Watch out Texas

[kgdjpubs]

"I don't get it. I just don't get it. It's a steam train". Of course, everybody else fell over laughing.

I guess he didn't understand what a "Foamer" really was until that day right?

The railroads do not like foamers, especially their employees who happen to be foamers. If they get a sniff that a person is a foamer and applies for a job, you can forget about it.

No surprise, and seeing what kind of characters turn up when a steam engine comes around, I'm inclined to agree with them. For some reason, safety and common sense tend to go right out the window. Never have understood it, and I doubt I ever will. You can do things safely, but one or two idiots tend to give everybody else a bad name.

[kgdjpubs]

btw...I much prefer the RFD TV Trains & Locomotives program that airs every week. It's railfan videos, which is a totally different market, but they have some really good stuff. Tends to be more vintage than current. "New" episode plays Monday at 6:00PM EST. If you aren't aware, check the channels that you receive. You might just get RFD.

Yeah I heard about that show, but don't think I get RFD I'll recheck. Is there a website that you can watch it on I wonder?

Not that I'm aware of. Check your listings to see if it's around. I think most of the satellite companies have it, and some of your local cable companies do also. Time Warner Cable here didn't use to carry it, but now they have the HD version in the lineup. Never sent out a memo or anything--just stumbled upon it surfing through channels one day. It's on series record now

[LtVanish]

"I don't get it. I just don't get it. It's a steam train". Of course, everybody else fell over laughing.

I guess he didn't understand what a "Foamer" really was until that day right?

The railroads do not like foamers, especially their employees who happen to be foamers. If they get a sniff that a person is a foamer and applies for a job, you can forget about it.

I just giggle when I see these guys, it is such a funny term, they truely do foam at the mouth over railroad operations and taking pictures and such. I consider myself more of The History of Railroads kind of guy, I like reading about it.

[kgdjpubs]

"I don't get it. I just don't get it. It's a steam train". Of course, everybody else fell over laughing.

I guess he didn't understand what a "Foamer" really was until that day right?

The railroads do not like foamers, especially their employees who happen to be foamers. If they get a sniff that a person is a foamer and applies for a job, you can forget about it.

I just giggle when I see these guys, it is such a funny term, they truely do foam at the mouth over railroad operations and taking pictures and such. I consider myself more of The History of Railroads kind of guy, I like reading about it.

I'll do the photography thing, but it's photography first, railroad 2nd. You can approach it as more art than anything else by using the train to add to a scene that is already there.

see example below, taken by a friend on a VERY cold February evening--that's all white steam, not coal smoke.

[Rockindeano]

"I don't get it. I just don't get it. It's a steam train". Of course, everybody else fell over laughing.

I guess he didn't understand what a "Foamer" really was until that day right?

The railroads do not like foamers, especially their employees who happen to be foamers. If they get a sniff that a person is a foamer and applies for a job, you can forget about it.

No surprise, and seeing what kind of characters turn up when a steam engine comes around, I'm inclined to agree with them. For some reason, safety and common sense tend to go right out the window. Never have understood it, and I doubt I ever will. You can do things safely, but one or two idiots tend to give everybody else a bad name.

Know what's really embarrassing? Seeing these guys on Amtrak trains with the striped lid and sometimes overalls, and of course carrying a scanner, listening to RR ops, turned up to volume 11, so every other passenger in the lounge car can hear. Those guys are foamers and are embarrassing.

[kgdjpubs]

"I don't get it. I just don't get it. It's a steam train". Of course, everybody else fell over laughing.

I guess he didn't understand what a "Foamer" really was until that day right?

The railroads do not like foamers, especially their employees who happen to be foamers. If they get a sniff that a person is a foamer and applies for a job, you can forget about it.

No surprise, and seeing what kind of characters turn up when a steam engine comes around, I'm inclined to agree with them. For some reason, safety and common sense tend to go right out the window. Never have understood it, and I doubt I ever will. You can do things safely, but one or two idiots tend to give everybody else a bad name.

Know what's really embarrassing? Seeing these guys on Amtrak trains with the striped lid and sometimes overalls, and of course the radio he is holding, listening to RR ops, turned up to volume 11, so every other passenger can hear. Those guys are foamers and are embarrassing.

That would be the type I strive to stay well away from. Most are fairly harmless, but there is the exception every now and then. We probably all have our share of horror stories.

[Rockindeano]

"I don't get it. I just don't get it. It's a steam train". Of course, everybody else fell over laughing.

I guess he didn't understand what a "Foamer" really was until that day right?

The railroads do not like foamers, especially their employees who happen to be foamers. If they get a sniff that a person is a foamer and applies for a job, you can forget about it.

No surprise, and seeing what kind of characters turn up when a steam engine comes around, I'm inclined to agree with them. For some reason, safety and common sense tend to go right out the window. Never have understood it, and I doubt I ever will. You can do things safely, but one or two idiots tend to give everybody else a bad name.

Know what's really embarrassing? Seeing these guys on Amtrak trains with the striped lid and sometimes overalls, and of course the radio he is holding, listening to RR ops, turned up to volume 11, so every other passenger can hear. Those guys are foamers and are embarrassing.

That would be the type I strive to stay well away from. Most are fairly harmless, but there is the exception every now and then. We probably all have our share of horror stories.

Are you a closet Foamer? If so, I am guessing you don't tool around with a hat chock full of RR pins stuck in it, and an California Zephyr or Southwest Chief shirt on either.

What is your name dude? I can't remember your screen name.

[Rockindeano]

Quick foamer story. We are at our Santa Barbara station stop for #11, it's about 700P, and we are 45 mins down. There is a dude who literally hangs out t SBA all day and all night long, writing down engine numbers, arrival and departure times, car numbers the whole nine yards. He was like Rainman, a weird dude, really weird, but extremely nice and even more smart. This guy memorized every train in the system, it's consist size, number of units, which station had checked baggage, and get this- dude had every connecting bus number and schedule memorized. When passengers would get off the train, he would be right in their face asking them if they were connecting here or there, going north or south, whatever. He was really obnoxious and annoying, but like I said, a real nice guy. He was about 35 years old, and he too had the obligatory timetable in the back pocket, and the ever present scanner going full blast between me and the conductor and the Dispatcher. We had to talk to the DS a lot because we weren't in CTC area; we had Track Warrant Control (TWC) system, and needed permission to enter and release blocks. I had to stop and copy orders all the time. So he knew me and always called me Deano. His name was Peter. So it's dark outside, this was in December, and like I said we were in SBA doing our station work. I look back out the window and see a circling flashlight, meaning Highball. Like a dummy, I should have used radio and communicated that way with my Conductor. But for some reason, I thought the bags were loaded and people were on board and we were ready to go. I gave two quick blasts fro the horn, and started to move. I got a "Stop!" from my Conductor Bill, saying we have people on the platform! He was 6 cars back, so that's 490 foot in darkness so I couldn't see him. What I saw was Peter highballing our train from the bag car. The fucker completely fooled me. I ended up with a 3 day suspension for rules violation, and Peter got himself banned from the station. Turns out one of the passengers was jostled around a bit as I nudged the train, and he filed a complaint. I believe that got me my 3 days. Anyway, after Bill stopped me, I got down from the unit and proceeded to get in peter's face and the stationmaster escorted him off the property. Long story short,I forgave the guy, and all ended well.

[LtVanish]

Quick foamer story. We are at our Santa Barbara station stop for #11, it's about 700P, and we are 45 mins down. There is a dude who literally hangs out t SBA all day and all night long, writing down engine numbers, arrival and departure times, car numbers the whole nine yards. He was like Rainman, a weird dude, really weird, but extremely nice and even more smart. This guy memorized every train in the system, it's consist size, number of units, which station had checked baggage, and get this- dude had every connecting bus number and schedule memorized. When passengers would get off the train, he would be right in their face asking them if they were connecting here or there, going north or south, whatever. He was really obnoxious and annoying, but like I said, a real nice guy. He was about 35 years old, and he too had the obligatory timetable in the back pocket, and the ever present scanner going full blast between me and the conductor and the Dispatcher. We had to talk to the DS a lot because we weren't in CTC area; we had Track Warrant Control (TWC) system, and needed permission to enter and release blocks. I had to stop and copy orders all the time. So he knew me and always called me Deano. His name was Peter. So it's dark outside, this was in December, and like I said we were in SBA doing our station work. I look back out the window and see a circling flashlight, meaning Highball. Like a dummy, I should have used radio and communicated that way with my Conductor. But for some reason, I thought the bags were loaded and people were on board and we were ready to go. I gave two quick blasts fro the horn, and started to move. I got a "Stop!" from my Conductor Bill, saying we have people on the platform! He was 6 cars back, so that's 490 foot in darkness so I couldn't see him. What I saw was Peter highballing our train from the bag car. The fucker completely fooled me. I ended up with a 3 day suspension for rules violation, and Peter got himself banned from the station. Turns out one of the passengers was jostled around a bit as I nudged the train, and he filed a complaint. I believe that got me my 3 days. Anyway, after Bill stopped me, I got down from the unit and proceeded to get in peter's face and the stationmaster escorted him off the property. Long story short,I forgave the guy, and all ended well.

Holy smokes, no wonder you don't like Foamers. I would of been pissed too especially with a 3 day hit like that. I have always tried to figure these kind of guys out, with their scanners and such how these obsessions take place, I wonder if they model railroad when they are home as well, I read some guys that run their model railroad just like a real one, with orders and such.



I have a SP4449 and Nicke Plate 765 t-shirt I bought to help support those organizations, does that mean I am a Foamer?

[kgdjpubs]

Know what's really embarrassing? Seeing these guys on Amtrak trains with the striped lid and sometimes overalls, and of course the radio he is holding, listening to RR ops, turned up to volume 11, so every other passenger can hear. Those guys are foamers and are embarrassing.

That would be the type I strive to stay well away from. Most are fairly harmless, but there is the exception every now and then. We probably all have our share of horror stories.

Are you a closet Foamer? If so, I am guessing you don't tool around with a hat chock full of RR pins stuck in it, and an California Zephyr or Southwest Chief shirt on either.

What is your name dude? I can't remember your screen name.

That would be Kevin. No, I don't wear any hats with railroad pins. At 8-10yrs old, it's cute. Beyond that, it looks a little...odd. Random non-railroad related T-shirt and jeans (or more likely hiking pants) works for me. No interest whatsoever in standing out. You don't keep friends that work in the industry by acting weird and making them wish they never knew you.

You might see me with a camera and a big professional video camera/tripod, but that's it, and it's confined to steam movements--whether museum or mainline. It's photography based, and you get to to out and see a bunch of different parts of the country that most people never see. I'm more the type that will travel cross-country for some 40 person capacity dawn to dusk photo charter. That's a subset of the hobby that most people don't know about, and if someone starts acting weird, they will throw you out in a heartbeat. WAY too much insurance and liability to risk dealing with someone that won't play by the rules. If something like that isn't going on, I doubt you would even find me within 5 miles of a railroad track.

[kgdjpubs]

Quick foamer story. We are at our Santa Barbara station stop for #11, it's about 700P, and we are 45 mins down. There is a dude who literally hangs out t SBA all day and all night long, writing down engine numbers, arrival and departure times, car numbers the whole nine yards. He was like Rainman, a weird dude, really weird, but extremely nice and even more smart. This guy memorized every train in the system, it's consist size, number of units, which station had checked baggage, and get this- dude had every connecting bus number and schedule memorized. When passengers would get off the train, he would be right in their face asking them if they were connecting here or there, going north or south, whatever. He was really obnoxious and annoying, but like I said, a real nice guy. He was about 35 years old, and he too had the obligatory timetable in the back pocket, and the ever present scanner going full blast between me and the conductor and the Dispatcher. We had to talk to the DS a lot because we weren't in CTC area; we had Track Warrant Control (TWC) system, and needed permission to enter and release blocks. I had to stop and copy orders all the time. So he knew me and always called me Deano. His name was Peter. So it's dark outside, this was in December, and like I said we were in SBA doing our station work. I look back out the window and see a circling flashlight, meaning Highball. Like a dummy, I should have used radio and communicated that way with my Conductor. But for some reason, I thought the bags were loaded and people were on board and we were ready to go. I gave two quick blasts fro the horn, and started to move. I got a "Stop!" from my Conductor Bill, saying we have people on the platform! He was 6 cars back, so that's 490 foot in darkness so I couldn't see him. What I saw was Peter highballing our train from the bag car. The fucker completely fooled me. I ended up with a 3 day suspension for rules violation, and Peter got himself banned from the station. Turns out one of the passengers was jostled around a bit as I nudged the train, and he filed a complaint. I believe that got me my 3 days. Anyway, after Bill stopped me, I got down from the unit and proceeded to get in peter's face and the stationmaster escorted him off the property. Long story short,I forgave the guy, and all ended well.

Holy smokes, no wonder you don't like Foamers. I would of been pissed too especially with a 3 day hit like that. I have always tried to figure these kind of guys out, with their scanners and such how these obsessions take place,

If you don't mind me asking, what was the guy's deal? There are certain things you do not do, and he sounds like he should know better.

Either way, those are the ones that give everybody else a bad name, and make things inordinantly more complicated for the rest of us. There's a similar guy in North Carolina who has a similar reputation, but worse. Guy (probably 40-45yrs old now) would dress up like an Amtrak conductor and pretend to work for the railroad. Last straw on him was when he opened a door and started unloading passengers on an active rail line while the train was waiting at a signal to be cleared the last 2 miles into the station. Needless to say, everybody avoids him like the plague, and has for many years--even well before said incident.

Scanners tend to work well when trying to keep up with something like 844 or various running at high speed, and trying to figure out whether you can beat it to photo location, but beyond that, I find them a general waste of time.

I wonder if they model railroad when they are home as well, I read some guys that run their model railroad just like a real one, with orders and such.

Interestingly enough, I've found that most people who do model railroading have little to no interest in the real thing. You would think it carries over, but no such luck. You will find some that do just like you said (some have even installed a CTC system), but that's somewhat rare--and generally VERY $$$$$. By and large, most people who do model railroading are artists who enjoy building dioramas--and want something that runs to move through them.

I have a SP4449 and Nicke Plate 765 t-shirt I bought to help support those organizations, does that mean I am a Foamer?

probably Sounds like you stay on the somewhat sane side of things, however.

[Rockindeano]

Quick foamer story. We are at our Santa Barbara station stop for #11, it's about 700P, and we are 45 mins down. There is a dude who literally hangs out t SBA all day and all night long, writing down engine numbers, arrival and departure times, car numbers the whole nine yards. He was like Rainman, a weird dude, really weird, but extremely nice and even more smart. This guy memorized every train in the system, it's consist size, number of units, which station had checked baggage, and get this- dude had every connecting bus number and schedule memorized. When passengers would get off the train, he would be right in their face asking them if they were connecting here or there, going north or south, whatever. He was really obnoxious and annoying, but like I said, a real nice guy. He was about 35 years old, and he too had the obligatory timetable in the back pocket, and the ever present scanner going full blast between me and the conductor and the Dispatcher. We had to talk to the DS a lot because we weren't in CTC area; we had Track Warrant Control (TWC) system, and needed permission to enter and release blocks. I had to stop and copy orders all the time. So he knew me and always called me Deano. His name was Peter. So it's dark outside, this was in December, and like I said we were in SBA doing our station work. I look back out the window and see a circling flashlight, meaning Highball. Like a dummy, I should have used radio and communicated that way with my Conductor. But for some reason, I thought the bags were loaded and people were on board and we were ready to go. I gave two quick blasts fro the horn, and started to move. I got a "Stop!" from my Conductor Bill, saying we have people on the platform! He was 6 cars back, so that's 490 foot in darkness so I couldn't see him. What I saw was Peter highballing our train from the bag car. The fucker completely fooled me. I ended up with a 3 day suspension for rules violation, and Peter got himself banned from the station. Turns out one of the passengers was jostled around a bit as I nudged the train, and he filed a complaint. I believe that got me my 3 days. Anyway, after Bill stopped me, I got down from the unit and proceeded to get in peter's face and the stationmaster escorted him off the property. Long story short,I forgave the guy, and all ended well.

Holy smokes, no wonder you don't like Foamers. I would of been pissed too especially with a 3 day hit like that. I have always tried to figure these kind of guys out, with their scanners and such how these obsessions take place, I wonder if they model railroad when they are home as well, I read some guys that run their model railroad just like a real one, with orders and such.



I have a SP4449 and Nicke Plate 765 t-shirt I bought to help support those organizations, does that mean I am a Foamer?

LOL, dude, I had a giant and I mean a giant layout. I had a scale 6 mile run, a duplicate of the Shasta line through the Sacramento Canyon. That aspect of the hobby, MR'ng is not gay or anything. If anything, it's a pretty good way to get your mind off other shit, and have a little fun. No, I didn't have train orders, but I made it as realistic as it could be. I am talking painted track, ballast, weathered rolling stock and buildings, stuff ike that. it wasn't toy related, it was real modeling. Some of my stuff was real good and looked pretty good. I modeled a derailment scene with tank cars in the river and had the pic posted in Model railroader..this was 20 years ago, when that accident actually took place, and 50,000 fish died. That cost the SP a billion dollars to the State and cities it affected. One thing modeling will do for me, is I can spend time with my son, working on the layout with him, teachng him stuff like that..you know, running the train at 25mph around a tight curve, versus 240 mph lionels that never derail!

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

I don't know technicals about this thread, Dean, but I loved riding and hearing stories from my grandpa when I was young. southern colorado. we had an entire city built and mounted permanently on plywood--HO scale.

good times. I really don't know what he did though! I want to take my mom on a trip soon for old times sake. there's a cool route in between Alamosa and La Veta, Coloradp. maybe July, I'm thinkin. carry on--sorry for the pop in.

[Rockindeano]

I don't know technicals about this thread, Dean, but I loved riding and hearing stories from my grandpa when I was young. southern colorado. we had an entire city built and mounted permanently on plywood--HO scale.

good times. I really don't know what he did though! I want to take my mom on a trip soon for old times sake. there's a cool route in between Alamosa and La Veta, Coloradp. maybe July, I'm thinkin. carry on--sorry for the pop in.

Hey Debbie-

Better ride it soon as it's going bye bye. The Raton Pass route, the `route your grand pop traveled is basically a ghost town. The only two trains a day on there are the Amtrak's...and the cost of upkeep on the line for two measly trains is too expensive. They are planning on switching the Chiefs over to the Amarillo line and taking them off the Santa Fe Northern line next year. You've been warned.

[kgdjpubs]

I don't know technicals about this thread, Dean, but I loved riding and hearing stories from my grandpa when I was young. southern colorado. we had an entire city built and mounted permanently on plywood--HO scale.

good times. I really don't know what he did though! I want to take my mom on a trip soon for old times sake. there's a cool route in between Alamosa and La Veta, Coloradp. maybe July, I'm thinkin. carry on--sorry for the pop in.

Hey Debbie-

Better ride it soon as it's going bye bye. The Raton Pass route, the `route your grand pop traveled is basically a ghost town. The only two trains a day on there are the Amtrak's...and the cost of upkeep on the line for two measly trains is too expensive. They are planning on switching the Chiefs over to the Amarillo line and taking them off the Santa Fe Northern line next year. You've been warned.

Raton, maybe....but Alamosa to LaVeta is Rio Grande Scenic RR--which I doubt is going anywhere. Different line.

[Rockindeano]

I don't know technicals about this thread, Dean, but I loved riding and hearing stories from my grandpa when I was young. southern colorado. we had an entire city built and mounted permanently on plywood--HO scale.

good times. I really don't know what he did though! I want to take my mom on a trip soon for old times sake. there's a cool route in between Alamosa and La Veta, Coloradp. maybe July, I'm thinkin. carry on--sorry for the pop in.

Hey Debbie-

Better ride it soon as it's going bye bye. The Raton Pass route, the `route your grand pop traveled is basically a ghost town. The only two trains a day on there are the Amtrak's...and the cost of upkeep on the line for two measly trains is too expensive. They are planning on switching the Chiefs over to the Amarillo line and taking them off the Santa Fe Northern line next year. You've been warned.

Raton, maybe....but Alamosa to LaVeta is Rio Grande Scenic RR--whttp://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/posting.php?mode=quote&p=4455775hich I doubt is going anywhere. Differehttp://forums.melodicrock.com/ph ... =4455775nt line.

My bad. The Raton pass is on the former Santa Fe Northern trackage, now of course BNSF rails. Amtrak #3 and #4 run via Raton..The Santa Fe line between Ellinor, KS and Dailes, NM (the original ATSF route via Raton Pass). Ruling grade on both Raton and Glorieta hills is 3.25% in both directions. It is a helluva climb for a freight train, and that's why the only traffic on it is ATK 3 and 4 and an occasional empty baretable or grain train.

K, Debbie wanted to ride the Glorieta Division which Raton is on. She speaks of La Junta, CO. From Albuquerque east, takes 8 hours.

Albuquerque Dp 1255P
Lamy, NM 200P
Las Vegas, NM 345P
Raton, NM 532P
Trinidad, CO 631P
La Junta, CO 815P


Miles- 347 in 8 hours. Ave MPH is only 43. Now being that Raton pass is 25 mph for a good hour plus, the rest of the trip is done at 79, with a few stretches of 90mph sprinkled in. For me, it was very boring through there, and I always showered or napped through this part of the trip. The most excitement we ever had was mowing down 12 head of cattle that got loose from a farmer's field.