Train Spotting Hobby

[Dunluce Castle]

My mate just told me this was on the news, nice to see us getting some attention?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28934268

[tonybonneyba]

My mate just told me this was on the news, nice to see us getting some attention?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28934268

 

It is nice, though, I don't know why most train spotters I've meat don't take down notes, I try my best too.

[heirflick]

really enjoyed that video. always knew that women secretly loved trains everybit as much as us boyos...and its most welcome to have it confirmd in that video!!!

[Broithe]

Women will often profess to be unaware of the attractions of model railways, until it's explained to them that it's essentially the same thing as doll's houses....

[minister_for_hardship]

If anyone has seen 'The Railway Man' film, the Colin Firth character takes umbrage at being called a 'Train Spotter'.....'I'm a Railway Enthusiast!'

[Tarabuses]

If anyone has seen 'The Railway Man' film, the Colin Firth character takes umbrage at being called a 'Train Spotter'.....'I'm a Railway Enthusiast!'

 

I'm not sure that both descriptions are entirely the same.

[minister_for_hardship]

They're not the same. 'Train spotter' is a cover all term used by the general public and the mass media...even if number-taking isn't your bag at all.

 

People like to taking photos, making models (garden railways/layouts/live steam/model engineering), researching history, travelling over different lines or line bashing if you will, haulage bashing, volunteering on heritage railways, collecting memorabilia...all this can't be pigeon-holed into 'Train spotting'.

Edited August 26, 2014 by minister_for_hardship

[Broithe]

Some years ago, I was catching a train at midnight and there was a chap there who had clearly been at it since way back in the days of steam. He had notebooks, cameras, etc, and a clear idea of what was about to pass through the six-platform station, positioning himself exactly in the best place for each one. On one occasion, he went right down to one end of the platform I was waiting on and a ballast train trundled through at about 5mph a few minutes later. He walked slowly along side it, talking into what I presumed to be a mobile phone, but as he passed me it became clear that it was a dictaphone and he was dictating the wagon numbers into it, in order to write them down properly later on....

[heirflick]

good luck to that man - he sure is dedicated. i must admit that i wouldnt be into taking numbers - but i do love looking at trains and taking pics of them till the cows come home...and if people want to call me a train spotter so be it - i dont mind!

[Broithe]

I've been called worse.