by gp9fan
I am a new railfan so I hope you won't mind this dumb question. In reading thru many of these posts I have seen the term foamer used several times. Just what exactly is a foamer? Thanks, Karl
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Robert Paniagua
gp9fan wrote:Just what exactly is a foamer?The most important thing is that you don't want to be one. "Foamers" are the kind of "railroad enthusiast" who cannot control their excitement at the sight of a train or train-related object. Doesn't matter what it is, either. They like ALL trains, no rhyme or reason. They have every train shirt, mug, decal, patch and pin. They are often inconsiderate of others, be it railfans on a photo line or families visiting a railroad attraction- they'll push to the front of the line to get their crappy photo and who cares about anyone else? Foamers will annoy the piss out of a railroad worker, practically humping their leg for attention and information. Foamers memorize trivial information that is of no value. Quite simply, it's a name given to those who seem to "foam at the mouth" at the mere sight or mention of a train.
RussNelson wrote:We need to make up black T-shirts that say (in big white block letters like the FBI shirts) "FRN". Then just before you're going to take a picture of the train, you turn around and show your colors. Then you take a picture of a train with a smiling engineer.Hah, I'd buy one! I'm a big fan of the "FRN" label. I just think it's really humorous, similar to foamer I guess but a bit more intense. I consider myself an FRN in a good way, if that's possible. I'm a pretty low-key guy so I think I avoid most of the pitfalls associated with foamerdom, so to speak.
Otto Vondrak wrote:Could "FRN" also stand for "Fan of RAILROAD.NET?"I don't see why not!
Otto Vondrak wrote:They are often inconsiderate of others, be it railfans on a photo line or families visiting a railroad attraction- they'll push to the front of the line to get their crappy photo and who cares about anyone else?Yes, yes, and yes
...Foamers will annoy the piss out of a railroad worker...
In short, "foamers" give legitimate railroad enthusiasts a bad name.