Time to start Spotting again

[Tulyar]

After a 30 year break I've decided to get out there again.

I renewed my interest in the railways about 10 years ago been to a few diesel gala's etc etc but haven't spent a day on the platform in decades.

Silly question, is it still allowed, the way things are these days with H&S and Security in general someone will have an issue no doubt.

I'm going to start off with a day at Reading where I spent so many happy days as a kid/youth. Obviously there will be no 50's, 31's 46's 40's and I'm not expecting to see too many 47's, 37's, 56's if any.

I'll probably be disappointed with a load of different Multiple Unit's, it was all about the Loco's for me as a kid, EMU/DMU's never really did it for me.

Over the past 10 years I've become used to seeing 66's (the 47's of their generation) and don't dislike them or any of the other new diesels on the main line but they just don't resonate with me as the old diesels do.

Part of me feels I have this urge because maybe I want my youth back, don't get me wrong I'm still fit and healthy and nowhere near the knackers yard yet the other part of me knows how much I enjoyed touring the country collecting numbers visiting TMD's, open days, cab rides etc etc.

I can still smell SF OC FP WN which were visited most weekends.

 

[krus_aragon]

Definitely still allowed, as long as you're sensible about it. For a start, there's the guidance given by Network Rail for spotters is aimed at photographers, but much of it is relevant for spotters in general.

 

[Condor7]

I was very much like you a good few years back. My marriage had ended, I took early retirement and moved to the Eden Valley in Cumbria an area I had always loved. I had never lost my love of trains but marriage, kids, work, etc had ensured I lived a busy life, so my interest was confined to a railway magazine once a month and it had been a long time since I set foot on a platform just to watch trains.

Now though I had time to do things I wanted and one day finding myself in Carlisle with time on my hands I walked onto the station bought myself a coffee and took in the atmosphere. All those wonderful memories came flooding back and I was hooked. I immediately bought myself a spotters book and notebook and have never looked back.

Spotting is still allowed on all stations if you are sensible, some of the larger stations require either a platform ticket or permission from the station managers office, which is usually given as a formality.

A lot of what we now call heritage locos can be seen quite frequently so many of your favourites will still turn up from time to time. Some of the new locos such as the 68’s or 88’s look terrific and I have even grown to love the 66’s especially now with the variety of different liveries.

Don’t write off the multiple units either. Remember when HST’s were everywhere lots hated them, now most love them, plus many of the new designs are very attractive. I personally love the look of the Pendolinos.

Anyway whatever does it for you I wish you all the best.