Train Spotters, what are they spotting for?
Discussion
I see a lot of these people. I can actually understand them going out to see rare, interesting or otherwise cool trains, and there are many no doubt. What I don't understand however is men taking their families out to look at common as muck commuter stock. I was filmed twice the other day driving a 455 ffs.
It's a hobby, sure, and many think that I'm a t
t for dressing up in tight leather and sitting on a hot motor on my days off, and they may be right of course. But surely it's the most boring hobby imaginable? Or do I just have a professional disinterest in train numbers?
What are they looking at?!
It's a hobby, sure, and many think that I'm a t
t for dressing up in tight leather and sitting on a hot motor on my days off, and they may be right of course. But surely it's the most boring hobby imaginable? Or do I just have a professional disinterest in train numbers?What are they looking at?!
Ashas been said, it is just a form of "collecting" - without the need to buy anything - apart from the Listings Books, I suppose
And also, the enjoyment of the company of other train enthusiasts. It can be a social pastime too.
Many "train spotters" atre interested in other aspects of the railway enthusiast side of things too.
I was never a train spotter - but I was a keen plane spotter in my youth so can identify with some aspects of the hobby.
And also, the enjoyment of the company of other train enthusiasts. It can be a social pastime too.
Many "train spotters" atre interested in other aspects of the railway enthusiast side of things too.
I was never a train spotter - but I was a keen plane spotter in my youth so can identify with some aspects of the hobby.
Mojocvh said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Exactly Tonker, something that has benn denegrated by Nulabia for far too long. God forbid that it's an almost individual hobby.There does seem to be a social side to it, rarely see individuals out spotting, they're usually in groups.
Good to have a hobby other than reality TV, lager and football no doubt
Simpo Two said:
I was never greatly interested in trains but in similar vein have a very well-thumbed copy of 'I-Spy Car Numbers' up in the roof somewhere. I took it on every car journey as a boy and almost completed it.
Hey I had that too!Edit to remove personal detail
Edited by clarksonisawilly on Friday 30th July 11:43
It's most definately a collecting thing. When I was younger I had would spend hours trying to tick off everything in my book. I used to get so excited when I completed a 'set'.
There are so many different aspects to having an interest in railways yet it always gets wrapped up as spotting. Yes, alot of people go out and just write lists of everything they see out. Others go out photographing anything they can and you get others that go travelling so they can say they've been on every track.
As with any hobby, there are always people who 'specialise' even more. For example, a friend of mine would only ever go out for one particular class of loco and when I used to work in a photo lab, all I ever saw were his pics which were always very similar.
OP, don't forget that what may be boring and mundane to you (especially because you work with them) may not be boring to others........especially if it's not something they see on a regular basis.
There are so many different aspects to having an interest in railways yet it always gets wrapped up as spotting. Yes, alot of people go out and just write lists of everything they see out. Others go out photographing anything they can and you get others that go travelling so they can say they've been on every track.
As with any hobby, there are always people who 'specialise' even more. For example, a friend of mine would only ever go out for one particular class of loco and when I used to work in a photo lab, all I ever saw were his pics which were always very similar.
OP, don't forget that what may be boring and mundane to you (especially because you work with them) may not be boring to others........especially if it's not something they see on a regular basis.
StripeyNick said:
It's most definately a collecting thing. When I was younger I had would spend hours trying to tick off everything in my book. I used to get so excited when I completed a 'set'.
There are so many different aspects to having an interest in railways yet it always gets wrapped up as spotting. Yes, alot of people go out and just write lists of everything they see out. Others go out photographing anything they can and you get others that go travelling so they can say they've been on every track.
As with any hobby, there are always people who 'specialise' even more. For example, a friend of mine would only ever go out for one particular class of loco and when I used to work in a photo lab, all I ever saw were his pics which were always very similar.
OP, don't forget that what may be boring and mundane to you (especially because you work with them) may not be boring to others........especially if it's not something they see on a regular basis.
Not having a pop at anyone, I was just curious as to what they are looking for! Actually a friend of mine also travels on every line he can, he got quite excited when he visited me as he had an excuse to go on a section of track he'd not covered before.There are so many different aspects to having an interest in railways yet it always gets wrapped up as spotting. Yes, alot of people go out and just write lists of everything they see out. Others go out photographing anything they can and you get others that go travelling so they can say they've been on every track.
As with any hobby, there are always people who 'specialise' even more. For example, a friend of mine would only ever go out for one particular class of loco and when I used to work in a photo lab, all I ever saw were his pics which were always very similar.
OP, don't forget that what may be boring and mundane to you (especially because you work with them) may not be boring to others........especially if it's not something they see on a regular basis.
I know you weren't having a pop. 
What I meant was, you spend your daily life on units so are probably and quite rightly bored of them whereas other folk may not see them so often and will show more of an interest.
Having said that, there are guys out there who are into anything and everything to do with railways. Lol.
What I meant was, you spend your daily life on units so are probably and quite rightly bored of them whereas other folk may not see them so often and will show more of an interest.
Having said that, there are guys out there who are into anything and everything to do with railways. Lol.
I will admit to having the Ian Allen loco spotters books when I was a kid but somehow in the 60s it all seemed to have a purpose. I lived near the Great Western mainline so I saw the end of the Kings, Castles and Halls plus the introduction Warships, Westerns, Hymeks and Brush Type 4s plus of course we could go to Waterloo to see the Battle of Britain & West Country Southern steam engines but it also gave us a mission to find locos that were rare of close to being scrapped. A day the lives in my memory was when my brother and I discovered a closed up shed at Stratford into which we climbed through a window to find what must have been most of engines saved for the National Railway Museum! As has been said listing the numbers of diesel-multi's doesn't seem as exciting.
I have a relative who works on the railways.
His job involves visiting "incidents" ie: "person under train" etc...
He is also a fanatical trainspotter... his absolute FIRST priority in attending an incident? He gets the registration of the train!
His job involves visiting "incidents" ie: "person under train" etc...
He is also a fanatical trainspotter... his absolute FIRST priority in attending an incident? He gets the registration of the train!
Edited by thatone1967 on Sunday 1st August 22:57
I stopped spotting the day I started my railway footplate career(July'78),but the basic knowledge I gained whilst out with my note books and Ian Allan books contributed to my getting the job .With todays spotters theres an older element who do it as much for the company.I just wish we'd had the fantastic cameras back in the 70's!
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