Hi,
I'm a teenager that enjoys going out every once in a while to go watch trains, sometimes record/photograph. I usually feel bad. I think it has something to do with feeling too old, thinking I'm out out of place, thinking I'm distracting or annoying to the crew, etc. Is it normal to feel like that?
Thanks.
Don't feel bad or apologize for your hobby Bear! It's a good, clean hobby that's been practiced by many for generations and has many great names attached to it, their photo work fills volumes of railfan publications so you're not and never will be alone.
Just follow the rules: Stay off railroad property and other private property. Your being there won't distract the crews unless you're doing something dangerous or you're in a place you shouldn't be. If you're shooting video or photos at a train station stay away from the passengers unloading or loading who may not want to be photographed, respect their privacy. If you're questioned as to why you're there be courteous, tell the truth, and co-operate with the questioner. Don't feel insulted and don't be a wise guy.
So go ahead and enjoy yourself! This is a hobby that you can carry for the rest of your life!
And aboard!
Bear33I think it has something to do with feeling too old
chutton01 Bear33 I think it has something to do with feeling too old Too old, eh? Guess you haven't watched too many videos of us Gen-Xs (approaching old-fartdom ourselves) line-side recording and photographing rail activities. Go for it, you may become the next, say JawTooth (OTOH, I think there can be only one JawTooth...)
Bear33 I think it has something to do with feeling too old
Too old, eh? Guess you haven't watched too many videos of us Gen-Xs (approaching old-fartdom ourselves) line-side recording and photographing rail activities. Go for it, you may become the next, say JawTooth (OTOH, I think there can be only one JawTooth...)
Gen-X is a collection of kids. There's a good number of us Baby Boomers who still get out on a regular basis to expose a roll of film.
Bear33 Hi, I'm a teenager that enjoys going out every once in a while to go watch trains, sometimes record/photograph. I usually feel bad. I think it has something to do with feeling too old, thinking I'm out out of place, thinking I'm distracting or annoying to the crew, etc. Is it normal to feel like that? Thanks.
As long as you have a thick skin and don't engage in activities such as in the movie "Trainspotting" it's cool!
DO NOT be ashamed to like trains, chase them, wave to the cab as the engines go past... as long as you aren't actually 'trespassing', and you're being safe in how you do it, there's nothing to be 'ashamed' about.
But if a crew doesn't want to be filmed, don't film them. For heaven's sake, don't be the next Jawtooth or act like him to people you meet railfanning. Do not be alarmed or embarrassed if railroad police stop you -- they are looking for people unlike you, and if you openly greet them you won't have trouble. We've had people recommend that you print off and carry the Photographer's Bill of Rights, but I have even been able to photograph locomotives in a facility where New Jersey Transit banned photography... because the ban is against PIs looking for surprise divorce evidence, and paparazzi wannabes and the like.
And for heaven's sake, do NOT wear bright safety garb or act like a vicarious railroader. In our modern world of PSR, crews may mistake you for an employee, or worse, what we call a 'weed weasel', and be distracted or irritated by the worry. Better than 'being seen' is keeping where they don't have to see you in the first place... except as a member of the public that likes railroading.
Safety is of the first importance.
Know where you are, know your surroundings. Stay off private property unless you have permission. "Public" areas like parking lots are generally private, but you're not likely to get hassled unless you are interfering with the owner's business.
If you happen to have/acquire a scanner, be sure you know what local and state laws are in their regard.
Some crews are railfans themselves. Others strongly dislike railfans. Respect that.
Never "stand on your principles." Taking an attitude will gain you no friends. As mentioned, be polite, honest, and if you're asked to leave, leave.
At least we're well beyond the post 9/11 hysteria, which had everyone afraid that a railfan might be scoping out the territory in order to commit nefarious deeds.
Have fun! And check out Harrison's work (North Country Trains). Sounds like he's about your age, and has reached the point that he's now volunteering with a tourist line.
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...
In a word, no. There are a lot more railfans than anyone would think and there is no shame in liking trains.
In addition to being a railfan I am also a working railroader. As long as you stay well clear of the track and off railroad property you won't be a distraction, we see people at crossings or on public property near the track all the time, and unless you stand out with your camera we probably won't even notice you.
It is true that sometimes you get funny looks from members of the public who just can't understand why you'd want to watch trains for fun. I feel that too. But at the end of the day we aren't all that different from classic car enthusiasts or hot rodders.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
As Larry pointed out, it seems the wave of "Barney Fifes" out there hasseling railfans seems to have died out.
BNSF (and maybe other railroads) have a sort of 'fan club' you can register with to get occassional updates on the railroad. Hasn't happened to me, but I have heard guys say that a BNSF employee was questioning them about why they taking pics etc, but once the employee found out they were official "Friends of BNSF" they became quite friendly.
https://www.bnsf.com/in-the-community/friends-of-bnsf.page?
Bear, here's some YouTube raifan channels I enjoy watching. You may find them useful for inspiration, camera angles, personal placement and so on. You'll enjoy watching them too!
https://www.youtube.com/@NorthCountryTrains/featured
(That's the forementioned Harrison's channel, a young railfan like yourself.)
https://www.youtube.com/c/LibertyRailfan
https://www.youtube.com/@NixCrossing/videos
(That one's a "combo" channel, railfanning and O Gauge modeling and Nick's enthusiasm is VERY infectious! If you catch the O Gauge fever in the process that's a good thing too!)
https://www.youtube.com/c/CentralPennRailProductions/videos
https://www.youtube.com/c/EastPennRailfanProductions/videos
https://www.youtube.com/c/MrNewJerseyTransit/featured
(Another young railfan.)
As you'll see you're in VERY good company!
In addition to the YouTube channels mentioned, there are a couple of commercial/subscription services that have rail cameras literally all over the nation.
It's no secret that I watch Deshler, OH a lot. It's also available on YT. Right now there are almost 70 people tuned in on that cam alone.
There are other "disciplines" in the "watcher" world as well. I like to check out Great Lakes shipping, especially as I live just a few miles from the St Lawrence River. Right now, there's a downbound laker in the Soo Locks, and the Paul R. Tregurtha, a 1000 footer, headed toward the locks on her way to St Clair, MI. And there are cams to watch that traffic as well.
There are plenty of hobbies that others find as weird. Don't be dissuaded...
Bear
Bear,
You are engaging in a hobby few understand and some scoff at. Almost every hobby is a minority hobby. Most obvious hobbyists know that some people think they are 'off' because of their hobby. I myself wonder about the sanity of people who throw themselves out of perfectly good airplanes, or ski. As the song goes 'You can't please everybody, so you've got to please yourself'
Most crews will still return a wave if you are off the right of way. They know that railfans exist, and most are bemused by them. A few are even 'latent closet' railfans themselves and manage to get paid for doing something they love.
Yes, some of your peers will rag on you and may call you something they think is derogatory. Just smile and ignore them. You know a joy they do not.
Mac
chutton01 Go for it, you may become the next, say JawTooth (OTOH, I think there can be only one JawTooth...)
And that's one too many.
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
PNWRMNMYou are engaging in a hobby few understand and some scoff at.
Try amateur radio (yeah - I do that, too).
wjstixAs Larry pointed out, it seems the wave of "Barney Fifes" out there hasseling railfans seems to have died out. BNSF (and maybe other railroads) have a sort of 'fan club' you can register with to get occassional updates on the railroad. Hasn't happened to me, but I have heard guys say that a BNSF employee was questioning them about why they taking pics etc, but once the employee found out they were official "Friends of BNSF" they became quite friendly. https://www.bnsf.com/in-the-community/friends-of-bnsf.page?
Thanks for the link! I subscribe to the Union Pacific community, but I didn't know about this one.
York1 John
Thank you all for your replies! I'll be sure to go through those YouTube channels! Thank you guys for reassuring me with my place in the spotting world. I definitely feel a lot better now.
tree68 There are other "disciplines" in the "watcher" world as well. I like to check out Great Lakes shipping, especially as I live just a few miles from the St Lawrence River. Right now, there's a downbound laker in the Soo Locks, and the Paul R. Tregurtha, a 1000 footer, headed toward the locks on her way to St Clair, MI. And there are cams to watch that traffic as well.
I'm also a shipspotter! I love to go to the local port when I visit the beach and actively watch cameras. I don't know why, but I don't have the same concerns when doing that.
One thing about our hobby is that it is many different things to many different people. I've been photographing with a variety of 35mm cameras since 1969 and I still find it quite enjoyable. I've also got a small personal library from which I learned something new each time I bought a new volume.
Others prefer modeling and that's fine, too. I never picked up the skills for that but I appreciate the work of those who have those skills.
Some just enjoy trainwatching. Good for them, it helps pass the time.
Do what you wish. The guidelines provided in the other posts are helpful and will add to your enjoyment.
I think most people have an interest that others might thing is odd or weird.
Frankly, I find the worst thing to be way too in to one thing and not having diverse interests. It doesn't matter if it is a mainstream interest or a niche interest. Yeah, football might be the closest thing the US has to a universal interest besides literally everywhere claiming it has unpredictable weather or that Area Next Door has the worst drivers, but dang it is April, I don't care about "if they sign Jeff Footballman at $5m/yr but also release Ted Kickerguy, then they'll free up enough cap space to sign..." Let me know when the season starts, I'll care then.
It is fun to watch other people work!!
In one way railroads are the best show in town, and they're free!
David P. Morgan said it best:
"Big things that move are a lot more interesting than big things that don't!"
Knowing a person's interest(s) is a key to understanding them. When I was teaching, I always tried to keep in mind that each of my students was an expert at something. It may not be something I think is interesting or important to know, but it's of interest to this other person, and a reminder I don't know everything myself.
In high school, I knew a lot about Cleveland's streetcars and railroads, and I was more than lucky to be friends with two other railfans. Driving around with a buddy and experiencing weeked and evening railfanning and photography together has made for a lifetime friendship and a trove of now 60-year old pictures and memorabilia.
In 11th grade speech class, we had to give a speech of 3-4 minutes on something we were good at. I chose as my topic how I could date photographs by looking for visual clues, and I used as my examples some photos of Cleveland's Public Square with streetcars and later buses. As I talked, I noticed that the other students, and even the teacher, seemed really interested in what I was saying and laughed at my one or two attempts at humor. When I finished, the teacher called, "Time!" The student with the stop watch replied, "eight minutes!" Everyone laughed, including the teacher, who didn't penalize me.
It was at that moment I realized I really could become a history teacher, because holding the attention of a room full of my peers on something related to my interest in history and railfandom, was apparently another ability I possessed.
Being a young railfan helped me to develop my skills as a teacher.
Don't feel bad about it.. celebrate it! Be thankful that you have interests. I've been a fan most of my life.. not sure how or why that came to be.. just the when part (at 7 years old).
We don't choose our interests.. they reach out and choose us! Looks like you've been chosen..
While you're at it, learn the history of your area, rail-wise. You know where the rails are, learn where they were. Read books on it, look for videos, join historical groups for your favorite lines. Most current roads and fallen flags have some manner of a historical society/association/etc. They usually have some form of magazine or the like which will give information you'll find interesting.
Take a look at the industries that caused the railroads to come, and the industries that came as a result of the railroads.
About a year and a half ago, I was asked to present a program on railroads in this area, specifically the village that was, at the time, celebrating 150 years. I'm not going to claim that it was the best presentation ever - even I saw flaws - but I like to think that those in attendance came away with a better idea of what the railroad did there. And we were sitting less than 100 yards from the site of the station (now long gone). Several of the attendees later told me they had relatives who worked for the railroad.
If you have a local model railroad club, get involved. You'd be surprised at the knowledge that sits around the layout at operating and work sessions. Sometimes getting to know those people will help you with your railfanning as they may be able to provide tips on watching and other insights.
More than anything, be safe and enjoy!
Forum question: Is it preferred to reply to the last post in the thread or to reply to the OP? Some of the reply may involve parts of the thread beyond what the OP asked.
I had a question that may help other railfans. Some of the people making videos (JT included, who I like as a youtuber) have information about the trains (NS36A, CSX L120-26...), the routes they take (giving start and end locations, times they make the trip, per week...). I have never come across this information. Is it readily available to the public?
Do freight trains have a regular schedule, like passenger trains? I see a lot of youtubers saying that they waited for hours to finally see a train, that would seem to indicate that there is no regular schedule.
Perry Babin Forum question: Is it preferred to reply to the last post in the thread or to reply to the OP? Some of the reply may involve parts of the thread beyond what the OP asked.
Since it's not always possible to have the latest post on a thread be the one you want to reply to, it's usually best to use the 'quote' function. After you click on "reply" for the post you want to comment on, and get the reply window, highlight the portion that you want to reply to and click on "quote." Then, after the /quote tag, add your comments. If you want to comment on the entire post as a whole, just click on the quote button and the entire post will be carried into the window with quote tags around it.
You'll note that I actually used the quote function three times in this reply.
Perry BabinI had a question that may help other railfans. Some of the people making videos (JT included, who I like as a youtuber) have information about the trains (NS36A, CSX L120-26...), the routes they take (giving start and end locations, times they make the trip, per week...). I have never come across this information. Is it readily available to the public?
Most such sites that have that info are "crowd sourced," like wikis. Contributors note information about a given train and submit it. F'rinstance, there is a site with CSX train symbols, and the Deshler and Fostoria rail cams both have an associated spreadsheet with the day's trains. Others may as well.
The railroads don't publish that information.
Perry BabinDo freight trains have a regular schedule, like passenger trains? I see a lot of youtubers saying that they waited for hours to finally see a train, that would seem to indicate that there is no regular schedule.
While there is no schedule as such for freight trains, they often have regular "call" times, when the crew is to report for duty. How long after that they actually get out depends on a variety of factors. And when they will reach a given point on their route also depends on a variety of factors.
That said, you'll often see the same trains at around the same time each day they run.
tree68... While there is no schedule as such for freight trains, they often have regular "call" times, when the crew is to report for duty. How long after that they actually get out depends on a variety of factors. And when they will reach a given point on their route also depends on a variety of factors. That said, you'll often see the same trains at around the same time each day they run.
As of the time I retired, CSX SCHEDULED all their merchandise, automotive and intermodal trains. The trains they, for the most part, ran daily. These schedules contained specified depature times from origin, intermediat times and arrival times at destination. These schedules also define what traffic (or blocks) the trains are to originate with, exchange or reclassify while inroute, and arrive destination with. Additionally Local Freight (or Road Switchers) have designated origin and destination times as well as the industries that are to be serviced during the trip. Within yards, some of the Yard Jobs are scheduled to the extent of the industries they are to serve and in relative terms when that industry is to be serviced. Operations supervision is graded, for pay purposes, on how well the schedules on their territory are followed as measured by a variety of metrics - On Time Departure & Arrival, Right car moving on the Right Train, Terminal dwell are some of those metrics. The tolerance for On Time for freight operations is much larger than it is for passenger operation. At the time I was still working, the Amtrak tolerance was 10 minutes. The CSX freight train tolereance was Two Hours.
Bulk Commodity Trains are customer driven. When the 'shipper' has a commodity to move, arrangements are made to supply the empties, power and crew at the customer desired time, the train gets loaded in conformance with appropriate tarriff/contract requirements and moves on a 'shedule' that gets generated for the movement, train will be moved to the 'consignee', delivered and unloaded with the empties returning to either a marshalling yard or the orign location for the next loaded trip.
CSX would modify schedules on a weekly basis in concert with major track work and signal projects.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The regular manifests and intermodals have a service schedule. They'll normally be called within a specific window out of their originating yard daily. At least they try to. The normal call times can be pushed back due to locomotives not ready or crews not rested. If the train traverses a few crew districts, delays due to almost anything can cause the train to be later the further you get from the originating yard.
Jeff
When I was a kid back in the 1970's you could set your watch (give or take 10-15 min) to a good portion of the freight trains on the Milwaukee Road Twin Cities mainline through Brookfield, WI. Those days slowly faded away from the 1980's to the 1990's.
I believe the Jawtooth guy uses a RR scanner. So he gets advance notice. Not sure though.
jeffhergertThe regular manifests and intermodals have a service schedule. They'll normally be called within a specific window out of their originating yard daily. At least they try to. The normal call times can be pushed back due to locomotives not ready or crews not rested. If the train traverses a few crew districts, delays due to almost anything can cause the train to be later the further you get from the originating yard. Jeff
While getting later and later is what normally happens to schedule; there are times that trains can perform much better than their schedules. Everything is On Time at origin, there may not be traffic to require scheduled set offs and/or pick ups and thus a train gains time against its schedule. There many be less than the 'schedule expected' traffic across the route of the train and it gains even more time against its schedule. Unless there is SPECIFIC traffic a train MUST handle, freight trains can operate well ahead of their schedules.
Every railroad territory has a 'normal' flow of traffic, scheduled or unscheduled. The normal flows acknowledge that daylight hours Monday through Friday are heavy with MofW required inspections and works claiming track time. The Train Dispatchers job is more than just running trains, it is managing track time so that MofW gets the track time they need as well as attempting to run trains On Time, no matter if the trains are Passenger, Through Freight or Local Freights - everyone is competing for track time.
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