What's up with trains?

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Actually I kind of like that guy. Listing to him would speed up the trip, and help blot out the train noise. Way better then just sitting, staring at the floor. At least until the awkwardness when he comes and tries to collect the money.

Last edited by Max000 on 15 May 2012, 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The sleeping car is fantastic, but the dining car is a nightmare. Trying to eat sitting at small tables with total strangers is very awkward at best. I guess if money were no object, I'd just tip the sleeping car attendant generously to bring the food to my room.

One thing that is grrrrrrreat about the subway is subway surfing. I loved to do it on the Green Line in Boston, because the Green Line was the most rickety-splitball herkery jerkery, and that made the surfing moar eggsiting.

Except for an interest in looking at subway route maps, I don't really like subways. The trains themselves are kind of dingy and loud. You are generally in a tunnel, so there is nothing to look at while riding. The subway trains in Japan are slightly better, but not much.

What I do really have a special interest in are old antique historical streetcars (trams). The older cars (80 - 100+ years old) were beautifully designed with handmade woodwork. Newer cars (50 - 70 years old) were nicely designed streamlined metal, usually painted in nice bright colors. The historical F Line in San Francisco is the best example. When riding it, I always get a kick out of hearing tourists talking. Many of them think the streetcars are just modern light rail trains. They have no clue how old the cars actually are. Thats a testimonial to design and workmanship, when people confuse a 70 year old vehicle as being modern.

What I think is a real shame, is when they got rid of the caboose.

That was the grand finale, the part you wait for.

If I had the money I'd get one and turn it into a cabin or home.

Don't know...was just a VHS I would watch frequently. It involved model trains though, I remember that distinctly.

Also, I used to go to Greenville Village in the winter a lot to see some model trains set up. Remember spending over an hour usually just watching them move around the track.

I wouldn't call it an obsession, but I spend a LOT of my time thinking about trains, and I have always loved trains since I was a toddler, and in my mind I usually turn to trains to relate to the world outside of trains.
So yes, I do like trains. Who doesn't?

They're not a major obsession for me. But there's nothing like sitting on a half-empty train sweeping across the countryside in the middle of the day. I'd happily spend an entire holiday just doing that, not bothering with the stupid places at the end of the journey.

At the other extreme, I will gladly never go on the London Underground again as long as I live. I have vowed never to return to London Bridge Station unless I'm driving a wrecking ball.

I find the geometry of toy train tracks interesting. One of my favourite toys was a Brio wooden train set, which I played with well into my teens because I liked how easy it was to create different networks with it. I.... may have bought some more Brio recently.

Travelling on trains in the UK in the British Rail era was enjoyable and affordable.

No longer the case since privatization, sad to say.

I think trains are beautiful to look at and I like the rhythm of the wheels on the track. And I think train tracks are beautiful to look at as well.

In other words....



link

Yeah Baby!!:D

For me its buses, especially London's classic Routemaster. I've always liked buses.

The double deckers are amazing!!

Model trains I love.

It seems so stereotypical, is this really a common obsession?

I like trains, I don't think about trains that much but trains are cool. Sadly I've never gotten to ride in a real train (subway doesn't count) but I think it'd be a fun way to travel. When I was a kid I was more obsessed with toy cars, and miniature towns in general, roads, railways, buildings, etc. If I had more space I've considered building a miniature town as a hobby, complete with a railway.