Not really much of a good story, but this past weekend we were walking on some RR tracks (4 sets there) for an entry to the back side of a location patrolled by security. There was a parked train on the tracks, so we went to the far side of the train to be even more out of view from security using the train for cover.

Not more than 10 seconds later some crazy rail guy with his DSLR and huge lens jumps out of his car and started yelling at us. "GET AWAY FROM THERE, IT'S A HOT RAIL. IT'S A HOT RAIL, TRAINS COMING, YOU GOT TO GET OFF!!!!"

That totally blew up our spot a little bit. The track was basically a straight-away with slow moving trains going through the area. We still had no problem with being on tracks as you could see any trains coming and we'd only be walking there for like 60 seconds until making our entry.

But we left the tracks anyway to make him happy.

"HEY! ARE YOU GOING?!!!" he yells.

We just walked a away and hoped we wouldn't be running into him again.

I dunno, that's my first experience with a crazy old guy train nut armed with a camera and an annoying sense of do-goodery.

What are some of yours?

I'm a 'foamer' myself but I can relate to how annoying that situation would have been. I've walked along a busy mainline before to take photos, and I've also been bitched at by other foamers for doing so.

However, another person and myself did exactly this just last weekend. We saw two other foamers walk through tall grass on the far side of a railyard to photograph some parked equipment. They proceeded to cross the mainline to take photos. I would never chastise someone for trespassing, however, while taking photos they paused standing in the middle of the mainline, right on a curve, to compose their shots. They were not paying attention to their surroundings and did not notice (or hear) an approaching train. We gave a yell and honked our vehicle horns as warning but they did not notice us either. They only realized there was a train coming when the locomotive engineer blew the whistle as a greeting to my friend's young daughter who was waving at the train crew. So the situation ended fine but it was a little sketchy for a short while.

Alternatively, I hate railfanning with foamers who are 100% against trespassing. If it's safe to do so, and there are no railroad crews or authorities in the area, I'm certainly going to cross the tracks if it means a better photo. Many yards (at least in Ontario) are also easy to access in a vehicle, so unless you're lingering too long, no one notices you drive in, snap a photo, and drive out.

The majority of foamers suck.

Yah, I know what you mean. Oh course if someone is in extreme danger you should say something.

This guy was acting more like a wanna-be-RR cop. And to be a fan of the trains, I would think a little trespassing (walking on the tracks) and theft (RR spikes) would come into play for everyone at least once in their lifetime. I was contemplating if this guy was going to go as far as calling the cops on us.

Anyway, I don't even know where I'm going with this.

Some foamers will be dead against trespassing, some will do it whenever they can. There will always be those of both camps, it's one of those ethics things I guess The guy could have though you were some average joe that was just walking along the tracks.


If one is going to trespass anyway, don't do anything stupid like lying between the rails for a picture, or climbing signal towers. If someone was nearby (railfan or not), they'd likely call that kinda stuff in. Always be aware of your surroundings, try to stay as far back from the tracks as possible, and know there's the potential for something to happen at a moment's notice, especially on busy corridors and in yards (trains sneaking up on you, loads and strapping dangling off cars, unexpected train movements, etc).

Posted by TRAINS Alternatively, I hate railfanning with foamers who are 100% against trespassing. The majority of foamers suck.

I'm member of a mailing lists where both foamers and train drivers reside. Ocasionally, when a special (museum) train is driving around, I see messages from the train drivers that go along the lines of "I don't care if you stand between the tracks, as long as your wife is handling a scraper" (in NL trains don't usually whistle, are electric and frequent and thus you won't see or hear a train sneaking up on your back).

The foamers otoh complain about the drivers wearing safety vests, thereby ruinging the pic of their historic train....

I still think foamers are more bitching.

I used to do a lot of "hot rails" in my early 20's. Those hot plates do a fine job...rail on rails we used to say. HAHA..just kidding. I still like to throw rocks at most foamers. Just not worth the hastle. I like to take my pix, see my trains, no matter how close it get. If people don't like it..they need to get the fuck away from me.

Posted by IIVQ The foamers otoh complain about the drivers wearing safety vests, thereby ruinging the pic of their historic train....

Lol. They just need to give it 30-40 years and then their pics will be historic.

Posted by SteamPunk I used to do a lot of "hot rails" in my early 20's. Those hot plates do a fine job...rail on rails we used to say. HAHA..just kidding. I still like to throw rocks at most foamers. Just not worth the hastle. I like to take my pix, see my trains, no matter how close it get. If people don't like it..they need to get the fuck away from me.

Well except you know how to get away from a train quick