Who are you?

[Anonymous]

i enjoy reading about train locations across the country and especially
like the maps of the locales presented. i am awaiting the tentative mapping of the rail shortcut in and through chicago that is being talked
about so much.

theo sommerkamp, columbus, oh

[Anonymous]

I have to agree that there should be at least one other category; Former railroader.
I grew up around the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. My father was a crew dispatcher at the Parsons yards in Columbus OH. and during summer vacation from school I would go to work with him. I wasn't in the callers office much though, I would either be in the telegraphers office or out riding a switch engine.
I went to work for C&O after my first hitch in the army and was there when the C&O took over the B&O to become the Chessie System.
So, enter my vote as a rail fan and a former railroader.

[Anonymous]

I worked for a consulting engineering firm which deals with the desin / re-design of on-loading / off-loading rail facilities for the petrochemical & steel processing industries . I specialized in structural design & later, went into project management for installation of same . Iam currently semi-retired & work as an independent consultatant on facility design, installation, & operations . I more or less fell into it ; it's been a real rush !

[Anonymous]

I'm a railfan/model railroader for the past 20+ years. Spent 2002 working for NJ Transit as a train dispatcher, thought combining my hobby with what I love to do for a living (I've been an emergency services dispatcher for the past 11 years) would be an awesome experience. Turned out to be the worst. The job and fellow dispatchers were great, NJT train dispatcher managers made the job the worst experience I've ever had. Fortunately I was able to return to emergency service dispatching and still haven't lost my love for railroading.

[Anonymous]

I started my railfanning at about age 7. My uncle was a gate tender on the NYC main line in NYS. I spent all my time in a shanty about 8 feet from the main line. I can still hear and feel those big Hudsons as they pounded the rail at 75 MPH by the shanty. Oh to be there just once more! I spent this summer covering over 8,800 miles via Amtrak. I rode most every narrow gage in the west. My cup is filled to the brim at age 81. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the theme from CSI! Maybe we could have a spin-off series call "Freight Yard CSI", where the forensic guys investigate all manner of strange happennings around a busy mythical freight yard. Perhaps even "Mainline CSI", investigating rail accidents.

[Anonymous]

My first experience on a train was when I was 10 and traveled to summer camp on a steamer. Later, while working in Philly, I rode commuter trains just about every day. I loved it. Took Amtrak in 1994 from Portland OR to Cleveland, OH. A tremendous event. In 1998 took Southwest Chief Cleveland to Albuquerque NM round trip. I am a retired pastor and finances don't permit much in the way of train travel now. Am interested in Amtrak and other roads' police as I am a police chaplain. I love Trains Magazine.

Chaplain Walt

[walthuston]

I began my railfanning at an early age watching the SP run trains up and down the San Francisco peninsula. I got real active at age 11 when I received my first trains. Railfanning (Buffing) has been a bigger and bigger part of my life ever since. Now that I'm married to a rail fan it's even better. We love to ride all types of trains together. Life is so good at 58.

[Anonymous]

I am 51 years in the industry that I have loved for a lifetime. Since I was a real young
boy. I wanted to be a locomotive engineer on a steam locomotive. I made it on the Korean National Railroad in the 724 th Army Railroad Operating Batallion. then I fired steam for a short time in the USA on the DL&W and was promoted to a Locomotive engineer on the EL then promoted to a RFof E on the EL.,(General)CNJ,Conrail, MP and Amtrak . Did a stint on the MTA of new York City Assistant Director of Inspection and Review mechanical equipment. Now I am a railroad consultant since 1991and has had 56 engineer certificates on railroads all over including Alaska. I have had the greatest life on the Railroads and would do it again if I could .My slide collection is now at 55,000 and I am always going on juants down here in the San Antonio area. I miss the old times that you don't see today. The industry still is my main avocation and will ,till I kick off.

[JoeKoh]

Been a railfan for as long as I remember.N&W frieghts pounding around the curves in Celina Ohio and then we move to Defiance along the old B&O line.Seen the transformation of B&O to chessie then Csx first hand.Started talking to crews at the ice cream place by the depot.Watched them shove cars into a switch behind the ice cream place(switch is now gone).Taken pictures in a lot of friendly little towns as well as Railroad towns.Best advice Take pictures leave footprints.It will go a long way to make your railfan Journey very rewarding.
and stay safe
Joe

[TOMTANGUAY]

Big railfan & modeler since 1951. See related forum of today on the Model Railroader page.
I am also a railroad supplier in the electrical field.

[kevarc]

How about shipper? I am the E&S manager for a utility that burns PRB coal deliverd by UP.

[wcaudle]

I have been a rail fan most of my 53 years. I have been fortunate to have been across the majority of this great nation, railfanning and meeting employees of railroad companies and their suppliers. With very few exceptions, most are pleasant, but professional, and will guide you to a safe but enjoyable area, or give you safe locations near trackside for some great photo ops. Most railfans do obey and are usually rewarded with some fantastic results. However, there are some who do not play well with others, and they are not appreciated.

If we think about this for a moment, would you want a total stranger milling around YOUR place of work, messing around multi-million dollard equipment? I think not.

Please be repectful of the railroads and their personnel, and usually they will reciprocate.

Stay safe.
[8D]

[Anonymous]

My mother worked for Frisco for 36 years. I was too stupid to take her up on her offer of "I can get you on" when I had the chance. I have mentally kicked myself in the butt ever since. Regretfully yours, Jim

[Modelcar]

....One with interest in all aspects of railroading. Special interest perhaps is on the side of the civil engineering required to design and put in place the railroad plant. These interests go all the way back to childhood...decades ago. Fascination with how so much of this design and construction work was done...again decades and decades ago when equipment was not as elaborate and mechanical as in more modern times.

[zardoz]

Bergie-
Suggestion for two additional categories:

Former railroader

Hope-to-be railroader

[Bergie]

Which of the following best describes you?


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