An American term for the hobby of enthusiastically following, photographing, documenting, and generally appreciating railways, trains, and rail infrastructure. Railfans (also called trainspotters in British English) may photograph locomotives, visit depots, ride scenic rail lines, collect memorabilia, or monitor radio communications for train movements. Railfanning has a dedicated global community with clubs, conventions, YouTube channels, and publications. In the US, the hobby has a particularly devoted following given the country's extensive freight rail network.
He spent the weekend railfanning along the Tehachapi Loop, capturing dozens of freight trains cresting the famous grade.
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(US) The activities of railfans.
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