| Railroading is not only an industry within | | | | railroading. Some breathtaking railroad |
| the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is | | | | still photos and videos have been taken with |
| a very impressive and exciting hobby. At | | | | camera equipment that is in high three |
| last count, there are over 200,000 | | | | figures. You can then send these images to |
| subscribers to the leading rail hobby | | | | other members of a railfan group to show them |
| magazines. There are over 200 railroad and | | | | how good you are. However, it does not |
| trolley museums scattered about the USA and | | | | compare with the expense of building and |
| Canada. There are a multitude of local | | | | operating a model railroad. |
| railfan organizations, many of who conduct | | | | |
| railroad fan trips. Many other railfan | | | | Model railroading is very costly. Buying a |
| organizations perform restoration projects | | | | single locomotive that is scale detailed can |
| where literally, the dead are brought back to | | | | run into $500 or more. Model railroading |
| life. | | | | comes in three sizes, O Gauge, HO Gauge, and |
| | | | N Gauge. As the scale gets smaller, the |
| And this is only the beginning. There are | | | | costs also tend to get smaller, but the |
| over 50,000 model railroad layouts in | | | | detailed accuracy of the model also tends to |
| existence. Many of these layouts belong to | | | | diminish. Building and operating a model |
| clubs that meet regularly to run trains and | | | | railroad will also take a lot of your time as |
| to construct scale models representing steam, | | | | well as a lot of your money. Be prepared to |
| diesel, and electric locomotives. Model | | | | have an understanding spouse and above all, |
| railroading has grown to such an extent that | | | | keep the family cat out of the model railroad |
| now there are digital control systems that | | | | room. |
| supply sound and controls to all trains in | | | | |
| operation. | | | | You should also be prepared to invest a lot |
| | | | of money and time by belonging to one or more |
| The hobby of railroading can be as | | | | railroading groups or rail museums. These |
| inexpensive or as costly as you would like it | | | | groups also work with large full sized trains |
| to be. The simplest and cheapest kind of | | | | and trolley cars, but they confine their |
| railroading is just finding a spot of | | | | operations to their own right-of-ways and |
| railroad which looks scenic, finding a good | | | | will teach you good safety habits if you do |
| location where to watch the trains, get a | | | | not already have them. These groups go out |
| good camera,and then see them zoom or else | | | | regularly on fan trips that are sanctioned by |
| crawl by. The most costly way to enjoy the | | | | the railroads that support them, and are |
| sport is to invest about $50,000 in a model | | | | great subjects for photography. There are |
| railroad consisting of scale locomotives, | | | | also a multitude of e-mail posts available on |
| cars, scenery, buildings, and electrical | | | | any railroad or railroad fan group through |
| equipment. | | | | Yahoo. Here, your investment is very |
| | | | inexpensive and you can get a good background |
| There are all sorts of cost and enjoyment | | | | in how trains operate. A search through |
| levels in this sport. How much time and | | | | Google will tell you where these groups are |
| money you wish to invest is up to you. This | | | | located. |
| article will get you started. It will keep | | | | |
| you very much occupied as you pursue this | | | | Talking to other railfans or other |
| hobby. Let's take a look at some of these | | | | railroaders is an excellent way to network |
| basics. | | | | yourself and to communicate with others that |
| | | | have either been there or done that. You can |
| The cheapest way to enjoy railroading is to | | | | even start and develop your own web |
| find a good stretch of track where the trains | | | | conference room, where you can invite |
| run frequently and just watch them go by. | | | | railroaders from all over the US and Canada |
| Bring a camera if you want to record the | | | | to go over every issue related to the |
| action. Please remember to observe the | | | | railroading hobby. |
| basics of safety and do not venture onto the | | | | |
| tracks under any circumstances. Do not bring | | | | To get to other website locations that will |
| children along unless you are watching trains | | | | help you get started or will give you more |
| from a bridge that is fenced. Above all, | | | | information on this exciting hobby, go to web |
| never venture onto railroad right of way | | | | search engines to find blogs and other |
| unless you have gotten prior permission from | | | | websites. A trip through one or more search |
| railroad authorities to be there. | | | | engines should prove to be of immense help. |
| | | | |
| Railroading becomes more expensive when you | | | | Whatever your fancy, follow the steel rails. |
| couple up the hobby of photography with | | | | They will lead you to hours of fun. |