The T & E guys make it so hard on the "buffs" (and you get labeled a "buff" and a "foamer:) if you DO show up wearing that old-timey stuff!) that it sort of becomes a "I dare you wear that sh--" out here! LOL!
Nobody will dress that way (well, maybe once!) because peer pressure kicks in and people want desparately to fit in! In all my years I saw ONE person dress in the striped 'halls, cap, and red bandanna, and the guys MOCKED him off the RoW! Him, it didn't bother; he was such a diehard foamer he didn't care.
Seriously,
most aren't "buffs" in
that way! I honestly think there are two kinds of rail fans: the diehard hobbiest, and the career railroader. The career railroader is difficult to break down in his "fan-ness" in that he is interested in the WORK as a career. He may take an interest in random equipment that shows up on the property, yet you won't find him out snapping photos or riding every steam trip he can find. He doesn't WEAR "garb" or participate in railroad clubs. HIs interest is purely professional tho, yes, he IS interested. People often assume that everybody that works on the RR is a "fan" and they cannot readily separate the little train around the Christmas tree from the real-life employee. It
CAN be true. Often it is not. The true rail "buff", the dreamy-eyed hobbiest, the one who daydreams about steam choo choos, the one that dons overalls, striped "railroad" caps, bandanas and fake "railroad pocket watches, HE is......................well, outside reality because that very penchant for wearing out-of-date and "dorky" clothing is a telling indication that this fellow that has suddenly showed up on the job as a new hire just ain't with it.
He would tend to be eyed with bemused suspicion at our railroad ( "pssst, that guy *********, he ain't RIGHT in the head or sum'pin!"
)
Like I said in another thread, if you want to be MOCKED slap off the RoW and branded a member of the "national railway '
HYSTERICAL society", show up on our Road dressed like that! LMAO!!!! You'll either have some mighty thick leather for skin, or you won't do it anymore!!!
Gadfly