A passion for Railways across generations.

[Nick279]

Its funny how this passion has developed, being of an older generation, the steam generation, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of children still coming into the hobby. I was at the ELRs Thomas weekend earlier today and it was great to see young children, with an obvious passion, enoying a family day out, its the same at special events of course, which i suppose gives us some hope as to who is going to take over the preservation centres in generations to come, the growth in these places still seems ongoing but I expect it will come to a peak at some point? Sites like this too, although they appear to be orientated towards the younger end, even an old coot like me can find a niche. I expect one of the reasons for this, is that with us older ones, its down to the fact that we were a non-computer generation and some have chosen to stay that way. In the 50s nearly every young kid was a trainspotter, BR encouraged the hobby and gave away free spotting books, comics were filled with information about railways and every young lad wanted to be a train driver, times change of course, but still its lovely to see the interest is still alive.

 

[me123]

I always say that I'm amazed to see so many yound people having some interest in trains, given that most trainspotters are old bearded men wearing anoraks (at least up here, anyway). As you say Nick, back long ago everyone was a trainspotter, even my old clarinet teacher (female!).

I think the slight decline in popularity is the stigma assosciated with trainspotters and rail enthusiasts. Where I live, trainspotters are subject to a lot of ridicule because their hobby is "sad" in the opinion of others. (Whether it's any sadder than kicking a ball around is a different question). Young kids have no perception of stigma and will do it but when they grow up and lose their innocense, they'll probably realise that many view the hobby as being obscure and that people will ridicule them for doing it, and thus many will give it up. I believe this is less of a problem in England.

From what I've read, it seems that a lot of people "inherit" the interest from their parents/grandparents, whilst some like myself have just taken an interest in the railways.

It is an unusual interest compared to most, but I think it should be allowed to flourish. The trains themselves may be less impressive now than they were back in the 1950s, but there is still a place in this railway-centric country for rail enthusiasm. In fact, you'd probably find that most people do find trains fascinating to some extent, but won't admit it.

 

[mrcheek]

My father loves steam railways, but I have no interest. I just love rail travel in general, so we have similar tastes if not identical!

 

[Metroland]

I always say that I'm amazed to see so many yound people having some interest in trains, given that most trainspotters are old bearded men wearing anoraks (at least up here, anyway)..

I'd venture to say, most enthusiasts don't spot. None I know anyway. I kinda object to if you like trains, you automatically spot. In my experience, most enthusiasts like all sorts of transport as well, not just trains, and probably don't spot any. They like machines, it tend to be a blokes thing, but more women the better too.

I really don't see why having a liking for a particular sort of (or any) transport is sad. After all, without transport civilisation would be over in a week.

Most of us probably have other interests are well, as a spin off from rail enthusiasm: Such as reading, model making, photography, geography, engineering, walking, travelling, architecture, history, commerce. In short its so much more than numbers, which is probably why the general population does think it's a bit dull if it's sold to them as that. If taking numbers is your thing, that's great. But there really is so much more to it, and I do wish enthusiasts would drive home this point. It's like saying car enthusiasts take number plates, and we know that's not the case.

I think the other myth is young people don't like steam. I run a company that makes computer games, and we're all under 35 and love steam to bits.

Like you, I'm glad to see people of all ages interested, but I'm not surprised, especially as young people get a bad press which isn't deserved. In fact, they volunteer more than any other age group generally, a little know fact. It may be surprising to some, but many are interested in learning and politics too.

It short, we really shouldn't be surprised that Daily Mail stereotypes are false. Besides I don't see why we should pander to them, our interest is no less valid than anyone's else's, and anyone that says it is should prove it. Who sets all this ****, advertising agencies to flog stuff to a fickle and gullible public?

 

[me123]

I'd venture to say, most enthusiasts don't spot. None I know anyway. I kinda object to if you like trains, you automatically spot. In my experience, most enthusiasts like all sorts of transport as well, not just trains, and probably don't spot any. They like machines, it tend to be a blokes thing, but more women the better too.

I really don't see why having a liking for a particular sort of (or any) transport is sad. After all, without transport civilisation would be over in a week.

Most of us probably have other interests are well, as a spin off from rail enthusiasm: Such as reading, model making, photography, geography, engineering, walking, travelling, architecture, history, commerce. In short its so much more than numbers, which is probably why the general population does think it's a bit dull if it's sold to them as that. If taking numbers is your thing, that's great. But there really is so much more to it, and I do wish enthusiasts would drive home this point. It's like saying car enthusiasts take number plates, and we know that's not the case.

I fully agree, but a large number of people I know claim that all enthusiasts are trainspotters, and that is the general media perception. You never hear about them slagging off any other types of enthusiasts, do you?

TBH, I don't spot either. I think it's not something I'd particularly enjoy, although I've never tried.

I think a lot of people also see it a different way. Regular travellers and commuters probably don't care about the trains, they just jump on them and back off again twice a day, monday to friday, 52 weeks a year. It's routine to them. Perhaps someone who revels in this routine is seen as being "odd" to them. I would imagine that a toaster enthusiast may seem a bit odd to anyone. (In that a toaster is a routine fixture in our lives).

I fully agree that people in general aren't open minded when it comes to what is now classed an "obscure" interest, and that's the reason I keep it quiet that I am a railway enthusiast. I don't condone the general opinion, but it is there.

Like I said before, living in Scotland is much different. We do have a fantastic railway scene up here, but in my experience enthusiasts don't get as much respect from the public as they do south of the border. And I would imagine that as a result, more enthusiasts are based in England.

PS; I'm 17 and I don't like steam

 

[Metroland]

Well the general media perception is being interested in railways (actually I object to trains, because it’s more than just trains) is about standing on the end of Crewe platform taking numbers. And, I would suggest, that’s possibly the reason why anything connected to Rail enthusiasm gets stick because it’s being interested in things that just don’t really matter. IE taking numbers. I think we need to promote our hobby better, especially as so many useful skills can be learned on preserved railways.

 

[Tom B]

Actually, by the end of secondary school, people knew I was interested in the railways and accepted that in a way - because they saw something useful. For example, a friend going to some far flung corner of the country for a uni interview would ask about ticketing (saving themselves money), which was the best route, etc. Living in Doncaster, of course, means lots of people are aware about the railways - the town wouldn't be what it is today without them.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

What I've alwasy wondered is 29 years later when I'm 50, will steam trains still be in preservation.

Altough I'm not a steam veg it will be sad to see a point when coal runs out dry and years after that when diesel runs dry

 

[Metroland]

The beauty of steam is it's simple and can run on anything. Many were converted to run on oil years ago during coal shortages. Meanwhile I can never see a Pendolino preserved (or most modern trains) with its 200 computers and complex irreplaceable electronics preserved and running (unfortunately). Maybe one stuffed and mounted somewhere. Presently steam pulls in the punters better than diesel traction as it's now more unusual and not an every day sight. The commercial case for a all diesel (especially modern MU) railway is far from proven, given than modern trains run between bus shelter un-manned stations with 'industrial' looking fixtures and fittings.

The irony is the country is richer that ever before, but I dare say we could never afford to erect a station these days with the beauty of St Pancras from scratch. I think that's why as time goes on I'm becoming more interested in steam, even though I was never about when it was running in service as well as modern.

 

[Snapper]

Coal is projected to last far longer than oil, besides steam engines can run on anything.

Hardly - you try firing one with a tender full of crap coal! Especially a GWR example.

 

[Metroland]

I'm not sure I see your point as crap coal was never mentioned.