The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addicted?

LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-03 AT 08:11 PM (EDT)

Everyone on this forum here likes trains to some degree, some alot more than others (i am one of the the some more than others ). What seems to alure us to the tracks on a daily or weekly basis to watch the trains that haul our nation's goods? For me it started as a kid watching the cool paintjobs on the locomotives and rollingstock and the cascade of color (some not apllied by the railroad ), roll by. Now it is kind of an adrenaline and power rush for me. Standing next to the tracks as 12000 horsepower pulled by three 200 ton engines pulling a mile long stack train i get a rush out of. The size and dimension of these trains still boggle my mind to this day. Also the smells and sounds of railroading. The smell or diesel fumes and tar grease and that occasional smell from the grain trains.... The ka-bang-ka-bang-ka-bang, of a flat spotted well car or the high pitched squeal of flanges going around a tight curve. Three engines in run 8 going by you at 65 miles an hour....and of course the doppler affect and train horns. The liveries still are a big attention grabber for me as i see my favorite railroads' locomotives and rolling stock go by. Union Pacific Flag units i think are the neatest modern livery (i'm a patriotic nut), but good ole KCS grey and BNSF green and orange are still my favorites. Seeing rarities while railfanning such as a Virgin Sante Fe C44-9W or BN sd40-2 are an alure also for the "thrill of the hunt"; not to mention i am VERY biased towards ANYTHING EMD , so if an sd70m comes through town, my digicam will shoot more emd than GE in the power lineup. (My biased in EMD is also evident with my streamliners)Pacing trains is also fun. I have done this on several occasions and watching a train travel through the praries gives you a since of scope out how large our country is, as well as it's scenic beauty. Trains, although seemingly ordinary to most folks, and in some cases a pain in the a$$, for us here, they are not only fun to watch, model on a layout and represent digitally, but a part of americana that has been around longer than any other type of powered wheel run transport. Trains still continue to lure us in droves on any given day to tracks all acorss the country (and world) and wait to see that distant headlight grow brighter and horn echo across the land as the next train we wait to see approches us.......Why are you driven to the tracks to watch trains?......
Hauling America one pixel at a time
Bill Hemb; train sim repainter http://www.cascadenscale.org/Evergreen/tsdm.htm

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RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, AlphaMaster, Sep-05-03, 08:11 PM, (1) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, BNSF4723, Sep-05-03, 08:14 PM, (2) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, FireDragonLightning, Sep-05-03, 08:21 PM, (3) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, Lone_Gunman_SG, Sep-06-03, 03:14 PM, (13) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, mrWM734, Sep-05-03, 08:36 PM, (4) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, ssw, Sep-05-03, 08:56 PM, (5) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, kenya, Sep-05-03, 09:06 PM, (6) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, Curt, Sep-05-03, 09:26 PM, (7) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, BN_9402, Sep-05-03, 09:31 PM, (8) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, Thunderbolt3985, Sep-05-03, 10:00 PM, (9) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, jtr1962, Sep-05-03, 10:46 PM, (10) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, heffed, Sep-06-03, 02:50 AM, (11) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, dadbill, Sep-06-03, 03:18 AM, (12) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, bnsf1959, Sep-06-03, 04:16 PM, (14) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, johnward711, Sep-06-03, 05:49 PM, (15) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, sd70mac666, Sep-07-03, 11:36 AM, (16) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, heavymetal91, Sep-07-03, 10:52 PM, (17) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, Claude350, Sep-08-03, 07:59 AM, (18) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, chosenfrozen44, Sep-08-03, 10:09 AM, (19) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, johnward711, Sep-08-03, 12:43 PM, (20) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, ATF1224, Sep-08-03, 09:04 PM, (21) RE: The Mystique and alure of trains, why are we addict, keiffer, Sep-08-03, 10:11 PM, (22)

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Excellent post Bill. I like trains for most of the reasons you stated.

Danny - Pittsburgh

There's a light at the end of every tunnel, just pray it's not a train.
http://clanswl.mowshed.com/

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I love trains because of the raw power they generate and the beautiful smell a diesel locomotive gives off... oh you gotta love that. Theres many more reasons but I couldn't possibly state them all.

Looks Like a Pony RUNS LIKE A STALLION

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-03 AT 08:22 PM (EDT)

>Now it is kind of an adrenaline and power rush for me. Standing >next to the tracks as 12000 horsepower pulled by three 200 ton >engines pulling a mile long stack train i get a rush out of. The >size and dimension of these trains still boggle my mind to this >day. Also the smells and sounds of railroading. The smell or diesel >fumes and tar grease and that occasional smell from the grain >trains.... The ka-bang-ka-bang-ka-bang, of a flat spotted well car >or the high pitched squeal of flanges going around a tight curve. >Three engines in run 8 going by you at 65 miles an hour....and of >course the doppler affect and train horns.
That is a very good explanation! That about sums it up for me too! The way the earth shakes as you stand next to a train is something that not everyone experiences..or wants to. It's a pity more people aren't involved in trains. They just want the goods, not caring about how it gets to the Grocery Store.I love the colours, and the variety! All those different locos, cars, and MOW! I love the MOW stuff! I love the CPR's Beaver livery! Especially on those SD90's! Im like you Bill, EMD biased! LOLIt started as a kid, grew from there. My parents sometimes look at me funny when I start telling them about the differences between a SD9043MAC and a SD90MAC-H! LOLAs a kid, I was surounded by trains. Live right by a mainline, always had Thomas the Tank Engine videos, toys, games. My parents took me to the yards to watch the huge locos shunting the yard. My Grandparents played a big part too. My grandpa loves 'em, too. Took a lot of excursion trains too! (Port Stanely Terminal Rail)I could go on and on about them...But, Better not waste too much bandwidth!

Jay
http://www.freewebs.com/peterbiltsrule

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Sheer size and power...and i just like them------------------------------------------------------------
"Well sir there's nothing on earth like a genuine bona-fide electrified six-car monorail!"My grandma says that Train Simulator was the cheapest train set she ever bought me

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-03 AT 08:38 PM (EDT)

I like trains because of the three S's. They are the Sights, Sounds, and Smells. There's something about the way an engine looks when it's going across a stretch of track that makes me like them. Also,the sounds that trains sometimes make are neat. Finally, the cab of a steam engine has a certain smell to it. It's a mixture of coal, steam, and oil that seems to have a particular odor.mrWM734
http://a.1asphost.com/baltoohiorrfan/index.htmlHELP OUT THE B&O Roundhouse Restoration Fund at www.borail.org

group project: B&O 1800's pack

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My blood runs Cotton Belt/Milwaukee/steam/ coal/oil smoke / hot oil smell/ diesel fumes/sound/earth shaking rumbles, etc., ad infinitum
That's about it.. I'm hooked!

Bradley Linda
Waco, Texas

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For me it is above But I love steam locomotives my mom is a steam train fan and my dad is a EMD fan.

All ways remembering BigBoy 4023 and her run throuth Green River Wyoming on train 359 a 600 car mixed freight.

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I feel pretty much the same way as the others have stated. I think railfanning is, for me, best described as a total assault on one's senses. As mentioned, the sight, sound, and smells of a long freight struggling upgrade; what a rush!

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>Why are you driven to the tracks to watch trains?...... Easy, I work for them.Austin
Midwest Rail Group

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Yes, I like trains for most of the readons you posted as well. However, because the only freight I see in Queens, NY is seeing a cut of freight cars on a spur while riding the (7) Train, I am a bit more closer to the subway than the freight railroads I rarely see on trips outside of New York. Walking down the steps into the subway station and smelling the battery acid looming around gets me going. Seeing a St. Louis Car Co.-built R36 World Fair trainset clack-clacking into the station and hearing the loud "SHRUSH" of the air dumping, the doors opening, the PA going, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this will be our last stop, last stop. Transfer is available to the LIRR. Please take all belongings with you and thank you for riding with MTA New York City Transit," that I get a rush out of. Stepping into the first car of the train, I immediately rush to the famous Railfan Window, where I can get a moterman's eye view of the rails leading to the light that is the El. Riding the El is like flying over Queens and looking at the buildings and apartments fly by. Occaisionally I hear the "HHHONK HONK" that drives away the Maintenance Workers to another spot on the rails. In the distance I see the New York City skyline in its glory. After a few stops after entering the tunnel, the PA goes, "This is 5th Ave. Transfer is available to the B, D, F and V Trains." I almost mournfully leave my railfan window to give to another Transit rider.

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It started for me when I used to ride the subways as a child. Those were the trains I knew and loved, not the other types of trains mentioned here. The only freight trains I saw were in HO scale. After a time my interest waned and I moved on to other things. Later on, when I commuted to college on the NEC I saw mile long freight trains and watched AEM-7s fly by at 125+ mph. I was hooked again, and have been ever since. Never got to build a layout but I do have a nice collection of HO. When MSTS came out I became addicted to digital railroading. Not quite the same as scale models, but many more operational possibilities. Best of all, no space requirements(other than a hard drive or two), and digital railroading should eventually be almost as good as the real thing as computer graphics continue to improve.

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>Why are you driven to the tracks to watch trains?...... You know, that's a very good question. One that I really don't have an answer for...I've just been fascinated by trains since I was a kid. My parents tell me "train" was one of my first words.I can't think of any specific reason. I'm just amazed by them. -Jeff

Union Pacific is my drug.

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Coming into my interest at the end of the first-generation diesels and the dawn of second generation dieselization as a young boy,
I'll just sum it up in a few sentences:-The ground quaking when E8 passenger liners rolled into the station.
-The curiousity over seeing first low-nose GP9s and GP20s.
-The excitement shared with friends over seeking out the new high-horsepower U25Bs and GP30s!
-Watching yard activities from a high vantage point; turntable, hump, and coal loaders.
-The steam and exhaust of Union Station.
-The tremendious GG-1!
-A lash-up of five engines pulling and endless coal train.
-Being invited (or rather inviting yourself) into the cab.
-Collecting and painting tiny minatures of the great trains you've seen, or vice-versa.
-Oh, and seeing your first steam engine (make that three- 4449, 2472 and the 3985) in action at thirty-eight, Priceless!

db

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You said it all, Bill. I can sit on a park bench by the BNSF tracks at work and really get a close-up view of the trains going by. I got my first interest in trains riding the "Super Chief" from Chicago to LA and back when I was a kid. What a thrill ride it is! I have rode the Illinois Central passenger train from Chicago to Springfield, Ill. and rode on the Chicago CTA EL a numberous times. My mother knows I'm a train fanatic so she gets me stuff related to trains like Christmas ornaments and stuff like that. I guess I'll like trains for the rest of my life.Ken

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>Why are you driven to the tracks to watch trains?...... Christmas 1955

john

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mine's more of a mental health issue.I wa sheavily involved in modelling and took an observance on real railroads on the advice of my doctor. I was going to bow out of the entire thing in january 2000, but once again I could not.

Dr. Satan

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You have pretty much summed it up, for me I think it's the history, trains wrere around a long time before the invention of the automobile, besides the fact that I JUST LOVE TRAINS!!! I don't know how to explain it other than just thinking about them pulls on my heart strings
Joel

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-08-03 AT 08:00 AM (EDT)

Nothing sounds better than hearing those EMDs notching out.I love it when you hit the crossing and the ladies are waving.

Claude350 Piedmont Division Raleigh East
cdebnam@bellsouth.net

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Question...........Would it be called child endangerment to get your son into model railroading and the likes? CG

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>Question...........
>
>Would it be called child endangerment to get your son into
>model railroading and the likes?
>
>CG When I was 8 years old, and sniper was 5, we spent our summer hunting for pop bottles so we could cash them in for enough money to ride the Lake Street EL. It cost 19 cents (12 cents for me and 7 cents for Jim)so we had to 'find' at least 10 bottles. We would board at the Cicero Avenue station and ride around the loop 3 or 4 times, getting off at Cicero, crossing the platform, and catching the next eastbound. I don't think our parents found out until a couple years later, when we found ourselves downtown with only 1 dime. After we got caught trying to sneek on, we spent our last dime for a phone call to Dad. "YOU GOT YOURSELVES DOWN THERE, YOU CAN DAMNED WELL FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET YOURSELVES BACK!" After spending about an hour sitting at the station at Randolph and Wabash, contemplating a 6 mile walk through some rough 'hoods, a kindly, old {probably about my age now, 53) Station Attendant, paid our fairs home. THEN the trouble started.

john

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I dunno why more women don't like trains, you'd think they'd like sitting on 4000 Horsepower

The Norfolk Southern Winston-Salem District

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Jake... PRICELESS!!!! LOL!!!

---- Keith Getter ----

-- "Power for You" --

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