# Trains, a moving art show **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147 "2025-06-26T00:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/21 "2025-06-26T14:43:11Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Well, yeah, I think it was obvious from context that the OP was talking about cars with artistic graffiti rather than just cars that have been tagged. If you’ve ever watched trains (I do) the percentage of them with “art” versus undecipherable tagging is very small. For every one of these: [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSRtU1dYv-q9ivO-YQyPLyyAehOlaIScupRxg&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSRtU1dYv-q9ivO-YQyPLyyAehOlaIScupRxg&s) There are 50 of these. It’s just “noise”: > **[https://i.redd.it/vf2h9zd8wfre1.jpeg](https://i.redd.it/vf2h9zd8wfre1.jpeg)** Please appreciate how the current “artist” painted over someone else’s “art” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/22 "2025-06-26T14:44:18Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > If you’ve ever watched trains (I do) the percentage of them with “art” versus undecipherable tagging is very small. Sure. So what? Someone isn’t allowed to enjoy the A because the B exists? No one here is saying “Everyone go out and spray paint box cars!” Also, both of those train cars are pretty ugly either way so meh. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/23 "2025-06-26T14:45:02Z")
They both took talent. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/24 "2025-06-26T14:46:42Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > No one here is saying “Everyone go out and spray paint box cars!” Oh jeeze. Yes they are, because if people didn’t “appreciate” railroad “art” maybe taggers would stop tagging cars. People ARE spray paining box cars, every day, more and more. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/25 "2025-06-26T14:48:01Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > They both took talent. I’ll put the second one on your car, OK? Geeze, I’m done. Go enjoy your “Art”. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/26 "2025-06-26T14:48:02Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > if people didn’t “appreciate” railroad “art” maybe taggers would stop tagging cars. Hah, I think you wildly misunderstand their motivation. People aren’t tagging names on boxcars to impress SDMB readers. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/27 "2025-06-26T14:49:00Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > People aren’t tagging names on boxcars to impress SDMB readers. Talk about oversimplification. Did they teach about audiences for art in school? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/28 "2025-06-26T14:53:30Z")
Right. Most people tag things for cred in their local circles, to stick it to The Man, to know that their name/tag is out there twenty states away, etc. They’re not looking for general appreciation for their “art”. In fact, people frowning and shaking their fists at those darn taggers is more feature than bug. No one is saying “Golly, those people didn’t like my bubble-letters saying CAPAN so maybe I oughta stop tagging boxcars…” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/29 "2025-06-26T14:53:48Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I’ll put the second one on your car, OK? Better than driving a Homer Simpson around. Hey, I’m just saying these people have TALENT. It should be recognized. It should be developed. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/30 "2025-06-26T15:06:37Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > That’s a beautiful home in beautiful surroundings. I’m not surprised it took you a decade to get up the gumption to move away once it was already kinda difficult. Yeah, when I started having 02 problems, that tripped the trigger. And we can’t handle that snow when we are in our 70’s. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m pleased to know I correctly guessed the color of the famous plow truck too. It’s a good truck. William is it’s name. I pick dark colored vehicles when I can. Helps melt the snow off of them. Also easier to see on a snow covered road. The sun beats the paint to death though. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/31 "2025-06-26T15:31:33Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > OK. I’m terrible at this… Very nice. (but I actually meant pics of the trains !) Is that realtor link the one you’re moving _from_ ? If so, I’ll put in an offer ! (A house like that near me would cost more than twice that ! (probably even more)) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/32 "2025-06-26T15:34:12Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > We are about 150 yards from a rail line. Lots of room here, very nice spot. 1/3 acre. A train, cargo goes by 3-4 times a day. What do you think about hosting a [railcam?](https://virtualrailfan.com/) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/33 "2025-06-26T15:50:57Z")
Not _that_ into it. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/34 "2025-06-26T16:05:40Z")
I also live in a railroad town, and sometimes there are upwards of 15 cargo trains a day passing through. When I am stopped by such a train, I make it a point to look at and possibly admire the ‘artwork’ on the boxcars. Pretty good stuff at times; I just wish those folks would have a different medium in which to display their talents. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/35 "2025-06-26T16:54:07Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Pretty good stuff at times; I just wish those folks would have a different medium in which to display their talents. I agree. That they can get the depth that they do with spray cans says something. Honestly, I hate tagging myself. It’s vandalism which I deplore. But this, to me, is a bit of a different expression. I’m kinda having a hard time with my change of feelings. But some of these people are VERY talented. The talent is boxed up and fenced in. No where to go. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/36 "2025-06-26T16:59:29Z")
Some of the work shows a great deal of talent but no mater how nice it may look it is still vandalism. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/37 "2025-06-26T17:04:50Z")
Some vandalism turns a negative into a positive. Like the Italian anti-vandal vandal. [https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/italian-street-artist-battles-racism-by-turning-swastikas-into-cupcakes-2021-11-24/](https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/italian-street-artist-battles-racism-by-turning-swastikas-into-cupcakes-2021-11-24/) ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/38 "2025-06-26T17:09:07Z")
I’m old enough to understand the disdain for tagging, but in railroad circles it has become an institution. If you look carefully you’ll notice that most of the artistically planned work (that’s a lot of it these days) works around the car numbers and other important identification information - essentially collaborating with the railroads, who provide touring studio space for the “artists.” As opposed to work that obliterates highway information signs. Not a small difference to me. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/39 "2025-06-26T17:26:03Z")
> [@sunacres](#): > > If you look carefully you’ll notice that most of the artistically planned work (that’s a lot of it these days) **works around the car numbers** Bolding mine. I noticed that. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147/40 "2025-06-26T18:25:13Z")
Yup, we are moving _from_ that house. We are staying in Colorado though about 6k lower in elevation. Seriously gonna miss ‘Cloud 8’, but we need to do this. Trying to figure out what to name the new place, I’m thinking ‘Perfect Landing’ or something along those lines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trains-a-moving-art-show/1020147.md?page=3)