Train infatuation?

J T wrote in post #2460754
Hmmm...I have to strongly disagree. The train-related threads in this forum seem more like few and far between to me. And being a railfan who likes to photograph trains (not as often as I'd like, though), I'm often checking in here for anything train related (I spend most of my time in the landscape forum). MOST of the time I see aviation and auto threads, which I enjoy looking at as well.

I fully agree with JT

Here is a photo / news magazine from the northeast. This is the type of material that got my interest in photography and being a rail fan.
Some of the most creative colorfull rail photos have been published in this monthly magazine for years.

http://www.railpace.co​m/

i live in tokyo and there is a HUGE interest in train photography. I thought about shooting one just to practice my pan shots but i have no idea what train is what...

I personally like Steamers....more intricate parts to em.
They no longer rule the rails so you don't see em everyday thus the fascination for them.
I go nutty over old cars too so.....

If you look at the number of train threads in the transportation forum compared to car, motorcycle, and aviation threads, they compose a relatively small percenage of the images posted here. The big difference is that most of the people posting railroad shots are passionate about their subject. Cars and airplanes are pretty much a matter of everyday life for most of us, and we photograph them because they're accessible and somewhat common. Also, especially with cars, there is a cultural element to consider. Cars are a status symbol for many, and a goodly of the photos posted are personal reflections of the pride an individual take in their own 'ride'. Train lovers will take a picture of any train, anywhere, any time, not because it's cool or radical, but because it's a train. It doesn't make any difference what railroad, how new, how clean or dirty, how rare, etc. If it's a good shot, it's worth sharing.

Trains is trains.

So any sites out there where I can learn more about the locomotives? For instance, like what's out there, what no longer is, the manufacturers, models, etc...

ArenGh wrote in post #2469406
So any sites out there where I can learn more about the locomotives? For instance, like what's out there, what no longer is, the manufacturers, models, etc...

You now have had a reply from almost every regular rail poster on the forum...Had your post been entitled "WRX infatuation"...you would be on your 20th page of replies by now...

Here is a page full of good rail links. http://exotic.railfan.​net/links.htm

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

Woolburr wrote in post #2469505
You now have had a reply from almost every regular rail poster on the forum...Had your post been entitled "WRX infatuation"...you would be on your 20th page of replies by now...

So true, Dan...so true.

Great links, by the way.

Belmondo said it best...

I love all the things we'd shoot in this area but trains are trains. Railfanning is something that just needs to be done too. I'm a big model railroad fan too. I have G scale in my back yard and a small layout in the house. My son has a decent sized N scale layout in the basement and I teach a train club / class at my school. Actually I have two train clubs there. They are both in HO scale. There's more to it but I think you get the idea.

ArenGh wrote in post #2469406
So any sites out there where I can learn more about the locomotives? For instance, like what's out there, what no longer is, the manufacturers, models, etc...

If you want a few sites to check out it would be hard to list them all here. But, try something like www.scalerailsonline.c​om. It's a hobby site but they have 1:1 train posts as well. You'll find the average hobbyist is actually full of 1:1 info on anything you can imagine related to trains or anything connected to trains...

Jon.

ArenGh wrote in post #2469406
So any sites out there where I can learn more about the locomotives? For instance, like what's out there, what no longer is, the manufacturers, models, etc...

www.trainorders.com is one that I frequent on a daily basis. They went to a $7 a year subscription plan a few years ago, but you can still look around and check out the threads. They have three very cool hi-quality webcams as well as an A/V library. The discussion forums are full of cool photos as well as lots of knowledgeable people ranging from actual railroaders to "superfans" to lurkers like myself.

I work on the BNSF in norhtern, MT. for 30 yrs. Just getting into digital photography. Since I am around then every day, hard to think about pictures. I could have had some doozies though. I may start bringing my camera to work some time. I see people taking photo's all the time. Some I wish would stay away from the tracks a little further. A 7000 ton train going 70 MPH takes about a mile to stop. Please stand back a little farther! Hope to see some of you sometime. I usually wave.

D.C., please share those shots that we railfans will never be able to get from our perspectives.

JT I will have to start soon. I don't have any now though. Sorry!!