PrincesWinsdor
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As rail enthusiasts, we often hear non rail enthusiasts not understanding why we like trains. But to think the other direction, do we understand why non rail enthusiasts are uninterested in trains? If yes, then why?
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Why don't Other People like Trains?
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Purple Train
Established Member
Because they are not blessed with our Forbidden Knowledge. 
Like signed says, it's mostly because they're a means to an end rather than an end in themselves, but also because I think you have to throw yourself in with both feet before you find all the interesting details that make railways so worthwhile. For instance, when I was in primary school and would take the bus in, I knew buses well enough that I eventually grew to recognise each individual bus by its registration plate, and remember their individual quirks, or their seemingly never-changing state of repair (thanks, Trentbarton). But buses were always a means to an end for me, and so I never developed that interest further (although I do now know my Versa from my Enviro).
Like signed says, it's mostly because they're a means to an end rather than an end in themselves, but also because I think you have to throw yourself in with both feet before you find all the interesting details that make railways so worthwhile. For instance, when I was in primary school and would take the bus in, I knew buses well enough that I eventually grew to recognise each individual bus by its registration plate, and remember their individual quirks, or their seemingly never-changing state of repair (thanks, Trentbarton). But buses were always a means to an end for me, and so I never developed that interest further (although I do now know my Versa from my Enviro).
Sun Chariot
Established Member
Human nature.
Different people are drawn to different subjects / pastimes. Be it, railways (real, or models, or historical research, or SIM virtual), bird watching, collecting stamps / horse brasses / beer mats, fishing, dogging, the restoration / modification of cars, parkour, rock climbing, rambling, sea wreck diving, that overrated thing with a round ball you kick
- the list is long.In each case, I'm sure each person will be able to list plenty of attributes and emotional draws for their hobby. Similarly, people will give valid reasoning why they are not drawn into hobbies that others are passionate about.
And - a person might enjoy a hobby at one stage in their life and then drift away from it all; and, as is my case, drift back again to it, twenty-five years later.
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The other direction that you could look at is what other people like but you don't. For example that could be politics, sport, clothes, music or gardening. Pick one of those that you are not interested in and ask yourself why.
I love cycling. But I am completely disinterested in bicycle models, makes, parts, etc. I've got MTB friends who can talk all day about the latest and greatest hubs/brakes/whatever, but I really don't care. I just want to ride fast around the forests and up the munros.
Similarly with trains, I enjoy travelling by train and often pay a premium to do it instead of driving. I take very little interest in rolling stock though. People I used to work with in the rail industry would say oh I love those class 153s - they feel so much airier and make such a comforting sound, and I'm like yeah ok. I could never be a spotter, but I'd be a basher any day.
It's just the way of life and the way our brains are wired. Some people love cricket, but I can't fathom why.
Similarly with trains, I enjoy travelling by train and often pay a premium to do it instead of driving. I take very little interest in rolling stock though. People I used to work with in the rail industry would say oh I love those class 153s - they feel so much airier and make such a comforting sound, and I'm like yeah ok. I could never be a spotter, but I'd be a basher any day.
It's just the way of life and the way our brains are wired. Some people love cricket, but I can't fathom why.
Lewisham2221
Established Member
For the same reason that some people - inexplicably to me - find enjoyment in watching golf, long distance running, road cycling and formula one. All incredibly boring to me though, no thanks. But we're all different, and that's the brilliant thing.
Trainsphobia
PrincesWinsdor
On Moderation
Good one
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I imagine if people could buy trains just as easily as a car and the railways are like roads where private trains can run freely. Maybe they would buy camper van like trains and laid rails all around the country...
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(My bolding) Er... I've read and heard / seen film of it happening, re some countries whose rail systems are in such a bad way, that nowadays no "proper" trains run on parts, or the whole, of them; but the tracks are there: and individuals or groups thereof, run their own (often human-powered) rail vehicles over sections of them, at their own convenience. It's better than nothing, one reckons; but it's a scene which tends toward the chaotic and sometimes contentious.Good one
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I imagine if people could buy trains just as easily as a car and the railways are like roads where private trains can run freely. Maybe they would buy camper van like trains and laid rails all around the country...
D6130
Established Member
Looking at it from a slightly different angle....many people - encouraged by a generally hostile media - perceive trains to be old-fashioned, dirty, unreliable, unpunctual and very expensive. Most people on here realise that that can sometimes be true....but not to the extent that the media would like us to believe.
If it's any compensation, the people and media in Italy - where I spend half the year - also like to slag-off their railways....except when a new section of high-speed line opens or a major speed record is broken.
If it's any compensation, the people and media in Italy - where I spend half the year - also like to slag-off their railways....except when a new section of high-speed line opens or a major speed record is broken.
PrincesWinsdor
On Moderation
Cars are privately owned, while trains are public transport. People tend to be interested in things they own rather than see.
Sun Chariot
Established Member
I saw this utterly gorgeous Lamborghini Revuelto (1001bhp hybrid) park up next to me - it's the car used by the UK press. I was very interested in it but I definitely don't own it.
Conversely I've no interest in the kitchen appliances I own.
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PrincesWinsdor
On Moderation
You're right, what I meant is that cars are meant to be owned by individuals while trains are not.I saw this utterly gorgeous Lamborghini Revuelto (1001bhp hybrid) park up next to me - it's the car used by the UK press. I was very interested in it but I definitely don't own it.
Conversely I've no interest in the kitchen appliances I own.
Sun Chariot
Established Member
Other than hobbies specifically of collecting items in a theme (examples in my post 4), I am not sure that stance holds true for most of the hobbies I can think of.
Besides modelling, or collecting railway assets, enthusiasts don't own anything physical. Railways can interest people in:
1) tbe history of a line, or railway company, or locomotive or rolling stock, or railway infrastructure, or railway asset.
2) covering specific railway routes (my interst in the 1980s and early 1990s).
3) physical sightings including "ticking off" numbers, getting haulage, or photographs.
4) modelling the railway scene / the trains. Includes SIM, AI.
5) Enjoyment of travelling. My two most memorable railway journeys were on a narrow gauge mountain railway, hauled by vintage steam engines: in South India and the USA Rockies.
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PrincesWinsdor
On Moderation
TBH those 5 reasons are also exactly why I like trains. But then again to most people, trains feel less touchable than cars. Most people use a car everyday. But not everyone live close to a train station.
Sun Chariot
Established Member
Brilliant! Then it's a wonderfully diverse and enjoyable hobby!
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Yes I agree with what you're getting at. However, here's one that made me laugh...
Early 1980s.rail enthusiasts guilty of touching, hugging and even kissing* their beloved locomotive!
* 2-Jan 1982, last service day of class 55 Deltics. I remember seeing a photo of a chap doing that in the railway press. And, far more recently, I saw a YouTube clip of a TV news feature of that moment. I hope the young man washed the grime off his lips afterwards!
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PrincesWinsdor
On Moderation
True love never faltersBrilliant! Then it's a wonderfully diverse and enjoyable hobby!
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Yes I agree with what you're getting at. However, here's one that made me laugh...
Early 1980s.rail enthusiasts guilty of touching, hugging and even kissing* their beloved locomotive!
* 2-Jan 1982, last service day of class 55 Deltics. I remember seeing a photo of a chap doing that in the railway press. And, far more recently, I saw a YouTube clip of a TV news feature of that moment. I hope the young man washed the grime off his lips afterwards!
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Have you seen the video, possibly on the last day of the Deltics, A chap had his head out of one the first drop windows on the off side, seemingly for the whole trip wearing a white crash helmet. There are various shots of him as the journey progresses and he's in every shot.Brilliant! Then it's a wonderfully diverse and enjoyable hobby!
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Yes I agree with what you're getting at. However, here's one that made me laugh...
Early 1980s.rail enthusiasts guilty of touching, hugging and even kissing* their beloved locomotive!
* 2-Jan 1982, last service day of class 55 Deltics. I remember seeing a photo of a chap doing that in the railway press. And, far more recently, I saw a YouTube clip of a TV news feature of that moment. I hope the young man washed the grime off his lips afterwards!
75A
Established Member
I think it's the minority that spoil it for the rest, a bit like football supporters misbehaving or the people that sing Jersusalem at the start of some of England's cricket matches.
I find them boorish and self important, but life goes on.
I think there is a difference between liking trains and liking train journeys. There are several people I know who enjoy travelling by train but couldn't care less about what type of train it is and have no interest in learning. Conversely, there are people that like going to stations and watching trains but don't actually travel on them.
Sun Chariot
Established Member
People and their [non]-interests -- I know, and frankly care, pretty well nothing about sport: this is probably a naive question; but whatever is offensive or ill-behaved about singing Jerusalem at the start of an England -- or any -- cricket match?
Cheshire Rover
Member
Even enthusiasts can be picky. I grew up in an era of loco hauled passenger and freight trains in the 70's and 80's. We called units Bog Units in those days and were derisive of them. To this day I still consider units inferior to locomotives of any type and treat travel on such units as just another trip.
Put a class 40 or 55 up front with a rake of older coaching stock and the trip becomes something to look forward to.
Put a class 40 or 55 up front with a rake of older coaching stock and the trip becomes something to look forward to.
You almost perfectly describe me, up until you final and third last sentence!
I really couldn’t care less about trains. Nor could I spend all day travelling around on trains for ‘fun’. I can’t understand why some people get so excited about trains, or riding certain lines just to say they’ve done it, but happy for them to do so.
But I do love cricket
DelW
Established Member
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(My bold) - a bit of a diversion, but that's done officially at the first day of many (all?) home test matches. There's even a regular professional singer who does so - this is a bit of an old link, but I think the same lady still does it now.
Leeds, UK. 25th Aug, 2017. Laura Wright singing Jerusalem as the umpires and players take the field at the start of the second Investec Test Match between England and West Indies at Headingley Cricket Ground. Credit: Colin Edwards/Alamy Live News Sto
Download this stock image: Leeds, UK. 25th Aug, 2017. Laura Wright singing Jerusalem as the umpires and players take the field at the start of the second Investec Test Match between England and West Indies at Headingley Cricket Ground. Credit: Colin Edwards/Alamy Live News - K194ME from Alamy's...
www.alamy.com
You may be surprised at how many people on this forum are not really "rail enthusiasts" (depending on how you define the term, which may be a struggle in itself); furthermore, many people who are interested in railways, or simply travelling by rail, are not interested in trains.
And similarly, some people like cars but are not interested in roads, others are interested in roads but not cars. Some people like travelling by any mode of transport; some like travelling by car but are not actually interested in cars, and ... well, you get the idea!
Another example is that I am a keen cyclist, but don't really know much about bikes, and I would rather my bike looked bland to reduce the chance of it being nicked.
I suspect the proportion of people interested in cars (and other transport modes, to a lesser extent) is a lot higher than 1% though, e.g. when I took a group of teenagers to a football match and several of them wanted the front top deck seats on the bus to look out for interesting cars along the way, and similarly when a similar group was having a tour of Kirkstall Abbey, several of them were interested in the planes flying over to land at Leeds Bradford Airport (as @stuartmoss can testify!)
DM352
Member
When I grew up years ago being interested in aspects of railways it was seen as being "odd" by one of my parents who had common interests like sport where the other parent had an interest in railways. Many years later I say to that parent who never got it that I rode train type xyz as it had this significance and just get a blank look!
All I can say is now as a parent myself if my kids had an interest in something less common, I would make an effort to at least understand it to connect as we are all wired differently.
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