Lady Railfans.

[Anonymous]

I know that this is none of my Business but.......
I was just woundering how many of you ladys out there are Railfans?
Are you ladys realy serious about your hobby or are just more like stay low type?
Sorry for asking. Im just woundering how many Woman who are into this Hobby. BNSFrailfan.

[CSXrules4eva]

Ok I am a female, 19 years old offically tomorrow who is a very serious railfan, and hopes to be a very serious railroader. I'm prettty sure most of you that know me know that I am serious about the hobby. I've been interested in trains all my life and wanted to work for the railroad since I was 10. The main reason I became interested in trains is because of my great gradfather who worked for PRR and beacause, I lived with Septa's R7 line in back of my mom's house. I used to watch them go by 24/7 I even had a log book of the cars' I saw and destination points. Then sooner or later I started hangin out at Stention Station 1 block away from my mom's house. Then I was constantly on Septa. Now I know way too many of Septa's railroad division emplyoees and am called by those empoyees that know me "Queen of the Rails". So that's how it started.

[JoeKoh]

lets see mookie nora cw mamma.those are 4 lady railfans.and i'm sure grandpa carl will have his grandaughter be a littlt lady railfan too.
stay safe
joe
oops i forgot Kathy Kube.shes at trains magazine![:0]bad joe bad joe[B)]

[cherokee woman]

There's also Nance69; there are several of us "lady railfans" out there. And I
believe we have a few more lady railfans here on the forums.

[emmar]

I am a woman and I am totally serius about railfanning. I think that the hobby of railfanning may still be mostly men but there are a lot of women who are getting interested in trains now. Personally I intend to make railroads my entire life at somepoint (probably when I am older). I would like to restore and operate a steam locomotive when I am an adult and right now one of my top career choices is an engineer(train engineer of course) in the U.S. Army.

GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!

[route_rock]

My wife isnt a railfan per se however she loves history ( as do I) and is into the whole transportation and how this nation was built mind frame.
She likes old steam and she hasnt understood why I like trains but she copes. I guess you could say shes like me, she likes trains but isnt a "rivet counter" so I guess we are not true foamer railfans, we are just fans.I think more and more women will be fans and into the industry here as time goes on ( good luck CSX4eva hope to see you out here) My two daughters are fans and who knows maybe they will follow dad into the industry. You never know.

[fuzzybroken]

First of all, [bday] to Sarah! (One day early [:D])

While I wish my wife was a little more enthusiastic about railfanning, she at least tolerates it, and is supportive of me -- she even offered to buy me a scanner for my birthday! [:D] But I also have a female friend who does enjoy riding along with me when I go on a chase (especially when my wife doesn't want to go), although she's always disappointed by the lack of a caboose on most trains!

-Mark
www.fuzzyworld3.com

[csxengineer98]

they are few and far between..and actuly would be a welcome sight to see a hot one once in a while lol.... with a sea of male foamers... ill wave and offer a cab ride to a hot female foamer anyday...lol
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am a lady railfan. I love trains! I caught the "bug" from my older son around 1975, when he was a little boy. I was "outshopped" during WW2, but never paid any attention to all those wonderful steam locomotives or early diesels or streetcars - darn! At least I missed having my heart broken when steam died.

No, I am not a "rivet-counter", but I do like to write down consist lists of the special trains I have ridden. And I even ride trains to & from work, 5 days a week. (We chose our city of residence because of the then Southern Pacific Railroad commute trains (San Francisco Peninsula).

I never wanted to work for a RR - I love my Monday -Friday "first trick" 8-hour day too much, and the RRs now are not much fun to work for.

I did get to work restoring a main-line steam locomotive: the SP 2472 - what fun! She is out of service now, as we (the Golden Gate Railroad Museum in San Francisco, CA) are doing the necessary work so she can get her "Form 4" and run again. With some luck, she should be back in operation in time for the "Toys for Tots" train at Christmastime.

I have been very fortunate in that I live in a place that was reasonably close to 2 railfan organizations that ran excursions that needed car hosts (GGRM and Central Coast Chapter, NRHS). For 8 glorious years (1991 - 1997), I got to be a "Passenger Services Host" on long-distance excursions on the Union Pacific, on their own business equipment, until the ridiculously high cost of liability insurance put a stop to the multi-day trips we used to run. But it was wonderful. :) I have also been a Car Host on various trips behind the SP 2472 and on most Garlic Trains.

I love the way trains look and sound and smell....and I love all that fascinating history, and, most of all, the incredible PEOPLE who make it all happen. I could sit and listen to the "old heads" tell RR stories for hours and hours..... :)

Margaret (SP fan)

[Anonymous]

Good. It's very good to know that there are still Woman out there who are at least have an intrest in Railroads and love their Railfan Hobby. That at least should be good for us guys who should know that where not alone when it comes to Railfanning.:-).
Thanks for the Reply's Lady's.
BNSFrailfan.

[CopCarSS]

I'm in touch with my "feminine side" (or so I'm told by a cousin). Does that count?[:P][;)]

[AlcoRS11Nut]

Sorry to say there are none in my town.[V][:(!] I really wi***here was at least one, my girlfriend now tolerates it. But you know how it goes.

[Kathi Kube]

Joe! You forgot me! I'm heartbroken. [;)]

I'm afraid there aren't too many of us lady railfans around, and I've never seen another around here. I'm in a similar situation with many of you guys, though, in that my husband's not a railfan. And, yes, that puts a damper on my fanning activities.

Fortunately, I've fallen into a great group of friends (yeah, all guys) who are more than willing to go out with me when I do get an opportunity — as well as forward me call lists and whatever other tidbits I might need to have a better chance at catching a few of those lovely trains.

And so it goes.

Kat

[mudchicken]

When do you come west to railfan -or- do we chase you down after Wisconsin Falls or Chicago in October / September...? At least Carl knows you're for real.

[UPTRAIN]

My sister can tell a GE from an EMD and a C40-8 from a B40-8, that's a start! [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kathi Kube

Joe! You forgot me! I'm heartbroken. [;)]

I'm afraid there aren't too many of us lady railfans around, and I've never seen another around here. I'm in a similar situation with many of you guys, though, in that my husband's not a railfan. And, yes, that puts a damper on my fanning activities.

Fortunately, I've fallen into a great group of friends (yeah, all guys) who are more than willing to go out with me when I do get an opportunity — as well as forward me call lists and whatever other tidbits I might need to have a better chance at catching a few of those lovely trains.

And so it goes.

Kat

Your Husband is not a Railfan and you are? Wow,Sorry to hear that.
My Heart goes out to you Girl.
BNSFrailfan.

[jeaton]

Isn't it supposed to be "women" railfans. You may get a call from a Gloria.

And yes, Kathi is real for sure. Met her IRL at the Lake Forest Railroad Photography Conference.

Jay

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

Isn't it supposed to be "women" railfans. You may get a call from a Gloria.

And yes, Kathi is real for sure. Met her IRL at the Lake Forest Railroad Photography Conference.

Jay

And when are you wandering this way again?[|)][|)][|)] (got within 15 feet and still not sure!)-Or are you and the other cheesepickers waiting on October?

Sooner or later we'll tie the country together on this forum.

Mud

[jeaton]

Nah. It is looking like October in the cheese land. Plan on going to Maryland for a week in August, back to Cincinnati later in August all because of new grandchildren on the way.

I might get Colorado on the list a year from next fall after the last of the brood is off to college. I keep telling the wife that if we don't hit the mountains soon, I am going to have to pack oxygen so my old body can deal with the altitude.

Meanwhile, maybe we can promote a gathering of the gang for lunch somewhere in the vastness of WI this fall. I got the date on the calendar.
Jay

[cherokee woman]

Locomutt and I both know Kathi is for real: we met her last August!
She is very real, and she's one fantastic lady!!

[Anonymous]

my wife isn't a railfan yet...but the brainwashing is moving along nicely...[:D]

[Kathi Kube]

Nah, I'm just a figment of your imagination. [:D]

It looks like I'm going to have to take some more time off. I was in Portland, Ore., a few weeks ago for a conference and some chasing along the Columbia River Gorge. (Not nearly enough for my taste, but it seriously tested my husband's patience. Ah, well.)

And some day sooner than later, I imagine, I plan to take a day or two at least and head south. I've got more than a few invites to Deshler, but that'd take some fancy arranging. Still ... sure would be worth it.

Other than that, I'll likely take a Saturday fairly soon and spend it in the Chicago area with a good friend who lives down that way. Too many trains, WAY too little time! But Chicago's an easy day trip. Anyone going to be in the area?

Give me a holler.

Kat

[Anonymous]

I am one of the very fortunate male Railfans. My lady friend is a true woman railfan. She got her start as a kid by climbing and playing on the Pere Marquette 1225 when it was sitting at Michigan State University all those years before its resurrection. She loves Steam and BNSF the most. Additionally, she hunts out graffitti like Smokin Joe's, Collusus of Roads, and Bozo Texino, to name a few. Her favorite railfan locations (we are from Michigan) is Fostoria, Durand, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio. She longs to go to Horseshoe Curve (she is going this summer) and Rochelle. She has been to Dennison, Marion, Bellvue, Deshler, Flint, Owosso, Plymouth, etc. Furthermore she loves old train stations, old signal lights, Fallen Flags, and Railroadianna (can you say switchlocks?). Did I mention she loves to collect and take photos and videos? We often spend a Sunday driving to find old rights of way, or old train stations for photographing and standing near the structures to relieve what it must have been like in the old days. We are baby boomers, so we remember steam but we're too young to appreciate at the time.

The first time we were out together she found a switchlock. I couldn't believe it! And because she is a lady (a pretty one at that) she often gets preferential treatment, where rail personnel offer her all sorts of free stuff or a personally guided tour of areas or train cars where the normal public can not always access. Of course, this is a great benefit for me when I am with her. Also, we are never hassled when out railfanning cause I believe we are viewed as a "couple" standing next to the tracks with camera, as opposed to being viewed as terrorists or something else, as a couple of guys might be perceived.

She has also made many railfan friends (women too) that she railfans with when I am not available. Heck, we have slept in Fostoria's parking lot, and she will stay up all nite if she has to.

If I had a nickel for every time I was told how lucky and fortunate I am to have a lady railfan like her, I would be eating steak instead of chicken. Yes, I AM very fortunate for not only her genuine spirit, but that we share this wonderful hobby together.

Geez, maybe someday I might be the first person to ask for her hand in marriage on this forum (of course after I do it in person on my one knee).

I am going to share this posting with her, maybe she will add more from her perspective.

Wishing you all Steam Views

Bob in Detroit

[MP57313]

I drove by the Gallitzin (PA) tunnels a few weeks ago. There were two lady railfans there, taking pictures from the road bridge.