What do you think is the PERFECT RAILFANNING VEHICLE?

[Anonymous]

I was wondering what you all thought is the PERFECT vehicle for railfanning and train chasing, etc?

For me it is (luckily) what my dad and I use for our railfanning ventures: A Jeep Grand Cherokee with four wheel drive and a V-8

The Jeep is perfect for railfanning for us as it is fast enough (V-8 power) to catch up to/ race ahed of trains when chasing those rare ones, like F45s!!!!, it has a ton of go-anywhere offroad cabability for even the roughest, steepest, muddiest railroad acces roads / backwoods trails (that cabability sure came in handy in the mountains of Montana[;)]) and it is large enough to haul our railfanning gear like chairs, food, cameras, triposd and the ultimate railfanning necesity- TRAINS MAGAZINE!!!! Not to mention it pulls our camper, our "base" on long distance adventures!

So there you have it, my perfect railfanning vehicle, and you[?][?][?]

[:D]

[Anonymous]

The Train, man what a stupid question.

[eolafan]

Anything that will get me trackside and back safely.

[Anonymous]

Why[:(!]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

Why? [:(!]

[:D]Because in a perfect world I would be on the train not watchng it.[:D]

[Anonymous]

So you would rather be on a train than trackside for it? Ok, I could see that. That is how my dad is...

Me, I like to be trackside, there for the action![:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

Why[:(!]

If you don't mean perfect don't say perfect, you mean as best as possible I think a convertible for train chasing so you can take picutes while chasing the train. I don't need room to haul a lot of gear just my camera bag so it doesn't need to be huge. So a nice sports car for me.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098

The Train, man what a stupid question.

Strectched out in the lounge car, sipping on a beer, and watching whatever other trains and RR equipment might go by the window. Short of that, yeah, a sports car with a rag top would be cool.

[trainboyH16-44]

A hirailer that can get off the tracks REALLY fast!
Matthew

[Chris30]

Who says it has to be a vehicle? What about a bicycle. That will get you into some interesting places that a vehicle might not go. Of course, if you're the railfan who likes to chase the trains, then the bicycle might not be the best option unless you can pedal Lance Armstrong fast.

CC

[csmith9474]

MT-19A with an ice chest full of Dr Pepper and cookies.

[Anonymous]

Convertible would be nice on pavement, but what happens when the road becomes bareley a road at all? That is when the Jeep really comes in handy![8D] I have gotten some of my best shots from a rough Jeep road!

[AlcoRS11Nut]

I love my Jeep Cherokee

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AlcoRS11Nut

I love my Jeep Cherokee

Jeeps rock[8D]

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that anyplace around here that one needs a Jeep to get to is private property.

[Anonymous]

In Illinois you would be right, take it from a born "Illinoisan" But in Montana you would be dead wrong. The acces road to Mullan Pass, an MRL hotspot, is a dirt path requiring four wheel drive, and is a public road and there are many more examples of this sort of thing in more rural parts of the country.

[ShaunCN]

a hi-rail truck would be the best!

[Anonymous]

Yes!

[Anonymous]

Land Rover Discovery (Series 1 - avoid the later ones as there's too many electronic bits in them) - TDI or V8, it's your choice, with fuel at £1/litre the TDI is the only affordable option. Big windows (I've taken more than a few decent photos by simply opening a window and resting my elbow on the sill) and able to go anywhere you want it to. The Camel Trophy used them for years ploughing through jungles where there was no road before. Not too shabby on road either when you get the hang of it (diesels aren't slow - they just take a bit longer to react)...

Ultimate railfan vehicle would probably be a police helicopter - you get a full set of cameras (video and thermal imaging), and of course the ability to go literally anywhere at high speeds!

[Anonymous]

Yes to both of those!

[Anonymous]

Helecopter. It been done w/this mode of transport

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

In Illinois you would be right, take it from a born "Illinoisan" But in Montana you would be dead wrong. The acces road to Mullan Pass, an MRL hotspot, is a dirt path requiring four wheel drive, and is a public road and there are many more examples of this sort of thing in more rural parts of the country.

Yes, I agree. What is true here is not necessarily true by you. I would consider you to be lucky to be where you are.

[edblysard]

Outside of the city, my old Jeep Wrangler...but then a older Land Rover, or a Toyota Land Cruiser would do well also...you can flip a Rover on it's side, and if you can right it, it will run just fine...have done that a few times...

In the city or where there is public road access...I prefer my Dodge Magnum...enough room in the back(more that a Durango) to haul all your stuff, fast enough to catch almost any train you want, and rides like a Mercedes E class...(hint, same basic running gear)...
Ed

[Jordan6]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

QUOTE: Originally posted by AlcoRS11Nut

I love my Jeep Cherokee

Jeeps rock[8D]

From a railroaders point of view, I'd have to say the Jeep Cherokee is the worst railfanning vehicle. All the trainmasters and roadforeman drive them. Sorry to burst your bubble.[:I]

[dragenrider]

My perfect train chasing vehicle:

1997 Ford Explorer V-8 with all wheel drive and extra electrical plug ins. And a fantastic air conditioner!

[espeefoamer]

The perfect railfan vehicle would have 4 wheel drive,enough room to sleep in the back,and store enough equipment for a long weekend. It would also have a Klingon type cloaking device so when the police arive you can push a button and the car dissapears [:D].

[mustanggt]

My feet- I don't railfan but it seems everytime I see a train I'm on foot. But if I had to pick the ultimate vehicle, it would probably have to be a Jacked up American or Japanese truck , Benz Unimog, or an International CXT- basically a rich man's Dually pickup[:p]

[Anonymous]

Something big with four wheel drive that burns a lot of gas!

I'll let my little sister drive the jeepie.

[Junctionfan]

A police car; think about it....

Gas is payed for by the taxpayer; nobody is going to call the police on you or suspect you of being up to no good; you can chase a train through town by flicking on the lights and sirens and folk will pull over for you; air conditioning; computer (get some games happening); and lastly, you can park it almost anywhere you want without worrying about a ticket.

[kschmidt]

Did some say a "police car". I don't think many trains could outrun this squad car. It was posed at Butler Yard in Milwaukee, WI for an Operation Lifesaver train. Best part was I got to drive it there and back. Just the perks of the job, and I got a cab ride for the OLS special



Keith Schmidt