Why do railfans (trainspotters) get such a bad rap?

Question

I've seen a few places where people have openly ridiculed railfans (it seems to be worse in the UK where they make fun of "trainspotters"). What makes railfanning different from any other hobby? OK so it might not be as cool or typical as say watching football but its a good pastime. And railfans are doing a public service by keeping an eye on things. Why are they the butt of so many jokes?

@ Angela M: You have demonstrated perfectly what I'm talking about

@ conx....I hate to ask the obvious, and I don't mean any disrespect, but if you hate rail so much what are you doing on this forum?

@ Conductor Budgie: Yeah I've seen some pretty rabid fans....a few of them won't have jobs since it interferes with train watching...many thanks for an "insiders" view

Answer 1

Railfans get a bad rap for a lot of different reasons, some deserved, some not.

The general public regards trains as more of a nuisance than anything. I often witness a lot of middle fingers, shouting, and grumpy behaviour every time I block a crossing or blow the horn. The public can't understand why someone else would find appeal in something so irritating, disruptive, and loud.

Second, some railfans are a little over the top. I see people standing on the roofs of their cars, climbing trees, and chasing us for miles at a time to catch us at every crossing. Some see it as dedication, some see it as lunacy.

Professional railroaders also poke fun at railfans on a regular basis. Some actually carry a dislike of them; others are indifferent, some have a quiet regard for them (I guess I'd fall into that category), and a very small minority are fans themselves.

I've been guilty of poking fun at them, but I try to keep my jabs in good fun. I was recently shoving over a grade crossing, after having our photo taken on the way over the first time. No flash bulbs when I shoved, so I casually remarked over the radio, "Nobody took my photo this time... I'm insulted!"

You could find fault with any hobby that any person has, and railfans are no exception to this.

Answer 2

Cos trains are uncool, man. Cars are where it's at. Seriously though, all this (I mean trainspotters getting a bad press) started in the UK in the 1960s when the government appointed one Dr Beeching, a man with a pathalogical hatred of trains, to run British Railways. Anyone who opposed his drastic scheme for cutting back the network was ridiculed as pathetic and backward-looking in the media, and it's been the case ever since.

I don't know about the US but whenever we have a character in a TV drama here who's a train enthusiast, he (it's never she, although female railfans do exist) is almost always a bad guy, or at best a complete loser.

It's relaxed a bit since the meteoric rise of the Heritage Railways and 'Thomas the Tank Engine' - a vintage loco painted bright blue with a smiley face on may look a bit odd, but if it helps turn on another generation to railways and their history, etc, I'm all for it.

I've been a rail fan all my life and I'm used to the ragging I get for it. It used to niggle a bit but now I don't care. I'm proud to have taken an interest in and learnt about an industry which has been around for over 200 years, and got to meet, and know of some of the people who've worked for it.

Of course rail fans differ widely and we all have our preferences. I don't get much of a kick out of seeing a class 66 diesel-electric rolling along with a bulk steel train, but then the people who avidly follow such a machine probably think I'm a bit daft chasing vintage steam locos. It doesn't matter - we all share the same hobby.

Btw - let's not take ourselves too seriously. Attila the Stockbroker wrote a brilliant track called 'Trainspotter Rap' which manages to take a dig at both railfans and rappers, and it's very funny.

Answer 3

In my opinion their great interest in trains started in childhood. Most children I know, including my own, are fascinated with trains, planes and fire engines. Most little boys dream of growing up and "driving" a train.

I have worked in several job fields over the years and when people find out I work as a conductor on a freight train the questions start flying. I get asked many more questions than I did as a welder or heating and air tech. Sometimes I have to abruptly end the conversation so I can finish my shopping, banking, or whatever.

I would be willing to bet that if a child had a choice between going to work with mom/dad or spending the day with me on the train I would win hands down.

The way I see it I am living out most little boys dreams.

Railfans can be an asset to a railroad. They know many times when something is out of place. In this post 9/11 era I welcome all the help I can get. Matter of fact, BNSF encourages it. I have met several, they are very nice, polite and take some pretty interesting photos, that they are always willing to share with the train crews.

So I say, lay off and give them a break. There are worse hobbies such as hanging out in bars until closing time, then trying to beat me through the grade crossing on their way home.

Answer 4

I think conx spoke like a true American railroader, for ill or good. Most railroaders hate the company and can't figure out why anyone would obsess over the details of the business. There are those who would find his remarks crude, and they are. Yet, this is how people speak to each other in the cab.

I am a railfan myself, but was also a qualified conductor for a while. I could put up with the foamer as I liked my job and understood why he asked his questions, but I was curious as to why the obsession started and stopped with the motive power. I tried to tell some Rock Island modelers what running on the Spine Line was like and they didn't care. The railfans wanted to know if the SD-50 I was in that day was ex CNW (it was, but I couldn't tell from the inside) and the modelers wanted to know if the Roundhouse was still standing at Trenton. I always was on the lookout for a railfan with a broad interest, but never seemed to find many.

Its a hard hobby to explain to anyone. I suppose you wouldn't have to explain this to someone over 70 as trains were a bigger deal when they were young. Most people now find them pedestrian so the interest others find them is odd and subject to ridicule from the more insensitive.

Answer 5

As for Angela M if it is such a bad thing than why did BNSF ask their railfans to help keep an eye on their tracks and equipment. They ask the railfans to watch for trespassers and suspicious people around their property. They also had a paper that you could print out that said BNSF RAILWAY Citizens for rail security (CRS) it gave you instructions on what to do and not what to do. It said keeping America's rail transportation network safe from crime and terrorist activity is a high priority for today's railroad industry. I love being a railfan and yes I have friends that don't understand and ridicule me about it.
To each their own opinion, that's what I say.

Answer 6

the reason we keep getting a bad wrap is some railfans known as foamers do everything they can to get a train even if it means breaking the law. the railroads have seen it all and thats why they are harsh to us. Name calling has gone on between train crews and railfans on social media and I don't like it. Foamer has been used out of context and is now considered an insult, hobo slang has also been used on policemen and train crews often times getting us arrested for name calling, and some people think this is WWII when train crews got away with murder attacking hobos and railfans alike. I will tell you now THIS IS NOT WWII AND WE ARE NOT IN EMPEROR OF THE NORTH! people have been kicked from chat rooms and it is getting childishness it needs to stop.

Answer 7

Yeah what's with the drug references in the UK? There was even a movie "Trainspotting"...

Maybe it's coz the UK guys seem to take it so seriously. You don't see a lot of USA railfans writing down engine numbers, and coach numbers not hardly ever.

Also, the trains are so routine over there. Who cares about a passenger train that runs hourly? It's interesting... once or twice. Here in the states, railfans seem to have little interest in commuter trains and corridor service, as compared to the freight and long-haul passenger services. Amtrak's Coast Starlight on Mount Shasta, or a parade of freights riding each other's yellow signals across northern Ohio... that's the stuff of our railfans' interest. That I see.

Answer 8

Theres no problem with it, Since I am on trains all the time I see many people just looking and some I can tell they are there for the train, I'd say every 5 miles in a city area I see somone sitting or parked.
Me, I dont know why some people have to yell over football, its not YOUR team, its just a team you like, the players could care much less for the fans, so dont worry about the haters!

Answer 9

They are seen as old poddering fools mostly. Some are by folks who think trains are backward and old fashioned. Others just don't get it and may have a hobby thats seen as crap by railfans.

Answer 10

Speaking for myself, and hopefully for others, I don't give a damn what anyone thinks of my hobbies, including model railroads. As far as railfanning is concerned, typical day to day operations aren't that interesting to me, but when there are engines under steam I have a keen interest. To each his own.

I think railroading is interesting to more people than many think. I have noticed that many people new to Y!A post their first question in the rail category, and their number is on the rise, as well as those having an interest in modeling.

As far as the nay sayers are concerned, they know who they are, only they know why they ridicule, and they can kiss off.