Why would anyone want to train-watch?

Question

There are some people that enjoy the art of train-watching. My question is: why would want to do so? Is there something I am missing in this practice of watching of trains? What is so exciting about watching a stupid freight train go past you?

Answer 1

I would strongly suggest a different hobby for you.

Perhaps stamp collecting, something a bit more exciting.

Do you really expect everyone to like the same hobby?

I couldn't give a rat sass about quilting but I dont think any less of people that do.

You really should get over yourself.

Answer 2

Train Watching

Answer 3

Think about this. I am a teenager who loves Railfanning. Personally, I fit all the above stated reasons for loving the railroad. There is another reason for me though; The Past. The Railroads let someone learn about history of The Railroad, the Country, and in fact even the History of the United states. Also, While I am not a diehard fan of the modern locomotives, You have to admire the power, the apparent Ground shaking that comes when a 100 car train flies by you, or how a crew of a few can control such a beast. I personally Love the steam locomotive though, and easy to see why. The steam locomotive is alive,Between the chuffing,the panting, the whistle sounding lonesome through the day and night,And the fact IT IS ALIVE, as much as a machine can be alive. Besides Railfanning is a great hobby, you learn about history,Safety,Geography, and the like.

Answer 4

I'm Guessing you're a teenager, so I'm not surprised you don't "get it" so to speak... As a life-long rail fan and train buff, I've been watching trains ever since the scene was so very different from what it used to be. There were many more railroad companies than there are now. Some of us like "Samurai Hoghead","PM Railfan", "Andy" and myself can remember a time when there was no such thing as Amtrak. Even every passenger train had its own personality, and now all those passenger trains are silver with red,white, and blue stripes. As I see a freight train go by, I tend to wonder about where all the loads are going. The same thing can be said about Amtrak trains, I often wonder where all the people are going, how long they'll be gone and when they might return. As a rail fan and train buff, I can honestly say, I do still very much enjoy watching a train go by.

Answer 5

It is always interesting to see locomotives that are on loan or lease, how far away the cars have wondered from the home railroad and what ones are still sporting long forgotten road names. It is like going to a parade and each train car is a separate float. Even unit trains are interesting, watching to see how far the numbers are scattered or how many are still in sequence. The sound of the engines is different too, trying hear an older engine that has not been up-graded yet. The sound of one running full bore on the open plains or struggling up a steep grade.

I know you don't get it, train watching is a lost art. But it brings back the thrill of youth for me. I can still see those old steam locomotives going through the home town of my youth and back then it was the high point of my day. Some things have been taken away from us, such as being able to sit in an airport and watch solders and sailors coming home. But not train watching (or thank God girl watching).

Answer 6

To enjoy it.It gets better & exciting depending on the type of trains and the places.Yes you missed a lot if u are in the US.why not try it some day by going to some prairies or mountain gorges or an old bridge specially wooden...It's just like the old West trasportation system that spread the people accross the nations.

Answer 7

LOL Ya I wonder why I love trains so much.



I don't sit around and wait for a train to pass -- kind of boring. Anytime I see one though, I have to stop and admire it.



All I can say is trains look cool (especially the engines and the color patterns on them). Trains are powerful. Tracks, turnouts/switches, crosses, automatic block signals, and crossing gates look cool with the flashing red lights and black and white x sings. The bridges look cool. The train horns sound cool. The whole rail system and how it functions is just mother effin awesome.



Some people love cars for reasons they can't explain. I just see a car and it's just a way to get me from point a to point b, even if I find it to have a good design. I"m just not drawn to them.



When I was 4 years old, I saw an Amtrak F40 PH and heard it's horn and I fell in love with it. Literally I fell in love with it, like it hit a soft spot with me. Some kids idolized Superman. I idolized this engine. It seemed to have its own personality.



I also like fighter jets. I just don't get to see much of those though.

Answer 8

So what do YOU enjoy doing? Do you watch NFL Football? To me, that's like watching water drip from the kitchen faucet. What's so exciting about watching a bunch of guys wearing all that equipment chase a weird shaped "ball" around, diving on each other? Do you see? Each of us enjoys different things! And yes, there ARE girls that love trains! Nowadays women also work on the railroad, some as engineers! The bottom line here is that everyone's interests are different!



{!DIGRESSION WARNING!}

NOTE TO THE NFL: Cut out the five commercials between each play and your game will be far more interesting.

Answer 9

Because so much are interested in such a hobby. I mean come on there is no need to disrespect somone interested in such a hobby. Some are interested in such a hobby as coin collection and to me that is similiar because there are so much people out there interested in a hobby and there is also more than 250,000 interested in this hobby.



The excitement to some is unknown because some have been born around the rail industry and have become attached such as someone born around someone interested in the automotive industry most when they become older do become interested in the same stuff they became surrounded around as children.



To be honest you have to be born and raised in this hobby to understand the reason some are interested in such a hobby because some are unsure and are only interested in it because they are so attached to them and so used to them such as someone born in the southern United States because someone that has an accent in the southern United States are unsure about the reason they have the accent but they had been born around people that talked like that and born to be that.

Answer 10

Blockline and Rail pace are two old railroad fan magazines also try Erie Vets and combo of the word Erie RR in your browser and you will find some fan sites to do a chat and find the best locations for some interesting watching and photo taking. Enjoy the trip.

Answer 11

A rail enthusiast may ask why do you watch football,tennis,basketball etc.Whats so exiting about watching a load of guys running up and down a strip of grass with an inflated bladder?

By the way, I watch trains.

Answer 12

You obviously don't know much about this country's history involving the railroad. And where would we be without it, how it works, it's own historical value, it's value to us and our nation. Railroads helped put us here. Some people like to sluff and watch TV all day. Some like Basketball or football or baseball. Some have that same passion, but focus it on railroading.

Answer 13

This is because some people enjoy watching trains go by.

Answer 14

Yeah.



I'd say you are missing something, unless you've given it a try. It may not be found to be your heart's desire, or the hobby it is.



It'll be a cold day in hell before I fork out a chunk of money for a stamp for a collection, but I wouldn't fault anyone who is so inclined.

Answer 15

I suppose alot of the answers posted b4 mine have pretty much graced the highlites. to us, the ones who would have reason to watch a seamingless meaningless string of odd shaped objects roll by might to you seem a lil strange. the original word for train watching is rail fanning. from the word fan. just the same as nascar fan, olympic ski jumping fan, or yes, even nfl football fan.



the only difference is our balls come with 4500 horsepower (each!). they arent made of pigskin yet our balls are made of steel! our balls have shaped and made this country, not tossed around on parts of it on sunday afternoons for people to watch. our balls make pleasing sounds when honked and shake the earth when they go by. you can never hear/feel a football do that.



so you see, were a fan of something, just not something youd care to watch go by. i am glad to see a female respond with such a positive attitude towards trains. if its any insight as to what it is that we see, ponder this.....



i personally have been around to see railroading go from all male to actually meeting my first all female railcrew. i saw a change, right before my eyes. as an 'outsider' ( one who doesnt watch trains) this might not seem like anything new for these times. but thats what we see. the change of the country. and the world. most of todays traffic is container cargo. alot of that comes and goes overseas too. some of those trains are powered by new and different locomotives. now and then, a female at the controls!



to you an Amtrak train looks like a loco and a few passenger cars. on average a stander by couldnt tell a baggage car from a caboose. those in the know, know that that baggage car is more than likely older than the one looking at it. it has history. railfans dig history! certainly as an innocent bystander just walking down the street and you see a restored steam locomotive goes across a crossing, tell us you wouldnt look? i think you would. its something you dont see everyday. to us, each train that goes by, is like that. each locomotive, each car, each sound and smell is unique and different. right down to the face in the cab smiling back at you!



to you, 2 longs, 1 short, and 1 colorful long blast on the horn might trigger (and it should BIG TIME!) a train is very near! VERY NEAR! we hear those miles away sometimes. it has the same effect on us with digital camera, as a fireman and dalmation does to a firecall.



when ya boil it down, its just a fascinating unexplainable enjoyable love of just something simply ordinary. it is what each of us makes it. and everyday 1000s of train roll by. my how times are changing!

Answer 16

I'm used to these kinds of questions in the baseball section.



If you think it's dumb, why ask on here about it? Is your life that sad and pathetic that you go around making fun of something that other people are interested in?

Answer 17

You could ask that question about any activity on the planet.Different strokes for different folks.What hobbies do you like?I'd bet there's a ton people that think whatever you like is a waste of time too.



Edit eiEvvil I don't know what kind of drugs your taking but i would quit them if i was you.

Answer 18

Same reason some people watch birds or race cars, play golf, paint landscapes etc. it's just a hobby for some people.

Answer 19

Nobody ever said it was an "art" - that part is your own invention. It is merely a hobby