's concert so they can sit 1000 feet away from the stage and swoon when he sticks his tongue out?D.that has hat pins with railroad logos on them, and the fellows that strip to the waist and paint themselves in grease paint the colors of their alma mater, or wear a large yellow lump of foam on their head that looks like a wedge of cheese, or has a HUGE foam glove with an index finger pointing upward and the words, "We're number 1". How many Railfan "Foamers", crowd around a TV camera, make faces and scream? How many Railfan "Foamers" jump up and down, scream and cry, hyperventilate and pass out when an SD40-2 rounds the corner like some star-struck Rock'n'roll fans do when their tone-deaf idol spits on the stage. I have seen a few railfans consume a fast food burger and sip from a soft drink while out railfanning (do it often myself!), but how many take a Bar-B-Q grill, 16 toobsteaks (& buns), 12 burgers (& buns), and all the "fixin's" (catsup, mustard, relish, etc), baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, and a cooler of more beer than they can legally consume (and expect to drive home unimpaired) and make a tailgate party out of it? How many railfans pay $1500.00 for season tickets to go to the tracks less than 10 times a year? Now, you tell me... who is the "Foamer"? I thought so!
Have fun with your trains
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
I didn't bother to read the article - but I would be happy to give some observations. The season is just finishing at Golden Spike where I have the privilage of volunteering. Most every Friday afternoon finds me in the cab of one or the other of the locomotives, keeping the fires burining and montoring steam pressure and water levels. I also spend a lot of time talking to the visitors.
Many have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to visit Golden Spike. There are people with interests in historical reenactments, steam engines, steam locomotives, western history, and antiques. We see lots of truck drivers and motorcycle riders. Many in both groups seem to have a special interest in trains.
Last week we had the great-grand son of one of the people in the famous last spike photo. The week before, we had an engineer and fireman from a tourist line in Wales. It is just as fun to watch the eyes light up on a two year old as a ninety year old. The two year old says, "Thomas". The ninety year old says, "I remember...."
We have railroaders visit and we have modelers - of all scales. Some who count rivets and some who don't. I'm lucky - my model is 1:1 scale.
But in all those visitors - I would not describe anyone as a foamer. Remember - every visitor has made a serious investment in time and money to visit the site. After all, we are 30 miles from the nearest gas station or other facilities. Their interests vary from modest to extreme - but all are wonderful and interesting to talk with.
The visitors are the highlight of my being a volunteer. Visit again - please.
dd
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