Railfanning in groups?

[JimValle]

Modern diesel railroading bores me to death but I do go on one fantrip a year with the members of my model railroad club. Every trip features camaraderie galore and at least one pratfall or mishap that then passes into club legend, never to be forgotten again. On our annual trips we almost always run into at least one lone wolf railfan who is so socially marginal that we're tempted to start a "Darwin Award for the most Obnoxious Railfan". I think they are attracted to the trains because the trains can't reject them. Meanwhile, the guys are still takling about the gal in a green station wagon who flashed her breasts at us while we were cruising down the interstate after fanning the CSX at Clifton Forge......

[K4s_PRR]

I'm one of the lucky ones. All I have to do is go into my backyard & I can railfan all the CSX I can handle. Sometimes I'll see W&LE and run through power. But this won't last too much longer since I'll be moving.

Charles Sanchez

[Anonymous]

My dog likes to go with me. I'm sure she just likes getting outside and running around, but she's always been a good buddy to have along.

mike

[halifaxcn]

I like to go by myself, but I have travelled with friends who enjoy railfanning.

Both have their strenghts and weakness.

Now I travel and fan with my 4 y.o son. He loves it and everything is a new experience. I have enjoyed my railfanning as I try and see it throught his eyes filled with wonderment.

Regards

[mrunyan]

I too, am usually alone because of the opportunistic nature of railfanning. "oh there's something on the tracks". Very seldom is it planned and less so an accompanied activity. My wife carries a book to read, just in case, she's not interested but let's me be, it's nice. And sometimes I meet great folks doing the same, we are easy to spot or hear if there are scanners going. Rochelle has some regulars, very nice folks, great spot.

[Anonymous]

amen[:D]

[Anonymous]

I too am alone, but mostly because I don't know anyone else. There are those who will pacify me with thier quiet patience as I stop the car to stare at a catenary pole or count the trusses on a bridge. But for the most part, railroading is my personal neurosis to those around me, at least until such time as I may recruit a cult of my own.

Occasionally, I have transformed some others and got them to see the light. It amazes me to see how many railfans are out there but don't know they are until someone points it out to them. I think everyone has a little choo-choo inside. They just need someone else to come along and light the boiler!

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

I have often found it a lot more fun and rewarding to go railfannning in groups rather than by myself. Every once in a while about a half dozen of us from our local HO scale club, the Sioux Valley Model Engineers Society, will all pile into a van and drive a hundred miles or more to an NMRA swap meet, or to tour a railroad facility of some sort. Earlier this past spring a bunch of us had toured the dispatch center of the DM&E in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In December of 2001 we had toured the shop facilities of Midwest Railcar Repair which is located in Corson, South Dakota.

Ray Loftesness II
CANADIANPACIFIC2816

[Anonymous]

I belong to chicago chapter NRHS. Meetings and outings are interesting.