Unpopular Railroad Opinions! (Part 1)

[@danielford6335]

to be fair, it seems you think that youre local trains are all the same, because they are, you enjoy gevos because you dont see them, people who see gevos day in and day out dont care about them, but would love to experince a proper commuter rush hour. What i think you are trying to say is appreciate your local trains, becasue they are, after all trains, not the gevos are good specifically.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@danielford6335 that is a really good way of looking at it

[@IsupportVehicles999]

⁠@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfanI mean not every single Csx train is lead by a Gevo, I also want people to appreciate emds, Csx sd70macs are slowly getting more common, Csx has more variety now! I hope people can be thankful also there’s EMD and GE! I’m also thankful for catching a heritage unit trail too!

[@BattleshipOrion]

My unpopular opinion is that we should be thankful heritage units, no matter of it's a sticker, full body paint job, or a mix exists at all. For those who are about to argue: be thankful they exist in the first place, corporate railroad does not care about if it fits whatever idea of 'perfect heritage scheme' you have.

[@chassegibson]

Yup. Having heritage hogs doesn’t benefit the railroad at all. It’s an expense to paint them. Most of these people complaining weren’t even alive for the railroads they praise so much so I don’t get that. People just need to take a step back and think “Am I really complaining about an engine I don’t own that it wasn’t painted to my liking even though I haven’t paid a dime for it?” It’s what a railroader said: You buy the cans, you buy the look.

[@CSXF40PH-2Productions]

1:04 that 3rd unit is the PRR sticker unit btw

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Thank you for pointing that out. It has been noted.

[@BNSFrailfan01]

NS 1111 is probably the most annoying “special” locomotive that exists. It really isn’t special at all and I find it absolutely hilarious when people lose their minds over it

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Exactly! It’s just a number. There’s nothing special about it.

[@ejdsndnj]

The reason why railfans find it special is because the 1s are so close to each other that it looks like a barcode

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@ejdsndnj I know, I just think that just because it’s mandatory number looks like a barcode doesn’t make it special.

[@BNSFrailfan01]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Imo it doesn't even look that much like a barcode

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@BNSFrailfan01 True! You wouldn’t be able to scan that!

[@zmancompton]

I agree with you on the GEVO part mostly because I have the same problem but instead with AC44C6Ms on NS. They are EVERYWHERE on the Sandusky district and though I do get satisfied with the fact that it indeed is a train, I gain a lot more enjoyment when it's basically anything other than a C6M on NS, and it's to the point that I feel relief when a GEVO leads.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@zmancompton Yeah, my argument was centered around GEVOS but the comment I pinned makes a good point of; if you see something on your home line very often and are sick of it, don’t let that ruin your enjoyment of railfanning.

[@csxtrainfan319]

I agree with all the opinions and led me to create a poll option. Every Railfan needs to appreciate the train they get no matter what’s on it. I myself live on 2 subdivision where the trains have mostly GEVO’s either the tier 2 or 4 but o never complain about since it’s a train

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@csxtrainfan319 Yes! I don’t get why people see something they don’t like and then just are disappointed and hate the train. I don’t get that because you literally went out to see trains - and now you’ve seen a train. Are you not entertained!?!

[@NStransit8099]

Thanks a lot for telling everyone that CSX 101 looks like lol. I can't unsee it! Really though, NS 1111 is special interest so that is probably why it's on heritage units.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Yes, it’s under special interest and I think that made it even more special to everyone because it got onto HU.com - wrongfully imo. I’m glad you can’t unsee 101 lol. It’s a shame number don’t normally go up to the five digits or we could have something like 80085 lol (or 101)

[@Pensyfan19]

Great video! Just found this channel and subbed earlier today. You raise some good points with both opinion videos, and I also try to get different angles of the same place, especially as someone who lives next to the LIRR who occasionally goes to the NEC for some action. It gets to the point where small decals or stickers on the sides of some engines is considered rare and something to go home feeling about.

[@Jaidyn228]

Gevos are legit great. A little hot take of my own is that the Dash 9 is the Mainline locomotive Goat

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@Jaidyn228 Nice take

[@Julianuo]

I also agree that Gevos are pretty great. Everything about them is awesome to me, like the sounds and design. I see them all the time on the BNSF racetrack and I don’t complain when the whole consist has them.

[@IsupportVehicles999]

I would never get bored if I saw lots of Ns dash 9 rebuilds!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@IsupportVehicles999 Get em while you can, bro

[@westernkyrail]

As a railfan turned railroader, the GEVO is actually the best road locomotive out there

[@coastalrailfanning]

I agree with you so much on the GEVO part, i don't see trains often, and im willing to see them any day of the week

[@OhioCentralModeler]

Part of what makes the NS barcode unit slightly more unique is the San-serif NS number font really does make it look like a barcode. It basically wouldn't work with any other font used by any other railroad. It's not a unit I'm wild about, but I can get a chuckle out of reporting it on Heritage Units.

[@RDC2003]

To the first point you made: Head end variation is important, idc if gevos are on the train, but then leading all the time is sometimes frustrating. So seeing them CW44AC’s and EMD’s the train gains infinite aura. For a point of my own: between 1980-2005 GE engines look better than EMD’s from the same era

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@RDC2003 I fully agree with your take. Dash 8 supremacy

[@jamesinman1198]

I like Gevos and I love Heritage units. Heritage units are real cool, whether they lead or they trail. The main thing is that I see a freight train.

[@JohnDeere1025r]

I rarely see GEVOs in my hometown but I like to see GEVOs

[@IsupportVehicles999]

The good I see in gevos is sometimes they have cool horns like a K5H, K5hla or maybe even a K5lla sometimes!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@IsupportVehicles999 Yeah, that’s another way to make it fun! I take it you’re someone who loves horns?

[@IsupportVehicles999]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Yeah! Sometimes a K3L can rarely be spotted on a Gevo which is cool too!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@IsupportVehicles999 Awesome!

[@NWFProductions]

I have to agree with most of these opinions, any heritage unit on any train in any position is cool, just because its a gevo doesn't mean that the day is ruined, GEVO's are good, if they were not good the railroads would not run them, the crews like them, they are reliable, and they still look pretty cool. Just think about this, at one time SD40-2s and GP35's were more common than any other locomotives, did people ever complain about seeing those, well probably because people complain about everything in this hobby.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@NWFProductions Yea, I guess people just don’t like seeing the same things over and over. Everybody says that people are resistant to change, but it seems railfanning people crave change and variation. It makes sense, and I can’t say I’m immune to it, but no matter what’s on the head end I’m happy to see a train when one comes.

[@protosheep]

Bro, where i live SD60E's are forced to lead all NS trains, and all CSX trains have to have ac44's leading, and i would freak out if i saw a gevo leading.

[@CalebMoon-st7jl]

Where is that at I want to see this for myself sometime.

[@protosheep]

@@CalebMoon-st7jl ayer MA

[@Robert-ki7bz]

The variation is in the cars. I guess if more people were into the rail cars instead of focusing on just the engines, this wouldn't be an issue. I just enjoy seeing a train. I am more interested in the rail cars than to obsess over what type of engines are used.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

That's very interesting. I enjoy railcars for fallen flags / interesting cars and also I take pictures of cool graffiti. From what you're saying, are you one of those people who record the whole train or count cars?

[@Robert-ki7bz]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Yes, I enjoy watching the whole trains go by and the ability to count the cars. Unfortunately, this was neglected by many DVD productions in the past.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Bro… you just made me remember all the DVD videos I used to watch. There was Extreme Trains, The Alphabet Train, I Love Toy Trains dude….

[@Robert-ki7bz]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Lol. Glad I could bring back some good memories.

[@Tyler-3712]

YOOOOOOOO THE COAL TRAIN CSX CLIP IS ON MY LINE

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Yes, I was down in Williamsburg VA for vacation and caught that in a Wendy’s drive through. I got to chase the mid DPUs of the train on RT 60.

[@Tyler-3712]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan yup! That’s my territory. When was that?

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@Tyler-3712 2/12/24

[@TwinLitz2]

To be honest, for some reason, I still kind of like GEVOS

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@TwinLitz2 And thats perfectly valid

[@JustATeenageRailfan]

People complaining about GEVOs is uncommon near me because in CN we get the ex CREX SD70M-2s,SD75M/Is,GTW GP38s,IC GP40s,GP40-2Ws,C44-9Ws,BC C44-9Ws,C40-8Ms,Blue devils so we get something

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Lucky duck…

[@JustATeenageRailfan]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan just move to Wisconsin! We would be happy to have you

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@JustATeenageRailfan got it. I’m packing my bags now

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

That’s great that you mentioned the argument you made for the Gevos. Conway Scenic Railroad has a GP9 they use a ton and it’s a nice engine with a Nathan M3 and a very nice NYC paint, but a lot of my railfan buddies don’t like it because of how much it runs and how the paint doesn’t fit the area. Frankly I can’t get it because if you’re gonna run something a ton, USE AN OLD SCHOOL GEEP!!!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@NorthEasternMotionProductions Dude, seeing an old geep running all the time sounds heavenly!

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan EXACTLY!!!! Old Geeps I honestly like more than Alco diesels so to hear a gp9 being frowned upon because it “runs too frequently” is something I just can’t wrap my head around. Also I wanna mention this again, IT HAS A NYC STYLE PAINT SCHEME!!!! That scheme is one of the best ever. The paint itself isn’t in the greatest condition but there’s engines in the area that have paint in a much worse condition.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Facts

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan kzbin.info/www/bejne/n36ZhINmrdVqfdUsi=xIoeU9ndqkh-2K8Y yea this is the engine in question. The railroad is in Northern NH so I do hope it gets a Boston and Maine paint scheme to fit (specifically the bluebird paint because they already have a few minutemen) but outside of that, it’s a really nice engine.

[@firefighterrailfan4life]

Nice job with the narration. Cool to see that I’m not the only one with those opinions on railfanning. Great video!

[@SkyFire2112]

I live in North America but I’m a fan of British trains so I only just found out what heritage units are. That being said 100% 1111, 1234, 101 or any fun number combination should count. You know how fun it is to see your car go to 77777 KM (or miles for those south of the border), its like that but with a train number make a bingo card of the fun numbers and see what you can find

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@SkyFire2112 From what I can understand in your argument, you’re saying that there is fun in interesting number combinations. That’s valid, my opinion is that because numbers on an engine are mandatory - every engine must have a number - your going to get numbers like 1111, 1234, or 101 because there will be one engine somewhere that received that interesting number. There is nothing extra - no extra paint or sticker - on the engine except a mandatory ID. That’s why I think they shouldn’t be heritage units, but in no way am I saying that you shouldn’t enjoy interesting numbers, if that’s something you enjoy, by all means, enjoy it. Ok rant over.

[@TYR-RailFan]

you have made me think more positive on rail fanning

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Happy to help

[@dominictherailfan]

The sd70ace is better

[@heylol2187]

sd70acc is way better bro

[@protosheep]

Dawg i bet youve never seen one 😂

[@dominictherailfan]

@protosheep I have I just didn't record

[@2010train1]

4:08 Same with the Amtrak Downeaster NPCU's besides 90406/406.

[@kianwoods4275]

Hard agree

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@2010train1 Me three!

[@93greenstrat]

I don't understand why some people are still in the hobby if they hate the current state of railroading so much. Maybe they're just being hyperbolic? Sure; there are things that I wish were different, but railroads do not exist in a vacuum and they must adapt....,.or disappear.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@93greenstrat Preach

[@WJP1361]

I don't mind gevos (I actually prefer them) what I don't like are AC44C6Ms THEYRE EVERYWHERE ALL 835 OF THEM, THEY LOOK (AND MOSTLY) SOUND THE SAME. Though I do give a little more leeway to the ones with the DC to AC stickers as they kind of stand out.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Yes, one of my friends hates all C6Ms too. I don’t mind them just because I like to see any train.

[@videomaker133]

If NS 1111 gets to be on the site, then CDTX 8306 (that cab car in california with the p5) should be on it too.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

P5 horn?

[@benjlar1902]

as someone who runs them id much rather have EMD. the new gevo rebuilds are garbage with a paint job

[@trainsofsouthwestmichigan03]

I work for CN and gevos are nice to ride in and horns can vary but SD70M-2 are really good and Emd are awesome yard and local power

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Very interesting...

[@THE_IRON_HORSE]

I so agree with the camera angles, ive flimed the most boring ass lashup for example an made them look so intresting purlying because of how I flim, never bad switching up a shot once in a while, another thing is yes yall just gotta be happy if you see the heritage unit at all, you can still get a very nice shit even if the thing is facing the oppisite direction of travel, its like thats the only unit that looks like that and its right next to you be greatful fr 😂

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

That’s what I’m saying!!!

[@maxkin882]

Maybe my kind of comment was written somewhere else on your channel if you have the ocasion to go to Europe go for it not only beacuse of railfanning (example here i live in poland where the most common is the electric EP-07 under Polish national railway PKP for short) but also most of Europe has very good looking landscape tbh england is a bit cloudy i reccomend visiting Coinsborough its about 7-6 miles from Doncaster a pretty big town (arround 11k people) with a castle and resemblence of th railway line that was decomissioned arround the late 1960' there is a station there and some train pass like the class 156, 158, 170, 221 and some more ok thats all have a nice day tho! Note: Sorry for my english, its not the best so i avoid using punctuation. Im not the smartest person either.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Tell me about it, I’ve wanted to go to Europe for so long but flights are so expensive now! Every time I’ve looked, it’s been way out of my price range. But I’ve been trying to put some money aside so eventually I can take a trip down there. Europe’s rail system is gorgeous and it sounds awesome to railfan.

[@maxkin882]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan I know like its expensive to go both ways about 700$ in Poland but here yea countries are the size of the state so you can also visit france, Germany and UK but also its worth it when you have the money. In short i like trains so when i go on a spiel like this and talk about countries ill talk about their trains Germany: The most known The ICE series mostly DB class 403 and also siemens vectron, DB class 101, 200, 218, 219 (note there is in France and Netherlands the ICE 3M there exists about 20 Deusche Bahn class 406) and France: mostly SNCF like the BB 15000, 16500, 17000 and most known the TGV design was for a gas powered TGV-001 made in 1982 but changed due to nuclear power in France plus the oil crisis and later in 1984 we have the known guy Sud-Est series (wow i wrote a lot anyway i better get going bc im gonna be laying in bed the whole day lol like its 3 am when im writing this anyway good day you'll have!) Edit: My bad for the train talk im thinking about buying an H0 scale model but yep the European Landscape is beautiful but unfortunately like in the rest of the world trash is everywhere also the food is good recomend tasting some couNtries signature dish or the meal of the day its a safe option and most of the time good too Sorry again and cya!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@maxkin882 no need to apologize, I enjoyed reading that. Yea, Europe is a stunning amalgamation of cultures and trains. It’s definitely going to be a trip. I’ve saved this comment so that I can reference it when I’m there. I also want a layout, but that too is so expensive. Instead I make layouts online

[@maxkin882]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Well yea i agree that europe beautiful in all sorts of way and i know one or two things by watching videos about layouts like SMT mainline mostly makes in H0 and im guessing you are interested in the scale Well you can also look at Key model world unfortunately its paid to watch the series but they made a layout with a english shunting puzzle and a terminating station in under 500£ or about 600$ and its quite big (if i remember correctly about 6x3ft) plus its 00 scale (00 is 1:76 H0 is 1:87 and scale im using is TT 1:120) material is not that expensive only the track, wiring, tools and pre-made scale models for me the biggest pain is finding locos in my scale like the newer american loco is a small switcher made by MTB but i need to look at 1960’ models if i want to find something like a GP7 or an F3 but i can easily change the scale im using since i got only three trains over the seven years im in the TY scene but my friend will have a problem because he has more than 20 trains and also about 500 feet of TT scale track modules and a big 5 platform station plus Cargo Part has 7 tracks and the station is like longer than a car but yea each scale has its pros and cons like H0 is big but it isn’t as Fiddly like N but N scale is Compact but fiddly althought TT scale is the sweet spot of both pretty compact yet not that fiddly its models are scarce (british, french, polish, american and other countries except Germany and Czechia will be pretty rare to find a big variety of them) hope it Helps a bit with making your layout in the future also i hate the timezones because im wirting this in Poland at 12pm and you can see it about 6pm in east america and thanks for saving the comment Well cya!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

lol don’t worry about the time zones. Here in America we don’t really have TT scale, that must be more of a European thing. It sounds like you’re very knowledgeable about your models! I had a small layout a long time ago, but had to get rid of it because we moved. More recently, I’ve switched from model trains to online software where I can make model layouts on the computer. It’s waaaaaay cheaper. All I have to do is download the files of the engine I want.

[@OceanStateRail]

I railfan Rhode Island so there is not a GEVO in sight (anymore) lol. I have never in my life filmed one and the closest thing I have here are the cool fleet of PW B40-8Ws. This week was actually the first time i’ve ever caught freight power lol, a heritage unit in the state of Rhode Island would be insane leading or not. What you value all depends on where you are like you said.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Yes, the NEC can get very repetitive. But you should have P&W, if you learn what times they operate you’ll surely catch more of those.

[@OceanStateRail]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Yeah that along with Seaview the states Class 3 carrier have some really unique and cool operations.

[@CSXEK]

i live in the town the spirt of ravenna CSX 3440 is based on ravenna KY

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@CSXEK Have you ever seen it on home rails?

[@CSXEK]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan nope the CSX Ek Sub has been put OOS only 25 miles from Ravenna to Winchester Ky is used for storage and it ky steam past Ravenna both tracks are cut

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@CSXEK Aww, that’s a shame.

[@PropelleredDash8]

Honestly, ES40DCs and ES40ACs are boring. I know they're like Gevos and they are good but they look bland

[@proudfoamer2]

Gevo or not I just the companies would start washing their power again. I hate dirty locomotives!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Absolutely, it’s something that would be a great way to even slightly improve your companies image. For example, RJ Corman keeps their engine clean as hell

[@CSX_7026]

Honestly, GEVOs are growing on me ngl.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

If you come to enjoy them, it will make railfanning a whole lot more fun. I just enjoy every train I see which makes the hobby way more fun.

[@IsupportVehicles999]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfanBecause a Gevo with a trailing unit could be interesting!

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@IsupportVehicles999 Who are you, so wise in the ways of science? Good take, ngl

[@IsupportVehicles999]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan Yeah thx dude! All gevos aren’t bad! Es44dcs can be cool like early es44ahs because lots of those have 1st and 2nd gen K5hls! + Cn is a fine railroad, but Bnsf is the best! Up is okay, Ns is awesome and Csx is low mid!( lower than the most but I’m alright with whatever good and bad comes, with that I know to choose wisely! If you have a train reporter or train watcher you can pick the trains you want to catch!

[@Southeastern_Railfan]

Unpopular opinion: The semiens chargers are cool.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

No, I totally agree with that! But I think that most people would disagree with us.

[@Southeastern_Railfan]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan the p42s are still better.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@Southeastern_Railfan I agree with that too

[@amandahoward1437]

The only actual cool / nice unit I've seen is NS sd70ace 1008 its not a haritage unit but its still cool because before that all I saw were emd or GE loco's not sd70ace's and it was on a coal train wich I never saw before!

[@codyrapp7253]

Yeah and plus their are many variants of gevos.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Very true

[@marleneruybe9137]

when you said gevos are good were you at gunpoint

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@marleneruybe9137 Nope, it was my own choice. It’s my actual opinion. I just enjoy every train I see - no matter the power on it.

[@marleneruybe9137]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan mans capping

[@marleneruybe9137]

joking

[@TheCrashmastah]

GEVOs 😍😍😍

[@BeensEpicYt]

🔥🔥🔥

[@District_1073]

I actually like heritage units trailing better

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@District_1073 Interesting! Why is that?

[@District_1073]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan for me it just looks better

[@lia_heeler]

I'm actually a gevo lover

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

Enjoy that

[@lia_heeler]

@@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan the Milwaukee road

[@Foamerfreindlyguy]

0:28 :D I like GEVOs

[@thecapisoffyt]

heritage units are overrated. period.

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@thecapisoffyt Bold. I like it.

[@yosico101]

no way u like creo lol

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@yosico101 My favorite artist. In fact literally right now I’m in the chat for the premiere of his next song.

[@mason-wr1we]

"very safley" NOT

[@SomersetCountyRailfan]

2:40 not csx

[@ChessieSystemFan]

I love ghevos

[@ShortAttentionSpanRailfan]

@@ChessieSystemFan enjoy that love, my man

[@theodderotter6635]

op on sight