What's your railfan ride?

[NSFan14]

Well Im 14 So I Cant Drive...LOL But my Dad Drive A 2003 Chevy Cavialier

[Switched out]

Well here's mine, purchased new in 92 it's starting to look a bit ragged around the edges.

Vehicle Details	Location/Date of Photo
» 1992 Toyota » 80 Series Landcruiser 4X4 » 4.5Ltr DOHC 24V Petrol	» Outside of my work location » Hallam, Victoria, Australia » September 05, 2006
Model/ID	Photographer
» 80 Series Landcruiser » Unknown	» Christine » Unknown
Remarks: Waiting it's next turn of duty (The great escape from work)

[John West]

Christine, is that what is known as a "roo bar" on the front?

John

[Switched out]

Originally Posted by John West

Christine, is that what is known as a "roo bar" on the front?

John

Yes it is but it's official name is a "Bull Bar" kind of strange really because if you are going to hit any thing it will most likely be a kangaroo or a pedestrian, both of which have a tendency to jump out in front of you at the most inappropriate times.

The other useful thing they are good for is attaching driving lights and radio antennas to the car.

[Ru1056]

Well here's mine, purchased new in 92 it's starting to look a bit ragged around the edges.

Toyota makes a damn fine automobile. This thread alone has 2 Toyotas, both over 14 years old, and GM wonders why they are losing market share?

[John West]

Originally Posted by Switched out

Yes it is but it's official name is a "Bull Bar" kind of strange really because if you are going to hit any thing it will most likely be a kangaroo or a pedestrian, both of which have a tendency to jump out in front of you at the most inappropriate time.

An Aussie comrade told me that it is no fun having a pissed off roo come through the windshield and end up in the seat next to you. Seems to me he totalled two company vehicles before they would pay for a roo bar.....he used to drive between Sydney and the Hunter Valley. I went with him one day and we didn't see a single roo....but the wine was great and we even saw some interesting trains even though it was a business trip.

Your Land Cruiser is probably the top of the line train chasing vehicle. I've put 100,000 miles on two different Jeeps (working on a new Honda Pilot now), while a friend is working on something over 200,000 and still counting on his Cruiser.

But remember the best off road vehicle is a rented car.

John West

[Andrew Blaszczyk (2)]

My ride is usually a 1991 Ford Explorer. She's pushing 180,000 miles but runs like a dream except for the lack of A/C and radio and not to mention the broken passenger side window. When I am not using my own car for fanning I'm usually in my brother's Dodge Stratus, my cousin's Toyota 4-Runner, or my dad's Ford Explorer.

[Tåg]

The car I drive to work is a 1981 Volvo 245 with 578,239 original miles. My Sunday going to metting car is a 1997 Volvo 850 R that just turned 100,000.

[cactus65]

Originally Posted by Tåg

The car I drive to work is a 1981 Volvo 245 with 578,239 original miles. My Sunday going to metting car is a 1997 Volvo 850 R that just turned 100,000.

Dang, and I thought mine had alot of miles on it(199K plus) '99 Chevy S-10
The good vehicle is an '01 Ford Escape with a mere 68k

[Switched out]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

My ride is usually a 1991 Ford Explorer. She's pushing 180,000 miles but runs like a dream except for the lack of A/C and radio and not to mention the broken passenger side window.

A car is not roadworthy without a radio and A/C

I went without A/C for the first year I had the cruiser and and during summer it was unbearable so I decreed never again.

[Andrew Blaszczyk (2)]

Since we have a few new 'regulars' in the forums now, I thought I might resurrect this thread again since I too have a new ride. My '95 Chevy Blazer after a weekend of rain, snow, wind, dirt and, obviously, salt in Maryland and Pennsylvania!

[ottergoose]

Granted that's more apartment than car... but now you know where I sleep too

[Ben Kopicz]

For me it wouldn't be my car. I have a 2000 Hyundai Elantra. The truck i would use is my grandfathers Ford F350. It has a high back so i can really see the train. I just started taking pictures, and i have not yet used the truck to take pictures, but soon or later i will.

[ken45]

PhotoID: Photograph ©

I posted mine on RP a while ago. Ended up being a popular pic!

[Railfan Ohio]

I'm like the Kansas Railfan. Mine is a '97 Jeep Wrangler with the custom plate SD70ACE.

[JimThias]

I wish I had a Jeep, but for now I have to settle for this...



After driving through snow squalls in Michigan, here's my car in Chicago a few hours later basking in the sun:



Incidentally, the photo of a train I took at this location was rejected. haha

[Andrew Blaszczyk (2)]

Man, I was hoping no one would out do my dirty truck. Now, I gotta go off-roading again! Thanks, Jim.

[RicHamilton]

The usual ride for me is the Smokin Stratus (1998 vintage) Got her name following a train when a front caliper was dragging lightly last June. Find a do it yourself car wash, a couple of loonies and sitting trackside for an hour or two cured the problem but the name stuck. This winter I got a treat and had the 2006 Odyssey for a crew of us.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

Man, I was hoping no one would out do my dirty truck. Now, I gotta go off-roading again! Thanks, Jim.

That's what happens when you're driving down dirty roads (dirt was spread instead of road salt) and through snow squalls on a ZERO degree day. The ice and dirt just caked on and wasn't going anywhere, even with the sun shining on it.

[MichaelJ]

I have a typical Aussie car, a 2001 Holden Commodore S. It is manual and can handle many rough dirt roads in the great Australian outback.

Unfortunately, I do not have a 'Roo/Bull bar and have hit two of these wonderful creatures - both did not survive and repairs were expensive. I hit my first kangaroo at 160km/h (100mph) and my second at 80km/h (50mph).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesmp/2132722329

During our trip to Europe we had several different rides:
- VW Passat Diesel in the Netherlands and France;
- Mercedes E Class Diesel in Germany;
- Audi A4 in Sweden; and
- Vauxhall Vectra in England.

The Mercedes and VW were probably the best cars I drove except for the left hand drive/right hand side of the road thing - that was just weird!

If you had your choice of car with AVIS in the USA, what would you hire for a rail fanning trip?

[Mark Rosnick]

1999 Dodge Ram 1500. The bed is great for setting up a tripod or monopod.

[gbrozny]

2005 Chevy Impala, I keep finding mud to drive though so it is very dirty right now. This picture shows my car stuck in the snow, and a CSX AC4400 that is actually cleaner then my car..

PhotoID: 226779 Photograph © Geoff Brozny

[ottergoose]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

If you had your choice of car with AVIS in the USA, what would you hire for a rail fanning trip?

Depends on how many people are coming with you...

The options appear to be:

Chevrolet Aveo or similar
Compact Chevrolet Cobalt or similar
Intermediate Pontiac G6 or similar
Standard Size Chevrolet Monte Carlo or similar
Full Size Chevrolet Impala or similar
Premium Buick Lucerne or similar
Special Chevrolet Silverado Truck or similar
Mini Van Chevrolet Uplander or similar
Intermediate SUV Pontiac Vibe or similar
Standard SUV Chevrolet Trailblazer or similar
Passenger Van Chevrolet Express or similar
Luxury Cadillac DTS or similar
Convertible Convertible or similar
Full Size SUV Chevrolet Tahoe or similar
Premium SUV Chevrolet Suburban or similar

If you're going by yourself or one other person, I'd look at the G6 or Vibe... if you're going to have 3 or more, I'd look at the Uplander.

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

If you had your choice of car with AVIS in the USA, what would you hire for a rail fanning trip?

Whatever gets the best gas mileage!

[EMTRailfan]

Here's the EMTRailfan work truck/Train Chaser (1). TC-1 is the Vehicle ID at trainchaserpictures.net Oh yea, that's me too.