Are the Railways becoming boring???

[Phoenix]

Recently it has been said that Britain does not Build Trainspotters anymore now that loco hauled services are nearly all being replaced by Units and that freight is being domiated by only a handfull of classes.
But honestly has it become boring or are we just diggin our heel's in the ground due to the fact our beloved loco's of which we have spent much of our lives in the company of are bowing out of service mainly due to their age.

So basically what I ask is that has the railways become boring or are we just in a transitional period of a new age of the train???????????

 

[33056]

Well....IMO, UK railways became boring several years ago though I still take a bit of an interest when not whizzing off to Europe.

 

[mrcheek]

trainspotting is no fun now that we have mostly DMUs or EMUs on the network.
However, travelling by train for lesiure will always be fun.

 

[Gizmogle]

I think there's still going to be a new generation of railway enthusiasts. Take the Freds for example. Unit neds till the end

 

[EE Type 3]

I think there's still going to be a new generation of railway enthusiasts. Take the Freds for example. Unit neds till the end

I'll always have an interest, aslong as theres still trains running. For me photography is becoming more popular, alot of colourful trains aswell as the heritage ones, make for some interesting pictures. As for bashers, theres still railtours, the odd service trains, and preserved lines. If anyone told me that they thought the railways were boring these days, I'd tell them to open their eyes!!

Although it's alot different to how I remember it while growing up, but as much as I wouldn't like to admit it, it is (very slowly!) changing for the better.

Dave

 

[Broken Viking]

Hail all!
Personally, I've only really been a rail enthusiast for the last 6-9 months or so, but I still reckon that things were much better and more fun back in BR days. 8)

On the other hand, I've never been particularly enthralled by railways in the UK as they've always been a little on the slow side for my liking. If the speed limits on the ECML and the WCML were increased to 350mph and 275mph respectively, though?... hock:

Farewell...
>> Death <<

 

[AlexS]

No the railways have not become boring.

I've never been a traction vegetable and for me it's the going places and general atmosphere that does it.

I'll happy bounce along in a Pacer provided there's some stunning scenery available to make it worthwhile.

I'm not adverse to going for a trip on a HST or a LHCS set but it's not the be all and end all for me. There's something that's just nice about standing on a busy station platform in the dark with the signals glowing and the trains rattling around.

My main interest is however at the moment signalling and while the mechanical signalling is slowly fading away, what's left at locations like Shrewsbury, Worcester and especially Barnetby is well worth seeing.

 

[Mr Alex]

They have come a bit 'sameish' in the case that theres not a lot of variety locomotive wise on freight, and yet if you do want variety and interest then you have to travel a long way to see it.
I woudn't say its becoming 'boring' but seeing the same things over and over again does get annoying and sometimes you question yourself 'Why am I even into this hobby-if you can call it that'
Im now trying to expand my interest by taking an interest in Foreign freight and motive power.
But don't get me wrong, there are some great hotspots in Britain for seeing a different variety and traffic (And I still make the effort to visit them) but it seems a shame that after all these years, various obstacle stand in our way, for example stop and search, as well as unwelcome staff at stations; let alone the traction front... it is starting to put me off
So to be honest, its a mixed bag regarding railways today in the sence of interest and variety as well as safety and security

 

[Phoenix]

I think that the railways are definatly going through a rapid change that seems to get faster every month and we see alot more classes being withdrawn but the main fact is each class is being replaced so it is just a case of out with the old and in with the new.
Although a perfect example is the class 20 which still see regular usage although the class were the first handed over by the BR modernisation act.
And yes spotting has become somewhat boring as really class 66's 67's and 60's seem to be the mainstay but really when you take a deeper look the classes we still have are


class 20
class 31
class 37
class 47
class 56
class 57
class 59
class 60
class 66
class 67
class 73
class 86
class 87 (just one though)
class 90
class 91
class 92

 

[Metroland]

No the railways have not become boring.

I've never been a traction vegetable and for me it's the going places and general atmosphere that does it.

I'll happy bounce along in a Pacer provided there's some stunning scenery available to make it worthwhile.

I'm not adverse to going for a trip on a HST or a LHCS set but it's not the be all and end all for me. There's something that's just nice about standing on a busy station platform in the dark with the signals glowing and the trains rattling around.

My main interest is however at the moment signalling and while the mechanical signalling is slowly fading away, what's left at locations like Shrewsbury, Worcester and especially Barnetby is well worth seeing.

Well said, and I totally concur. I've always thought the railways were more than about 'trains', and it's worth looking at other areas. Failing that there's history and the preserved scene or Europe and the US, modelling, photography and so on. Boring? never.

 

[P156KWJ]

I think that the railways are definatly going through a rapid change that seems to get faster every month and we see alot more classes being withdrawn but the main fact is each class is being replaced so it is just a case of out with the old and in with the new.
Although a perfect example is the class 20 which still see regular usage although the class were the first handed over by the BR modernisation act.
And yes spotting has become somewhat boring as really class 66's 67's and 60's seem to be the mainstay but really when you take a deeper look the classes we still have are


class 20
class 31
class 37
class 47
class 56
class 57
class 59
class 60
class 66
class 67
class 73
class 86
class 87 (just one though)
class 90
class 92

true, true. To be pedantic we also still ahve a class 101 and 117 on the mainline, even if they are not at all what they were originally!

 

[O L Leigh]

When were the Cl91's withdrawn...?

O L Leigh

 

[devon_metro]

I don't spot, I phot. A fine difference

 

[P156KWJ]

When were the Cl91's withdrawn...?

O L Leigh

yesterday - didn't you hear?

 

[D306]

class 20
class 31
class 37
class 47
class 56
class 57
class 59
class 60
class 66
class 67
class 73
class 86
class 87 (just one though)
class 90
class 92

class 40 (40145)

 

[P156KWJ]

there's 2 class 50s too aren't there?

 

[NSEFAN]

I thought there were a couple of class 08/09 shunters too?

 

[P156KWJ]

a couple?! more like a couple of hundred

 

[AlexS]

Just goes to prove that I'm right - the OP's question should have been "Are the trains becoming boring???"

In which case there might have been a resounding yes.

Too many people look no further than beyond what's on the front of a train.

 

[EE Type 3]

I don't spot, I phot. A fine difference

A fine one indeed

 

[16CSVT2700]

I wouldn't count Class 40s or 50s because they are preserved and are not out in regular service.
There are three mainline registered 50s, 031, to return 044 and 049.

 

[rail-britain]

I lost interest when the ScotRail fleet was decimated and replaced by Class 158s
I did however keep a general interest, but disposed of all my records, photos, and collections
It wasn't until a trip to Penzance in 1999 when I noticed some new locos (Class 66s) which created some interest
I now keep some basic records of Class 390s I have travelled on, but that's about it

Sadly I have just started working for First Group and have started bringing myself back up to speed on the fleet they have (both bus and rail)

 

[Techniquest]

The railways aren't boring, most definately not.

I've only been a spotter proper since 21st February 2004, my hand then turned to bashing, then mileage and now even doing stuff for the year. Of course, I do photography as well but not as a standalone hobby.

The scene is ever changing, never getting stale which is good. It's also a helluva lot more colourful than it used to be which makes for interesting photos.

We might just have 66s and 60s on freights these days (primarily), but they do the job just fine and it's more important they run freight than having constantly failing locos with freight never getting there.

AlexS has a good point, just watching the world go by at a busy station in the dark (so long as it's not cold!) can be quite fun. You see so much of life going to and fro, plus of course you've got all the trains going by, it's great.

If you're not enjoying the hobby as it is, have a look at what you're doing and see if there's another aspect you've not tried before.

As for the OP's question:

No. This is my era and I damn well enjoy it.

 

[me123]

I don't see why the railways have to become boring. Sure, the class 37, deltics, kettles and so on are vanishing, but there are still trains out there, and modern trains coming all the time. At the moment, there really is something for everyone.

Also, nowadays, new trains provide new higher speeds and new experiences; enough to get even the common traveller's heart racing; and hopefully new trains yet to come (such as HST2/ICE) will provide the kind of service that Virgin hoped to provide with the Pendolino- with as few flaws as is possible.

I know we're stuck with arguably the least railway-friendly government out there and haven't really advanced in a long time, but hopefully a new revelation will come in the near future to bring us closer to Europe (although just ever so slightly).

Hopefully all the future plans will generate a new breed of enthusiasts and maybe even bring some of the old, kettle loving spotters back. I doubt it, but you never know

But to me they're not boring. The speeds, tilt on the WCML, the daft legislation, and the whole experience keep me entertained

 

[Jim]

I think I was quite lucky in a way, to be where I am and born when I was. I mean, Weymouth every Saturday in my first years, behind 37's!

When they finished, it was on to Tin Rockets not so often, until 2001(?) when 31's returned. Back to Weymouth again regularly. Once they had finished, it was nearly time for the MTU'tion on FGW to begin. Let us not forget I also used to go up the Valleys regularly in the last year, to get the tractor miles in!

Then, when it came to going out on my own, It was time to start getting the Valentas in. Two summers of Valenta bashing in the South West led me on to the end of FGW's fleet - then, in MAy XC revived them - lets go again!

I turned 16 yesterday, and the last XC Valenta was finished up just before that - and being the Valenta crank that I was, and being locally based as much as posiable, the end of what I see 'real' in the WEst Country, has finished, so there is now a need to travel further afield than I have done before.

All in all - I think in terms of 'the end of the last REAL things' I did quite well.

And to answer the question, I think the railways are slowley becoming boring, certainally in the West Country where soon EVERYTHING will look near enough the same, so in terms of photography, not very interesting. However, in places like EMT, there is still a lot of photogenic things due to the amount of different liveries left, just look at the 158's!

 

[Mojo]

I personally think our railways are going through a really exciting time because of political and social factors. With potential plans to have a modern and clean fleet of trains, including high-speed routes, better stations and an expanded network promoted by both the industry, developers and Local Government; I think the future is very bright and that any government policy to cut funding for rail services will be short-lived.

Especially in Urban areas things are really looking forward and could be testing innovative solutions to the perennial city traffic congestion problem be that heavy rail, light rail or Ultra Light Rail.

 

[Phoenix]

I wouldn't count Class 40s or 50s because they are preserved and are not out in regular service.
There are three mainline registered 50s, 031, to return 044 and 049.

Thats why I didn't put them on the list as they only work railtours.
I know there are a few times when they have broken the mould but that was considered rare so I still don't consider them as current working mainline traction.

 

[jv3531]

I don't think they are boring, its because as I see it we become acustomed to the "way we were". The country its self in my opinion has never been one for liking change but its enevitable. All good things at some point or another in their lifespan do come to some sort of an end, some more untimely than others.

The same was said at the end of steam and when electric was introduced! One thing that has to be said is that once again as in steam days we do have a variety of liveries, ok not all of them good but there are variations. There are also different locos out there its just that some are harder to find than others. At least now we can say "Oooh - a 37!" - instead of "Oh - a 37 and I already got it"! Of which of course does apply to the other rarer classes.

Unfortunatly unless someone out there has vast amounts of cash to buy and convert the older types to mainline standards then Sheds, freds, dreds and other GM builds are likely to become the norm, as with the units - a standard unit compatible with all is more likely to stand than 30 different none of which work together.

I think its a case of for those of us who can to make the most of what is there, and be grateful to those who keep them running that they are!

 

[Phoenix]

Just goes to prove that I'm right - the OP's question should have been "Are the trains becoming boring???"

In which case there might have been a resounding yes.

Too many people look no further than beyond what's on the front of a train.

I thought putting the railways would give the post alot more to it.

 

[EE Type 3]

The railways are expanding again, Beeching eat your heart out. New lines being opened (Alloa springs to mind) increased line speeds (135mph on the WCML soon!) new Railfrieght parks being opened (Telford's terminal coming along nicely :grin and newer, faster trains soon to arrive (395s for example)

You just need to know where to look. 8)