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((INTRO))
There are fans for all kinds of things, from sports to birds to stamps. This is true for trains as well. VOA’s Aunshuman Apte reports.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptNew York Railfans - Apte
HEAD: New York-Based Railway Fans Help Fan Awareness of Trains.
TEASER: Train enthusiasts express their love for the mode of transportation on social media — and even make a living doing it
DATE:
PUBLISHED AT: 02/07/2023 at 10:20
BYLINE: Aunshuman Apte
DATELINE: New York City, New York
CAMERA: Aunshuman Apte
VIDEO EDITOR: Aunshuman Apte
VIDEO FROM: All VOA
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Reifenrath
NUMBER:
TYPE: VPKGN
TRT: 2:42
APPROVING EDITOR: KE
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((INTRO))
[[There are fans for all kinds of things, from sports to birds to stamps. This is true for trains as well. VOA’s Aunshuman Apte reports.]]
((NARRATOR))
Thibault (Thee-Baw) Constant is from France. He is filming the latest video of his jour-ney from New York to Albany for his YouTube channel “Simply Railway.”
((00.00.18.03- 00.00.22.09- Thibault Constant, Railfan))
“I want to show the great side of train travel. Of course, it might not be the fastest, it might not be the cheapest, but you have a good time on board the train."
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On his channel, Constant has shared the details of his two hundred plus train trips around the world.
((00.00.32.12-00 Courtesy Youtube/@SIMPLYRAILWAY ))
He reviews the various train features — from seats and cafe cars to toilets — and offers tips about his journeys.
It’s a childhood passion he carried into adulthood and turned into a job of sorts.
Over two hundred thousand ((END COURTESY))
people subscribe to his YouTube channel.
((Thibault Constant, Railfan)) ((ENG))
“I am getting money from YouTube and Google from the views of my videos. The more people view my videos, the more money I get. All my train trips are paid from the mone-tization of my videos.”
((NARRATOR))
Railway enthusiasts like Thibault call themselves “railfans” and their hobby “railfanning.” 00.01.09.17-00.01.19.00- Courtesy Youtube/@SIMPLYRAILWAY))
The exact number of rail fans in the United States are probably in the tens of thousands if the 70-thousand readers of publications like “Trains” magazine are any clue.
((END COURTESY))
Julian Briggs from New York is one of them.
((00.01.26.23-00.01.37.04- Julian Briggs, Railfan))
((BEGIN COURTESY Instagram/ jbtrainman2))((OVER STILL PHOTO))
“I just want to promote how convenient and environmentally friendly the trains are. As you know, we are in a climate crisis, and trying to reduce car dependency in the United States particularly is very important.”
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Briggs does make a point to say that railfanning can be dangerous, and part of his ad-vice to potential railfans is to keep a safe distance and follow local laws.
Another railfan, Aaron Klem, documents and preserves the history of railroad networks.
((00.02.00.19-00.02.06.12- Aaron Klem, Railfan))
“I have taken a lot of photos on the days of last runs, special events, retirement trips where these photos will not be able to be captured again.
((Courtesy: Instagram/turbocharged_transit))((Over still photo))
I captured a moment in New York City history over the winter when the R32 trains re-tired after like 56 years of service.”
((NARRATOR))
Some railway companies like Union Pacific and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority encourage rail fanning activities as long as they are done safely.
((Aaron Klem, Railfan))
“Go out and take pictures of trains. It’s a lot of fun. Trust me.”
((NARRATOR))
All three men hope that their love for trains, shared through their pictures and videos, will inspire more youngsters to take up railfanning.
Aunshuman Apte, VOA News, New York.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
New York City, New York
Embargo DateFebruary 6, 2023 19:00 EST
Byline
Aunshuman Apte, VOA News, New York.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
