Watch this video. Yep, its just a train.
Now read the video info. This clip was uploaded by an Objectum Sexual, which is a person who is sexually attracted to objects. In this case, they believe themselves to be in a relationship with that train. Others are attracted to picket fences or roller coasters; in one case, a woman married the Eiffel Tower. Check it out.
Within the last week, Amy started a YouTube channel talking about this and related issues.
One quick comment on this phenomenon, though it may be unrelated: Warrington & Shallice (1984) identify certain kinds of brain disorders that result in hyperactive identification of animism in objects, and can specifically lose the ability to recognize objects as inanimate. These features appear to be disassociable, so it is likely that particular parts of the brain are dedicated to the identification of animism in objects. I wonder if this sexual orientation is somehow related to these brain regions.
Interesting. I’d suspect you’re right there–it seems like identifying objects has having feelings for you would entail identifying them as agents broadly. You can’t see yourself as being in a relationship with something that doesn’t have feelings or at least some degree of consciousness. That kind of phenomenon might be distinct from simple sexual attraction to inanimate objects, though; one can be attracted to something/find it sexually exciting without believing that a relationship with it is possible.