Sorry for the newbie question, but I've seen reference on several posts to 'foamers', and although I was able to make the astute, scientific, and herculean determination that this is a derogatory term, I can't quite figure out what it means. A railfan who doesn't play by the rules? The railfanning version of a (model train) rivet counter? A know-it-all who enjoys correcting others? All of the above?
Thanks for setting me straight!
- Carsten (who drools, rather than foams, every time the crossing gates go down, regardless of what passes by!)
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 5:54 pm
by cbehr91
It's a derogatory term for railfan. Sometimes used as substitute for the word railfan.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 6:22 pm
by AARR
Railfans are labeled "foamers" because some get very very excited when they see a train.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 6:26 pm
by Ypsi
Foam at the mouth when you see a train (rare or not rare in some cases)
GP9R wrote:
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 6:32 pm
by DT&I
There are foamers and railfans. Railfans are the guys that don't do stupid things while watching trains. Foamers are guys that would do anything to catch all the heritage units or something(like crazy people).
Railroads have recently began cracking down on foamers with anti-foamer trains.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:23 pm
by DBFanatic
Jochs wrote:Railroads have recently began cracking down on foamers with anti-foamer trains.
Is that a real picture? It looks like Fostoria. Wow, what a shame. I wish I had a job that people admired, or were jealous of! I certainly wouldn't treat them with disdain. Where would my industry (automotive) be without car enthusiasts?
Sigh...
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:32 pm
by Raildudes dad
[quote="DBFanatic] Is that a real picture? It looks like Fostoria. Wow, what a shame. I wish I had a job that people admired, or were jealous of! I certainly wouldn't treat them with disdain. Where would my industry (automotive) be without car enthusiasts?Sigh...[/quote]
The guy spraying the foam and who made the sign is one of us .
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:49 pm
by DBFanatic
The guy spraying the foam and who made the sign is one of us .[/quote]
Ah, so 'Foamer' is like 'Redneck', in that it can be taken as an insult or a badge of honor, i.e.:
"If a leggy supermodel in a string bikini standing in front of you gets passed by a freight train and your eyes naturally follow the train, you might be a foamer..."
- Carsten
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:01 pm
by cbehr91
Raildudes dad wrote:[quote="DBFanatic] Is that a real picture? It looks like Fostoria. Wow, what a shame. I wish I had a job that people admired, or were jealous of! I certainly wouldn't treat them with disdain. Where would my industry (automotive) be without car enthusiasts?Sigh...
The guy spraying the foam and who made the sign is one of us .[/quote][/quote]
That's Deshler. It was planned. The engineer is a buff also.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:01 pm
by DT&I
I take being called a redneck as a compliment. But foamers are generally annoying over excited people. Also if you follow the train you may be something else too...
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 3:17 pm
by swc
a foamer is people who take picuters of the same engines over and over(example NS -9 or CSX 44)or my favorite a plain freight car.A railfan is some who just likes to watch trains or take photos of something they don't see very often.I've even heard of people who were offered a ride on a engine but declined because they wanted to take pictures of it moving,thats a serious foamer.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 3:26 pm
by DT&I
Ok so a foamer is a person who takes a picture of a dash 9 over and over even if it's from creative angles and with old signals? No.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 3:45 pm
by swc
DT&I wrote:Ok so a foamer is a person who takes a picture of a dash 9 over and over even if it's from creative angles and with old signals? No.
Like you just said over and over than YES they are.
Re: Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 4:07 pm
by DT&I
swc wrote:
DT&I wrote:Ok so a foamer is a person who takes a picture of a dash 9 over and over even if it's from creative angles and with old signals? No.
Like you just said over and over than YES they are.
NO they aren't. A Railfan can't control what companies put on a train. That's not the definition of a foamer.
