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Trains, Locomotives, Rails, and Railfanning

Whirligig Girl

By Whirligig Girl
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szputnyik

szputnyik

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I'm a railfan, but not because of Thomas :). It aired in Hungary when I was about 5, but I found that show very boring.

I became one because we always traveled by train to the other side of the country to visit my grandparents and other relatives when I was a child, and many of my relatives there were railway workers, so discussions about the railways were common. It was particularly interesting to hear rumors about the railroad in the former Soviet Union, such as how they change the wheels to the other track guage at the border and how do those long-distance sleeping trains look like. I used the word "rumors" since visiting the Soviet Union before 1990 was like visiting North Korea today: You could go on a pre-arranged trip to state-owned tourist sites isolated from the locals, but you couldn't even dream of independently crossing the border and doing a railfan tour of small village stations and gauge-changing facilities, so most of their discussions sounded like as if the Soviet Union was in another dimension. Since then, I've taken some railway-related trips to Ukraine and found it very fascinating.

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Whirligig Girl

Whirligig Girl

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ALCo Locomotives > GE Locomotives > EMD Locomotives. 'Nuff said.

I'm afraid we ought not allow American trains in these parts. Says the american.

I don't care about american trains, not really. I think British trains are the best, and also their sci-fi. [/doctorwo]

I am actually a bit more fond of small-gauge trains that full scale, such as functional garden railways with trains you can sit in.

Edited by GregroxMun
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Flymetothemun

Flymetothemun

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Posted
I'm afraid we ought not allow American trains in these parts. Says the american.

I don't care about american trains, not really. I think British trains are the best, and also their sci-fi. [/doctorwo]

I am actually a bit more fond of small-gauge trains that full scale, such as functional garden railways with trains you can sit in.

Could never get into Doc. Who no matter how hard I tried, but you'd be hard-pressed to find me dissing Top Gear UK. US on the other hand...

Anyway, I like Trains too. Mostly steam locos, they have a certain elegance and character to them that I can't find in electrics or diesel electrics.

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Whirligig Girl

Whirligig Girl

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also gregox may i use your train to chug across my bridge when its done?:D

No, but I know a good works station you can talk to about a new engine! Go to the Crewe works! Lovely place where they manufacture engines! Just make sure you go before 1950, or they'll only supply diesels.

- - - Updated - - -

this is the perfect topic to discuss with my work in-progress bridge from ksc to the island off of ksc.:D

when its done i plan on using a train to chug across the ocean.

it will take some time though as of yet i am putting down my first piece.:wink:

Make sure you tune into Kerbal Podcast this week!

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General Rarity

General Rarity

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I'm afraid we ought not allow American trains in these parts. Says the american.

I don't care about american trains, not really. I think British trains are the best, and also their sci-fi.

>implying all british trains are made by British companies... buuuut American RS-27 is best locomotive

Back on topic, I love playing the Trainz series, and can't wait for a new era to come out... I love just building your own routes and it has a content installation system that's easy as KSP's. Love using my JointedRail ES44's, SD80's, C-40-8's, F7's, etc. I'm an American train person... but East European trains interest me as well.

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Seret

Seret

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I'm afraid we ought not allow American trains in these parts. Says the american.

I don't care about american trains, not really. I think British trains are the best, and also their sci-fi.

I work in rail eningeering in the UK. The only company still building trains here is Bombardier, which is Canadian. Hitachi are still talking about setting up manufacturing here. Siemens are the other big manufacturer here, they build their stuff on the continent.

Not sure I'd really rate British Rail designs as particularly high-tech, either. You've only started to see adoption of things like the Scharfenberg coupler here in the last couple of decades, that's a design that's about a hundred years old. Most trains rolling around over here don't have a TMS, and the ones that do use serial comms for it.

Having said that, from what I see of the state of rail in the US you're even worse off. So your point stands.

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MK3424

MK3424

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If you guys are into train sims, then i have some suggestions:

Trainz

Open Rails (freeware but you need Microsoft train simulator for the content)

Train sim. 2014 (2015 indev)

Run 8 (a very well made sim with a very good multiplayer)

OpenBVE (cab only sim).

Railsimulator

I also suggest to play trainsims with the Raildriver train cab controller (i'm waiting for mine, should be deliverd by 20th Oct.).

Because playing trainsims with a keyboard sucks.

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jmiki8

jmiki8

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I'm currently studying transportation engineering, mostly because of my love of railways (and aviation).

Here are some pictures taken at my favourite spotting sites:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

I also love to visit transport hubs like stations and classification yards, but I won't bother to dust off my harddrive for pics. :P

Edited by jmiki8
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MGUARN

MGUARN

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I do love a good old train.Mostly British steam trains ,and some american steam trains *cough*big boy*cough*

However,when it comes to the diesel ,and electric trains I blame early Thomas the tank engine television for my dislike of those types.

but I do like the Santa Fe diesel locomotive cause of there shape.

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