A railfan, rail buff or train buff (American English), railway enthusiast, railway buff or trainspotter (Australian/British English), or ferroequinologist is a person who is recreationally interested in trains and rail transport systems.
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A railfan, also known as a “rail enthusiast” or “train buff” in North America, is a person with a strong affinity for anything related to trains and rail travel.
“Foamers” is how railroad employees refer to railfans because they think we “foam” at the mouth anytime we see a train. To them, railroading is just a job. To us, it's a passion.
The hobby extends to all aspects of rail transport systems. Railfans may have one or more particular concentrations of interest, such as: Railway locomotives and rolling stock. Still-used or disused railroad lines, bridges, tunnels, stations, signal boxes and other infrastructure.
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.
Trespassing on the railway is illegal and dangerous. You could be taken to court and face a £1,000 fine. For this reason, when we see someone trespassing, we have to stop all trains in the vicinity to remove trespassers, check for damage and clear blockages.
noun British. 1. someone who is very interested in trains and spends time going to stations and recording the numbers of the trains that they see. 2. informal.
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.
A railfan, rail buff or train buff (American English), railway enthusiast, railway buff or trainspotter (Australian/British English), or ferroequinologist is a person who is recreationally interested in trains and rail transport systems.
The frog, also known as the common crossing (or V-rail in Australian terminology), is the crossing point of two rails. This can be assembled out of several appropriately cut and bent pieces of rail or can be a single casting of manganese steel.
Etymology. From grice, supposed plural of grouse (on analogy to mouse/mice), likening a person who identifies railway locomotives to a sportsman who bags grouse.
While both builders use fans on the main radiator banks to assist in cooling, EMD's system also uses a shutter system to control the flow of air across the radiators. Modern EMD and GE locomotives use a split cooling system with separate paths to reduce the coolant temperature to the levels required.
Trains provide a surprisingly peaceful form of travel for those on the autism spectrum, fostering calmness and clarity of thought. Riding on a train is especially beneficial, with its rhythmic motion, as well as its unique aspect of providing visual stimulation as the scenery passes by.
A railfan, rail buff or train buff (American English), railway enthusiast, railway buff or trainspotter (Australian/British English), or ferroequinologist is a person who is recreationally interested in trains and rail transport systems.
Ghost trains – also known as parliamentary trains – date back to the 1960s and are services that run over a line – or stop at a station – so infrequently that they often go unnoticed.
It's an offence to be drunk on a train in the UK – you could be given a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) and fined. You can also be refused permission to travel if you're drunk. There are rail services in the UK (often longer distance routes) where buying or drinking alcohol are allowed.
The most common form of penalty for train surfers is a fine, however, in some countries, such as the United States or Canada, train surfers can be not only fined, but imprisoned too. In the United Kingdom, train surfing is prohibited under railway byelaw No.