International Railroad Discussion > Railfan in other languages

What are the terms for Railfans/Foamers in other countries or languages?

Anorak - UK
Trainspotter - UK
Gricer - UK
Gunzel - Australia

Eisenbahfreund (railroad friend) in german.

birdman Wrote:
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> Eisenbahfreund (railroad friend) in german.

I think you lost a letter, Birdman: Eisenbahnfreund, no?

Eisenbahnfreund is the "flattering" term. The more sardonic term is Pufferküsser ("buffer kisser"), perhaps the loose translation of "Foamer" to German. (Personally, the term Pufferküsser amuses me).

mococomike Wrote:
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> What are the terms for Railfans/Foamers in other
> countries or languages?

Here are some in Japanese:

Tetsudo Fan
Tetsu Chan
Tetsu

Hiroshi

Thanks prorail. Eisenbahnfreund it is.

Foamer - obvious, but another less complimentary version:

Flim - Fan Living wIth Mother

run8 Wrote:
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> Gunzel - Australia

Hmm, I've heard that one before but it wasn't a very nice implication ...


TCS - de prez was there

Gricer is a less-than-flattering UK term to describe railfan cheapskates who travel great distances to see, photograph and enjoy presereved railway equipment without ever buying a ticket, spending money in the gift shop or otherwise contributing financially to the preservation and continued operation of such equipment.

amis du rail = friends of the railway in Euro French,

We were called "des maudit photo maniacs" (badly spoken of photo maniacs) on the Quebec Cartier in 1992 by the train crews on the radio.

In Mexico (spanish):

Railfan/foamer - "Ferroaficionado"

Railnut - "Ferroloco"

Does anybody happen to know what the word might be in Norwegian or Swedish ?

In Hungary (hungarian):

Railfan = vasutbarát [pronunciation approx. : va-shoot-ba-rat]

In French, railfans are "férrovipathes"

In France, railfans are called "amateurs du rail". The implication is not the same as the English word "amateur" - in French, it has more the sense of "lover" than "dilettante".

eminence_grise Wrote:
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> amis du rail = friends of the railway in Euro
> French,
>
> We were called "des maudit photo maniacs" (badly
> spoken of photo maniacs) on the Quebec Cartier in
> 1992 by the train crews on the radio.

"Maudit" is "damned". What were you doing that would make the crew think you were "damn maniacs"?

run8 Wrote:
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> Anorak - UK
> Trainspotter - UK
> Gricer - UK
> Gunzel - Australia


Anorak is a of type jacket right? another was of saying nerd?
Trainspotter that's easy especially if you know what the Ian Allen ABC was...
Gricer, ah someone there by grace and favour?
But Ginzel? how does that come about?