railfan seat

plural railfan seats

1. A passenger seat next to the cab of a train that provides a view out the front.

   I was taking pictures near the shops on a public street and I waved when a train went by. Then I felt stupid because I was waving to a computer driven train. Although they DO have a RAILFAN SEAT with a windshield wiper you can operate yourself!!!!

   2002 March 17, dvs519, “Vancouver's Skytrain”, in misc.transport.urban-transit (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   The ultimate in railfan's seats is on the Electroliners that ran between Milwaukee and Chicago from 1941 to 1963 ... up front, in each streamlined nose of the train, is a double seat facing forward. I had a ride on it as a kid, rode it again when the Electroliners were running in Philadelphia, and the view is just as good at the Illinois Railway Museum, where one runs on special occasions.

   1992 December 15, Stephen H. Karlson 753-6980 (815), “Red Line Story”, in bit.listserv.words-l (Usenet)

   So, how did Chicago go one-man with 2-man trains? The railfan seat was removed, replaced with a foot ledge. A white line was painted on the floor next to the motorman's cab. A sticker was placed on the outside of the motorman's cab reading, "Don't stand in front of the white line while cab is in use." A piece of nylon is looped through the seat stantion ^([sic]) so that the front 2-seat bench may not be used.

   1997 June 26, Adam H. Kerman, “CTA Cuts Conductors”, in misc.transport.urban-transit (Usenet)