54light15Friends of mine have regular notebooks and write down dates and locations and numbers of every EMU or DMU that they see. Now, that's a bit much.
I thought the idea of 'trainspotting' was to get a register of having seen everything once, not bothering with numbers you already had in the book. Logging dates and numbers is more related to figuring out how the equipment is being used, whether there are identifiable patterns or preferences, etc. I confess to having done that with some engine numbers (the IC SD70s that have been operating over the ex-Southern Railway NS, for example) to get some idea of how they are being used. But to write it all down just for spotting does have a certain anal-retentive swing to it.
Flintlock, thanks for that link. I went there as soon as I saw it (a little before 2:00), and I saw one train leave and take siding, and another train arrive. Very cool. Beautiful sight.
I have always thought that "trainspotting" is just the British term for railfanning. I don't think I've ever seen the term "railfanning" used in a British context.
Flintlock76 Hey, speaking of Virtual Railfan here's the link to the Strasburg Railroad camera. They're open for business, and with sun in the sky, snow on the ground and steam in the air it looks like a Howard Fogg Christmas card come to life! Check it out! Cool! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_phjXZUfRI
Hey, speaking of Virtual Railfan here's the link to the Strasburg Railroad camera. They're open for business, and with sun in the sky, snow on the ground and steam in the air it looks like a Howard Fogg Christmas card come to life! Check it out! Cool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_phjXZUfRI
Thanks, I'd forgotten about that cam. And they are putting on a real show. Running TWO steam trains with up to ten cars, leaving on 45 minute headways. One arrives and waits as the other departs. I rode it back in the '60s. A real professional operation.
Hope we haven't scared the OP away...
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...
SD70DudeWe could make trading cards with a different locomotive number on each one. "Complete your fleet, gotta catch 'em all!"
I want to be the very best,
Like no one ever was!
To catch them is my real test,
To train them is my cause!
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Can you train a train?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I took one last look at that Strasburg cam about an hour ago, looked like they were putting #89 to bed.
Good-night, 89!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0kWa4ma9dI
SD70Dude Can you train a train?
Or coach a coach?
tree68 SD70Dude Can you train a train?
Veering into Dr. Seuss territory here. In the rain, on a train, with a goat, on a boat?
tree68 SD70Dude Can you train a train? Or coach a coach?
You can train a coach, but can you coach a train?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
54light15Veering into Dr. Seuss territory here.
tree68 Hope we haven't scared the OP away...
I hope not also.
xploringrailroads, if you have any specific questions about any train subject, just ask on this forum. We have some incredibly knowledgeable folks here, and someone will probably have an answer for you.
Lithonia Operatorxploringrailroads, if you have any specific questions about any train subject, just ask on this forum. We have some incredibly knowledgeable folks here, and someone will probably have an answer for you.
We even had a thread here some time back which title included the words "stupid question." It was very informative. Lots of good questions, and lots of good answers.
Hi everyone and thanks for your welcome and your help :)
First, is there a way to receive email notifications after someone reply to my posts? I thought I was doing the right thing but no. I never received any notification.
I live on the south shore of Montreal, Quebec, Canada and that's where I would like to watch trains. I am mostly interested in learning about freight trains, how railroads and spurs work and I love using maps (I am a geographer).
There is a train museum not too far from where I live but everything is closed now because of covid-19.
Now my questions:
- How do I access the quarterly or annual reports?
- If you have only one good book to suggest to help me learn about railroads in general but also freight trains, spurs ... which one is it? I checked for the John Armstrong book on Amazon.ca but man, the book is more than 150$.
The first thing I want to do right now is learning the basics before getting into the specific. I also want to take photos and learn things I can search for on maps.
- Are there things I should check or search on maps?
And yes, safety is, for me, very important. I will stay away from railroad properties.
Thanks again everyone and I am waiting for your help on why I am not getting any email notification.
Have a great day and take care :)
Stéphan
Always keep in mind that the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask. My adult son is relatively new to the hobby and he enjoys picking my brain when he runs into something he isn't familiar with. I try to remember that much of what is old hat to me could be new to him.
CSSHEGEWISCH I try to remember that much of what is old hat to me could be new to him.
Sometimes I think that is forgotten here - just because a certain topic was discussed here several years ago doesn't mean someone new to the forum can't ask the question again.
The key is to answer the question - and perhaps find that old thread and point them to that as well.
We haven't. I've just spoken to him by PM and he's still learning the nuances of the Forum, one of which is the delayed reaction to new posters until the mods make the determination those posters are one of the "good guys." He's made a recent post but it hasn't shown yet.
He appreciates everyone's advice too!
Flintlock76 ... the delayed reaction to new posters until the mods make the determination those posters are one of the "good guys." ...
Flint, I don't understand what you're saying. Could you explain? Thanks.
Lithonia Operator Flintlock76 ... the delayed reaction to new posters until the mods make the determination those posters are one of the "good guys." ... Flint, I don't understand what you're saying. Could you explain? Thanks.
New forum users are automatically placed on moderation.
I'm not sure if this automatically expires after a set number of days or posts, or if a moderator has to do it manually.
It is very possible that he has replied to this thread, perhaps more than once, but his posts won't appear until a moderator approves them.
SD70DudeIt is very possible that he has replied to this thread, perhaps more than once, but his posts won't appear until a moderator approves them.
I think that's exactly what's happening.
I had forgotten I'd been on probation in the beginning.
Don't worry, xploring; if I passed muster, the bar can't be that high.
Hi everyone. I don't know if you have seen but my last post was accepted and it appears on my thread yesterday.
xploring's second post has been freed up, it has a date-time stamp of 12/22/2020 9:09 AM, so it's about half-way up Page Two of this thread.
He's got a lot more questions, so help him if you can gents!
xploringrailroads... Now my questions: - How do I access the quarterly or annual reports? ... Stéphan
...
Financial data - Quarterly and Annual Reports most likely can be found by digging around each company's basic web site.
BNSF.com for Burlington Northern Santa FeCN.ca/en/ for Canadian NationalCPR.ca/en/ for Canadian PacificCSX.com for CSXNSCorp.com for Norfolk SouthernKCSouthern.com for Kansas City SouthernUP.com for Union Pacific
BNSF's financial results may not be on their web site as they are a part of Berkshire Hathaway's coven of companies.
Finding financial reports for the various short line operating conglomerates may involve a level of forensic accounting especially if you are looking for results of any individual of their railroads.
Stephan -- on the upper right side of the screen, under your username, you will see little red choices for "Profile" and "Settings". Click on 'settings', and in the page that opens click on the 'Email' tab.
Halfway down that page, you will see the 'notifications' section. You can choose to have replies to 'conversations' sent to you, or other types of comment.
OvermodStephan -- on the upper right side of the screen, under your username, you will see little red choices for "Profile" and "Settings". Click on 'settings', and in the page that opens click on the 'Email' tab. Halfway down that page, you will see the 'notifications' section. You can choose to have replies to 'conversations' sent to you, or other types of comment.
If that will work or not is in the hands of Kalmbach IT. At one point in time I got e-mail notification whenever someone sent me a 'message', however that stopped sometime ago without me changing any of my settings.
In the stereotyped world the Chinese are frequently referred to as 'inscrutable' as non-Chinese attempt to decipher their ways and motivations - the term 'inscrutable' also applies to Kalmbach IT and the workings of anythng they touch.
My notifications stopped one day, and that was that.
Greetings: You're going to be part of an interesting hobby. There are websites like this one to help you along. There are books, magazines and organizations to help you along as well. You should get a camera or if you have a mobile phone that can take pictures to learn about trains. Also, if there are any train museums near by. Check them out. Final tip. When taking pictures, take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Although I'm from the states, I also enjoy the Canadian trains as well. Good Luck.
I "subscribed" to this thread from a phone to see if that part of the notification system is still connected to something. I am still trying to access user preferences from what's left of the failed mobile-centric redesign a decade or so ago, when phones were supposed to be the great future for Web presence...
I also went down to the bottom and tried 'settings' from the phone. Of course I can't get into even my own profile, but the settings tab loaded (in desktop proportions, but zoom able with touch) and accepted my text change to 'enable conversation e-mail notifications' (I got the green box saying changes were successfully registered but it may take some time to see the results of those changes.)
Of course I haven't used the associated e-mail for daily traffic for... well, over half a decade, so I better go see what my sign-in permissions for it look like!
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