Trainspotting

[Diggedy Derek]

At Hornsey railway station this morning, I saw some real, actual trainspotters doing their thing. I must say, I instantly felt an enormous welling up of fondness for them- their undivided fascination for the transport and the linkages of the modern city, and their intense wonder at human transportation (which I find quite understandable). Whereas a wander around much of London has the ambience of decay and anomie, with teenagers hanging about with sadly little to do, the way these guys find inspiration and positivity in man plus machine I think is wholly cool and really heartening.

A second thought occurs, however. It's really easy to be a trainspotter music-wise, all you need is to surf a few blogs and order online. But real, actual, literal trainspotting- that's true hardcore, innit?

 

[benjybars]

totally agree..


there's always a few doing their thing at London Bridge, WAY down at the end of the platform!

 

[Rambler]

Always see a few at Reading too, but Crewe is the real spot. Always loads at the end of the platform there, even in the freezing cold. Hardcore!

 

[john eden]

Yeah Crewe is the one - perhaps we should start an entirely new "trainspotter spotter" subculture!

 

[Lichen]

Willesden Junction is a mecca for them. Swindon is hot too,

 

[STN]

Let's not forget Didcot Parkway.

 

[Edward]

I met a father and son planespotting duo in a scandinavian airport.

They each had a book containing the registration number of every aeroplane in service this year in the world and they were ticking them off.

I think they were very surprised that I was interested in what they were doing and why, and that I wasn't taking the piss out of them....

 

[gabriel]

Let's not forget Didcot Parkway.

my dad was brought up near didcot and was an avid trainspotter in his teens, back in the 50s when it was a cool thing to do (and the trains were actually exciting)

 

[don_quixote]

crewe station is incredible

 

[STN]

my dad was brought up near didcot and was an avid trainspotter in his teens, back in the 50s when it was a cool thing to do (and the trains were actually exciting)

Which town/village. I used to work round there.

Was trainspotting ever cool? My dad never did it, which suggests it probably was quite cool.

 

[gabriel]

Which town/village. I used to work round there.

Was trainspotting ever cool? My dad never did it, which suggests it probably was quite cool.

abingdon, and maybe somewhere a bit more in the countryside as well. i don't really know if it was Cool back then, but i can kind of imagine it being so, like being into cars is Cool for some kids now