Female Railfans (and why dating is difficult)

[Eagle]

Are there any people reading this who insist on having a girlfriend/wife who is interested in transport?

I don't insist on it at all, but the fact my boyfriend is interested in it (and works in the industry) is certainly a plus :P

 

[Techniquest]

Techniquest, maybe you haven't found the right person yet. Be patient. Don't change who you are to fit in with someone else!

You're probably right there. Patience, merr I'm bored of being patient. Changing who you are to fit in with someone else is much easier to be honest, even if it's only temporary!
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Are there any people reading this who insist on having a girlfriend/wife who is interested in transport?

I wouldn't say I'd insist on it, but it would make things a thousand times easier. That said, they could easily disagree with your views still. They could hugely rate 47s whilst you rate 37s for instance, awkward much...

As for my original post on this subject on page 1, I must have been in a bad mood or just having a bit of a down evening. However I do still think that it's pretty much give up on the idea of finding someone who accepts the hobby...

 

[Ivo]

Are there any people reading this who insist on having a girlfriend/wife who is interested in transport?

Obviously I wouldn't, but that might actually be a good thing because for all I know any future partner might be a fan of 323s

 

[Nym]

I don't insist on it at all, but the fact my boyfriend is interested in it (and works in the industry) is certainly a plus :P

You're speaking to someone who had his first date at the National Railway Museum...

 

[Roverman]

Have you ever tried insisting a woman does anything?!

 

[Techniquest]

Obviously I wouldn't, but that might actually be a good thing because for all I know any future partner might be a fan of 323s

Bah, I still canna see your hatred for 323s. Love the little beasts, and if I were to end up with someone who felt the same way as I did I'd be laughing

 

[90019]

I don't insist on it at all, but the fact my boyfriend is interested in it (and works in the industry) is certainly a plus :P

Though on buses, not trains.

 

[Eagle]

Though on buses, not trains.

I honestly can't tell the difference between the two :P

 

[Nym]

I honestly can't tell the difference between the two :P

Wolves and Eagles?

I didn't think you lived in an area served by pacers...

Back toward topic, I rarely see anyone female with any interest in transport, every female I see isn't involved in any kind of railway engineering, the nearest we have is a female ventilation engineer...

 

[Butts]

You're speaking to someone who had his first date at the National Railway Museum...

Were you "in therapy" at the time ? - thats a brave confession !!

 

[Nym]

Were you "in therapy" at the time ? - thats a brave confession !!

Not that brave, he likes steam trains, the NRM has steam trains, with males it really is as simple as join the dots sometimes...

 

[coastwallker]

My first date with my (now) husband was to watch the railway bridge put into place at Vastern Road in Reading. That was in 1974 or thereabouts.

We both thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle which bode well for the future.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

the nearest we have is a female ventilation engineer...

(innocently) What is "female ventilation"? It sounds like a rather specialised branch of engineering, but probably quite important in hot weather.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I've got to say my girlfriend at the moment doesn't mind the fact I'm into railways, aslong as you can take the banter a lot of the time its fine!

I've got to say all the girls I've come across at the moment make me feel like I'm a 10 year old when I tell them, they always go "awwwww that's so cute" and I'm sitting their wondering if its a good or bad thing

 

[WestRiding]

There are a few of this rare breed to be found on the footplate on the NYMR.

If my experience of females in a predominantly male preserve is worth anything I would say that they can be equal to or even better than the men around them.
We had about 6 in a TA unit and I would in some cases put one of the girls in a particular driving role even when there were supposed to be professional drivers available.
She could do the job the men could not.

Ohhhhh, the one with the ginger hair on the NYMR...... she's very nice.

 

[Kernowfem]

I love the railways. I can sit on a platform, at a level crossing/bridge etc for hours on end. But because i don't take pictures or numbers and just sit and watch you wouldn't notice me, because i just look like a passenger.

I know several female enthusiasts, but like me they just blend in. There have been numerous galas and events where i've taken my camera (the last one being barrow hill) and no one batted an eyelid! However being a kettle fan too, some times when i visit preserved lines i do get some very strange looks, i just smile to myself.

 

[atsf_fT]

plenty of women railfans (trainsptters) in the USA and loco drives too because of there love of trains . Worcester shrub hill has a large amount of women guards and drivers they all love there job and talk "trains" back at you if you get into Conversation , i would assume they got into the job because they like trains ?



this ladys from holland but in the USA , note the t-shirt

 

[Nym]

(innocently) What is "female ventilation"? It sounds like a rather specialised branch of engineering, but probably quite important in hot weather.

A ventilation Engineer that happens to be female. You know, deals with sucking air through big shafts and whatnot...

 

[t o m]

However I do still think that it's pretty much give up on the idea of finding someone who accepts the hobby...

I've given up all together and I'm only 22! Don't care if a girls interested in railways or not.

 

[Techniquest]

I've given up all together and I'm only 22! Don't care if a girls interested in railways or not.

I'm pushing on to 28 soon and I've given up hope. I don't particularly care if they have an interest in the scene or not, but it's required that they at least accept that I have an interest. You do find some decent people out there that do accept it, granted, but that's about as far as I've got.

I recall there was promise on the horizon a few months ago, but we both decided eventually our interests didn't exactly match at all. Me trains, her horses. Shame really, but we're still good friends so that's handy. Who knows what will happen eh?

 

[Crossover]

Thankfully I haven't given up all hope...not just yet anyway :P

I don't mind too much if a future girlfriend is interested in railways or not - it is unlikely I will find someone who has interests in all the things I have an interest in (likewise the other way round) - I guess it would help if they did though

 

[Eagle]

You see, this is why they invented internet dating websites.

(And there should no stigma attached to them anymore, it's 2012 for goodness's sake.)

 

[Techniquest]

Stigma or not, I would be quite concerned about using them. Enough reasons to make a list longer than all the rolling stock in the UK (yes I did just read through that thread)!

 

[starrymarkb]

A ventilation Engineer that happens to be female. You know, deals with sucking air through big shafts and whatnot...

*raises eyebrow*

Are you sure that's air....


Raising the tone

Try www.okcupid.com - I've had a few dates (and a few odd messages that made me WTF) from there

 

[radamfi]

I don't mind too much if a future girlfriend is interested in railways or not - it is unlikely I will find someone who has interests in all the things I have an interest in (likewise the other way round) - I guess it would help if they did though

It is such a great shame that men's and women's interests tend to be so distinct. I presume gay people have a great advantage in that they find it much easier to find people with the same interests.

 

[Crossover]

You see, this is why they invented internet dating websites.

(And there should no stigma attached to them anymore, it's 2012 for goodness's sake.)

As Techniquest has said, stigma or not, I'd prefer not to, to be honest.

 

[t o m]

You see, this is why they invented internet dating websites.

(And there should no stigma attached to them anymore, it's 2012 for goodness's sake.)

Had a look on one or two of them, not really found them helpful. Even looked on a niche interest one, not railways, wasn't overly impressed. I see plenty of girls about who look like my type but you can't really just go on looks! Don't get in any situations to actually meet them either. Working on the railway doesn't help, all I work with is men!

 

[Crossover]

It is such a great shame that men's and women's interests tend to be so distinct. I presume gay people have a great advantage in that they find it much easier to find people with the same interests.

I agree with you partially, but there are things where they overlap to an extent.

 

[Nym]

It is such a great shame that men's and women's interests tend to be so distinct. I presume gay people have a great advantage in that they find it much easier to find people with the same interests.

Oh trust me that couldn't be further from the truth, if anything interests are more polarised in the gay community than the straight one...

And now I'll just sit quiet rather than typing that sentence...

Anyway, I'm rather lucky to find someone who finds me interesting because he likes electronics and things, but he tends to like steam a lot more than I do, I suppose one has to make compromises .

Oh and yes, I erm, Ventilation Engineer, she deals with moving air in and out of tunnels, usually out of, and usually trying to make the mechanical install easer, resulting in making it harder, and making the electrical install even easer than it was before...

 

[theblackwatch]

You see, this is why they invented internet dating websites.

(And there should no stigma attached to them anymore, it's 2012 for goodness's sake.)

I know of two enthusiasts who have met their (now) wives throught internet dating sites - so it clearly works for some people. Even back in the 1980s, 'Dateline' used to advertise in Rail Enthusiast magazine.