Unfortunately, some overeager railfans can hinder railroad operations by their unsafe activities, and even thefts from railroad property. Railfans who are not conscious of proper safety procedures or who trespass upon railroad property can become problems for the very industry that they appreciate so much.
Unfortunately, some overeager railfans can hinder railroad operations by their unsafe activities, and even thefts from railroad property. Railfans who are not conscious of proper safety procedures or who trespass upon railroad property can become problems for the very industry that they appreciate so much.
Another theory put forth is an [[Obsessive compulsive disorder]] with roots in early childhood development, mainly due to lack of proper socialization. An August 1987 study in the ''Southern Ontario Review of Psychology and Neurology'' estimated 78% to 93% of so called "railfans" are suffering from this condition. A standard course of anti-depressants and therapy was effective against obsessive compulsive disorder in the majority of the test subjects. {{ref_label|Schwartzman|1|a}} However, such obsessive tendencies are not restricted to railfans; see also: [[Fan (aficionado)]]
==Railfan hotspots==
==Railfan hotspots==
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* [http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/watching.html Top 20 Train Watching Spots in Chicago]
* [http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/watching.html Top 20 Train Watching Spots in Chicago]
* [http://www.mexlist.com/welcome.htm MEXLIST Resource of information on Mexican railways and railfans]
* [http://www.mexlist.com/welcome.htm MEXLIST Resource of information on Mexican railways and railfans]
==References==
# {{note|Schwartzman_a}} {{cite journal
|author=R. Schwartzman
|title="Obsessive Compulsive Railroad Enthusiasts: A Light at the end of the Tunnel"
|journal=Southern Ontario Review of Psychology and Neurology
|year=1987
|volume=20
|issue=6
|pages=220–243}}
[[Category:Rail transport]]
[[Category:Rail transport]]
Revision as of 01:52, 10 March 2006
"Train spotting" redirects here. For other uses, see Trainspotting.
Some railfans like to use the term Ferroequinology (the study of the Iron Horse) in describing their hobby. In Australia the term gunzel is also sometimes used. In the British Midlands, railway staff call trainspotters grizzers. The term Gricer is also used in the UK. Rail enthusiasts are also sometimes referred to as foamers by American railworkers, alluding to foaming at the mouth in excitement over train operations. In Melbourne, Australia, the use of the word gunzel is generally used to refer that a tramway enthusiast. Railfans can be found worldwide.
Activities
The hobby extends to all aspects of the railway systems, though various people have particular concentrations of interest:
Most railfans are interested in trains. In the United States, 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. In the past, the term "FRN" (Fucking Railroad Nut) was used more extensively. In Europe and especially the United Kingdom, the term "trainspotter" is sometimes used, although this refers to the specific activity of watching trains and tracking the locomotives which pass, and has a much narrower meaning than railfan. However, those with a specific interest in the subject are often called anoraks, as the anorak is the stereotypical attire of trainspotters.
Starting in about the 1970s, the term "ferroequinology" began to be used to describe the study of trains and railroading. The term is a play on words of various Latin and Greek roots: ferrous which translates as iron, equine which translates as horse, and ology to indicate "the study of". Therefore, a ferroequinologist is someone who studies the "iron horse", which itself is another name for a locomotive.
Railway photography
Train photography is common among railfans; most railfans do so from public property unless they have permission from a property owner to photograph on their property. Occasionally, they run into problems with law enforcement, especially after 9/11, because they are sometimes viewed as suspicious. Railroad companies also sometimes dislike railfans, considering them a nuisance. Railfans respond that their presence makes the railroads safer, since they typically know what is normal behavior and can spot someone who is up to no good, or something that appears to be out of place or unusual. Some railroad photographers have become well known in their own right for their works. Many railfans are very familiar with the works of H. Reid, Otto Perry and O.Winston Link.
Connex Melbourne now require any railfan wishing to take photographs to apply for and obtain a permit. Permits last for 90 days, except in the case of some select stations in which a permit only lasts for 7 days. This system has been met with resentment from the railfan community, and many refuse to apply for permits. In November, 2005, one railfan was issued with an infringement notice simply for holding a camera on a platform.
Radio scanners are common equipment for listening in on railroad frequencies in order to know when trains are about to arrive. Model railroads including model trains are common hobbies for railfans when not out watching trains. Toy trains are less accurate but also popular items.
Train spotting
Railfans who call themselves "train spotters" make an effort to spot every piece of rolling stock known to exist for a particular railroad company. To this end, they collect and exchange detailed information about the movements of locomotives and other equipment on the railway network, and become very knowledgeable about its operations.
The equipment of a train spotter consists, generally, of a data book listing all the locomotives or other equipment in question, in which locomotives seen are ticked off; a notebook and pens, to note down sightings to transfer into the book at leisure; a thick anorak, to keep warm and dry in unpredictable weather; and an infinite supply of patience. More advanced trainspotters sometimes use a tape recorder instead of the notebook. Modern times have seen the addition of the cellphone and/or pager as an essential tool of communication with others in the hobby, while various Internet mailing lists and web sites allow for the exchange of information as well. There are also websites which allow spotters to record and cross reference their sightings with other spotters. One example is LocoScene and another is RailSpot.
A development from trainspotting is the haulage enthusiast or basher. These individuals are not content merely watching trains; instead, the aim is to ride on them. Some attempt to ride behind or in the cab of as many locomotives as they can, marking them off in a book just like a regular trainspotter. Still others are only interested in certain types and classes of locomotive. Others attempt to cover as much of the railway network as they can, these people are usually referred to as Gricers or track bashers.
The term "train spotter" is often used as a derogatory term towards someone perceived to have an enthusiasm for acquiring or hoarding detailed or humdrum information. It was translated in French as the neologismFerrovipathe which literally means "railway disorder".
Other activities
Some railfans are interested in other aspects of railroads not directly dealing with the trains. They may be interested in studying the history of the railroad companies, their infrastructure and operations, including never-built plans. Abandoned railroad grades can often be found long after the railroad stops using them. Trams may also be of interest.
Various magazines, clubs and museums are designed mainly for railfans, concentrating on the history of trains and railroads. Some clubs organize fantrips, either by car or by train; the New York Transit Museum owns some old equipment with which fantrips are occasionally run on the New York City Subway.
Many railfans also collect "railroadiana" or "railwayana". Railroadiana refers to artifacts from railroads and railroad operations and could include nearly anything to do with a particular railroad, including (but not limited to): public or employee timetables, locomotive number boards, dining car china, passenger traintickets, tools and pieces of equipment such as lanterns, or sometimes items as big as train horns, or track speeders. Although few can afford the price or the space for storage, some railfans even go so far as to collect full size rolling stock.
In the New York Metropoltian area, the term Railfan is used in in a form that combines the normal meaning of the word with all the ativites assoicated with being a Metrophile.
Sometimes the appeal of trains is nostalgic, recalling an earlier era when the railroads played a central role in commerce and transportation, and the train depot was the center of every town. Sometimes the appeal can come from a fondness for the power of large machinery. Sometimes there is an appeal of the scenery of the railroad running through large, uninviting terrain, or the gritty ambiance of the urban train yard. In this case, urban exploration poses a similar appeal.
Another appeal of the railroads is the business side of railroading. Railroads were once central to economic growth and commerce and still are to some degree. The history of great railroads and railroaders such as James J. Hill is a fascination for some, whether they view them in a positive way as capitalist heroes or in a negative way as robber barons. This can be compared to the same way that some people find inspiration in more recent business successes such as Donald Trump or Bill Gates.
Many railfans once worked for a railroad themselves, or had parents or other relatives who did, leading to a lifelong continued interest in trains. Others developed a strong interest in trains through a hobby such as model railroading.
Many people who would not otherwise think of themselves as railfans just like trains. Most cannot explain why. Songs and stories have glorified railroading ever since the invention of the locomotive, especially in the United States, while children's toys and books about trains continue to be popular. The Railroad Tycoon series of simulationcomputer games is another example of railroads' enduring popularity.
Safety
Railfans can also keep the railroad areas safer by reporting crimes and suspicious activity. In the United Kingdom the British Transport Police have used train spotters' vast knowledge and widespread presence to their advantage, and have actively encouraged them to report any suspicious persons or activities. In America, however, concerns over terrorism have led to situations where railfans are followed or confronted by local law enforcement or railroad police.
Many experienced railfans have enhanced knowledge of railroad operations and hazards that can help the railroad, such as reporting malfunctioning crossing gates and other equipment. The history of the railway industry is full of accidents that could have been easily prevented had someone reported what they had seen; for example a fire in the last carriages of a long train may be obvious to a track-side observer but not to those in the locomotive.
Unfortunately, some overeager railfans can hinder railroad operations by their unsafe activities, and even thefts from railroad property. Railfans who are not conscious of proper safety procedures or who trespass upon railroad property can become problems for the very industry that they appreciate so much.
Another theory put forth is an Obsessive compulsive disorder with roots in early childhood development, mainly due to lack of proper socialization. An August 1987 study in the Southern Ontario Review of Psychology and Neurology estimated 78% to 93% of so called "railfans" are suffering from this condition. A standard course of anti-depressants and therapy was effective against obsessive compulsive disorder in the majority of the test subjects. [1] However, such obsessive tendencies are not restricted to railfans; see also: Fan (aficionado)
Railfan hotspots
Various places are popular for train-watching railfans due to the large numbers of trains that pass through or nice views.
Hornsby railway station, Sydney - lots of trains, a lot of variety of trains, freight trains, complext and unpredictable train movements, signals to watch, complex track layout.
Railfans have a lot of jargon (and railfans do make fun of the reporting marks) that can be foreign to other people. However, there are enough differences between UK and US railfan slang to warrant two separate articles in describing them.
^ R. Schwartzman (1987). ""Obsessive Compulsive Railroad Enthusiasts: A Light at the end of the Tunnel"". Southern Ontario Review of Psychology and Neurology. 20 (6): 220–243.
