"Rail buff" is a term used by people who aren't. No self-respecting railfan calls himself a buff.
I'm going to climb on my soap box here for a minute.
David is absolutely right. "Rail Buff", as used by real railroaders, is a mostly derogatory term used to describe those wannabe rail fans who are nutty and dangerous. As opposed to a real rail fan who knows to be safe and stay out of dangerous situations.
When we come around a curve at 60 mph and as much as 40 million pounds, and see a "buff" standing in the middle of the rails to get that perfect picture, they don't realize what they do to the crews. Not to mention their families when they trip trying to get off the rails and fall down.
All of you, please take this to heart. I'm going to describe how railroaders handle the above situation. When we see someone standing on the tracks, we don't hit the brakes, we keep going. This is not to be mean, this is not to try to hit the person, or worse. There are much bigger concerns, as much as it sucks to say that. If we throw the train into emergency braking in an attempt to not hit that person, we take a chance on derailing the train, with all it's weight and chemicals, possibly scattering it through a town or city, losing many many more lives in the process. Not to mention that by the time we see you, it's too late. The train will not slow enough to make any difference. It can take up to 2 miles to stop a heavy train traveling at track speed.
Trains are dangerous and there are precious few second chances if you make a mistake. Trains are very cool things, just please watch from a safe distance.
One more tidbit. Those of you who may think I was kidding about how heavy trains are. My record train weight is well in excess of 40 million pounds. That's 20,000 tons.
Trust me, we have the public's, and YOUR, best interest at heart. Stay safe out there watching trains.
(Steps off soap box)
Phil
We now continue with todays mud-slinging event.
For everyone else's consumption:
CLAP CLAP CLAP! Well said, Phil.
Aside to Phil: where does the term foamer fit into that?
In response to everything else since my last post:
[edit]
The actor, Johnny Crawford, who played the kid, Mark McCain, does promos for the show on the Me TV Network.
David
Miserable old git
Patiently waiting for the asteroid with my name on it.
Aside to Phil: where does the term foamer fit into that?
@David - I had to look that one up. I've never heard the term used in regards to trains before.
I looked at several sites and the conclusion is: A foamer is a railroad buff on steroids. I'm making this up but it appears we have 3 categories of folks who like to watch trains, as follows-
1. Rail Fan - Someone who enjoys watching, taking pictures of, and learning about trains.
2. Rail Buff - Someone who enjoys watching, taking pictures of, and learning about trains, and is willing to put themselves in danger for said hobby. Also a source of great annoyance to professional railroaders.
3. Foamer - (Foaming at the mouth) A Rail Buff on steroids, who loses all sensibility when a train is seen or heard. A good example is a person I saw a few years ago. I was moving my power (engines) preparing to tie onto my train in my local yard. I saw this person running towards me crossing tracks and literally tripping over himself to take my picture while I was riding on the bottom step of my locomotive. I stopped the movement and told him he was trespassing and he could not understand the problem. I finally had to call the railroad police who came and arrested him. All for the sake of a useless picture taken at 3 in the morning in the darkness!
Now don't ya'll get me wrong. I know people think trains are cool. Let's face it, they are. I am more than happy to "make" a picture for someone assuming time and duties allow it, especially if it's a kid. Let's just not be stupid about it.
Is it TL, is it? Can I ask you something... do you detect a whiff of rebellion in the air or has that herring gone off? *perplexed ponder* Who nose... maybe the rebellion's because the herring's gone off... :))) Heh heh heh :) Perhaps I should replace it with something else... a bortrellus ptimigian perhaps... yes! Good idea! *write quick shopping list*
Okay everyone. Here's the deal with the guns... if you'd rather those didn't go the same way as Mike's trum- *stare straight down sudden alarming number of "thoses"*
I see... I suppose it's too late to say "Remember your humanity" when you clearly lost that in the middle of a game of "let's-see-who-doesn't-need-to-bend-over-to-scrape-their-knuckles-on the-ground" :) That IS how you get into team Nadir is it not? :)
Do you mind if I take a seat? Actually I don't need to do I... I brought my own *beam happily at everyone whilst removing soft coverings from anniet's "lets-do-science" armchair*
How about I introduce you all to my other chair... my Throne of Weapons as I call it :)
edit: sorry... forgot my shopping list... oh... and I wouldn't sit on that *point to chair* if I were you :)
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
Blimey, I see Einstein has been well and truly "Annietted" then :-))) I wondered where she had sidled off too. Just keep off the pavements lads and you'll be fine!
Waiting for Godot & salvation :-)
Why do doctors have to practice?
You'd think they'd have got it right by now
Blimey, I see Einstein has been well and truly "Annietted" then :-))) I wondered where she had sidled off too. Just keep off the pavements lads and you'll be fine!
Crikey mate she's a bloody force of Nature ! Worse than Cyclone Tracey or a topspin googly to leg stump against the Windies. Stone the flamin' crows ya coulda told us that before. Anyhow, what's a pavemunt ? Normally we have ta keep off the grass or get fined ..:-)
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
RE: RE: "Rail buff" is a
)
For everyone else's consumption:
CLAP CLAP CLAP! Well said, Phil.
Aside to Phil: where does the term foamer fit into that?
In response to everything else since my last post:
[edit]
The actor, Johnny Crawford, who played the kid, Mark McCain, does promos for the show on the Me TV Network.
David
Miserable old git
Patiently waiting for the asteroid with my name on it.
Good afternoon everyone. :-)
)
Good afternoon everyone. :-)
TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join SETI Refugees
RE: Aside to Phil: where
)
@David - I had to look that one up. I've never heard the term used in regards to trains before.
I looked at several sites and the conclusion is: A foamer is a railroad buff on steroids. I'm making this up but it appears we have 3 categories of folks who like to watch trains, as follows-
1. Rail Fan - Someone who enjoys watching, taking pictures of, and learning about trains.
2. Rail Buff - Someone who enjoys watching, taking pictures of, and learning about trains, and is willing to put themselves in danger for said hobby. Also a source of great annoyance to professional railroaders.
3. Foamer - (Foaming at the mouth) A Rail Buff on steroids, who loses all sensibility when a train is seen or heard. A good example is a person I saw a few years ago. I was moving my power (engines) preparing to tie onto my train in my local yard. I saw this person running towards me crossing tracks and literally tripping over himself to take my picture while I was riding on the bottom step of my locomotive. I stopped the movement and told him he was trespassing and he could not understand the problem. I finally had to call the railroad police who came and arrested him. All for the sake of a useless picture taken at 3 in the morning in the darkness!
Now don't ya'll get me wrong. I know people think trains are cool. Let's face it, they are. I am more than happy to "make" a picture for someone assuming time and duties allow it, especially if it's a kid. Let's just not be stupid about it.
At the top and Winning!
Phil
RE: Good afternoon
)
Is it TL, is it? Can I ask you something... do you detect a whiff of rebellion in the air or has that herring gone off? *perplexed ponder* Who nose... maybe the rebellion's because the herring's gone off... :))) Heh heh heh :) Perhaps I should replace it with something else... a bortrellus ptimigian perhaps... yes! Good idea! *write quick shopping list*
Okay everyone. Here's the deal with the guns... if you'd rather those didn't go the same way as Mike's trum- *stare straight down sudden alarming number of "thoses"*
I see... I suppose it's too late to say "Remember your humanity" when you clearly lost that in the middle of a game of "let's-see-who-doesn't-need-to-bend-over-to-scrape-their-knuckles-on the-ground" :) That IS how you get into team Nadir is it not? :)
Do you mind if I take a seat? Actually I don't need to do I... I brought my own *beam happily at everyone whilst removing soft coverings from anniet's "lets-do-science" armchair*
How about I introduce you all to my other chair... my Throne of Weapons as I call it :)
edit: sorry... forgot my shopping list... oh... and I wouldn't sit on that *point to chair* if I were you :)
Please wait here. Further instructions could pile up at any time. Thank you.
Back at the top, and
)
Back at the top, and WINNING!!!!! :-)
TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join SETI Refugees
Alexander Graham Bell
)
Alexander Graham Bell
RE: The actor, Johnny
)
My favorite channel
They have several of those commercials with tv stars of the 50's and 60's
92 year old William Schallert has the newest one.
He was on just about every tv show for decades (and lots of movies) and he was a guest on The Rifleman too.
The Rifleman had man,many famous actors as guests over those years (Lee Van Cleef was one of my favorites)
The opening of the show is one of a kind.
There is a guy who makes and sells copies of that rifle and he was taught by the guy who made the originals.
http://youtu.be/6B0brdPWdCs
Freeman Dyson ???
)
Freeman Dyson ???
Blimey, I see Einstein has
)
Blimey, I see Einstein has been well and truly "Annietted" then :-))) I wondered where she had sidled off too. Just keep off the pavements lads and you'll be fine!
Waiting for Godot & salvation :-)
Why do doctors have to practice?
You'd think they'd have got it right by now
RE: Blimey, I see Einstein
)
Crikey mate she's a bloody force of Nature ! Worse than Cyclone Tracey or a topspin googly to leg stump against the Windies. Stone the flamin' crows ya coulda told us that before. Anyhow, what's a pavemunt ? Normally we have ta keep off the grass or get fined ..:-)
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal