Can anyone explain what trainspotting is all about?

Question

i Constantly see these nerds on platforms armed with pen,paper & even cameras. Can anyone explain what they are doing?surely once youve seen one train youve seen them all?

Answer 1

These NERDS, as you so rudely refer to them, are usually members of the male species taking notes and photographs of today's railway system, just like their forefathers did in the past when steam was King, and much of the information thus collected has passed into history and is often used for research purposes, and the same sort of thing will happen to those taking part in this hobby nowadays.
Note that whilst these NERDS are busily enjoying their innocent little hobby and in no way interfering with your own particular form of enjoyment, they aren't standing around on street corners in a threatening manner dressed as 'hoodies', drinking illegally and taking drugs illicitly, mugging little old ladies of their pension or young kids of their mobile phones and neither are they breaking into your house and robbing you blind. Perhaps if they did you'd think differently ! ! !

Answer 2

It's tough to answer your question in just a few sentences or short paragraphs here but many of the above answers covered trainspotting or "railfanning" pretty accurately. The term is actually more generalized as there are many different types of train enthusiasts and railfans from those who deal more on learning the history of a particular railroad(s), industry as a whole, or railroading in general to those who try to identify particular trains, locomotives, and /or freight car numbers/symbols. If you check out a few of the websites below it should help to give you a better idea of the hobby.

Answer 3

This goes back a long way.A firm called Ian Allen Used to publish books listing all the railway engines of different sorts, their type,class,wheel formation, name and number. A lot of technical information was also given. This was in the days of steam trains when there was far more glamour in the engines and special trains.People would wait to see the Royal Scot go thundering past.The train spotters of my youth,back in the 1940's and 50's would travel from our homes in the London suburbs and travel by tube to the main London stations to see all the big express engines coming and going ,plus the little local engines for the shorter distance routes.Each engine number seen would be crossed of the listings as it was seen. There would be competition amongst the lads as to who had crossed of most of a particular type of engine.When a rarely seen engine was spotted there would be quite a bit of excitement.As we grew a bit older, the steam engines were being replaced firstly with diesels and then with electric engines and it did not seem nearly so glamorous.By the age of 15 or 16 most lads had given the hobby up. I can't really see what adults find so attractive about electric trains. I suppose it is a bit like bird watching(twitchers,I think they are called)who throng to see rare specimens.

Answer 4

Yes it seems a bit nerdy, I used to trainspot, you could (probably still can) get books listing all the rolling stock / engines etc with their "registration" numbers and its a case of spotting it and marking it down. It was a childhood hobby for me, the trains were more engine and carriage type than the general ones today, and I stoped when I got bored of it and discovered girls :). Some people do take it to the extreme and appear very nerdy but at the end of the day it's a hobby to them, something to do, and it's their interest.

Answer 5

Trainspotting is primaraly about seeing locomotives/MU's, and recording the number you've seen. However, there's another stage where if you "Cab" it (i.e. you've been inside the cab of that loco/MU) you underline it's number.

Ian Allan Publishers used to produce books during the steam age listing there number and photo's of most classes. These aren't produced anymore (as far as I know), but the old ones are available at certain online sites (primaraly Ebay) and book stores.

Not a trainspotter - a steam/green diesel enthusiast

Answer 6

Depends on what a persons interest is, some just like to take photos for other people its an obsession.

The challenge is to see all of a particular class of engine and it gives an excuse to travel all around the country or even the world. The hobby is big business hence the number of publications available just look next time you visit WH Smiths or the like.

This is a complex topic so I hope the very basic above will give you some help.

Answer 7

Can YOU explain what grown men and women do sat is a stadium at weekends watching 22 (or 26 or 30) grown men kick a ball of differing shapes about? There are probably more people interested in railways than follow football.

Answer 8

I'd like to know what your harmless little hobby is although I've little doubt it involves men kicking a ball about badly for enormous sums of money, and a lot of cash being spent on booze and women in the name of enjoyment. I hope a few of them come on here and ask about people like you, giving you an appropriate "tag" of course - well, if you can call them nerds, they can surely find a name for you only I doubt it would be quite so offensive.

Answer 9

As a child my parents devised 'spotting' game to pass time during long car journeys but to actually make a journey and spend time for the specific purpose of spotting trains and noting their numbers must be one of the greatest non-destructive wastes of time that there is. Train spotting does not even have the challenge of bird watching, another hobby that offers no appeal to me.

Answer 10

I'm not a nerd, dear sir.

I simply take interest in heavy machinery (read trains), instead of burly sweaty steroid-pumped men kicking stupid little balls around a grassy field.

Surely once you've seen one football game you've seen them all?

Of course I would never insult anyone else's interests, so I wish you ugly oafs would grant us the same courtesy.