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A railfan is an American English term for an enthusiast or hobbyist of railroad trains, of both the historic and modern varieties, or of infrastructure related to railroads. Railfans commonly collect or build model trains on tracks or more elaborate city and landscape dioramas. They may also participate in clubs. Railroad photography is also a common hobby of railfans. Other hobbies may include visiting railroad museums, listening to railroad radio communications, taking frequent trips on passenger and tourist railroads, watching trains in action, studying old maps that show railroads, and hunting for abandoned railroad grades. Art, music, books, and movies about railroading are popular among railfans. Several magazines cater to railroad hobbyists.
In the United States, railfans are sometimes known as "foamers". This comes from slang used by railroad workers, who have noted that some people start "foaming" with excitement whenever they see a train. It is a slightly derogatory term but railfans have adopted it with pride. In Europe and especially the United Kingdom, the term "trainspotter" is sometimes used, although this refers to the specific activity of watching trains and is not quite synonymous with railfan.
Railfans may have different interests pertaining to railroads. Some railfans are mainly interested in the steam railroad era, while others may be mainly interested in modern diesel railroads, and many are interested in both. Some railfans specialize their interest in one or more specific railroad companies, either currently existing ones, or those which no longer exist. Railroads which are no longer in business are commonly known as fallen flags.
Sometimes, the appeal of trains is nostalgic, recalling an earlier era when the railroads played a central role in commerce and transportation, and the train depot was the center of every town. Sometimes, the appeal can come from a fondness for the power of large machinery. Sometimes, there is an appeal of the scenery of the railroad running through incredible terrain, or the gritty ambience of the urban train yard. Sometimes, the appeal cannot be explained. Many people, who would not otherwise think of themselves as railfans, like trains. Most cannot explain why. Songs and stories have glorified railroading ever since the invention of the locomotive, especially in the United States, while children's toys and books about trains continue to be popular. The Railroad Tycoon series of computer games is another example of railroads' enduring popularity.
A railfan can be spotted by a camera, scanner (complete with every railroad channel known to man), railfan vehicle, custom railroad themed license plate, and a railroad shirt.
Ever since 9/11, the railroad railfan has tended to have trouble with law enforcement, since bystanders often report them as terrorists. Even though the common railfan takes pictures from public property, he or she may still get questioned by the cops.
Jason Trew, a railfan in Ringgold, Georgia had a close encounter with the law. "Me and a bunch of other railfans were watching a Norfolk Southern train go by and a person called the Whitfied County Sheriff and what the person thought was a shotgun, ended up to be a monopod for a camera that another railfan had." Even though this railfan had a close encounter with the police, no one should really be afraid of seeing a railfan taking a photo of a train rolling by.
The Common Railfan has his or her favorite "hotspots," whether it is Tehachapi Loop or Horseshoe Curve, sometimes you might be in a area that would see 15-20 a day (IE CSXT W&A Subdivision) or you could be seeing up to 100+ a day.
Railfan Hotspots
- Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Rochelle Railroad Park in Rochelle, Illinois
- Tehachapi Loop in Tehachapi, California
- Hair in Dalton, Georgia
- Tennessee River Bridge (Tennbridge) in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Howell Tower in Atlanta, Georgia
- Folkston Platform in Folkston, Georgia
- Galliztin Tunnels in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania
- 23rd Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee (TVRM, NS, CSX, and the C&C is where they converge)
- "The Funnel," from Latah Junction on the west side of Spokane, Washington east to Sandpoint, Idaho
- BNSF's Seligman Subdivision, Needles, California to Winslow, Arizona
- The footbridge across the Montana RailLink yards in Missoula, Montana
- Wall Avenue in Ogden, Utah
Railfan sayings
Railfans have a lot of sayings that can be Greek to other people. Some of their terms are:
- Catfish: Norfolk Southern C44-9
- Mating worms: Penn Central logo
- Ford Edsel: Amtrak AMD 103
- Vommit bonnet: BNSF's first attempt at a paint scheme
- Pumpkin: BNSF's current paint scheme
- Ex-Con: Former Conrail unit
- Dark future: The new CSX paint scheme
- Horsehead: Norfolk Southern's new paint job
- Flags n Flares: Union Pacific's paint job
- YN1: CSX first paint scheme (Yellow Nose, 1st. attempt)
- YN2: CSX 2nd paint scheme
- Rent-a-Wreck: Locomotive owned by a leasing company
- Furball: Locomotive owned by First Union Rail (FURX)
- Ches-C: Chessie System's kitten logo
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