Why are railfanners sometimes refered to as foamers ? Just wondering.
The joke is that they get so excited to see a train that they start foaming at the mouth!
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70DudeThe joke is that they get so excited to see a train that they start foaming at the mouth!
Ha-ha-ha-ha, you sure thats really a joke?
Sorry just got jaded after a while from riding a few out of Chicago fan trips and hearing the history of a line going back up to a century when I just asked a simple question of what railroad is that? Then are the folks that dress up and try to fool people into thinking they were part of the train crew.
Understood people get excited to ride on vintage equipment over lines that have not seen passenger service in a while but even so. A few folks need to reign in a little of the ethusiasm sometimes.
Most are Ok though, so it is not too bad.
There seem to be a lot of socially awkward people in the railfan ranks. Most aren't, but there is a sizeable minority. Many are "on the spectrum".
CMStPnPThen are the folks that dress up and try to fool people into thinking they were part of the train crew.
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...
‘Foaming at the mouth’ (above) is an apt description!
A friend and I were railfaning in a very snowy Cajon Pass in Southern California around 1975. A westbound absolute signal at CAJON was green (the Sullivan’s Curve route), so we knew ‘something’ was coming. We debated: Should we stay put or go by Highway 138. The latter was chosen. (Very, very bad choice!) The AT&SF train came and went by. We then decided to call it a day and headed home.
As we approached CAJON on the freeway, my friend started freaking, really freaking out! ‘He wrecked, he wrecked,’ my friend was yelling! I kept my wits (as the driver), looked down at the tracks, and sure enough TOFC cars were scattered on the ground, almost taking out the bridge on the curve. We stopped, looked over the mess for a while, and headed back to town.
Going southbound by Blue Cut there were I think three railfans waiting in the snow for a train to come. As a courtesy to them, we stopped and informed them of the trainwreck back at Cajon. The lead guy became almost hysterical as he told his friends! He must have gone 100 miles per hour to the site. I guess he was a true ‘foamer’!
(Having many, many friends in railroading at the time, I soon found out the wreck’s cause: Improper train makeup, i.e., light empty TOFC cars in front with heavier empty boxcars in the rear!)
If you do a search for Saratoga & North Creek, there's a video, apparently staged by the manager, that defines the term quite well...
I go foamer when I want to clear the house of guests who have overstayed their welcome. And if that doesn't work... out come the cat videos.
I heard years ago that it was an acronym. Far Out And Mental. Because of that I've never cared for the term. Although there are some who fit that title.
I prefer, and have admitted to being one, the term FRN. Don't hear that one as much anymore.
Jeff
jeffhergert I heard years ago that it was an acronym. Far Out And Mental. Because of that I've never cared for the term. Although there are some who fit that title. I prefer, and have admitted to being one, the term FRN. Don't hear that one as much anymore. Jeff
Foamer was a shortened / re-crafted version of Fomite, ie
Fraternal Order of Mindless Incessive Train Enthusiasts ... at least in these parts.
I've heard Fanatically Obsessed Mentally Incompetent Train Enthusiast.
Foamite is the foam inside fire extinguishers (not sure if it's a brand name?). Fire exinguishers were/are found inside locomotive cabs in case of an emergency. Some beleive it was part of the 'foamer' name's evolotion...foamite + foaming at the mouth = foamers.
Unleashing the Power of Foamite Fire Extinguishers: Everything You Need to Know - Safals
wjstixFoamite is the foam inside fire extinguishers (not sure if it's a brand name?).
Foamite was invented by the O.J. Childs Company of Utica, NY, as a fire extinguishing agent. Childs eventually was acquired (1927) by American LaFrance, a fire apparatus manufacturer, and for a time, the rigs were marked as "American LaFrance - Foamite."
A search today for "Foamite" will bring results for a company manufacturing foam mattresses and the like in Toronto.
Yes I am a foamer as is college boy.Csx even used the term when looking at 137 go through Deshler.The Dispatcher said he watched the foamer cam to see what was going on.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
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