Curious

[John]

I am a career railwayman just coming to 40 years in the industry. My private interests is railway photography. I my early days as a youngster I used to go trainspotting etc. In my current role and this country 'terrorist' climate, I think trainspotters, bashers, nerds, anoraks or whatever is the correct terminology for such entusiasts is vital in the belief that such people will notice the oddities and hopefully report any form of stupidity of activity etc.

Having spent some hours photographing recently at 'serious' trainspotter locations and mingling with such enthusiasts, I am curious to know (NOT knocking it) why there is such interest in collecting freight wagon numbers - can understand the interest in freight working patterns and seeing, as I did, a 31 at Water Orton this week and DRS 66 at York etc...............but just curious as to what the attraction is?

I am also fascinated to see some lads a couple weeks ago embracing modern technolgy in the pursuit of their interests - blackberrys, etc etc - how it has moved on since my days of Ian Allan combined volumes........................

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Its much the same as coaches or Locos, or even track machinery, its just harder in my opinion.

As for PDAs:

I remember a few years ago, when Virgin still had Mk2s, I had missed a few coaches in a rake and this helpful chap got his PDA out and read the list of coaches out, as he had compiled a list of every rake.

Spoils the fun a bit for me.

 

[djw1981]

The pda or mobile can also be used to post gen of unusual workings to internet lists / fora, which can then be passed on by text to other people who will then know that a train is delayed, running early etc, or even in the case of royal train etc that it is running at all.