Metrophile

A metrophile is a person who has as a hobby the study of metro (subway, underground) systems.

Related Topics:
Hobby - Metro

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Such people may indulge their hobby by:

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• travelling and visiting as many metro systems as they can;
• attempting to find out about and/or visit hidden nooks and crannies of a metro system;
• learning about the technology, architecture, and history of various metro systems;
• collecting material related to metro systems, such as maps, plans, transfers, tickets, and the like, often from many cities around the world;
• publicizing their metro systems (some metrophile websites contain more information about the system than the transit companies' own);
• designing expanded metro networks for various cities;
• discussing their findings with others;
• and, in general, writing, learning, teaching, photographing, and thinking about metros.

Some metrophiles even manage to attract attention, approval, help, and even employment from transit companies.

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However, in New York City, fans of the New York City Subway are known as railfans. Some of them have formed a well-organized lobbying organization.

Related Topics:
New York City - New York City Subway - Railfan - Lobbying

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One metrophile, an apparently autistic New Yorker named Darius McCollum, impersonated a range of New York City subway personnel for some time; he was so technically proficient at driving trains, helping repair crews, fixing trains, and even dealing with emergencies, that he served unpaid with some distinction (and a certain amount of complicity from actual personnel). Unfortunately, this was quite illegal and he was repeatedly arrested and, despite a plea to have him treated for Asperger's syndrome, was finally imprisoned. Harper's Magazine published an article on him in May 2002.

Related Topics:
Darius McCollum - Asperger's syndrome - Harper's Magazine - May 2002

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Metrophile: See also ►