The issue how I see it is similar to motoring. Trains, like cars, have gone from an image of somewhat glamour and personal pride/genuine involvement to a method of commuting or just getting about, sometimes even a problem to the masses. People in general don't even know anything about the car they drive nevermind modern railways
I am someone who doesn’t see it as commuting and I try to tick off trains with heritage trains counting and i want more comfortable trains and I would run to catch a 319 (haven’t been on one) and the ones that er partly perversed or fully as I want to go on all that hasn’t been all scraped (except the ones that kill) and even go back in time to ride the scraped units (example 123) as I never rode them except the 365
I don’t spot trains, though I do enjoy learning about their history and engineering. I will support anyone who does spot trains. We all deserve to do the things we enjoy, that do no one any harm, in a respectful and accepting environment. Good on you, Lawrie.
Totally agree with you patrick, I enjoy anything mechanical, as a retired mechanical engineer I am amazed how technology has gone from the horse and cart up to today. The only thing that annoys me is Lawrie reffering to steam as dinosaurs, dinosaurs are extinct steam is not its just part of the link through to today.
This. As a transport enthusiast myself, I mostly go on train rides and do a bit of spotting trains as a hobby, just to lower my stress levels and just make my own content as I've been doing for some time. I really do like the transport side of things and would like to expand my knowledge and the history of the railway
Great writing, and I totally agree even from a North American perspective. Once in awhile I'll bring a non-foamer to a proper steam excursion and they'll start to understand why its cool. Also alot of the same aspects apply to model railroading too
I’ve always had the same problem and still do. I have no interest in people, fads, fashions, trends, football teams and anything else the majority of the population are obsessed with. I am fascinated in anything mechanical. Planes, trains, boats, ships, rockets… anything. I’m not a spotter… I’m like you Lawrie, an enthusiast in old stuff.
@@lmm Im more a guy to modern units. I don't go train spotting because as you said it is hella boring, Same units, Infrequent service. Though I don't feel much seperated in fact i can easily get onto the tracks because there is barely any fences except in built up areas.
Man your intro hits hard. For my entire childhood I’ve been bullied just for having a huge obsession with planes. Society just don’t understand enthusiasts well yet
I expected to offer my German perspective, being of a similar age as you, and having been interested in trains all my life, and being the son of a train enthusiast of the - early -postwar generation. However, I can merely type: "I agree". To my mind, you covered all the relevant aspects. Well done, Lawrie!
@@lmm the situation is slightly better in germany i think. there is i'd say a bigger variety of traction, with many different goods locos as well as high speed trains and international service, as well as german steam locos being largely of standard classes as well due to early nationalisation/combination of pre german national grids, making the draw towards heritage (away from spotting) a little smaller. but overall the same general problem
Trainspotting has always been one of those things I'm afraid of admitting to other people because of how they may react, as I know it's 'uncool' and a strange thing to do, but I've always loved it. For me though I'm more of a modern sucker for transport. I love seeing and hearing a good bit of plastic flying past lol, but I do agree that the variety of rolling stock is massively dying out.
Word, (me and you are more EMU fans, at least I'd assume, lol, but that doesent take away from the validity of what you are saying or i etc) I preffer EMUs alot but even then , there's still alot of room for interesting quirks to be installed, i.e the appearence, traction sound programming of the traction control (as alot of modern units after 2020 in the uk are soulless asf. ) the aventra stock are the bain of my existence with regards to modern trains. They make no traction sound apart from a brief take off and that weird whistling sound the igbt vvvf's make. , and their design looks something out of a marketing/corporate rendering plan for the year 2100 for an airport subway or something, their horrible . Their ugly. Desiro cities are a bit of a drag too although the 707s (SWR) merely having a better paint job make them alot more welcoming but the motors are still meh..but alot better than aventras. 700s make me want to sleep. I do hope that the next wave of EMU's aren't so shit...ahem cough "southeastern getting new fleet in 2027" , let's hope they try to advocate for some creativity as resembled in their networker fleet. I really hope so. Nice vvvfs like Japan nice motors etc. Nice design overall. Anything but aventra scum, id much preffer CAF as the candidate is there's no other. And even then , maybe plan a design for a different type of train overall to southeastern design prefrence. Because ..boiii the railways interesting nature is hanging by a thread .
@@bb-3653 lol you sound like you're trying to scrape the last bit of meat off a wing that's already been picked over while describing the coolness of modern trains.
Probably one of the best videos you guys have produced, I feel this captures the feelings of a lot of people in the community, myself included. Well done
In 2008 I bought a new bridge Camera which had video capability. I filmed an Adelante train pulling out of LLanelli Station to test this facility, and when I showed the video to my works supervisor (To show off the camera) he responded with "That's Sad..." It's a train - A marvelous piece of engineering that I was quite pleased to have video'd and had a go at him verbally (He was quite approachable as a person, and took it in good grace). He said that he thought trainspotting was quite a nerdy and geeky pastime and don't go showing this to the other guys on site as they'd probably label me as a Twat and ignore me, even during lunch breaks. Funny thing is, in America (That big chunk of land across the Atlantic), they actually build platforms, and not the type we use to board trains, for Railfans to watch and film trains from. At least that's one thing they got right. Ralifans and, by British terminology, Trainspotters Are Cool people and should not be derided by non Fans. Personally I dislike Football, but I don't think that those people who do like it are daft, stupid or should be referred to as Twats or any other derisive terms. However, I still maintain that the term "The Beautiful Game" can be applied to any game, Even Snooker, and should not be exclusively applied to football.
@@bfapple My comment was a reference to the fact that both the -you'll be going nowhere- Class 180 and 175 are from the same Alstom Coradia 1000 family
As a train spotter, I've gotten weird looks from passengers on trains, even been slightly deterred to go into a station by them, but then you get the drivers that get a bit of joy when they see a trainspotter, I've gotten loads of waves and even had a small chat with a driver before they departed.
Interesting take on this topic. Here in the U.S things are pretty much the same. I was never really bullied for liking railways because I was never open about it. I'm more into model railroads than trainspotting, but sometimes it's a fun thing to do with friends to pass an afternoon. I relate to your sentiments, and I like your content.
I must say, this video hits very deep. It makes me realize how fast things have changed. I'm also not a trainspotter, but a modell train builder. Trains fascinate me since I was a little child. It is the same here in Germany as you describe it in the UK. Fences aren't even that common here, but huge sound barrier walls to avoid noise pollution. Part of me does understand the reasons behind these new infrastructures, but part of me feels quite claustrophobic when I take the train and all I see for almost 100 kilometres is a grey wall when I look outside the windows. Also it is of course always a bit sad, when you hear the slight sound of a train behind those walls but you can't see it. I was always a very quiet and shy person, and when I was little I had a sweet silent spot: at the end of a railway bridge with five tracks, there was a plank, covering some cables. It was hidden behind a tree and about 3 meters above the nearby pedestrian walk, right beside the tracks. Around 20 years ago, I would spend hours just sitting there, listening to the birds and the wind in the trees and observing the signals for the trains to pass by. There where all kinds of locomotives, the big BR 232, the 150 or the 151, sometimes in light red or green color scheme with endless freight trains, regional trains with the old 140 or 141 locomotives, intercity trains in blue, red or dark orange, sometimes even pulled by a 103 if I was lucky to see one of those beauties still operating. Commutter trains where white and yellow, or light turquoise and the locomotives where painted different too, sometimes still showing off the old colors from the 80s and early 90s, sometimes the famous "Silberlinge"-carriages would also appear behind those old machines. Now, 20 years later the place is gone, there is no plank and no tree. The bridge has been expanded to seven tracks, with sound barriers and the beloved sweet spot is no longer there. All the different trains are gone, and all you see is a bunch of red multiple unit trains and they all look pretty much the same. There are hardly any locomotives anymore, and if there is one, it is in most cases a Siemens Vectron (they are simply everywhere here). It would be quite rare to see anything different. The design of the new ICE trains is horrendous, and every intercity line train is just colored plain white by now. Only my modell train captures the memories from my childhood when the tiny 141 is travelling through our basement.
I feel this; in the states all of our trains have more or less homogenized into one standard locomotive type with limited designs. (With the exception of heritage units which pop up here and there) but ive also loved watching trains and fully support it.
@@lmm Yeah, it's a bit boring. I would say probably 80-85% of the locomotives that I see are the same basic design - though it does make it that much more exciting when something different comes by. Whether that's the one daily passenger train or an old unit that hasn't been replaced yet.
I feel like some train memories lie in sentimentality. My local cross country may be plastic boxes on wheels, but they are a symbol of home to me. My grandad used to take me on train rides to Derby, on a class 170, and taken back on a 221 supervoyager, while passing trains left right and centre, is a slight sign that railways might be enjoyed, but I still enjoy seeing a 170 or a class 221 as it reminds me of happy times. Steam railways are memorable aswell. A steam engine that is personal to me is 9f 92214, (the one that is green but not evening star) seeing that for the first time as a child made me look up in awe. People dislike it for its polished appearance, on a short passenger train, and inauthentic livery. But to me, that is a reminder of even when I am older of happier times. Seeing that engine on a five coach train, resplendent in Br green, and with a nameplate is as authentic to my childhood, as an older enthusiast seeing the same engine dirty, rusty and on a train of windcutters. Thanks for reading.
There is indeed that. I never looked twice at a 153, but now they've gone, I miss the whirr and clatter. That was my childhood heading off to see my dad. It is important to remember that people like us didn't see steam in the UK, so what we look on fondly is what we see. The 9F in green has done excatly what it's meant to, you've taken note of it. It's not black, it was interesting.
i know the feeling ! i hated football ! we dont have trains in malta but I was raised close to the airport and the school i went for secondary and technical institute happened to be in the flight path and even now at 41 years of age i still love to spot planes ! and if i manage to travel to be somewhere close to a train i would like to know every bit of info about it !
@@lmm i just stop and watch the planes , visit museums and collections where i can , now with the aid of internet one can follow aircraft on Flight Radar and other apps ;)
My guilty pleasure is watching Trainspotting videos, even if it’s not super cool. We call it “Rail Fanning” over here in America, and I’ve taken a liking to them because of how few trains there are over here. Wish there was more love for the rails these days!
I always remember going to a station just to see what came through, which gave it a different kind of excitement, the surprise of not knowing. Now I usually just go out for the special ones because I can look them all up. Still really fun to do!
As someone who was born in 2006, I’ve grown up with tilting pendolinos and voyagers etc… so I’m not really a fan of a lot of the old stuff as it’s never been relevant to me, the stuff we’ve got now, all sorts of trains, all sorts of liveries, variety of stations, I just enjoy doing it… Great video though
03:38 so true. I love trains but I'm not a spotter at all. I don't care that much about older trains but I do care about modern technology and sustainable travel. You're so right, trainspotters aren't harmful to anyone and knowing these data is much more useful than knowing how many times a soccer player scored a goal. Great video!
Well, japanese trainspotters ("tori-tetsu", wich couldbe translated as "photo-railfans") sometimes create dangerous situations, mostly to their own kind.
I guess trainspotting is regarded as a somewhat eccentric hobby then? And I do get the impression that if you want to see the more unusual machinery, like a Deltic or a Warship, you have to go to a special gathering, such as the East Lancashire Diesel Gala or the Severn Valley Railway. It's one of my "bucket list" vacation ideas, to spend a couple of months in England, taking in all the special steam and diesel events, to relive some childhood memories of visiting my grandparents in Lancashire.
It's a different hobby certainly. Though perhaps crewing a steam engine is more eccentric. If you definitely want to see something, going to a heritage railway gala is likely the best way to go about it. Be a super trip, that's for sure. In the meantime, watching LMM is a good shout!
People always used to bully me for liking trains, oh you like trains, but when I finally got my confidence I finally stood up and I started posting trains to my story, now most of my friends want to railfan with me, they always ask me when I'm going to watch trains,
Lawrie; hullo. I’ve pondered similar often - in fact I’m sitting at my desk above which on the wall is a rain-beaten cue card from BBC Trainspotting Live, a programme which was my first TV gig. It’s a long story, but I managed to co-present it because I decided at least someone there needed to be genuinely sympathetic to the cause. What followed surprised me. I did a huge number of press interviews and I noted -as you have - parallels between fishing or football scores etc; even comics and Star Wars. There was much healthy debate. But I disagree with some of your assertions re trainspotting now, or the romance of rail. Now; I can’t speak for your experiences, indeed I didn’t get bullied for loving railways at school; but I’ve not experienced negativity on any level in recent years when I’ve said “I’m off to look at XXXYYY at Zzzz” in a new livery, or whatever. But then I do live in a somewhat cosmopolitan world where differences and individuality are celebrated- perhaps it is not like that everywhere. So. Rather like your somewhat despondent comments re the use of rail or the importance of rail in our lives (where for many - and I know this because it is literally my job to analyse that data - you’ll find that it is far from as negative as you suggest) - it is not true to say that trainspotting is negatively perceived by all. Those who do perpetuate tedious outdated tropes are fast becoming tedious outdated tropes themselves. The love of rail continues - perhaps not manifested in a desire for number collecting, but in its sheer beauty as a concept. Bring on 2025, because there’s a lot for us all to celebrate.
^^^ have to agree with some of this. The video makes many good points but I think underestimates what the railways still mean for a lot of people. For me it's the railways that take me to see my family, see my friends, do many of the things I enjoy. They are how I've made innumerable significant journeys throughout my life. Not just in the UK but in continental Europe and beyond. For me they still represent freedom and possibilities. Yup, they are in many ways less interesting in the detail of their operations, but they change with the world around them. They are still an immense and complex network, that continues to work, often against the odds. It's a network that involves people as well as machines and I think that for many of those people it's more than just a job. And yes it has beauty as a concept! Especially in an age where we are going to have to start thinking seriously about energy and as many places get ever more congested. Finally, I don't quite agree about the distinction between "trainspotter" and "railway enthusiast". The first is a subcategory of the second. I'm a railway enthusiast, but I don't think of myself as a spotter because I've never been bothered about collecting numbers. I enjoy a visit to a heritage railway and I'm also interested in the modern "mainline". Sometimes I find myself on a platform end amongst a group of spotters. I'm not exactly part of their tribe - I'm not taking down numbers - but (as correctly identified in the video) we're all there, at least partly, for the same thing, just an excuse to take some time out and watch the world go by, maybe contemplate that world, just like fishing. Or maybe even like going to the cinema.
A brilliant video again Lawrie. You put your point across so well. I'm a heritage enthusiast, I worked on the Railway from 1976 to 1985 in Scotland, S&T department and have volunteered at a few heritage railways. Football bores me, I can't see the attraction. I love most old methods of transport , trucks, buses, railways, WW2 aircraft and my collection of classic motorcycles. It would be a boring world if we were all the same, so we should welcome diversity in people's interests!
Thank you very much! I'm pleased to see someone who worked on the railway agrees with the thoughts! That's also very true, would make platforms very crowded if we all liked trains!
I couldn’t agree more with what you said in the video. I’m a trainspotter… exclusively to either the Dutch railway’s (ns) or the mainline high up in Scotland, both for the reason of the diversity in consists that pass me. I even got lucky enough to forget about the Scotsman’s 100’th anniversary, and to then see it pass me on my way to Edinburgh central. But the age of people lining up next to platforms are, yes… gone. But it doesn’t stop me from heading up the street to see some trains pass by with the occasional whistle.
Was probably the only kid in my school that had interest in railways, others into football, cricket etc, which I found then & still do as bout as interesting as watching paint dry. Being 3rd generation railwayman we lived in railway cottage by line, used to watch trains from our back fence. In my 2nd year of high school I started to ride Friday evening goods to another town, stay in barracks with crew, come back Saturday. Next year I started writing letters to railways applying for positions, no vacancies at time. This continued on thru next year, half way through my 4th year of high school I left and worked as builder's labourer, wheeling barrows of cement, passing tools etc, my late father as part of his job with railways, ran length on Fairmont trolley to Port Pirie and stayed over night in barracks, returning next day. In conversation with Stationmaster he heard about some vacancies, which he informed me of on his arrival home. I wrote necessary letters, and waited, had reply to go for interview at Port Augusta with Operations manager, Loco Superintendent and Loco Roster clerk, on 13 October 1980 I started as Junior Trainee Engineman Cleaner at Port Pirie Loco! Retired now, I still love trains!
I am not sure if it was intentionally included in the B-Roll, but at 7:08 there is an exceptionally rare car - a Reliant Robin! I haven't seen one of these in the wild for years. Perhaps there is something in car spotting? 😀
I think there is something in car spotting, I'm always excited to see something unusual out on the road - the Rialto is mine - have a look at the LMMons videos when we took it to the lake district from Suffolk!
I guess that's something that we take for granted here in the States. Our primary locomotives are starting to get limited, but we have so many different rail companies here. In my region alone, we have CSX, Norfolk Southern, Maryland Midland, Canton Railroad, MARC, and Amtrak. Each company have their own unique history, paint schemes, and right of ways that make trainspotting each one fun in its own way. Although many people here still think we are weird for just wanting to train spot or do a chase through the mountains. One of my favorite places to go that isn't too far is Harpers Ferry, WV. There is a passenger station there where you can set up and just watch freight and passenger trains all day. One of the best parts too, is that it has a unique scene where the trains go through a tunnel and emerge directly onto a bridge crossing the Potomac River.
Hi Lawrie, What a fantastic video with some unbelievably true points made, and how, in a word, dire, the modern railway is unfortunately fast becoming. I've been into trains/railways for around 12 years now, and I've had my fair share of direct hatred from people about being interested in different aspects to others. Over the years, I've learnt that being different isn't something to be ashamed of, and I'm proud of everything I've managed to capture during my time as what I class myself as, a Railway Enthusiast. In 2015, I set up this TH-cam channel, 'South East Train Hub', with an early aim of capturing interesting workings surrounding East Anglia and further afield. Just shy of 8 years later and it's grown very much significantly as the content that I've been producing has obviously been of interest to many. I don't have the most high tech of solutions for filming... I film on an iPad (iPhone too where necessary) as well as a Panasonic camcorder for large events where my iPad just wouldn't quite cut the mustard. I was thinking about upping the anti to every video being filmed with the camcorder, but with these thoughts around 2017/2018, I didn't see it as justifiable to change after all the previous uploads I'd produced, filmed from my iPad. iMovie is used as my editing software on my iPad for my videos, and its never let me down, which is why I've kept plodding on with how things are, because it works, I'm happy with it, and going by the comments I receive, so are my viewers, which is all I can ask for. Why should I change if something works that I'm happy with, and why should anyone, for that matter? People should keep on doing what they love and keep up what they're passionate about within the railway scene, I feel, and so what if people prefer to be a little different to the way I do things? Everyone should be happy in their own rightful way and enjoy what they do and never feel ashamed of being a little different. A superb video once again and nice to see some local East Anglian locations at Ipswich, Westerfield, Derby Road and Gun Lane, too! All the best, and take care, Jake (South East Train Hub).
I think the key difference for trainspotting over being a railway enthusiast is that trainspotting is partially a form of ‘collecting’. Taking down the numbers is a lot like collecting coins, stamps, fossils, trading cards, or anything of the sorts. All of these kinds of ‘collecting’ hobbies have the same kind of stigma behind them due to being rather quiet and ‘antisocial’ (that’s lack of socialisation, not damaging property etc) to the unknowing eye. Obviously all of those hobbies listed above can lead to good friendships, particularly now through online communities, but the reputation still stands. Railway modelling can be treated the same way, however if you say you go to a club and show at exhibitions then people become a little more impressed, almost like when a railway enthusiast says they volunteer for a heritage railway.
Trainspotting isn't dead. Relaxation is dead. Everything has got to be some sort of lifestyle now, to impress your neighbors, and you can't exactly do that with trainspotting, or sitting in a park. And that sort of thinking came from America. God I hate Americanization....
The sort of people who mock us for our interests are usually jealous that they don't have something their passionate about. They can't handle it and so they try and bring you down to make themselves feel better. I've had the same thing my whole life, but I don't let it get to me. I don't really go out to spot trains as much as I used to, but my interest is still there. And with that are the same people who in reality are so insecure about what THEY do with their lives. But screw em.
Train spotting I do get; fishing, I really don't. ;) I remember the old train spotting books. I wish now that I'd had a camera when I was a kid, and snapped each of the N7s that towed me to and from school; hardly any seem to have been recorded in that way and I think it's only 69627 that's left now.
One of the joys of being a trainspotter in the "good old days" (i.e. 1950s- 1970s) was travelling by train to somewhere special to do some spotting. The trains were comfortable with no airline seats, windows were big and from every seat, you could actually see the scenery outside. Arriving at Paddington was an exciting occasion, with the sound and the sight of locos all around. Even the diesel and electric locos of that era had more character. At some places, like Severn Tunnel Junction for example, after getting off the train you could ask the friendly shed foreman if you could go around and more often than not he would ask "did you come by train?" If so then you were allowed in. At some sheds, you might even get a short ride in the cab. It was definitely cool. Cardiff Docks were open and easy to cycle around. I even had a ride on a coal tippler discharging coal trucks into a ship. Train travel now is so uninteresting and uncomfortable. If you can find a window seat, the linesides are covered in trees so no scenery. I am glad that I was able to keep my railway interests alive by membership of several railway societies, maintaining and driving steam and diesel locos, and at one time part owner of a tool and mess van. I also liked running my garden railways- as you also appeared to enjoy with that shot of you driving a Maxitrak Barclay loco.
I used to love driving there! It was amazing fun when I was little. The heritage and 'real' railways are entirely different beasties. I'm pleased to be part of the heritage movement. Ah, the adventures back in the day. Can you imagine it in modern times?
I think what doesn't help with the popularity with the modern railways is the fact that it is not easy to get a job on the railways unless its a track engineer or maybe the odd station assistant job. It's pretty much impossible to get a job as a driver even if you already work for a railway company.
What??? In Germany they look for so many drivers they can’t even fulfill their current timetable and have to reduce service. Their staff shortage is huge
Ok, here's my takes: I don't think it that's the right question to ask. Or it's a very decorated version of the question that should be asked. If I may, I'm going to re-phrase that question into something that is much deeper and more important than whether it's "cool", based on something you said in this video. And for the point I'm making, lets forget the "railway theme" of the question, and have it as: "why isn't _your hobby here_ cool. Here's a different way I'm seeing of asking that question: Why am I not good enough. Think about it, where does the need to question our passion and what we choose to do, really come from? It comes from others doubting, and finding our time spending habits "odd" "silly" "not cool", what ever similar word you use. And here's the important/deeper part..... what do pretty much all us railway enthusiasts have in common?..... We were mocked/bullied for it at school. It doesn't come from us. It comes from others that doubt you, mostly from a younger age when it gets stuck in the mind easily. That example can be applied to many other things, I'm sure, but I've never heard your question, or anything like it within this community. I think really it's us..... that needs to change the way we think others perception of us is. And the people that mock us today are few and far between. I wouldn't want a few bad apples to shape the way I see the public perception of us. I don't think it's a railway issue, more of a societal one. My other take is much more of a technical one: The concept of "train spotter" can't really exist in today's world. Before the big steam ban many years ago, trains could be anywhere in the country. As you say, you could stand on a bridge and watch the 2857 fright train by chance, and never see or even know where it would be next. That might be the only chance you get to see it. Now-days, you can find out where every single train is without leaving your pc chair. There's none of that, "who knows what I'll see today" approach. Sure, you can go and look at a train you've always wanted to see, and take down it's number, but there's no rush to see it, you know where it is, and you can go and see it the following weekend if you want. The way we can enjoy railway has just changed. I guess in a round about way, I pretty much agree with what you're saying yeah, I just don't think it's as black and white to describe your favourite area of railways any more. We're all railway enthusiast who enjoy different parts of the railways. And just to throw another one in here, does it need to be cool? Always good to bring stuff like this up and chat. Happy new year Lawrie!
I think it's more that humans generally don't like what they find to be different. There's this mentality of "I don't like that, therefore they must be weird to like that, therefore I want to stay away" And railway enthusiasts end up on the wrong side of that thought process. I certainly agree that it's very different today. Although, you'll know the train is running from something like real time trains, but you won't know what the actual motive power will be, so the trainspotting excitement is still there.
@@lmm Good post and a good reply. I’m reminded of a vid I saw recently discounting the myth that Ringo Starr was a shite drummer; as the bloke doing the vid got people of that opinion to try and play along on some lesser known tracks. They failed miserably and all said “ but I’d heard that he wasn’t very good and never really looked into it more than that”. So spotting ( and a love or interest in, railways is assumed by the general public to be nerdy , uncool, weird but they’ve never ever thought about it, it’s just received wisdom. Which makes them feel better about about crying when some men they like ,kicking a bag of wind around , do it badly .
I think the train spotting scene in France ain't the same than in the UK, we get sometimes old locomotives like the CC6500 and our regional trains here in the Alps still have a lot of BB22200 push pull locomotives and still the more "modern" regional trains have variation in their type and liveries and we also get the TGV high speed trains which also has variations. And tbh train spotting at the high speed lines seeing trains going past at 300km/h is cool!
I'm not a train spotter, but when I see a cool train or tram I can't abstain from taking a picture. When I was a toddler, my grandpa used to bring me to our town's train station and we would watch trains go by, and I loved it, so I guess that explains it. Nowadays I take the train daily to go to university, and I love it, because those 15 minutes of train ride are the perfect time to relax and enjoy the ride. From my bedroom's window I can see my town's station as well, and I cannot imagine living far away from a train station, not only because it would be less easy to commute, but also because I would miss seeing trains go by everyday. I remember once that, when we were on a school trip in high school in another city, I took a video of a tram passing by, trying to make sure I wasn't being seen by anybody, but a classmate saw me and mocked me for what I was doing. Back then it hurt a lot, but now I'm more open about my interest for trains when I meet new people :)
The only *real* locomotives were/are Steam...diesel and electric are just boring tin & plastic boxes on wheels and we also used to have real and proper coaches too! We have very rarely even used the railway system since the end of steam.
First time coming across your channel, lovely presentation! Lots of valid points throughout. In my case, essentially if it’s on rails, I’m a fan. Steam, modern, heritage, mainline, even the Underground. It’s ok to narrow focus to one type of traction, but equally it’s ok to love them all! I like how GBRf have customised and named a lot of their locomotives. I’m amazed more companies don’t do this, even for their EMUs - it’s an easy win in the publicity stakes and helps recapture some of that romance of the old days. I think the likes of Francis Bourgeois will be very important for transporting perceptions in the future. The TikTok generation can breath new life into the hobby. Easy to forget Francis is only 21 and already has a huge following. Really cool, thought provoking piece. All the best! Nick 👍
Probably because no more steam and LMS, LNER, GWR and Southern....🤨🤔😉 Still love my trains (and other older technical marvels), but feel absolutely nothing about today's contraptions.... Damn, I miss being a fireman on steam locomotives and that smell of coal etc., etc.... I hope that you and fellas are all doing well my friend....my round I believe! 🍻
@@lmm Yip, I totally agree....I need to get back into that up here in Glasgow, if there is anything going on, I miss shoveling coal! 🥺😥 Please do, I'd be honoured and happy to buy a couple or so rounds and chit chat about steam and whatnot! 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 The '37 is a nice looking locomotive, I don't know about the Class 58 and 66, they're just (mumbling) not very nice looking....like the Class 42, have a wee soft spot for those as well! 😁😎
I would call myself a heritage enthusiast as like the heritage steam, but when I’m abroad in Switzerland I like the more modern and current electric traction so would say there I’m more of a spotter than I am here in the UK, but over in Europe I would say train spotting and like trains in general is more normalised! Great video by the way!
Hello! I am from Russia. I am a railway worker and at the same time, i am a trainspotter. And you know, i completely share your point of view. Here in Russia, we also like mostly old locomotives, and modern locomotives are boring and looking the same, especially with russian railways corporate colours. So, sometimes we just take a car and drive to some railway branch, just to spend the time together. Thanks for your video, and you are welcome to my chanel.
I used to feel out of place at Uni when I'd go to Lincoln Station or sometimes Newark Northgate to watch trains go by. Now I work as a Civil Engineer mainly focused on rail projects, everyone has a similar interest in trains and I can finally share my passion or even learn something new in something I'm interested in without feeling like an outcast. And there's nothing cooler than sitting on a bench I helped decide to be put on a station platform, gazing at a bridge I know all the intricate details of after months of design as trains pass by.
I don't care if trainspotting is not cool. I'm not cool, never have been, so we are mutually suited!😄Agree some of the romance has gone out of it now though, with largely characterless units, I did most of my spotting in the late '70s and '80s when a big diesel loco (Deltic, class 50, class 37 etc.) pulling out of a station was an EVENT!!
Interesting thoughts. I don't know about anyone else but I'm finding post-covid that people are actually more accepting of the kind of 'whatever floats your boat' hobbies and more willing to talk about them. I've discussed railway modeling in a work environment and actually had people express a bit of envy that I have an engaging hobby. I even ended up listening to a guys who do fantasy war-gaming or model engineering. Find your own cool....
Here in the US the railroads call people who trainspot (or railfan as we call it) foamers I’m surprised they haven’t generalized that term to people who get excited about pretty much anything
Something a bit different from you. Nice. I think the 'anorak' comes from the number colectors. I'm an Aircraft enthusiast, but I'm not bothered whick one of a type I see, I don't collect aircraft tail numbers, I just enjoy seeing different aircraft. I think we find number collectors a little, different. But hey, as ling as they are happy.
I think with any hobby it's how deep do you delve? Being on the footplate is pretty deep in the heritage movement, but you can enjoy just going for a train ride.
People should spend less time worrying about being "cool" and more time on doing what makes them happy. Chasing "cool" is for slaves who bend themselves out of shape through worrying about what others think of them. Be your own man/woman and pay no attention to others.
It's a good mantra for life. The problem is that often trainspotters are made to feel lesser by other people, and bullied for this. It makes it hard to enjoy something when that's happens.
You want to come to Leicester mate. Walked into town yesterday and saw a 56 on the way there and a 47 on the way back without even trying. Got 37s, 47s, 56s, 60s, even a 58 and a 26 on Leicester depot due to UKRL. Unfortunately some of it has moved away to Loughborough and they're building a shed for the 93s or some such modern loco at Leicester now too which leaves less space for the lovely old stuff.
I think cars are the only thing that don't get hate, if you start talking about a ferrari everyone gets interested, if you are talking about a steam engine everyone stares at you... I wish there was more stuff about trains on the media, like with cars.
@@jameshardy4354 I think it's because cars are a consumer product which everyday people can buy and use. Even expensive, luxury cars act as an aspiration for people as one can buy them once they are wealthy enough. With aircrafts, it's because they can fly and luxury private jets are an aspiration for some. But compared to cars, passenger and freight aircrafts don't get much hype. They are seen in a similar vein to trains. Buses have it even worse. I hardly see anyone liking buses. Liking ships is also a rarity. Honestly, I don't like a lot of cars (only a few exceptions that I like for their styling aspect). I think they look like boring, squashed metal bugs who try too hard to look cool. Modern trains and planes, unfortunately, look very dull and lifeless. So, they don't fare well in comparison to the metal bugs.
I find "normals" get funny about any activity that's not incredible dull and conformist. My colleagues laugh at me because I read books "Haven't you heard of a Kindle?", I love the railways, forecast the weather and love buying CDs "Why don't you just download it?". And the flack I get for playing computer games at the age of 50.... One thing I'd say is that railway enthusiasts were considered "sad" even in the 70's and early 80s. Where I lived in East London there were proper, loud, diesel trains, 1950's slam-door units, all painted blue and/or grey, pre-war Underground trains and on the roads, Routemasters and RT buses all of which I loved to bits. So I don't think attitudes have changed because public transport vehicles have less character in our eyes. Children I know love the brand new trains and often can't relate to locomotives and loose coaching stock. Anyway, in summary; People without hobbies are the strange ones.
I'm a trainspotter, but i see absolutly zero interest in modern rolling stock and infrastructures. When at home in France, I only go take photos if I know there is some kind of vintage or unusual rolling stock comming. I travel to see what's left of the "real", the old school railway. The one that was cool. It still, at list partly, exists in eastern europe, but even there modernisation is lurking. Even when it comes to trevelling by train, travelling in some kind of modern EMU has nothing interesting, it's just a mean of going from point A to point B. Travelling in old carriages, where you can open the window, hear the jointed rails and the old diesel roaring in front, it's just something else.
The romance has gone as you said. For decades it's been trains 'bad', cars/alternative travel 'good', with lack of investment, declining services & labour disputes making it's image worse. Far more instant distractions now. Hopefully any sort of spotting is becoming more understood now, & it doesn't hurt anyone. P.S If your friends' Iron Maiden Powerslave t-shirt is an original, it's ancient & should be saved & put on display! Up the Irons!
Having grown up casually spotting and enjoying heritage lines, part of the modern issues is that most spotters are of a particular age and tend to have a certain set of social skills and out look. At times it feels difficult as a young, queer spotter. On the flip side, I have never seen so many young spotters following rail tours, never seen so many community members being outwardly visable whilst spotting. Personally I enjoy some modern traction, mainly when it holds an importance to me: class 222, 870, 15X's, 66s and even a couple (horrible) 180s and Turbostar 170s. I think there is still enjoyment in the completing of number sets, following their journeys, 'geeking out' over the technical details, and even the warble/horns/general working sound of them. But with the reputation of most modern British railways, they can be an acquired taste - I feel the best comparison perhaps, is that different types of spotting/enthusiasm for different types/periods of traction and coaches is like music. Mainly the differing genres of music, but also perhaps the role an individual enjoys most; listening; creating; studying; etc.
Yeah the half hourly commuter rail doesn't create many feelings except for "I'm going from A to B". But when I take a sleeper to see a friend a 1000km west from me, it does stir the romantic feeling of adventure in me. You are meeting new people who are like you travelling a long distance. So you are with complete strangers, but talking and getting to know them is easy as you already have in common that you are on a journey. You already have 1 topic to talk about and since you are in a compartment it still feels private enough. If you found good company you can get a bottle and some cards out as well. Also the train itself is more interesting as it usually is far longer with more unique carriages and engines then commuter trains. It really is a proper journey and not just the mundane commute from A to B.
I have personally always strived towards things that interested me personally, even if I was alone in it. For me and to me it is cool. If we relied on a public or mass opinion we would get nowhere in life. Enjoy it, be proud and happy doing it and don't look back. Also, don't give a s***.
I honestly respect and admire you so much for creating this video. It's a topic rarely discussed and one that's never been spoken of in the same light as you've shone it in. Great video!
I am a german Trainspotter and i think we are the 2nd biggest trainspotter nation.It is also allowed and also published by the Deutsche Bahn,that it is legal but the train drivers sometimes have problems with it and all other passengers are thinking:What the hell are they doing?!The matter is,that the train drivers do not often hear from the teachery,that in this job are also photographers like in F1 and are interrested in this job too.The people often missunderstand it with just filming stupid things and that we just want actually to film the passengers and the driver.Also many passengers are not soo happy with it,somebody said to me (was the the platform)while i was filming the entrance on board of a old train with manual windows:Am i on the film?Did you film me?I swar if i find mr on the internet i cut your b**ls off!Yeah,that is suddenly a common problem in Germany and the sytem of Trainspotting just sometimes sucks.Eventually everything is alright exept these things and some are trainspotter-friendly and make a horn or light for me on.
I dont go and sit and watch trains (no time + adhd) BUT when im at york station twice a week i take in everything, i have a massive note on my phone detailing every train ive seen + travelled on, plus i know the names, numbers and typical routes/times of the trains at york. I only have a real interest in the trains you see in york and the rest of the north, as well as an enthusiasm for seeing steam engines. Id probably call myself a train enjoyer!
@@jonahwillis2781 oh, many MANY times haha. My parents took me as a kid and since moving here ive been a fair few times. If you can, go this april, the flying scotsman is gonna be there!
@@Nina-bh5jj Unfortunately I don’t live in the UK so I’ll probably miss The Flying Scottsman’s appearance, but I will be there this August. Seems like a rail fan’s nirvana!
@@jonahwillis2781 Idk what kind of trip youll be on but if you have the chance, be sure to check out locomotion at shildon too! It’s just north of darlington, which is like 20 mins up the mainline from york. Its smaller than the museum in york but I really enjoyed my visit
Fun fact about Trainspotting in a different country. In Japan it's very much frowned upon despite being very popular for lots of people. They are known as tori-tetsu and are generally hated by most nowadays. Reasoning why is due to tori-tetsu reputation. They are known to ruin landscape for better shots, generally be rude specifically to school kids who take the train to class, and are commonly stereotyped to be autistic/socially awkward. The Japanese media loves to hate on them from all political based news since they are such an easy target. Probably the most infamous story is bike man which originates from a foreigner riding a bike in front of a train and ruining a bunch of a group of tori-tetsu's pictures. Out of frustration the tori-tetsu confronted the bike man and begin berating him with hate comments telling him to die it's a terrible video. This video became very popular due to the subject matter in Japan and got memed to hell comparing the tori-tetsu to other pop culture tropes. It actually makes me upset since a big reason I even discovered my passion for Japan was though the Shinkansen and the JR. I still love Japanese trains but I don't think I will ever Train spot openly in the country due to the negative context. If you ever want to disappoint some one in Japan just tell them you're a tori-tetsu considered a big red flag.
Great video, I disagree a bit about modern trains but that's what makes us all different. Train spotter friend with the Poweslave Iron Maiden shirt on noted too - trains and heavy metal, great combination 🙂 New subsriber here, I look forward to working our way through your videos. Cheers. Matt
I remember reading an article about a "war" in trainspotting between, I beleive, the "kettlers" who love steam engines, and the diesel enthusiasts. Though it was probably as overblown as the "comic con hooligans" of a few years back.
I cannot possibly disagree with any of what you said, apart from the fact i was thinking, "Ooh, 775 you say, I want to go see one of those and ride on one". I personally cannot get excited about steam trains, I appreciate them and think they were great at what they did, but I grew up in the 80s round the corner from Whitemoor Yard and so diesels have always excited me, even modern ones. I never use to appreciate class 66s when they first turned up, but they have grown on me steadily. I'm happy to call myself a trainspotter and I'm of an age now where i will proudly defend myself whenever people call me out for being such. Everyone is different and people have no more right to deride my interests or hobbies than I do theirs :)
as a 17 year old autistic girl who loves trains/trainspots, I’ve started being more confident with it recently! People around me have started finding it ‘cool’ too! I think having different types of people liking the same thing makes it more interesting
Plane spotters nowadays are also somewhat ‘shunned’. I know, ‘cause I am one. Having travelled the world for planes, in the US people think your quirky, not mad. In Europe, it’s the other way around.
some thing I learnt over my life is who cares what you like and interested in as long not harming anyone you should be able to do what you love and if people have a problem screw them and lite them be sad little people.
Wow... This video hit virtually every nail on the head. In my case, I grew up in a Norfolk town that lost both of its railways by 1980, but I started out in east Hertfordshire where several rail routes were (and are) still very much in use. Then came a move to the other side of the world with infrequent visits back to where I was happiest. As a teenager, I started writing these feelings down and fantasizing about my primary school characters doing what I could not, and still having them facing nearly all of those same dilemmas that I did. They, however, had each other to confide in and share their experiences. I had nobody. At least nobody who cared. Trainspotting is something I looked forward to every time I returned to the UK. However, the scene has definitely become more and more dystopian. It's actually gotten to the point that I enjoy my hobby more in continental Europe, or North America, than on my old stomping ground. Heritage Railways are now the spice to any UK trip I make.
Yes Mr Lawrie, trainspotting is a weird thing people do. But those who do this activity even as a hobby,know what they are up to, and what is the importance of the artifact they are spotting. Like take myself for example. I am a train travel fan. I shoot trains on my mobile camera whenever I travel on these large machines. I am left to shoot so many trains in action. This channel has got videos of trains that are more functional than feature rich. UK has trains that are equivalent to the TOCs having a fleet of private cars with lot of features of comfort and convenience. I will never lose this hobby, ever. It is not odd to be a trainspotter. But being inconsiderate about something like this is extremely sad. My mom does not understand this hobby of mine very much and not a lot of my friends know about this.
So very true, I prefer old locomotives , steam standard gauge and narrow gauge. I miss the class 90,153,156,170 and the 37 ,47,68 . Not can of this modern stuff 745,755,720 to quiet miss the engines that made noise showing how hard they were working especially 156 ,153,170. When I went on them used to open th window latch above window just to listen to the nous on 156,153. But 170 didn't have window latch but still amazing sound even at night.
Trainspotting isn't considered cool for the same reasons that many other niche hobbies like collecting newspapers/magazines or archiving old TV recordings aren't perceived as cool - because these subjects fall into the sphere of human ambivalence. Most people treat trains as a commodity - a thing that exists and has existed for years, and they don't feel any particular affection to it. They either treat it as a day-to-day form of communication, frustrating means of transport they ocassionally have to use, or (in the extreme case) as outdated technology that should be replaced by something more shiny. People treat trains as part of everyday life and think that they will last long enough they don't need to worry about whether they'll see a that type of locomotive again or not. They think it doesn't matter what the presentation of the TV station they ocassionally watch is, or what sort of adverts were running a couple of years ago. They don't think keeping old newspapers is worth it, because they deem them all ephemeral, to be seen/used once and forgotten about. And that's one of the easier ways we lose historical records, by thinking that the things we live alongside will last forever. Perhaps in the future people would like to know what ads were running on TV in our time, and what do these ads say about our society, what were we sold (both metaphorically via ideas and physically via products), and how did we (or how did advertisers want us to) perceive ourselves. Or just what did we think at the time of the world events around us. How did the means of transport we used daily or sporadically look like? What places did we go to? These are the questions of future generations that hobbyist that archive the mundane side of our lives (and don't forget, our past as well) help to answer.
used to love being at school next to the rail line, we had a signal at one end of the playground, if we were really lucky a train would get stopped there and we could race it across the playground once it got moving again. if we were really lucky we would be on the bridge over the line on the way home as train came by.
I’m not much of a trainspotter but I do model railroad or collect. Once in awhile I would take a picture of some trains here in the U.S. Most importantly tho, I would love to get a video or a picture of UP 4014 steam engine in person.
A great video Lawrie and there are a lot of points I do agree with. I do like filming trains but I don't do it all the time. I only go out and see the odd train or if I do go and watch trains somewhere it will only be for a bit and then I go on a lovely walk around a historic town or in the countryside. I have never been mocked or bullied for my interest in trains as my friends know that despite not sharing the same interests and even though I'm not an avid supporter of football for example I will still watch the odd game (The World Cup final was incredible). I just see it as a hobby and something I do from time to time and if there is a particular train running on my local line I want to see then I will go and see it but if I go out somewhere then I will only film trains for maybe 1 hour and get clips together of the trains to make into a video to share with everyone and then as I said go on a walk as I enjoy just being out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of towns and cities. Trains and railways bring me to these places out in the countryside and I can connect the two together and it helps me relax in particularly stressful times.
I don't understand people, there's a full scale war in Ukraine and people are saying trainspotters are a problem!? If anyone who sees this gets bullied because of it, ignore them. They mean nothing to you, pursue what you want to do. Bullies just don't understand
What a great video. Raises some great points. I missed the glory days and I'm trying to live it now by driving the class 31 up and down a couple of miles of NLR every now and again. Although I missed the glory days, those locos are around in smaller numbers and tracking down and photting them is a challenge and exciting. I even find interest in the class 66s they've all got small variations and things. Like you said, just being near the lineside is relaxing. As for the public perception, I own my hobby, I'm loud and proud and confident about it and in the face of such conviction people don't seem to go for the anorak comments. They are amazed that I have such commitment to something, let's face it, most people who criticise just sit at home drinking their life away. That's fine, it's their choice. I'd rather be a train spotter, hiking around in fresh air, practicing an art (photography) and enjoying life 👍👍
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm hoping to get to you guys and film with it later in the year! 66s aren't bad, I just preferred it when it was mixed with other things like the 70's. But you're an active volunteer, and I think that changes how the general public sees you. You drive the massive great train!
@@lmm As I said at Warley, you will be very welcome and we will get something arranged. We are in a bit of trouble at the minute with some bridge timbers but that's another story. Yes, I'm quite lucky, I'm a short drive away from the WCML and WCML and live on the MML so can see much more variety. That's true, I do have that I suppose. But often I don't offer that information. I usually start with I'm a train spotter 😂
I think that is why I largely get a positive reaction when I tell people. Is because I am volunteer at Amberley Museum on the Museum railway involved with the local model railway club and watching trains in general either at another heritage railway or going or going somewhere a bit different on the network so I could different stuff and not just 377s and 700s
I've been there; I know how you feel. Now I'm into living history re-enactment (Knights, Vikings etc) I don't get that image... I think the anti- train spotter attitudes came more in the 1980s-90s...
I don’t have much commentary to add. I’ve watched your stuff for awhile and also tend to enjoy heritage railroading more. Yet this still struck a chord. Thank you for making it.
Since Great Brittain still has a lot of lines with no wires, I love to see the diesels, even if it is a 66. In the Netherlands were I live, almost all lines are electrified and those who are not, have plastic units that sounds like a truck. But I get the point. I only go out for a special train. Take a shot of the train before (to keep the collection complete) and go home after the special went by. Because it has become so boring. (The video's with locos are much more fun to watch, btw)
I enjoy taking a walk to the rails and watching a train drive past, even though it's only ever a NSB Class 73, a NSB El 18, or the occasional maintenance vehicle driving by. I feel trains are the future for climate emissions and all that, despite government focusing on electric cars and leaving the railway to degrade in a never ending economic circle (it's literally more reliable and cost the same to travel by bus on the same company that operates the passenger railway here)
The trains round here are super expensive It is cheaper to drive into London - with the fees - and park than train. And you have the freedom of going when you want to.
I agree with this where I used to live we would be lucky to get a shed a day and my love for spotting faded a bit tho in the last 2 years my dad moved to Nuneaton right next to the west coast mainline an where it joins with the line from Birmingham to Leicester an my love came flooding back seeing sometimes between 1 and 5 Old BR diesels a day every shed you can think of 90s 70s an 88s and 68s on tesco liners I love trains even tho my love for them faded at one point due to it being the same thing all the time the second I moved here I’m at the station most days looking forward to what’s coming
Have you heard of Francis Bourgeois - he is doing really well on social media and channel 4 have just done a load of vids with him and celebrities trainspotting. Your comments about school were similar to my experiences - I much preferred railways (real & model) to football. Anyway - mind how you go, and thanks for the vid.
I dislike Francis Bourgeois. He is a persona whom makes general entertainment, not trainspotting content. He has further swayed the public's view on trainspotters and enthusiasts, all trainspotters and enthusiasts have their own way of doing things and anyone with that level of publicity should consider explaining that.
I‘m from switzerland, and trains still are my form of freedom. Every time I want to go somewhere I take the train or a bus there (since I got a subscription). I‘m really proud of it and that’s why I also trainspot sometimes here.
Does it need to be cool or perceived as cool? Does anybody care? Should you care what others think about train spotting? No, just enjoy train spotting.
I don't spot trains. Me and my dad uses to watch the trains when I was little because it was nearby in the evening and we didnt have much money to do a lot of things. Some.of my best memories. I love reading about their history, the implementation of certain trains and the political and economic reason behind them etc. It's very interesting and the uk basically started the train.
I believe the number taking was just the excuse to be there, to be witness to the raw power of a steam engine, the heat, the smell, those ever evolving clouds of smoke and steam, the drama of the slipping wheels as they started, the treasured ‘cab’. All gone now.
even in India we get mocked for liking trains, but it's mostly from the RPF (Railway Protection Force, or the Railway Police in short), so trainspotting or Railfanning as we call it, we have to take care not to get caught while capturing trains :)
I am more into the steam locos and early DMU's and diesels but because I'm in wales when I go trainspotting there's nothing special like ever, I'm always seeing the 175's and 800's and maybe the occasional 150/153's. When I take my grandpa with me he dosent stop talking about the steam age and what the railway was like when he was my age and it always brings a smile to my face
I was bullied for rail pasion whole primary school, but I stopped to listen them, today I still spend my time on Trainspotting and Im happy about that, I hope that in the future I will be working in anything connected with trains. In my opinion every trainspotter is special beacuse it's not so popular thing to do. During my holidays I spent about 6 hours every day to record and take photos of trains, and I dont regret any minute standing there. Im so happy that i stayed in it till today and I can recognize most of the locomotives just by the shadow of it.
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The issue how I see it is similar to motoring. Trains, like cars, have gone from an image of somewhat glamour and personal pride/genuine involvement to a method of commuting or just getting about, sometimes even a problem to the masses. People in general don't even know anything about the car they drive nevermind modern railways
Sadly I think you're correct
Trains used to be _the_ method of getting about if you're going any distance other than by boat
I am someone who doesn’t see it as commuting and I try to tick off trains with heritage trains counting and i want more comfortable trains and I would run to catch a 319 (haven’t been on one) and the ones that er partly perversed or fully as I want to go on all that hasn’t been all scraped (except the ones that kill) and even go back in time to ride the scraped units (example 123) as I never rode them except the 365
The weird thing is how the same thing happened to plaines but plainespotting is still a big thing
@@nickking5663 doesn't have quite the same negative press though
I don’t spot trains, though I do enjoy learning about their history and engineering. I will support anyone who does spot trains. We all deserve to do the things we enjoy, that do no one any harm, in a respectful and accepting environment.
Good on you, Lawrie.
Thank you very much. I completely agree
Totally agree with you patrick, I enjoy anything mechanical, as a retired mechanical engineer I am amazed how technology has gone from the horse and cart up to today. The only thing that annoys me is Lawrie reffering to steam as dinosaurs, dinosaurs are extinct steam is not its just part of the link through to today.
This. As a transport enthusiast myself, I mostly go on train rides and do a bit of spotting trains as a hobby, just to lower my stress levels and just make my own content as I've been doing for some time. I really do like the transport side of things and would like to expand my knowledge and the history of the railway
Great writing, and I totally agree even from a North American perspective. Once in awhile I'll bring a non-foamer to a proper steam excursion and they'll start to understand why its cool.
Also alot of the same aspects apply to model railroading too
Thank you very much! Glad it applied over the pond.
Steam is a good gateway, most people appreciate that if nothing else
I’ve always had the same problem and still do. I have no interest in people, fads, fashions, trends, football teams and anything else the majority of the population are obsessed with. I am fascinated in anything mechanical. Planes, trains, boats, ships, rockets… anything. I’m not a spotter… I’m like you Lawrie, an enthusiast in old stuff.
You clearly have excellent taste!
Good for you mate, it's a gift to have a deeper passion for something.
@@lmm Im more a guy to modern units. I don't go train spotting because as you said it is hella boring, Same units, Infrequent service. Though I don't feel much seperated in fact i can easily get onto the tracks because there is barely any fences except in built up areas.
Same I never learn what trends mean until they are gone and I'm 15 but I love trains
same here. Busses, lorries and trains
Man your intro hits hard. For my entire childhood I’ve been bullied just for having a huge obsession with planes. Society just don’t understand enthusiasts well yet
I was as well, getting my pilots license now everyone can’t stop asking me about it lmao, showed em
My crush said that trains suck a few day before the holidays
My life was all around trains
I’m now completely dead to her
@@aplane9625 seems like she might not be a loyal person
@@aplane9625 seems like shes not a respectful person
I hate when people bully you for liking trains or vehicles 😢
I expected to offer my German perspective, being of a similar age as you, and having been interested in trains all my life, and being the son of a train enthusiast of the - early -postwar generation. However, I can merely type: "I agree". To my mind, you covered all the relevant aspects. Well done, Lawrie!
Thank you very much! Glad to know, and somewhat saddened to hear its the same with you!
@@lmm the situation is slightly better in germany i think. there is i'd say a bigger variety of traction, with many different goods locos as well as high speed trains and international service, as well as german steam locos being largely of standard classes as well due to early nationalisation/combination of pre german national grids, making the draw towards heritage (away from spotting) a little smaller. but overall the same general problem
Wer?
Your grandad was a good man!
Trainspotting has always been one of those things I'm afraid of admitting to other people because of how they may react, as I know it's 'uncool' and a strange thing to do, but I've always loved it. For me though I'm more of a modern sucker for transport. I love seeing and hearing a good bit of plastic flying past lol, but I do agree that the variety of rolling stock is massively dying out.
Word, (me and you are more EMU fans, at least I'd assume, lol, but that doesent take away from the validity of what you are saying or i etc)
I preffer EMUs alot but even then , there's still alot of room for interesting quirks to be installed, i.e the appearence, traction sound programming of the traction control (as alot of modern units after 2020 in the uk are soulless asf. ) the aventra stock are the bain of my existence with regards to modern trains. They make no traction sound apart from a brief take off and that weird whistling sound the igbt vvvf's make. , and their design looks something out of a marketing/corporate rendering plan for the year 2100 for an airport subway or something, their horrible . Their ugly. Desiro cities are a bit of a drag too although the 707s (SWR) merely having a better paint job make them alot more welcoming but the motors are still meh..but alot better than aventras. 700s make me want to sleep.
I do hope that the next wave of EMU's aren't so shit...ahem cough "southeastern getting new fleet in 2027" , let's hope they try to advocate for some creativity as resembled in their networker fleet. I really hope so. Nice vvvfs like Japan nice motors etc. Nice design overall. Anything but aventra scum, id much preffer CAF as the candidate is there's no other. And even then , maybe plan a design for a different type of train overall to southeastern design prefrence. Because ..boiii the railways interesting nature is hanging by a thread .
I know that feeling well.
It does take the excitement out when you know what's coming 😂
@@bb-3653 lol you sound like you're trying to scrape the last bit of meat off a wing that's already been picked over while describing the coolness of modern trains.
@Rudy you mean I'm going into super detail ? If so then yeah, I'm going ham🤣🤣 I do hope future emus aren't just aventra types their friggin horrible .
Pretty much the same in the USA. The variety is dying.
Probably one of the best videos you guys have produced, I feel this captures the feelings of a lot of people in the community, myself included. Well done
Thank you very much.
Glad I got the tone right!
I love being a train and bus spotter!
Same
And that's good!
Same
bus spotters are one I've never understood
@@ambivalentonion2620 there's a fair few of us around!
In 2008 I bought a new bridge Camera which had video capability. I filmed an Adelante train pulling out of LLanelli Station to test this facility, and when I showed the video to my works supervisor (To show off the camera) he responded with "That's Sad..." It's a train - A marvelous piece of engineering that I was quite pleased to have video'd and had a go at him verbally (He was quite approachable as a person, and took it in good grace). He said that he thought trainspotting was quite a nerdy and geeky pastime and don't go showing this to the other guys on site as they'd probably label me as a Twat and ignore me, even during lunch breaks. Funny thing is, in America (That big chunk of land across the Atlantic), they actually build platforms, and not the type we use to board trains, for Railfans to watch and film trains from. At least that's one thing they got right. Ralifans and, by British terminology, Trainspotters Are Cool people and should not be derided by non Fans.
Personally I dislike Football, but I don't think that those people who do like it are daft, stupid or should be referred to as Twats or any other derisive terms. However, I still maintain that the term "The Beautiful Game" can be applied to any game, Even Snooker, and should not be exclusively applied to football.
That's a fair point - well done for calling your boss out over it!
This comment confused me until I realised you were writing about Class 175s (not Adelante)
@@bfapple Class 175: Adelante but slower and uglier
@@Danse_Macabre_125 Class 175s are not Adelantes - that was a First Group brand name specific to the 180s.
@@bfapple My comment was a reference to the fact that both the -you'll be going nowhere- Class 180 and 175 are from the same Alstom Coradia 1000 family
As a train spotter, I've gotten weird looks from passengers on trains, even been slightly deterred to go into a station by them, but then you get the drivers that get a bit of joy when they see a trainspotter, I've gotten loads of waves and even had a small chat with a driver before they departed.
Interesting take on this topic. Here in the U.S things are pretty much the same. I was never really bullied for liking railways because I was never open about it. I'm more into model railroads than trainspotting, but sometimes it's a fun thing to do with friends to pass an afternoon. I relate to your sentiments, and I like your content.
Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you've got like minded people, it is noteably better.
I must say, this video hits very deep. It makes me realize how fast things have changed. I'm also not a trainspotter, but a modell train builder. Trains fascinate me since I was a little child. It is the same here in Germany as you describe it in the UK. Fences aren't even that common here, but huge sound barrier walls to avoid noise pollution. Part of me does understand the reasons behind these new infrastructures, but part of me feels quite claustrophobic when I take the train and all I see for almost 100 kilometres is a grey wall when I look outside the windows. Also it is of course always a bit sad, when you hear the slight sound of a train behind those walls but you can't see it. I was always a very quiet and shy person, and when I was little I had a sweet silent spot: at the end of a railway bridge with five tracks, there was a plank, covering some cables. It was hidden behind a tree and about 3 meters above the nearby pedestrian walk, right beside the tracks. Around 20 years ago, I would spend hours just sitting there, listening to the birds and the wind in the trees and observing the signals for the trains to pass by. There where all kinds of locomotives, the big BR 232, the 150 or the 151, sometimes in light red or green color scheme with endless freight trains, regional trains with the old 140 or 141 locomotives, intercity trains in blue, red or dark orange, sometimes even pulled by a 103 if I was lucky to see one of those beauties still operating. Commutter trains where white and yellow, or light turquoise and the locomotives where painted different too, sometimes still showing off the old colors from the 80s and early 90s, sometimes the famous "Silberlinge"-carriages would also appear behind those old machines. Now, 20 years later the place is gone, there is no plank and no tree. The bridge has been expanded to seven tracks, with sound barriers and the beloved sweet spot is no longer there. All the different trains are gone, and all you see is a bunch of red multiple unit trains and they all look pretty much the same. There are hardly any locomotives anymore, and if there is one, it is in most cases a Siemens Vectron (they are simply everywhere here). It would be quite rare to see anything different. The design of the new ICE trains is horrendous, and every intercity line train is just colored plain white by now. Only my modell train captures the memories from my childhood when the tiny 141 is travelling through our basement.
I feel this; in the states all of our trains have more or less homogenized into one standard locomotive type with limited designs. (With the exception of heritage units which pop up here and there) but ive also loved watching trains and fully support it.
Oh really? That's a bit boring then
@@lmm Sadly, I still love the engines, but I would adore some variety. I need to get out to some of our heritage railways at some point in my life.
@@lmm Yeah, it's a bit boring. I would say probably 80-85% of the locomotives that I see are the same basic design - though it does make it that much more exciting when something different comes by. Whether that's the one daily passenger train or an old unit that hasn't been replaced yet.
I feel like some train memories lie in sentimentality. My local cross country may be plastic boxes on wheels, but they are a symbol of home to me. My grandad used to take me on train rides to Derby, on a class 170, and taken back on a 221 supervoyager, while passing trains left right and centre, is a slight sign that railways might be enjoyed, but I still enjoy seeing a 170 or a class 221 as it reminds me of happy times. Steam railways are memorable aswell. A steam engine that is personal to me is 9f 92214, (the one that is green but not evening star) seeing that for the first time as a child made me look up in awe. People dislike it for its polished appearance, on a short passenger train, and inauthentic livery. But to me, that is a reminder of even when I am older of happier times. Seeing that engine on a five coach train, resplendent in Br green, and with a nameplate is as authentic to my childhood, as an older enthusiast seeing the same engine dirty, rusty and on a train of windcutters.
Thanks for reading.
There is indeed that. I never looked twice at a 153, but now they've gone, I miss the whirr and clatter.
That was my childhood heading off to see my dad.
It is important to remember that people like us didn't see steam in the UK, so what we look on fondly is what we see.
The 9F in green has done excatly what it's meant to, you've taken note of it. It's not black, it was interesting.
@@bfapple large bits of them are!
11:14 Lawrie's last five attempts at cloning himself are showing steady improvement.
I'm getting there!
i know the feeling ! i hated football ! we dont have trains in malta but I was raised close to the airport and the school i went for secondary and technical institute happened to be in the flight path and even now at 41 years of age i still love to spot planes ! and if i manage to travel to be somewhere close to a train i would like to know every bit of info about it !
I suppose plane spotting is quite similar to train spotting.
Just sit back relax and watch?
@@lmm i just stop and watch the planes , visit museums and collections where i can , now with the aid of internet one can follow aircraft on Flight Radar and other apps ;)
And you've got a beautiful Aviation Museum in Malta!
My guilty pleasure is watching Trainspotting videos, even if it’s not super cool. We call it “Rail Fanning” over here in America, and I’ve taken a liking to them because of how few trains there are over here. Wish there was more love for the rails these days!
I always remember going to a station just to see what came through, which gave it a different kind of excitement, the surprise of not knowing. Now I usually just go out for the special ones because I can look them all up. Still really fun to do!
Sometimes a day by the lineside is just a good day out
As someone who was born in 2006, I’ve grown up with tilting pendolinos and voyagers etc… so I’m not really a fan of a lot of the old stuff as it’s never been relevant to me, the stuff we’ve got now, all sorts of trains, all sorts of liveries, variety of stations, I just enjoy doing it… Great video though
I grew up with class 90s on greater Anglia
03:38 so true. I love trains but I'm not a spotter at all. I don't care that much about older trains but I do care about modern technology and sustainable travel.
You're so right, trainspotters aren't harmful to anyone and knowing these data is much more useful than knowing how many times a soccer player scored a goal.
Great video!
Well, japanese trainspotters ("tori-tetsu", wich couldbe translated as "photo-railfans") sometimes create dangerous situations, mostly to their own kind.
I guess trainspotting is regarded as a somewhat eccentric hobby then? And I do get the impression that if you want to see the more unusual machinery, like a Deltic or a Warship, you have to go to a special gathering, such as the East Lancashire Diesel Gala or the Severn Valley Railway. It's one of my "bucket list" vacation ideas, to spend a couple of months in England, taking in all the special steam and diesel events, to relive some childhood memories of visiting my grandparents in Lancashire.
Or just simply watch lmm for those who don't live in the UK. Like me
It's a different hobby certainly.
Though perhaps crewing a steam engine is more eccentric.
If you definitely want to see something, going to a heritage railway gala is likely the best way to go about it.
Be a super trip, that's for sure.
In the meantime, watching LMM is a good shout!
People always used to bully me for liking trains, oh you like trains, but when I finally got my confidence I finally stood up and I started posting trains to my story, now most of my friends want to railfan with me, they always ask me when I'm going to watch trains,
Dominance asserted
so based.
It’s amazing how peaceful it can be to just sit by and watch a subway or a freight train go by. Done it since I was a kid.
Lawrie; hullo. I’ve pondered similar often - in fact I’m sitting at my desk above which on the wall is a rain-beaten cue card from BBC Trainspotting Live, a programme which was my first TV gig. It’s a long story, but I managed to co-present it because I decided at least someone there needed to be genuinely sympathetic to the cause. What followed surprised me. I did a huge number of press interviews and I noted -as you have - parallels between fishing or football scores etc; even comics and Star Wars. There was much healthy debate. But I disagree with some of your assertions re trainspotting now, or the romance of rail. Now; I can’t speak for your experiences, indeed I didn’t get bullied for loving railways at school; but I’ve not experienced negativity on any level in recent years when I’ve said “I’m off to look at XXXYYY at Zzzz” in a new livery, or whatever. But then I do live in a somewhat cosmopolitan world where differences and individuality are celebrated- perhaps it is not like that everywhere. So. Rather like your somewhat despondent comments re the use of rail or the importance of rail in our lives (where for many - and I know this because it is literally my job to analyse that data - you’ll find that it is far from as negative as you suggest) - it is not true to say that trainspotting is negatively perceived by all. Those who do perpetuate tedious outdated tropes are fast becoming tedious outdated tropes themselves. The love of rail continues - perhaps not manifested in a desire for number collecting, but in its sheer beauty as a concept. Bring on 2025, because there’s a lot for us all to celebrate.
^^^ have to agree with some of this. The video makes many good points but I think underestimates what the railways still mean for a lot of people. For me it's the railways that take me to see my family, see my friends, do many of the things I enjoy. They are how I've made innumerable significant journeys throughout my life. Not just in the UK but in continental Europe and beyond. For me they still represent freedom and possibilities. Yup, they are in many ways less interesting in the detail of their operations, but they change with the world around them. They are still an immense and complex network, that continues to work, often against the odds. It's a network that involves people as well as machines and I think that for many of those people it's more than just a job. And yes it has beauty as a concept! Especially in an age where we are going to have to start thinking seriously about energy and as many places get ever more congested.
Finally, I don't quite agree about the distinction between "trainspotter" and "railway enthusiast". The first is a subcategory of the second. I'm a railway enthusiast, but I don't think of myself as a spotter because I've never been bothered about collecting numbers. I enjoy a visit to a heritage railway and I'm also interested in the modern "mainline". Sometimes I find myself on a platform end amongst a group of spotters. I'm not exactly part of their tribe - I'm not taking down numbers - but (as correctly identified in the video) we're all there, at least partly, for the same thing, just an excuse to take some time out and watch the world go by, maybe contemplate that world, just like fishing. Or maybe even like going to the cinema.
I'm a bird spotter and I sometimes fear some judgement too, but we are cooler when we are ourselves. :) Cheers for spotters and enthusiasts
Oh really?
I'd never thought of that
A brilliant video again Lawrie. You put your point across so well.
I'm a heritage enthusiast, I worked on the Railway from 1976 to 1985 in Scotland, S&T department and have volunteered at a few heritage railways.
Football bores me, I can't see the attraction.
I love most old methods of transport , trucks, buses, railways, WW2 aircraft and my collection of classic motorcycles.
It would be a boring world if we were all the same, so we should welcome diversity in people's interests!
Thank you very much!
I'm pleased to see someone who worked on the railway agrees with the thoughts!
That's also very true, would make platforms very crowded if we all liked trains!
I couldn’t agree more with what you said in the video. I’m a trainspotter… exclusively to either the Dutch railway’s (ns) or the mainline high up in Scotland, both for the reason of the diversity in consists that pass me. I even got lucky enough to forget about the Scotsman’s 100’th anniversary, and to then see it pass me on my way to Edinburgh central. But the age of people lining up next to platforms are, yes… gone.
But it doesn’t stop me from heading up the street to see some trains pass by with the occasional whistle.
Was probably the only kid in my school that had interest in railways, others into football, cricket etc, which I found then & still do as bout as interesting as watching paint dry. Being 3rd generation railwayman we lived in railway cottage by line, used to watch trains from our back fence. In my 2nd year of high school I started to ride Friday evening goods to another town, stay in barracks with crew, come back Saturday. Next year I started writing letters to railways applying for positions, no vacancies at time. This continued on thru next year, half way through my 4th year of high school I left and worked as builder's labourer, wheeling barrows of cement, passing tools etc, my late father as part of his job with railways, ran length on Fairmont trolley to Port Pirie and stayed over night in barracks, returning next day. In conversation with Stationmaster he heard about some vacancies, which he informed me of on his arrival home. I wrote necessary letters, and waited, had reply to go for interview at Port Augusta with Operations manager, Loco Superintendent and Loco Roster clerk, on 13 October 1980 I started as Junior Trainee Engineman Cleaner at Port Pirie Loco! Retired now, I still love trains!
I am not sure if it was intentionally included in the B-Roll, but at 7:08 there is an exceptionally rare car - a Reliant Robin! I haven't seen one of these in the wild for years. Perhaps there is something in car spotting? 😀
I think there is something in car spotting, I'm always excited to see something unusual out on the road - the Rialto is mine - have a look at the LMMons videos when we took it to the lake district from Suffolk!
I guess that's something that we take for granted here in the States. Our primary locomotives are starting to get limited, but we have so many different rail companies here. In my region alone, we have CSX, Norfolk Southern, Maryland Midland, Canton Railroad, MARC, and Amtrak. Each company have their own unique history, paint schemes, and right of ways that make trainspotting each one fun in its own way. Although many people here still think we are weird for just wanting to train spot or do a chase through the mountains. One of my favorite places to go that isn't too far is Harpers Ferry, WV. There is a passenger station there where you can set up and just watch freight and passenger trains all day. One of the best parts too, is that it has a unique scene where the trains go through a tunnel and emerge directly onto a bridge crossing the Potomac River.
Oh that sounds amazing
Hi Lawrie,
What a fantastic video with some unbelievably true points made, and how, in a word, dire, the modern railway is unfortunately fast becoming.
I've been into trains/railways for around 12 years now, and I've had my fair share of direct hatred from people about being interested in different aspects to others. Over the years, I've learnt that being different isn't something to be ashamed of, and I'm proud of everything I've managed to capture during my time as what I class myself as, a Railway Enthusiast.
In 2015, I set up this TH-cam channel, 'South East Train Hub', with an early aim of capturing interesting workings surrounding East Anglia and further afield. Just shy of 8 years later and it's grown very much significantly as the content that I've been producing has obviously been of interest to many.
I don't have the most high tech of solutions for filming... I film on an iPad (iPhone too where necessary) as well as a Panasonic camcorder for large events where my iPad just wouldn't quite cut the mustard. I was thinking about upping the anti to every video being filmed with the camcorder, but with these thoughts around 2017/2018, I didn't see it as justifiable to change after all the previous uploads I'd produced, filmed from my iPad. iMovie is used as my editing software on my iPad for my videos, and its never let me down, which is why I've kept plodding on with how things are, because it works, I'm happy with it, and going by the comments I receive, so are my viewers, which is all I can ask for. Why should I change if something works that I'm happy with, and why should anyone, for that matter?
People should keep on doing what they love and keep up what they're passionate about within the railway scene, I feel, and so what if people prefer to be a little different to the way I do things? Everyone should be happy in their own rightful way and enjoy what they do and never feel ashamed of being a little different.
A superb video once again and nice to see some local East Anglian locations at Ipswich, Westerfield, Derby Road and Gun Lane, too!
All the best, and take care,
Jake (South East Train Hub).
I think the key difference for trainspotting over being a railway enthusiast is that trainspotting is partially a form of ‘collecting’. Taking down the numbers is a lot like collecting coins, stamps, fossils, trading cards, or anything of the sorts. All of these kinds of ‘collecting’ hobbies have the same kind of stigma behind them due to being rather quiet and ‘antisocial’ (that’s lack of socialisation, not damaging property etc) to the unknowing eye. Obviously all of those hobbies listed above can lead to good friendships, particularly now through online communities, but the reputation still stands.
Railway modelling can be treated the same way, however if you say you go to a club and show at exhibitions then people become a little more impressed, almost like when a railway enthusiast says they volunteer for a heritage railway.
I think you're completely right
Trainspotting isn't dead. Relaxation is dead. Everything has got to be some sort of lifestyle now, to impress your neighbors, and you can't exactly do that with trainspotting, or sitting in a park.
And that sort of thinking came from America. God I hate Americanization....
The sort of people who mock us for our interests are usually jealous that they don't have something their passionate about. They can't handle it and so they try and bring you down to make themselves feel better.
I've had the same thing my whole life, but I don't let it get to me. I don't really go out to spot trains as much as I used to, but my interest is still there. And with that are the same people who in reality are so insecure about what THEY do with their lives. But screw em.
Train spotting I do get; fishing, I really don't. ;)
I remember the old train spotting books. I wish now that I'd had a camera when I was a kid, and snapped each of the N7s that towed me to and from school; hardly any seem to have been recorded in that way and I think it's only 69627 that's left now.
One of the joys of being a trainspotter in the "good old days" (i.e. 1950s- 1970s) was travelling by train to somewhere special to do some spotting. The trains were comfortable with no airline seats, windows were big and from every seat, you could actually see the scenery outside. Arriving at Paddington was an exciting occasion, with the sound and the sight of locos all around. Even the diesel and electric locos of that era had more character.
At some places, like Severn Tunnel Junction for example, after getting off the train you could ask the friendly shed foreman if you could go around and more often than not he would ask "did you come by train?" If so then you were allowed in. At some sheds, you might even get a short ride in the cab. It was definitely cool.
Cardiff Docks were open and easy to cycle around. I even had a ride on a coal tippler discharging coal trucks into a ship.
Train travel now is so uninteresting and uncomfortable. If you can find a window seat, the linesides are covered in trees so no scenery.
I am glad that I was able to keep my railway interests alive by membership of several railway societies, maintaining and driving steam and diesel locos, and at one time part owner of a tool and mess van. I also liked running my garden railways- as you also appeared to enjoy with that shot of you driving a Maxitrak Barclay loco.
I used to love driving there! It was amazing fun when I was little.
The heritage and 'real' railways are entirely different beasties. I'm pleased to be part of the heritage movement.
Ah, the adventures back in the day. Can you imagine it in modern times?
I think what doesn't help with the popularity with the modern railways is the fact that it is not easy to get a job on the railways unless its a track engineer or maybe the odd station assistant job. It's pretty much impossible to get a job as a driver even if you already work for a railway company.
Yes, it is hard to get into
Move to Germany, the Deutsche Bahn is falling apart 😂😂😂. They need every helping hand.😜😜😜😜
What??? In Germany they look for so many drivers they can’t even fulfill their current timetable and have to reduce service. Their staff shortage is huge
Ok, here's my takes:
I don't think it that's the right question to ask. Or it's a very decorated version of the question that should be asked. If I may, I'm going to re-phrase that question into something that is much deeper and more important than whether it's "cool", based on something you said in this video. And for the point I'm making, lets forget the "railway theme" of the question, and have it as: "why isn't _your hobby here_ cool.
Here's a different way I'm seeing of asking that question: Why am I not good enough. Think about it, where does the need to question our passion and what we choose to do, really come from? It comes from others doubting, and finding our time spending habits "odd" "silly" "not cool", what ever similar word you use. And here's the important/deeper part..... what do pretty much all us railway enthusiasts have in common?..... We were mocked/bullied for it at school. It doesn't come from us. It comes from others that doubt you, mostly from a younger age when it gets stuck in the mind easily.
That example can be applied to many other things, I'm sure, but I've never heard your question, or anything like it within this community. I think really it's us..... that needs to change the way we think others perception of us is. And the people that mock us today are few and far between. I wouldn't want a few bad apples to shape the way I see the public perception of us. I don't think it's a railway issue, more of a societal one.
My other take is much more of a technical one:
The concept of "train spotter" can't really exist in today's world. Before the big steam ban many years ago, trains could be anywhere in the country. As you say, you could stand on a bridge and watch the 2857 fright train by chance, and never see or even know where it would be next. That might be the only chance you get to see it.
Now-days, you can find out where every single train is without leaving your pc chair. There's none of that, "who knows what I'll see today" approach. Sure, you can go and look at a train you've always wanted to see, and take down it's number, but there's no rush to see it, you know where it is, and you can go and see it the following weekend if you want. The way we can enjoy railway has just changed.
I guess in a round about way, I pretty much agree with what you're saying yeah, I just don't think it's as black and white to describe your favourite area of railways any more. We're all railway enthusiast who enjoy different parts of the railways.
And just to throw another one in here, does it need to be cool?
Always good to bring stuff like this up and chat. Happy new year Lawrie!
I think it's more that humans generally don't like what they find to be different.
There's this mentality of "I don't like that, therefore they must be weird to like that, therefore I want to stay away"
And railway enthusiasts end up on the wrong side of that thought process.
I certainly agree that it's very different today.
Although, you'll know the train is running from something like real time trains, but you won't know what the actual motive power will be, so the trainspotting excitement is still there.
@@lmm
Good post and a good reply. I’m reminded of a vid I saw recently discounting the myth that Ringo Starr was a shite drummer; as the bloke doing the vid got people of that opinion to try and play along on some lesser known tracks. They failed miserably and all said “ but I’d heard that he wasn’t very good and never really looked into it more than that”. So spotting ( and a love or interest in, railways is assumed by the general public to be nerdy , uncool, weird but they’ve never ever thought about it, it’s just received wisdom. Which makes them feel better about about crying when some men they like ,kicking a bag of wind around , do it badly .
I think the train spotting scene in France ain't the same than in the UK, we get sometimes old locomotives like the CC6500 and our regional trains here in the Alps still have a lot of BB22200 push pull locomotives and still the more "modern" regional trains have variation in their type and liveries and we also get the TGV high speed trains which also has variations. And tbh train spotting at the high speed lines seeing trains going past at 300km/h is cool!
Yes, that is cool! I remember the first time I saw one, very exciting.
I'm not a train spotter, but when I see a cool train or tram I can't abstain from taking a picture. When I was a toddler, my grandpa used to bring me to our town's train station and we would watch trains go by, and I loved it, so I guess that explains it. Nowadays I take the train daily to go to university, and I love it, because those 15 minutes of train ride are the perfect time to relax and enjoy the ride. From my bedroom's window I can see my town's station as well, and I cannot imagine living far away from a train station, not only because it would be less easy to commute, but also because I would miss seeing trains go by everyday. I remember once that, when we were on a school trip in high school in another city, I took a video of a tram passing by, trying to make sure I wasn't being seen by anybody, but a classmate saw me and mocked me for what I was doing. Back then it hurt a lot, but now I'm more open about my interest for trains when I meet new people :)
The only *real* locomotives were/are Steam...diesel and electric are just boring tin & plastic boxes on wheels and we also used to have real and proper coaches too! We have very rarely even used the railway system since the end of steam.
First time coming across your channel, lovely presentation!
Lots of valid points throughout. In my case, essentially if it’s on rails, I’m a fan. Steam, modern, heritage, mainline, even the Underground. It’s ok to narrow focus to one type of traction, but equally it’s ok to love them all!
I like how GBRf have customised and named a lot of their locomotives. I’m amazed more companies don’t do this, even for their EMUs - it’s an easy win in the publicity stakes and helps recapture some of that romance of the old days.
I think the likes of Francis Bourgeois will be very important for transporting perceptions in the future. The TikTok generation can breath new life into the hobby. Easy to forget Francis is only 21 and already has a huge following.
Really cool, thought provoking piece. All the best!
Nick 👍
Glad you enjoyed it - check our Lawrie Goes Loco, you might enjoy it!
Big fan of GBRfs heritage liveries. That's big kudos.
Was that the "trainbow" thing? Not in my name.
@@worldcomicsreview354 What do you mean?
Probably because no more steam and LMS, LNER, GWR and Southern....🤨🤔😉
Still love my trains (and other older technical marvels), but feel absolutely nothing about today's contraptions....
Damn, I miss being a fireman on steam locomotives and that smell of coal etc., etc....
I hope that you and fellas are all doing well my friend....my round I believe! 🍻
What we need (besides more steam) is more Class 37's etc., etc., with upgraded internals....😉😎
Do love a 37.
I love being involved with the heritage movement. It's an amazing thing!
We're good thanks - we'll hold you to that! 😂
@@lmm
Yip, I totally agree....I need to get back into that up here in Glasgow, if there is anything going on, I miss shoveling coal! 🥺😥
Please do, I'd be honoured and happy to buy a couple or so rounds and chit chat about steam and whatnot! 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
The '37 is a nice looking locomotive, I don't know about the Class 58 and 66, they're just (mumbling) not very nice looking....like the Class 42, have a wee soft spot for those as well! 😁😎
I would call myself a heritage enthusiast as like the heritage steam, but when I’m abroad in Switzerland I like the more modern and current electric traction so would say there I’m more of a spotter than I am here in the UK, but over in Europe I would say train spotting and like trains in general is more normalised! Great video by the way!
Thank you very much!
Hello! I am from Russia. I am a railway worker and at the same time, i am a trainspotter. And you know, i completely share your point of view. Here in Russia, we also like mostly old locomotives, and modern locomotives are boring and looking the same, especially with russian railways corporate colours. So, sometimes we just take a car and drive to some railway branch, just to spend the time together. Thanks for your video, and you are welcome to my chanel.
I used to feel out of place at Uni when I'd go to Lincoln Station or sometimes Newark Northgate to watch trains go by. Now I work as a Civil Engineer mainly focused on rail projects, everyone has a similar interest in trains and I can finally share my passion or even learn something new in something I'm interested in without feeling like an outcast.
And there's nothing cooler than sitting on a bench I helped decide to be put on a station platform, gazing at a bridge I know all the intricate details of after months of design as trains pass by.
In my experience, if you get a train from Lincoln you're going to Newark Northgate if you want to or not!
I don't care if trainspotting is not cool. I'm not cool, never have been, so we are mutually suited!😄Agree some of the romance has gone out of it now though, with largely characterless units, I did most of my spotting in the late '70s and '80s when a big diesel loco (Deltic, class 50, class 37 etc.) pulling out of a station was an EVENT!!
That was proper traction!
Interesting thoughts. I don't know about anyone else but I'm finding post-covid that people are actually more accepting of the kind of 'whatever floats your boat' hobbies and more willing to talk about them. I've discussed railway modeling in a work environment and actually had people express a bit of envy that I have an engaging hobby. I even ended up listening to a guys who do fantasy war-gaming or model engineering. Find your own cool....
Here in the US the railroads call people who trainspot (or railfan as we call it) foamers
I’m surprised they haven’t generalized that term to people who get excited about pretty much anything
Something a bit different from you. Nice. I think the 'anorak' comes from the number colectors. I'm an Aircraft enthusiast, but I'm not bothered whick one of a type I see, I don't collect aircraft tail numbers, I just enjoy seeing different aircraft. I think we find number collectors a little, different. But hey, as ling as they are happy.
I think with any hobby it's how deep do you delve?
Being on the footplate is pretty deep in the heritage movement, but you can enjoy just going for a train ride.
People should spend less time worrying about being "cool" and more time on doing what makes them happy. Chasing "cool" is for slaves who bend themselves out of shape through worrying about what others think of them. Be your own man/woman and pay no attention to others.
It's a good mantra for life.
The problem is that often trainspotters are made to feel lesser by other people, and bullied for this.
It makes it hard to enjoy something when that's happens.
This very subject is covered within Ian Carter's book "British Railway Enthusiasm". Definitely worth a read!
I'll keep an eye out for it!
@@lmm 1:28 what station is that by the way
Thanks mate. Just ordered a copy. Ian Marchant wrote a good book about railways as well parallel lines
You want to come to Leicester mate. Walked into town yesterday and saw a 56 on the way there and a 47 on the way back without even trying. Got 37s, 47s, 56s, 60s, even a 58 and a 26 on Leicester depot due to UKRL. Unfortunately some of it has moved away to Loughborough and they're building a shed for the 93s or some such modern loco at Leicester now too which leaves less space for the lovely old stuff.
That's very good!
Don't have any of that round here!
I think cars are the only thing that don't get hate, if you start talking about a ferrari everyone gets interested, if you are talking about a steam engine everyone stares at you... I wish there was more stuff about trains on the media, like with cars.
I'm not interested in cars but yes seems to be the way it is how can a box on 4 wheels get so mutch hype I just dont understand
@@jameshardy4354
I think it's because cars are a consumer product which everyday people can buy and use. Even expensive, luxury cars act as an aspiration for people as one can buy them once they are wealthy enough.
With aircrafts, it's because they can fly and luxury private jets are an aspiration for some. But compared to cars, passenger and freight aircrafts don't get much hype. They are seen in a similar vein to trains. Buses have it even worse. I hardly see anyone liking buses. Liking ships is also a rarity.
Honestly, I don't like a lot of cars (only a few exceptions that I like for their styling aspect). I think they look like boring, squashed metal bugs who try too hard to look cool.
Modern trains and planes, unfortunately, look very dull and lifeless. So, they don't fare well in comparison to the metal bugs.
Honestly, it’s society for ya. You mention a plane and you get bullied
The problem is only the rich could afford a car the problem came when everyone could afford a car
@@MrStark-up6fi
True, even plane spotters are looked at in a weird way.
I find "normals" get funny about any activity that's not incredible dull and conformist. My colleagues laugh at me because I read books "Haven't you heard of a Kindle?", I love the railways, forecast the weather and love buying CDs "Why don't you just download it?". And the flack I get for playing computer games at the age of 50....
One thing I'd say is that railway enthusiasts were considered "sad" even in the 70's and early 80s. Where I lived in East London there were proper, loud, diesel trains, 1950's slam-door units, all painted blue and/or grey, pre-war Underground trains and on the roads, Routemasters and RT buses all of which I loved to bits. So I don't think attitudes have changed because public transport vehicles have less character in our eyes. Children I know love the brand new trains and often can't relate to locomotives and loose coaching stock.
Anyway, in summary; People without hobbies are the strange ones.
Wait... its not cool?
Long as you think it is, that's fine!
I'm a trainspotter, but i see absolutly zero interest in modern rolling stock and infrastructures. When at home in France, I only go take photos if I know there is some kind of vintage or unusual rolling stock comming. I travel to see what's left of the "real", the old school railway. The one that was cool. It still, at list partly, exists in eastern europe, but even there modernisation is lurking.
Even when it comes to trevelling by train, travelling in some kind of modern EMU has nothing interesting, it's just a mean of going from point A to point B. Travelling in old carriages, where you can open the window, hear the jointed rails and the old diesel roaring in front, it's just something else.
The excitement has really disappeared from the railway.
The romance has gone as you said. For decades it's been trains 'bad', cars/alternative travel 'good', with lack of investment, declining services & labour disputes making it's image worse. Far more instant distractions now. Hopefully any sort of spotting is becoming more understood now, & it doesn't hurt anyone.
P.S If your friends' Iron Maiden Powerslave t-shirt is an original, it's ancient & should be saved & put on display! Up the Irons!
I have no idea about the shirt 😂
I hope so, it certainly feels less worthy of doing though!
Having grown up casually spotting and enjoying heritage lines, part of the modern issues is that most spotters are of a particular age and tend to have a certain set of social skills and out look. At times it feels difficult as a young, queer spotter.
On the flip side, I have never seen so many young spotters following rail tours, never seen so many community members being outwardly visable whilst spotting.
Personally I enjoy some modern traction, mainly when it holds an importance to me: class 222, 870, 15X's, 66s and even a couple (horrible) 180s and Turbostar 170s. I think there is still enjoyment in the completing of number sets, following their journeys, 'geeking out' over the technical details, and even the warble/horns/general working sound of them. But with the reputation of most modern British railways, they can be an acquired taste - I feel the best comparison perhaps, is that different types of spotting/enthusiasm for different types/periods of traction and coaches is like music. Mainly the differing genres of music, but also perhaps the role an individual enjoys most; listening; creating; studying; etc.
Yeah the half hourly commuter rail doesn't create many feelings except for "I'm going from A to B".
But when I take a sleeper to see a friend a 1000km west from me, it does stir the romantic feeling of adventure in me.
You are meeting new people who are like you travelling a long distance.
So you are with complete strangers, but talking and getting to know them is easy as you already have in common that you are on a journey.
You already have 1 topic to talk about and since you are in a compartment it still feels private enough.
If you found good company you can get a bottle and some cards out as well.
Also the train itself is more interesting as it usually is far longer with more unique carriages and engines then commuter trains.
It really is a proper journey and not just the mundane commute from A to B.
I have personally always strived towards things that interested me personally, even if I was alone in it. For me and to me it is cool. If we relied on a public or mass opinion we would get nowhere in life. Enjoy it, be proud and happy doing it and don't look back. Also, don't give a s***.
I honestly respect and admire you so much for creating this video. It's a topic rarely discussed and one that's never been spoken of in the same light as you've shone it in. Great video!
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I am a german Trainspotter and i think we are the 2nd biggest trainspotter nation.It is also allowed and also published by the Deutsche Bahn,that it is legal but the train drivers sometimes have problems with it and all other passengers are thinking:What the hell are they doing?!The matter is,that the train drivers do not often hear from the teachery,that in this job are also photographers like in F1 and are interrested in this job too.The people often missunderstand it with just filming stupid things and that we just want actually to film the passengers and the driver.Also many passengers are not soo happy with it,somebody said to me (was the the platform)while i was filming the entrance on board of a old train with manual windows:Am i on the film?Did you film me?I swar if i find mr on the internet i cut your b**ls off!Yeah,that is suddenly a common problem in Germany and the sytem of Trainspotting just sometimes sucks.Eventually everything is alright exept these things and some are trainspotter-friendly and make a horn or light for me on.
I dont go and sit and watch trains (no time + adhd) BUT when im at york station twice a week i take in everything, i have a massive note on my phone detailing every train ive seen + travelled on, plus i know the names, numbers and typical routes/times of the trains at york. I only have a real interest in the trains you see in york and the rest of the north, as well as an enthusiasm for seeing steam engines. Id probably call myself a train enjoyer!
I assume you’ve visited the National Railway Museum near there then. I’ve always wanted to go myself
@@jonahwillis2781 oh, many MANY times haha. My parents took me as a kid and since moving here ive been a fair few times. If you can, go this april, the flying scotsman is gonna be there!
@@Nina-bh5jj Unfortunately I don’t live in the UK so I’ll probably miss The Flying Scottsman’s appearance, but I will be there this August. Seems like a rail fan’s nirvana!
@@jonahwillis2781 Idk what kind of trip youll be on but if you have the chance, be sure to check out locomotion at shildon too! It’s just north of darlington, which is like 20 mins up the mainline from york. Its smaller than the museum in york but I really enjoyed my visit
Fun fact about Trainspotting in a different country. In Japan it's very much frowned upon despite being very popular for lots of people. They are known as tori-tetsu and are generally hated by most nowadays. Reasoning why is due to tori-tetsu reputation. They are known to ruin landscape for better shots, generally be rude specifically to school kids who take the train to class, and are commonly stereotyped to be autistic/socially awkward. The Japanese media loves to hate on them from all political based news since they are such an easy target. Probably the most infamous story is bike man which originates from a foreigner riding a bike in front of a train and ruining a bunch of a group of tori-tetsu's pictures. Out of frustration the tori-tetsu confronted the bike man and begin berating him with hate comments telling him to die it's a terrible video. This video became very popular due to the subject matter in Japan and got memed to hell comparing the tori-tetsu to other pop culture tropes. It actually makes me upset since a big reason I even discovered my passion for Japan was though the Shinkansen and the JR. I still love Japanese trains but I don't think I will ever Train spot openly in the country due to the negative context. If you ever want to disappoint some one in Japan just tell them you're a tori-tetsu considered a big red flag.
Great video, I disagree a bit about modern trains but that's what makes us all different.
Train spotter friend with the Poweslave Iron Maiden shirt on noted too - trains and heavy metal, great combination 🙂
New subsriber here, I look forward to working our way through your videos.
Cheers.
Matt
I remember reading an article about a "war" in trainspotting between, I beleive, the "kettlers" who love steam engines, and the diesel enthusiasts.
Though it was probably as overblown as the "comic con hooligans" of a few years back.
I cannot possibly disagree with any of what you said, apart from the fact i was thinking, "Ooh, 775 you say, I want to go see one of those and ride on one". I personally cannot get excited about steam trains, I appreciate them and think they were great at what they did, but I grew up in the 80s round the corner from Whitemoor Yard and so diesels have always excited me, even modern ones. I never use to appreciate class 66s when they first turned up, but they have grown on me steadily. I'm happy to call myself a trainspotter and I'm of an age now where i will proudly defend myself whenever people call me out for being such. Everyone is different and people have no more right to deride my interests or hobbies than I do theirs :)
as a 17 year old autistic girl who loves trains/trainspots, I’ve started being more confident with it recently! People around me have started finding it ‘cool’ too! I think having different types of people liking the same thing makes it more interesting
That's really good to hear!
Plane spotters nowadays are also somewhat ‘shunned’. I know, ‘cause I am one. Having travelled the world for planes, in the US people think your quirky, not mad. In Europe, it’s the other way around.
some thing I learnt over my life is who cares what you like and interested in as long not harming anyone you should be able to do what you love and if people have a problem screw them and lite them be sad little people.
That's a good mantra to have.
Wow... This video hit virtually every nail on the head. In my case, I grew up in a Norfolk town that lost both of its railways by 1980, but I started out in east Hertfordshire where several rail routes were (and are) still very much in use. Then came a move to the other side of the world with infrequent visits back to where I was happiest. As a teenager, I started writing these feelings down and fantasizing about my primary school characters doing what I could not, and still having them facing nearly all of those same dilemmas that I did. They, however, had each other to confide in and share their experiences. I had nobody. At least nobody who cared.
Trainspotting is something I looked forward to every time I returned to the UK. However, the scene has definitely become more and more dystopian. It's actually gotten to the point that I enjoy my hobby more in continental Europe, or North America, than on my old stomping ground. Heritage Railways are now the spice to any UK trip I make.
Of course it's cool!
Yes Mr Lawrie, trainspotting is a weird thing people do. But those who do this activity even as a hobby,know what they are up to, and what is the importance of the artifact they are spotting. Like take myself for example. I am a train travel fan. I shoot trains on my mobile camera whenever I travel on these large machines. I am left to shoot so many trains in action. This channel has got videos of trains that are more functional than feature rich. UK has trains that are equivalent to the TOCs having a fleet of private cars with lot of features of comfort and convenience. I will never lose this hobby, ever. It is not odd to be a trainspotter. But being inconsiderate about something like this is extremely sad. My mom does not understand this hobby of mine very much and not a lot of my friends know about this.
So very true, I prefer old locomotives , steam standard gauge and narrow gauge. I miss the class 90,153,156,170 and the 37 ,47,68 . Not can of this modern stuff 745,755,720 to quiet miss the engines that made noise showing how hard they were working especially 156 ,153,170. When I went on them used to open th window latch above window just to listen to the nous on 156,153. But 170 didn't have window latch but still amazing sound even at night.
The 153/6's are the sound of my childhood!
Trainspotting isn't considered cool for the same reasons that many other niche hobbies like collecting newspapers/magazines or archiving old TV recordings aren't perceived as cool - because these subjects fall into the sphere of human ambivalence. Most people treat trains as a commodity - a thing that exists and has existed for years, and they don't feel any particular affection to it. They either treat it as a day-to-day form of communication, frustrating means of transport they ocassionally have to use, or (in the extreme case) as outdated technology that should be replaced by something more shiny. People treat trains as part of everyday life and think that they will last long enough they don't need to worry about whether they'll see a that type of locomotive again or not. They think it doesn't matter what the presentation of the TV station they ocassionally watch is, or what sort of adverts were running a couple of years ago. They don't think keeping old newspapers is worth it, because they deem them all ephemeral, to be seen/used once and forgotten about. And that's one of the easier ways we lose historical records, by thinking that the things we live alongside will last forever. Perhaps in the future people would like to know what ads were running on TV in our time, and what do these ads say about our society, what were we sold (both metaphorically via ideas and physically via products), and how did we (or how did advertisers want us to) perceive ourselves. Or just what did we think at the time of the world events around us. How did the means of transport we used daily or sporadically look like? What places did we go to? These are the questions of future generations that hobbyist that archive the mundane side of our lives (and don't forget, our past as well) help to answer.
used to love being at school next to the rail line, we had a signal at one end of the playground, if we were really lucky a train would get stopped there and we could race it across the playground once it got moving again. if we were really lucky we would be on the bridge over the line on the way home as train came by.
That seems far more accepted than it was at my school!
I’m not much of a trainspotter but I do model railroad or collect. Once in awhile I would take a picture of some trains here in the U.S. Most importantly tho, I would love to get a video or a picture of UP 4014 steam engine in person.
A great video Lawrie and there are a lot of points I do agree with. I do like filming trains but I don't do it all the time. I only go out and see the odd train or if I do go and watch trains somewhere it will only be for a bit and then I go on a lovely walk around a historic town or in the countryside. I have never been mocked or bullied for my interest in trains as my friends know that despite not sharing the same interests and even though I'm not an avid supporter of football for example I will still watch the odd game (The World Cup final was incredible).
I just see it as a hobby and something I do from time to time and if there is a particular train running on my local line I want to see then I will go and see it but if I go out somewhere then I will only film trains for maybe 1 hour and get clips together of the trains to make into a video to share with everyone and then as I said go on a walk as I enjoy just being out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of towns and cities. Trains and railways bring me to these places out in the countryside and I can connect the two together and it helps me relax in particularly stressful times.
It's the joy of it, going out and relaxing, and maybe seeing a train.
I don't understand people, there's a full scale war in Ukraine and people are saying trainspotters are a problem!? If anyone who sees this gets bullied because of it, ignore them. They mean nothing to you, pursue what you want to do. Bullies just don't understand
I would call myself a trainspotter. Like you said it’s relaxing and enjoyable
It's a nice thing to do.
Much more enjoyable than sitting in front of the Tell-Lie-Vision
@@sr7791 indeed
I am a railfan from China. All my friends are laughing me when I said I love trains. By the way, it’s even in golden ages of Chinese railway.
What a great video. Raises some great points. I missed the glory days and I'm trying to live it now by driving the class 31 up and down a couple of miles of NLR every now and again. Although I missed the glory days, those locos are around in smaller numbers and tracking down and photting them is a challenge and exciting. I even find interest in the class 66s they've all got small variations and things.
Like you said, just being near the lineside is relaxing.
As for the public perception, I own my hobby, I'm loud and proud and confident about it and in the face of such conviction people don't seem to go for the anorak comments. They are amazed that I have such commitment to something, let's face it, most people who criticise just sit at home drinking their life away. That's fine, it's their choice. I'd rather be a train spotter, hiking around in fresh air, practicing an art (photography) and enjoying life 👍👍
Also, sorry for.the essay
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I'm hoping to get to you guys and film with it later in the year!
66s aren't bad, I just preferred it when it was mixed with other things like the 70's.
But you're an active volunteer, and I think that changes how the general public sees you. You drive the massive great train!
@@lmm
As I said at Warley, you will be very welcome and we will get something arranged. We are in a bit of trouble at the minute with some bridge timbers but that's another story.
Yes, I'm quite lucky, I'm a short drive away from the WCML and WCML and live on the MML so can see much more variety.
That's true, I do have that I suppose. But often I don't offer that information. I usually start with I'm a train spotter 😂
@@BennyBizzle1 ah fair enough.
Hope to see you guys later then!
I think that is why I largely get a positive reaction when I tell people. Is because I am volunteer at Amberley Museum on the Museum railway involved with the local model railway club and watching trains in general either at another heritage railway or going or going somewhere a bit different on the network so I could different stuff and not just 377s and 700s
I've been there; I know how you feel. Now I'm into living history re-enactment (Knights, Vikings etc) I don't get that image...
I think the anti- train spotter attitudes came more in the 1980s-90s...
I don't think people will bully you when you carry a sword!
Vikings are very 'in' at the moment too
I don’t have much commentary to add. I’ve watched your stuff for awhile and also tend to enjoy heritage railroading more. Yet this still struck a chord. Thank you for making it.
You're most welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!
Since Great Brittain still has a lot of lines with no wires, I love to see the diesels, even if it is a 66. In the Netherlands were I live, almost all lines are electrified and those who are not, have plastic units that sounds like a truck. But I get the point. I only go out for a special train. Take a shot of the train before (to keep the collection complete) and go home after the special went by. Because it has become so boring. (The video's with locos are much more fun to watch, btw)
Great video
Thank you very much!
I enjoy taking a walk to the rails and watching a train drive past, even though it's only ever a NSB Class 73, a NSB El 18, or the occasional maintenance vehicle driving by.
I feel trains are the future for climate emissions and all that, despite government focusing on electric cars and leaving the railway to degrade in a never ending economic circle (it's literally more reliable and cost the same to travel by bus on the same company that operates the passenger railway here)
The trains round here are super expensive
It is cheaper to drive into London - with the fees - and park than train.
And you have the freedom of going when you want to.
What an absolutely sterling video Lawrie, you could not have explained this better. Definitely my favourite video of yours to date.
Oh thank you very much!
I agree with this where I used to live we would be lucky to get a shed a day and my love for spotting faded a bit tho in the last 2 years my dad moved to Nuneaton right next to the west coast mainline an where it joins with the line from Birmingham to Leicester an my love came flooding back seeing sometimes between 1 and 5 Old BR diesels a day every shed you can think of 90s 70s an 88s and 68s on tesco liners I love trains even tho my love for them faded at one point due to it being the same thing all the time the second I moved here I’m at the station most days looking forward to what’s coming
Have you heard of Francis Bourgeois - he is doing really well on social media and channel 4 have just done a load of vids with him and celebrities trainspotting.
Your comments about school were similar to my experiences - I much preferred railways (real & model) to football.
Anyway - mind how you go, and thanks for the vid.
He's not my cup of tea.
I dislike Francis Bourgeois. He is a persona whom makes general entertainment, not trainspotting content. He has further swayed the public's view on trainspotters and enthusiasts, all trainspotters and enthusiasts have their own way of doing things and anyone with that level of publicity should consider explaining that.
I‘m from switzerland, and trains still are my form of freedom. Every time I want to go somewhere I take the train or a bus there (since I got a subscription). I‘m really proud of it and that’s why I also trainspot sometimes here.
Does it need to be cool or perceived as cool? Does anybody care? Should you care what others think about train spotting? No, just enjoy train spotting.
I don't spot trains. Me and my dad uses to watch the trains when I was little because it was nearby in the evening and we didnt have much money to do a lot of things. Some.of my best memories.
I love reading about their history, the implementation of certain trains and the political and economic reason behind them etc.
It's very interesting and the uk basically started the train.
I believe the number taking was just the excuse to be there, to be witness to the raw power of a steam engine, the heat, the smell, those ever evolving clouds of smoke and steam, the drama of the slipping wheels as they started, the treasured ‘cab’. All gone now.
even in India we get mocked for liking trains, but it's mostly from the RPF (Railway Protection Force, or the Railway Police in short), so trainspotting or Railfanning as we call it, we have to take care not to get caught while capturing trains :)
That's why I love living in the US. American freight locomotives are still a beautiful site.
I am more into the steam locos and early DMU's and diesels but because I'm in wales when I go trainspotting there's nothing special like ever, I'm always seeing the 175's and 800's and maybe the occasional 150/153's. When I take my grandpa with me he dosent stop talking about the steam age and what the railway was like when he was my age and it always brings a smile to my face
That's a lovely thing to do - I remember the good old 153s
@@lmm I'd say the 158 is my favourite DMU, quite sad it will be replaced by the 197s in the future
A class of modern traction I like is the Voyager. A high speed DMU with a boxy heavy duty aesthetic and cool engine sound.
I was bullied for rail pasion whole primary school, but I stopped to listen them, today I still spend my time on Trainspotting and Im happy about that, I hope that in the future I will be working in anything connected with trains. In my opinion every trainspotter is special beacuse it's not so popular thing to do. During my holidays I spent about 6 hours every day to record and take photos of trains, and I dont regret any minute standing there. Im so happy that i stayed in it till today and I can recognize most of the locomotives just by the shadow of it.
I'm glad you stuck with it and still enjoy it!
Why do brittish train companies steal our beautiful swiss trains and make them this ugly?!