How many railfans are there?

Trains Magazine, an industry publication, estimates that there are 175,000 U.S. railfans, mostly male baby boomers. The word 'enthusiast' doesn't begin to cover their devotion, said Rhonda Del Boccio, head of the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce, which oversees railfan tourism in Folkston.



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True confession (as if you didn't know): I am a railfan. But don't call me a “foamer!” People who love trains come in all shapes and sizes, but “foamer” is a term they universally hate. “Foamers” is how railroad employees refer to railfans because they think we “foam” at the mouth anytime we see a train.

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Walking or playing on railroad property is trespassing. It is illegal, very dangerous and poses a serious safety and security risk.

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Railfans get used to the usual patterns of trains in their area, and use scanners to listen in on railroad dispatch frequencies. But it takes knowledge and practice to decipher what you hear on the scanner.

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Railroaders see railfan's as a nuisance only when they get in the way and/or endanger themselves or others. They may not understand what you see in it, especially if they don't like the job.

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Trains Magazine, an industry publication, estimates that there are 175,000 U.S. railfans, mostly male baby boomers.

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“People assume that trains are loud, but that assumption is based on the fact that when a train's gone past them in a station it's noisy. That's because the noise a train makes is mainly projected to either side. When trains are moving directly towards you they are barely audible–until it's too late.”

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In one study conducted at the BNSF Railway Hobart Railyard in Los Angeles, the California Environmental Protection Agency estimated that residents living near a railyard experienced a higher risk of carcinogen exposure.

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It's Illegal Trespassing onto railroad property, including tracks, bridges, buildings and signal towers, is illegal. Violators are subject to a citation for trespassing. Union Pacific will seek removal from publication any photograph or video that violates this policy.

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A railroad frog is a device that helps the wheels rolling from one track to another. It is also called the “common crossing”. As a part of the railroad switch, it takes the area where two rails cross. Crossing nose and wing rails are main parts of the frog.

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The Dude Train traveled from Boston to Woods Hole, Massachusetts from June 1st to October 1st for the convenience of summer residents starting in 1884. The train made its last run at the end of the 1916 season. Photograph by Baldwin Coolidge. Photographer: Coolidge, Baldwin, 1845-1928 Format: Photographs.

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Their speed, however, will be limited by the complexities of the 457-mile route, which is old, curvy and carries a mix of freight, commuter and intercity trains. Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.

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While not nearly as expensive, taking an Amtrak train across the US is also largely the domain of rail enthusiasts as it takes multiple days and costs significantly more than flying. In countries like Japan, South Korea and much of Europe, the opposite is true as the train is simply a way to travel larger distances.

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Six commercial maglev systems are currently in operation around the world. One is located in Japan, two in South Korea, and three in China. In Aichi, Japan, near Nagoya, a system built for the 2005 World's Fair, the Linimo, is still in operation.

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Fact #4: Trains Can Stop, But Not Quickly So if you think a train can see you and stop in time, think again. Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision, which is why vehicles should never drive around lowered gates or try to “beat” a train.

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Surrounding terrain also can affect sound. For instance, in the instance of a train passes through a corridor of trees, those trees can muffle the sound in much the same way as sound baffles that line the walls of a recording studio.

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By the time a train operator sees you, it is too late to stop the train in time. An oncoming train is moving faster and is closer to you than it appears. Similar to an airplane traveling at 150 mph that appears to float onto the runway, it's hard to determine a train's speed and distance from you.

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