Who likes the railways???

[calvinps]

Alrighty!

I just want to take this opportunity to confess that I am an avid railfan/trainspotter.

I am just curious to know who else likes railways?

:D

[pwnst*r]

never done it before, but would like to. i think they're interesting, but unfortunately where i live, there's not much to see.

[Kareeser]

Never been, although I once ride my bike alongside a speeding train for the hell of it.

Is it the rush of having something blasting past you at such a high speed?

Or is it something else...

[MikeTheC]

There aren't any in my area.

[pwnst*r]

to me it's the history of them and the different kinds. admittedly, i just don't have time for yet another hobby, although i find it very interesting.

[monsterstack]

As someone who uses the railway system every day I can honestly say I hate railways with a passion. Well perhaps not the railways themselves, just the pisspoor companies who operate on them.

As for the carriages and locomotives themselves, I am quite fond of the old slam-doors, but you don't see those so much down south anymore. Last ones I saw were north of Doncaster. What's your opinion on our awful rail networks, OP?

[LowSky]

Not much to see in New York we have the local trains that are giant silver bland looking boxes, and the similair NYC subways, even the supplie trains that run on the other side of the river are not so spectacular.. There is a train museum a little upstate of where I am, but I have no interest. I rather go to car shows.

[gn2]

I have a professional interest in trains, I'm a railway signaller.
What I like most about trains is that they earn me a living.

[missbliss]

Yeah, for some reason I like trains. Have only taken one trip on them that took me through Italy/France/Germany/Switzerland. I was pretty young and only remember bits and pieces, though.

I would definitely go trainspotting, but there isn't much to see around here and you'd probably get arrested if you were out roaming around the tracks too much.

[infoseeker]

I have a professional interest in trains, I'm a railway signaller.
What I like most about trains is that they earn me a living.

Any steam trains left in Scotland?

[gn2]

Any steam trains left in Scotland?

None in regular use on main lines but there are some on preservation lines.

http://www.srps.org.uk/railway/
http://www.alfordvalleyrailway.org.uk/
http://www.caledonianrailway.co.uk/

There are some special steam hauled railtours from time to time, most recently a pair of Black 5's (http://www.railbrit.org.uk/photos/23280.jpg) went past my house but I was out and missed it.
The last steamer I saw was this one (http://www.uksteam.info/tours/picsa/lx000026.jpg) which is easily the best looking loco ever built.

[calvinps]

I saw 60009 at Prestonpans station with my mates a few weeks ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxDCEQLG6Sg

[MikeTheC]

*rolls 1D20 saving throw against believing in the existence of railroads*

*gets a 20*

Hmm...

[jaithehulk]

I travel by trains evryday while going to college frm my Home...
I absolutely love it!!!
They save me a lot of time!

[jespdj]

I'm not especially a trainspotter or fan of the railways, but I am working in an IT project for the Dutch railways at the moment. ;)

[pbpersson]

You know......there are trains and there are trains

You have the downtown commuter rail trains that are electric

Or you have the city-wide commuter trains that are not electric

You have the cross-country trains

Then you have bullet trains in Europe and Japan

I have no idea what trains go through the Chunnel.....what an engineering marvel that is.....but do I want to be on a train going under an ocean? :o

I took a train from Chicago to Buffalo, New York once. The "sleeper cars" cost....well, you could take an airplane and be there in two hours if you were going to spend that much money. So I spent an entire day trapped in this little seat and when I tried to sleep people were tripping over me all night.

Short train trips are great - for long distances I would rather fly.

I love the idea of commuter trains in the city though. :)

[capnthommo]

hi calvinps. i don't trainspot and it's highly unlikely that i ever will. that said, i think trains are really good. love to travel that way for days out and stuff.
they're second only to boats (ships) - any kind of boats - sail - motor - oar - paddle steam - whatever. boats are just the best
cheers
nigel

[Bölvaður]

Im a certified camel spotter, not a train spotter

[calvinps]

Im a certified camel spotter, not a train spotter

Svifnökkvinn minn er fullur af álum :|

[OZFive]

I used to run 2 diesel fired (originally wood burners), narrow gauge, steam engines out at an amusement park.

One was an ALCO 0-4-0 from 1901 converted later on into a 2-4-2
the other was a H.K. Porter 0-4-0 from 1897 similarly converted into a 2-4-2

yeah we only ran on a mile or so of track, but geeze was it a fun job!

[Rackstar]

My best friend has an amazing view from on his roof over a part of the city which is under totally under construction and the railway crosses it and you can see people rushing in and out the station.

It's a very nice place to sit and watch. But that is the only place I do trainspotting.

[Sealbhach]

I like trains, being on trains, hearing trains but I don't think I'd go out of my way to watch them or catalogue them.

I'm much more interested in aircraft and I often watch videos on youtube like this scary crosswind landing at Hong Kong Airport:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtnL4KYVtDE#t=0m42s


.

[Saint Angeles]

we have subways/light rails here in los angeles. it might not be exactly what you meant in the OP, but they're cheap and fast and can get you really far...

they sure beat the bus.