Newbie Question: What's a 'Foamer'?

[DBFanatic]

Hey guys,

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!)

[cbehr91]

It's a derogatory term for railfan. Sometimes used as substitute for the word railfan.

[AARR]

Railfans are labeled "foamers" because some get very very excited when they see a train.

[Ypsi]

Foam at the mouth when you see a train (rare or not rare in some cases)

[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).

[Evan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQPKg-c9ATU
THAT'S a foamer.

[GP9R]

^The person above me is a foamer



It also depends on who you talk to. Most railroad employees will call all railfans, Foamers.

[Michigan Railfan]

This is probably the best definition of foamer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhYXNwvcl6A

[Saturnalia]

How about this one:



And for those who have 97 minutes to burn:

[alittlevanwerty]

I want this printed on a tshirt.

[/quote]

[Jochs]

Railroads have recently began cracking down on foamers with anti-foamer trains.

[DBFanatic]

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...

[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 .

[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

[cbehr91]

[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.

[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...

[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.

[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.

[swc]

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.

[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.

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.