Trainspotting Hide

[richard_e]

Hi everyone,

I'm a third year architecture student looking into designing a trainspotting hide close to or on Ardwick station in Manchester. It is a popular place to watch trains as they come out of Piccadilly Station yet the station itself is run down, overgrown and barely used. I was hoping to get some replies to a few questions I have as part of my inital research, so any responses are very welcome.

1) What do you think would be important in a trainspotting hide? Heating, shelter from rain, shelter from wind, safety, lighting? A kettle, tea bags, milk and two sugars? Somewhere to sit?

2) How close to the train line would be best? A few feet? A few hundred feet? A moveable shelter capable of both distances?

3) Would the use of recycled materials be a concern? Would you find it important that renewable energy is used to power any heating or lighting?

4) Is sound a concern? Would you want train noise amplified, or exterior traffic noise cut out?

5) How big a capacity would you hope for such a hide to have? Would you like a series of one of two-man shelters or a larger one big enough to house ten?

6) Finally, if such a hide existed would you use it?

Thanks very much, Richard.

 

[O L Leigh]

That's a novel idea.

I think the must-have features are a door knocker and mat so that when Plod comes to check out this temporary structure overlooking a major railway station they don't tramp their dirty boots into your little boudoir.

O L Leigh

 

[richard_e]

Thanks O L Leigh.

This is an entirely hypothetical project and any feedback you could give towards what you would find useful in such a structure would be greatly appreciated. The project I am undertaking will eventually become the focus of my degree and over the coming months may end up with a proposed redesign of Ardwick station itself.

The hide would be located close to Ardwick station which is around 2km from Piccadilly along the main lines, so providing planning permission was granted this should not be a security risk. Your post however does raise issues to do with the obvious high security train stations are operating under these days and has led me to thinking this hide should perhaps be transparent so security personel are able to see what's going on inside at all times.

Thanks for your response,
Richard.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

If it was transparent then surely it can't be a hide?!

Perhaps the use of the term 'hide' from birdwatching is perhaps not the right one in this case. Would room be better, or shed?

Incidentally, just south of the yards at Doncaster there is a lake on the east side of the main line, and in the trees on the other side is a bird watching hide. they must jump when a train suddenly appears 'close up' in their binos!!

 

[jopsuk]

Quite- spotters have no need to hide from the trains- the point of a hide is to provide camouflage in some sort of comfort to twitchers etc who want to be able to observe without being noticed.

I guess spotters would be OK with glazed windows, but photters would want something a bit more open.

 

[richard_e]

Thanks Sir Clagalot and jopsuk.

I agree with you about the term 'hide' not being appropriate, as you're right, spotters have no need to hide from the trains!

A shelter then, perhaps, is what will be designed, probably now with openings featuring sliding shutters instead of windows. This will enable the shelter to be closed up when not in use, or when shelter is required, and 'photters' can slide them open to take unobstructed photographs.

Thanks for your responses,
Richard.

 

[Mojo]

Hi Richard,

Although I'd never use such a thing myself, I think good visibility is a must as well as as you suggest not having any glass, to allow people to take photographs.

 

[Shrub Hill]

i think there are a number of considerations, the most basic would be a shelter, preferably with a design that would allow someone to sit out of heavy rain/ wind at worse case scenario, i do not believe that anyone photographing would use it to phot from so would not be too concerned about windows etc,
i would also steer away from any form of electricity/ water supply, firstly you dont want tramps moving in and secondly if there is cost involved some one will have to pay for it and if you start trying to charge you are on to a looser,
if it is to go in a field who owns it? whats the access like? can you park near by? is it safe to park? does the owner mind people on the land at all hours of the day? does he/she want compensating?
from a spotting point of view, what are the views like for photography , would people be interested in using it? how far away is the field from public transport?
there are obviously alot of factors but personally all i would suggest is a glorified bus shelter so if the weather turns nasty you can get out the way.te other consideration is if it was on a station it would just be used by paying public and then the whole idea would be mute anyway
from a design point of view i would stay away from anything clear, it will be covered in pigeon crap within a few months then you have to clean it and in comes expence or it will just look run down and out people off
just my opinions of course

 

[dave12435]

tehy used to have a viewing platform on the line out of Kings cross once i think didnt they

 

[jopsuk]

There's other considerations too- sad as it is, I think such a structure may well turn into a magnet for vandals and vagrants pretty quickly, with it resultantly covered in graffiti and stinking of urine.

It may be better to have it as part of a station complex, maintained by the station and with access controlled through the station.

 

[richard_e]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It is very much appreciated. This project will probably move into a year long scheme based on the conceptual redevelopment of Ardwick station, and it will involve me solving the problems of car parking and vandalism etc. Fortunately I don't have to look into the aspect of planning permission this year which really frees me up to take all of your responses on board.

As always, any more questions, ideas and feedback is welcome. I'll probably be posting my work on these forums every now and then until next May when hopefully a degree will be the reward for my efforts.

Regards, Richard.

 

[arthur maunsell]

something akin to an old signal box would be ideal. Glass all round, elevated with a stove and slap bang on the side of the tracks....(plus a repeater panel from the local power box and a hook-up to TOPS). I suppose a beer-celler and a McD's would be going too far? yeah...so a Fridge and a microwave then.

 

[eos]

Crewe South Junction ex-signal box would be pretty good..

http://railfoto.fotopic.net/p19285818.html

 

[arthur maunsell]

Perfect and has a bomb-proof roof in case anything goes wrong with trainspotter terrorist activity....

 

[SWT Driver]

I take it that this "structure" will be outside of the railways fencing!

If you think that it's appropriate that you build such a thing within the railway fence/boundary then you're very much mistaken.

That will be classed as Trespass.

 

[richard_e]

Hi everyone.

I've pretty much finished my design so I thought I'd share it with you all (images below). It is effectively a brick wall with sliding panels that turn into a roof when easily lifted up and locked into place. It is accessed from a secure car park and not through the station itself, hence should be a much safer and better place to spot trains from.


I took the following into consideration:

- Safety: Rather than create an enclosed space that could be liable to a terrorist attack I have opted for a single wall with shutters that can be elevated into a roof. This way there are no areas where someone could hide anything.

- Security: An enclosed hide could very easily become an attractive place for a homeless person to live. With my proposal there is no shelter from anything except the rain, and there are many more attractive solutions to temporary accomodation loss in the local area, such as under the many railway arches.

- Graffiti: The design is literally 'just' a brick wall, hence any graffiti can easily be painted over (as it has been on many of the nearby station buildings), or even left.

- Weather: The lightweight timber panels can be lifted up and easily locked into position overhead to provide shelter from the rain, and shade from the sun in hot weather.

- Abuse: I read many reports of spotters becoming a target for rail passengers and 'white van men' to hurl abuse at. This shelter is built to the same proportions as a sub station that is located a little further down the line and would hide the spotter from prying eyes.

- Access: The shelter can be accessed from a nearby secure car park.

- Materials: To help it fit in (the second image below should support this) with the local contaxt I have opted for a very red brick. This is cheap, durable and easily made.

- Cost: It would be very cheap to build and maintain, and could be an option for Network Rail to safely accomodate for spotters outside of the major stations where security is a large concern.


Any thoughts? Comments (both positive and negative) are welcome.

Thanks, Richard.

 

[43021HST]

I still like the traditional signal box idea. that shelter looks like something you could easily nick from an disused bus stop.

 

[richard_e]

There is no signal box building on site so whatever shelter I design must be a new installation.