Why do we do this?

[BNSF_or_SOO]

Haahaa. Funny subject eh? Lately when I have been trackside, whether it be alone or with a friend, I wonder.....why do I do this? I enjoy taking pictures so much. I enjoy being trackside so much. It lets me forget about everything. Ill stay out in the cold for hours just for that one shot. For example, this past weekend at Chicago Ridge I waited for an hour and ten minutes on the Southwest Highway overpass, for a westbound IHB movement. The normal human would not be able to feel their body, yet alone their hands, after this amount of time; yet I duked it out and got my shot. Every weekend I plan where I am going to go.....Joliet, Bue Island, Homewood, Deval, Bensenville, ect., ect. It is all I look forward to each and every week. I cant wait to get a car so I can drive to Iowa, Texas, and the Powder River Basin. Its all I want. My friends always ask me; what is wrong with you? HAHAHAAHAA. I dont think Im that messed up to get a response like that but still, I cant figure out why I do this.

Has anyone else felt this way or help me find out why I do this.
P.S. Sorry for the long rant.

[David Telesha]

I stood in 30-degree temps for 3 hours yesterday to photograph the last Providence and Worcester U23b on freight NR-2 being shipped to the NYS&W. Then I waited for NR-3.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy. But I will see when I get my slides back if they're worth submitting - they should be as I've gotten good exposures with the slide film I'm using and should be able to bright them up a little without washing them out. And I chased NR-2 to a great photography spot further down the tracks.

Anyway, you say when you "get a car" - I assume your a teenager as well - its always tough to get a ride.. :lol:

I just love to photograph trains, pure and simple along with the nostalgic historic aspects of freezing something in time the way it is at that exact moment - and for other people and future generations to see what by then may be no more - its not easy but a challenging, healthy, hobby. Instead of sport or cars – I study, model, and photograph trains.

Unfortunately, we don't get the same respect other hobbies do.

[Joe]

Yeah, I've thought about that...Still haven't come up with a clear answer, but I must like it a lot, otherwise I wouldn't go out in snowstorms to photograph trains! :lol:

[cmherndon]

I must like it a lot, otherwise I wouldn't go out in snowstorms to photograph trains!

What's a snowstorm? :lol: NOAA says highs in the mid to upper 60's through Thursday here...then it's gonna get cold, but no snow.

To answer the question though, there are several reasons. First of all, it beats sitting around the house, especially when the weather's nice (i.e. not cloudy). Trains are, well, interesting to say the least. I don't know about anyone else, but I've had the interest for as long as I can remember. Couple that with photography, which I've had an interest in for 15 years now and it give me a chance to combine hobbies. So I do it for the reasons being able to get out of the house and pursuing the two hobbies of trainwatching and photography.

[Ween]

lets me forget about everything. Ill stay out in the cold for hours just for that one shot.

Sounds just like deer hunting. Or fishing. And that's what I equate it to. I used to hunt and fish, but after I left for college, I lost interest in the hunting part (the nature part's fine), but the anticipation of what you might see is still a thrill, not the kill. Are you going to see a 10-point buck or get skunked. Same thing with this hobby. Plus, if you do it right, it's a heck of a lot less bloody!

[Chris Starnes]

Sounds just like deer hunting. Or fishing. And that's what I equate it to. I used to hunt and fish, but after I left for college, I lost interest in the hunting part (the nature part's fine), but the anticipation of what you might see is still a thrill, not the kill. Are you going to see a 10-point buck or get skunked. Same thing with this hobby. Plus, if you do it right, it's a heck of a lot less bloody!

I agree.....editing or scanning a pic is much less bloody than field dressing a deer :lol: :wink:

[mtrails]

Tonite, it will be -16 degrees, and figure about -10 by 9:00am when I leave to capture trains in snow. There is new snow on the ground, and seeing the turbulent cloud of snow swirling around a train as is travels by, is quite invigorating. Two nights ago, while it was snowing, I made my way out to see a train, not to shoot it. When you're standing there, engulfing the nature of the event, nothing else seems to matter (me, anyways). Not the increased wind chill from a passing train, not the thousands of snow flakes accelerated onto your face, not the fact that your standing in snow, in sneakers, and couldn't feel your toes, just seconds after getting out of your vehicle. When it's over, you come back to reality and realize, oh crap i'm freezing! This is why we do this. We love it. I get satisfaction out of any day, if I see just one train, anytime, anywhere, in any weather.

[Ween]

Sounds just like deer hunting. Or fishing. And that's what I equate it to.

Of course, photographing the Hollis & Eastern 8170 is like hunting cattle, but hey... :lol: