There is sometimes some justice in the world.

In the early 1990's I was on an excursion from San Jose to Sacramento via Altamont Pass behind UP 3985. UP had a nice photo run-by set up for us - train coming out of a cut onto a long curving fill. Some chaser set up in the middle of the fill and would not move despite everybody in the line yelling at him.

The UP Special Agents arrested him for trespassing.

I was waiting for the 4449 (at that time painted black for the BNSF employee sepcials) in the Amtrak station in Olympia, WA. The 4449 was headed northbound delivering the boiler for the Canadian Hudson that Doyle and company had worked on. In the consist was Doyle's GN F-unit (presumably as back-up). After the train blew through, an Amtrak passenger waiting said to me "Was that train real? Or was that orange engine just pushing it?"

When working in the narrow gauge (42") barn at Orange Empire, I'll have visitors looking at the Eclipse fender on LARY 665 or 9225, and asking "Is that a cowcatcher?" And I'll say, "No, it's a 'people catcher'" explaining that in the old days the cars ran on streets were there were saloons, and sometimes the patrons would come wandering out in a state of impaired alertness. The fender was designed to scoop them up with only their dignity injured." Then I pull out my cell phone, say, "nowadays we have other reasons for lack of awareness" and mime a careless yakker walking in front of the trolley, "Oops! Just got hit by a streetcar. Call you back." I may change this routine--there was an item on Trainorders.com about someone being struck and killed by a train because they were in a deep conversation and not paying attention to their surroundings. Wouldn't be cool to use this story around someone whose relative perished in such a manner.
And yes, some visitors think the air compressor is the engine that runs the streetcar.
Regarding railfans who "don't have both oars in the water"--we had one fellow who was know as the "Goon". He was harmless, but could get underfoot. Some days we'd trade off keeping him occupied so the rest of us could work undisturbed. One afternoon he couldn't find the key to his motorbike (he had to leave early enought to avoid riding in the dark). You'd be amazed how diligently we combed the museum until someone found his key.
Then there are the "foamers" who never show up for work parties, never give a dime to fund raising drives, but show up like the flowers of spring when the steam locomotive runs.

Sometimes even the "Pros" can have a little fun.

This one is from TRAIN - probably about 1994 (Lexington, KY).

152 was on the train, in November, but not a bad day at all. I hitched up with a team of 'chasers' (who shall remain nameless, as many are right here) in a dark blue Chevy van with tinted windows. Our driver was quite familiar with the territory, timing, etc. and just where to set up. Good team to be on.

On the next run we charged out in front of the train, and tore down a dirt driveway, sliding to a halt in front of what appeared to be a private residence with a couple sitting on the porch. Instantly eight full-grown men burst out of the van, some with tripods, all in dark jackets, setting up rapidly for the approaching train a minute or so away, with military precision and little conversation. As we're 'pros' it's not painfully obvious we're railfans (no choo-choo hats or anything)...

"Hey", the resident yelled from the porch..... "What's goin' on?"...

You can't script this....and I can't remember for sure who said it.... he may admit it though....

"ATF sir, we're here to help!"

Long ago, just after meeting Clark Johnson, owner of PV "Caritas", I ran into contributor Mr. Rowland at a Hoboken, N.J. Terminal Rail Fest or similar display. He was standing next to his own private open platform business car, and I may have embarrassed both of us by asking, "Do you sell 1st class tickets to ride your car?"

I'm afraid that before I knew better, I also telephoned someone with "TCA" after his name who had placed a Wanted To Buy ad for model trains. I asked if he had any Lionel trains for sale, and got quite a lecture in reply. "I am a Collector, I buy trains from the public, I only sell or trade them to fellow members of the Train Collectors' Association." Good thing I didn't ask if he ran his trains!

Here are stories from my archive from a while back. I have changed or obscured certain details to prevent lawsuits, but this is what they reported:

"Early on in [my website] project, I wanted to see if the [branches of a national railfan organization] could help us verify and/or correct our data. So I wrote to ALL of the [branches], nice letter on letterhead, describing the project, providing the URL, and requesting assistance. I even provided a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

I received a total of nine letters, in response to my mailing. Two of the letters demanded that I take the site down immediately, one because they believed that our database was derived from [another author]'s book (it wasn't), and the other because "You are unlawfully competing with www.[anotherrailfandatawebssite].com, and unless you cease and desist immediately we will be forced to take legal action." They didn't. (That one was on chapter letterhead, by the way). This is a funny assertion, because we actually pay the domain registration fees for [anotherrailfandatawebsite].com, and we also provide free hosting, bandwidth and email support to [its webmaster].

The other seven letters were pretty much the reaction [someone else] got [derision, criticism, "if you're not a member, go away", etc.]. Several asserted that I should transfer the site, the domain, the code and the database to their chapters, because they "had planned to do this for a long time".

Others asserted that since I was unknown in the "preservation community" I had no credibility, and that therefore the site was pointless and should be removed."

<end quote>

Now, let me remind you--these are branches of an organization that purports to be advancing the cause of railfandom and railroad history education. I'm not naming names here, and I didn't write it.



Now here's another one--and yes, I'll disguise it, but many of you will be able to figure this one out right away:

"The [Big Buncha Railfans] Convention here in [Undisclosed Location] only had a steam excursion operation because [railroad owner/magnate] and company had inadvertently planned a trip for that weekend without realizing the [convention group] was coming out to play.

The demands the [BBR representatives] made were ludicrous. Fundamentally they wanted no hint that this was a [railroad operating group] operation. All car attendants and on train staff to be provided by [railfan group]. All [railroad/loco owner] literature to be removed from the train. [BBR] would pay 20% of the ticket revenue to [railroad/loco owner], and that was that.

[Railroad head] shrugged and said no thanks. The threats and attempts to extort the [operator group] folks were truly impressive. Eventually, they sold [the BBR reps] 150 tickets at a 30% discount, and this was their grand steam excursion that they so happily crowed about. "

Now.... let's consider this VERY carefully.

This is not an eccentric wandering around with a pocketful of dog-eared photos and postcards and his friend wearing a giant peace sign made of stainless steel on a chain.

This is not the 80-year-old guy walking around wearing an ill-fitting PRR policeman uniform that's 60 years old.

This is not Fox TV asking to let a guy jump a motorcycle over a steam train for a TV special.

These are supposedly official representatives of one or more formal dues-paying organizations that is/are supposedly helping to promote the cause of rail enthusiasm, rail history, and by extension railroad preservation.




STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

I ran into this old guy setting up a big Speed Graphic or equivalent, rather in good condition too, on a massive tripod, at some crossing along the Northern Central south of York, Pa. when 1361 was running there (1988?). After I ditched my car well out of the photo area and joined him (I was second of what became a wall of photographers), I asked something innocent along the lines of "really wanna go with the big negative, huh?" as he adjusted the composition on the back glass.

"Oh, this thing is just to scare everyone else out of the way. Once the train comes, I just step up in front of it with this thing," he replied, pulling a cheapo 35mm point-and-shoot out of his shirt pocket. He then grinned.

It was a cute way to meet Ron Ziel.

A couple of my favorites.

"where is the boiler" from the railroad employee standing next to the 3751

"Does this thing move on its own"? from the pilot who just climbed aboard.

Funny to those who work on these things but remember that for most of these people this is their first encounter with steam

And then while on display at LAUPT a metrolink passenger on his way to work, suit and tie walked, over to ask, "Is this a movie Prop"?

Sometimes you have to bite your tongue to keep from giving smart ass answers.

My grandad worked MoW for the B&O and it's successors on the little stretch between Pittsburgh and New Castle, Pa from 1945 through the mid 80s . He also just plain liked (steam) trains (diesel stink made him quite literally sick).

Anyway, during one of the Chessie Steam Specials, he decided to take all his young grandkids (was I ever THAT young? ack!) on a short chase. Just to a couple locations between Evans City and Zelienople. The thing I remember most is that, except for one location at a small interlocking tower in the middle of noplace where we were the only ones, the foamers all quite loudly grumbled about the guy with "all those #$%@ kids!" (and we were well behaved!). Now I was old enough to be a bit offended at the way they treated him (and us). This was one of the guys who worked full time, plus was on 24/7 call to make sure that the trains that these clowns just took pics of could travel safely day in and day out, and he was asking for NO special treatment.... but He/WE didn't belong there?!?

I still like trains, but to this day I have no use for most railfans.

An young guy from a Class 1 who has been sent to examine a steam locomotive looks at the pony truck, drivers, and engine truck, then the tender trucks.

He walks over to the friction journal bearings and points, saying: "What are these? I've never seen them before."

KL

Expanding on Sandy's earlier post, I have actually gotten irate responses to an article I wrote, from railfans I didn't know and had never previously written to or talked with, claiming that my doing an article about a subject they had "thought" about doing has ruined their life.

They must not have much of a life.

MX

My Thanks to all of you on this series of postings. After my any years of staff and volunteer participation in the preservation field let me say that the goofy lines do not seem to be slowing down.

If you'll excuse a maritime example I heard recently after hearing it many time before?

Does that ship float higher in the water at high tide than low tide?

I told him the ship floats where ever she wants to!

Ted Miles

Last week the Mass Bay RRE did a railfan trip on the Conway Scenic, complete with photo stops. Lower-priced tix were sold to those of us who wanted to chase and still support the organization, so there was a decent crowd following the train.

This was Saturday, 1/5/08, days before the New Hampshire primaries. Several curious motorists were told that Clinton/Obama/Romney/[insert politician of choice] would soon be making a stump speech from the rear platform of the train.

Another friend who worked for the NS steam program, 2100, WMSR among others went to Steamtown. While looking at 3713, he asked one of the rangers if it was going to be restored to which Smokey replied, "I don't know. It's pretty broke."

while attending the elegant business car #10 on static display at Strasburg, two ladies entered the car, paid their dollar and proceded to sit down and engage in conversation, after about 15 minutes one lady asked how long it might be till the train departed......took me a few seconds to come up with a tactful way to explain that the locomotive and coaches were just out of veiw beyond where we were and this coach is not used for the excursions