Trainspotters

[Spion]

OK, here goes. It's time to come out (should this be in nobbing and sobbing?) I was a trainspotter. It was when I was between about 9 and 13 and I loved it. Apart from hanging around on the end of platforms, I spent loads of time in the summer holidays travelling around the Midlands (my ma used to get me our of the way by paying for Midland Railrovers - unlimited travel for a week for 3 quid or summat - and the like) and beyond, going to sheds on organised visits or just strolling in, getting rides in cabs, spending time walking around looking at all sorts of old locos that don't exist any more (remember Tommys, anyone?). The variety of classes was quite something back then compared to now too. I travelled from Brum to as far north as York and Liverpool and as far south as Eastleigh (works).

Taking that kind of interest in railways you learnt loads about things and all in all I reckon it was a good way to spend 3 or 4 early years of my life. Back then - this was about 73-77ish - trainspotting didn't have the image it does now. It had been a far more, errr, accepatable activity. You don't see young trainspotters any more - back then you had child molesters, nowadays it's paedophiles and no parent would let their kid do what I did when I was that age. I could get quite nostalgic actually. I must have done thousands of miles thru the industrial hearltlands of pre-Thatcher Britain.

Now, I've got that out of that way. Any questions?

 

[Tom A]

I used to collect train numbers whenever I was near a train line (which was mostly bi-annual visits to my stepdad's parents) between age 13-15, but grew out of that and just appreciate the different designs of train nowadays, not that there is much to appreciate now, bloody Vermin Trains and their Vermin Voyagers, bring back the HSTs and Class 47 + Mk 2s!!!

*and then he went and spoiled it all by asking why that HST is in all-over yellow...*

I think that this is a special Network Rail train, I think it's something to do with testing track worthyness or something. Something to do with Network Rail anyway.

 

[davesgcr]

That yellow thing is called "Dr Yellow" - it measures track quality and stability - runs around the network about once a month.

I used to be paid for taking numbers ...at 0200 hrs - feeding wagon numbers into the computer and allocating trains is not fun I assure you. Novelty soon wears off in -5 degrees in Jan 1981.(-12 one night)

 

[franklin1777]

That yellow thing is called "Dr Yellow" - it measures track quality and stability - runs around the network about once a month.

Yup its the network rail measurement train a modified HST 125 set.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Measurement_Train

I haven't seen it.

Curiously enough it has three power cars, so plenty of train spotting opportunities there.

Check out the buffers on that!

**gets coat**

 

[neonwilderness]

Heh, seems I've outed a few people with this thread

 

[cyberfairy]

I used to collect train numbers whenever I was near a train line (which was mostly bi-annual visits to my stepdad's parents) between age 13-15, but grew out of that and just appreciate the different designs of train nowadays, not that there is much to appreciate now, bloody Vermin Trains and their Vermin Voyagers, bring back the HSTs and Class 47 + Mk 2s!!!

I think that this is a special Network Rail train, I think it's something to do with testing track worthyness or something. Something to do with Network Rail anyway.

Saw a steamtrain at Lancaster station a couple of weeks ago. Twas amazing seeing everyone fall silent, even the hoards of misbehaving teens to stare at it in awe. I think there'sa bit of train spotter in all of us

 

[Tom A]

I saw a steam engine parked outside of Preston a few weeks ago too, might have been the same train

 

[steamtrain]

I guess my handle gives the game away !

 

[pogofish]

I've not seen a trainspotter with a notebook for very long time. Indeed, the last time I was through Crewe on a Saturday morning, the array of hi-tech data, audio, image & video recording gear deployed by the crowd on the end of the platform was truly impressive!

 

[beeboo]

I've not seen a trainspotter with a notebook for very long time. Indeed, the last time I was through Crewe on a Saturday morning, the array of hi-tech data, audio, image & video recording gear deployed by the crowd on the end of the platform was truly impressive!

They're a regular sight at London Bridge. I like to wave at them

 

[Tom A]

I saw a railfan at Lancaster on Friday, I remember him particularly for saying to his fellow railfan "your kettle (slang for steam engine) is coming!". They also announced this train on the tannoy. So I was delighted to see the sight of LNER A4 class Union of South Africa with a second train (which I sadly didn't recall it's number or name, I think it was a Pacific or 4-6-0 of sorts) heading north though Lancaster station!

A fine site to greet me before I caught my (overcrowded) Vermin to head down to my friend's place in Buckinghamshire.