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").
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans So it would seem no one knows the origin of foamers(a term I have never heard) do we have any more guesses as to what this rather bizarrre name means?
23 17 46 11
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
Originally posted by jeaton Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply chad thomas Member sinceJanuary 2005 From: Ely, Nv. 6,312 posts Posted by chad thomas on Monday, April 18, 2005 9:22 AM Good one John, That's funny. Did they cut you some slack after that ? Reply tree68 Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Northern New York 25,011 posts Posted by tree68 on Monday, April 18, 2005 9:25 AM There is something, somewhere, that will turn even the most placid railfan into a rabid foamer. 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... Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 18, 2005 10:33 AM I've been a RRer for 32 years, an Engineer for 26, and a Railfan for all my life (50 years). I've been called all the above names but teh only one I have any distaste for is "BUFF" (or train Buff or Railroad Buff". I would like to say that the railroad employees who chose to BUFF-BASH are the ones that are really insecure about themselves in their jobs, and don't know enough about their industry to understand why it may hold some fascination to others. A generation ago, there were planty of railroaders who were NOT fans, but understood that there WERE admirers of their industry around, and many of them went out of their way to accomodate us. HECK, I know of a "foamer" who would set up a sign in advance of his photo location reading: "PHOTOGRAPHER-ONE MILE AHEAD". Many a steam locomotive engineer would see this sign and arrange to make extra smoke, thus creating a more dramatic photo! The crop of people that RRs are hiring nowadays is just a new low in human TRASH. Human Rescource departments seem to go out of their way to hire people who do NOT have the railroad in their blood. Sadly, morale on the railroad suffers for it and is now down in the crapper. This may or may not alighn with your thoughts, but I think it hurts like hell to see our wonderfull industry handed over to the current generation of clueless crapheads while all the good and dedicated men are all pretty much gone. Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 18, 2005 12:44 PM As a current rr employee, I have no interest in modern day rrrs at all. It is a job and I treat it as that. I do have an interest in the past history & tradition of the industry and I will purchase books & tapes w/a history theme to it. In terms of photographing trains, I have not done this in several yrs and the film in my camera had been in the since 2001. Reply Edit CSSHEGEWISCH Member sinceMarch 2016 From: Burbank IL (near Clearing) 13,540 posts Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 18, 2005 12:50 PM Ed's distinction is probably the best so far. I try to stay in his first class since it implies responsible behavior. Years ago, I had a teammate on my rugby club who was a brakeman on C&NW and he appreciated having somebody who enjoyed listening to him talk shop. I always assumed he knew much more about practical railroading than I ever would and I learned a few things just by listening. Paul The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul Reply siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts Posted by siberianmo on Monday, April 18, 2005 2:14 PM QUOTE: canazar Posted: 18 Apr 2005, 01:29:00 Ok, this is a little off topic, but thought it would fit with hths thread.. Not everyday you get to zing a railroader. .........READ THE STORY ABOVE! That's just too good to be true (and I'm not doubting that it is!) Don't we all wish WE could be so fortunate to have had the opportunity to "zing" the way John k did? Love it![tup] Happy Railroading! Siberianmo Reply canazar Member sinceAugust 2004 From: Phoenix, Arizona 1,989 posts Posted by canazar on Monday, April 18, 2005 3:02 PM Yup, oh it was very true. I got a good giggle out of it too. And yes, the treated me a bit different after that. We talked for a few then then had to go. But they were pretty nice and even filled me in on the expecting trains for the night and what to look for. It is bit odd I guess, with my job, I am in the same boat as a RR crew is when it comes to foamers. I get the same. Of course, I kinda like haveing folks around. Maybe someday the will become customers. But then again, you can annoy me pretty quick too. I got bills to pay and jobs to complete. But is has also given me a very intersting perspective on how to handle the railroad guys. I know how I can get at work, I can get busy and dont have time for chit chat, and move, your in my way.. I have found the best thing for me, and which will win instant respect for me is when someone comes in and just wants to look or watch. They will tell me right up front why the are there, stay out of my way and insist on letting me work with out bothering me. ( I love that, and I find myself working a bit quicker so I can get some time to talk or to show them somehting) And yes, lots of times people come to take pictures of me working to, so I understand comepletly about the camara issues. Sometimes its great, others not. So when I am at the yard or around the crews, I try and keep myself in their shoes. I think about how I am at work. Stay out of there way, make sure you are in the right spots, be respectful with the camara (which, I hardly take with me) Dont bother them. If they want to come over and chat, great. If not, fine with me, As I explained to the kid, (which is usually why I go, we "train hunt" 2-4 times a month) We are at someone elses work place and the guys are busy, and maybe we well "get lucky" . Im ust be doing somehtign very right. And, I can say that I have been very, very fortunate. I am doing somethign right becuase in 8 months, the kid and I have gotten invited up into 3 different engines.2 Dash 9's and an old GP38) I have never even thought about trying to ask.. One crew held up there switch and ushered us across two sets of track just so we could get aboard. ( Talk about a thrill for the kiddo and Dad. My impression and defining of RailFan and fomaer are a bit different. Here is my take. RailFan: Appricates the histroy, the makings and the alure of RR with respect to its heritage and its future. Also to those that operate and work for the Rail Road. For the the imporant part is, they are working. Be how you would want someone watchign yuo at work when you are super busy Foamer: Same as above to extent. But but have a feeling that the crew is there for them. Dont get the concept of "people are working" I look it as they treat RR employees like ride attentands at the theme park. Oh well, glad you guys got a kick out of th story, I got a couple of other I will sahe sometime soon.. All though, this is the only "zing " story [;)] Best Regrads John Kanicsar Best Regards, Big John Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway Reply canazar Member sinceAugust 2004 From: Phoenix, Arizona 1,989 posts Posted by canazar on Monday, April 18, 2005 3:04 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper John k I love you (spiritually)! I love you too man!! Spiritually of course![;)] Best Regards, Big John Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway Reply MP173 Member sinceMay 2004 From: Valparaiso, In 5,921 posts Posted by MP173 on Monday, April 18, 2005 3:34 PM I really start foaming when I see what my shares of Illinois Central and Canadien National have done over the last 10 years. I just drool. ed Reply Sterling1 Member sinceFebruary 2002 From: Traveling in Middle Earth 795 posts Posted by Sterling1 on Monday, April 18, 2005 4:02 PM Foamers are those who drool over certain favorite railroad equipment. They may choose to endanger themselves. Railfans appreciate whatever is out there and understand some history and the roles that the equipment take part in transportation. The term that I am most familiar with is rail enthusiat (back from my Thomas the Tank Engine days, lllooonnnggg time ago . . .) I am a railfan for the most part and stay well away from the track for safety reasons and still get the shakes even at a "safe" distance. "There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.] Reply cpbloom Member sinceAugust 2003 From: Still on the other side of the tracks. 397 posts Posted by cpbloom on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 5:16 AM "railfans are sometimes known as "foamers". This comes from slang used by railroad workers, who have noted that some people start "foaming" with excitement whenever they see a train. It is a slightly derogatory term but railfans have adopted it with pride." My definition comes from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railfan Reply 12 Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
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...
QUOTE: canazar Posted: 18 Apr 2005, 01:29:00 Ok, this is a little off topic, but thought it would fit with hths thread.. Not everyday you get to zing a railroader. .........READ THE STORY ABOVE!
QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper John k I love you (spiritually)!
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