Train Spotting in the UK
 

I've a rail buff and i've been all over the world on trains but i've never seen the British phenomenon of train spotting except in the UK. A train spotter is someone who records the headcode, the number on the front of the train unique to each train, seeking to record the most different ones he can see. Thus you see train spotters at hectic junction stations where the most different types of trains may come by. A train spotter often has a thermos of coffee (? or maybe something else)at their side, a notebook in hand (now perhaps replaced by a cam corder) and stands at the ends of the platforms. Like i say i'm a rail buff and may want to see various types of trains and have sat at the ends of platforms at places like London Bridge or Clapham Junction and watched trains, but i can't comprehend the interest in the head codes, though maybe the type of train excites them too? In that case it would be like bird spotting. I've read letters from train spotters in En Train, a UK rail mag, and many are ejaculatory about seeing some rare breed of freight loco at some place and also list the exact times certain rare finds are scheduled to go through certain stations. Any train spotters out there - is there something i've been missing.
The following are train-spotting hot spots i've seen: Clapham Junction, where many south London lines converge, including trains from Victoria, Charing X, London Bridge and Kent and Waterloo roll by; this station has about two zillion platforms and bills itself with a sign proclaiming that it's the UK's busiest rail station. London Bridge station also has many lines going through. The National Rail Museum in York has a special platform now for train spotters; Crewe ("switch at Crewe") used to be a popular comedy saying from the days no matter where you were going the West Country you had to change at Crewe is another mecca. But you'll see train spotters standly forlornly at even the tiniest stations. There must be train spotting groups, i wonder what the record is for trains spotted?

if there were groups, it would be in opposition to the way i see them "work" at clapham...they are all doing the same thing but i never see them talking to one another...always standing at least 10 feet apart. weird.

i enjoy spotting the spotters when rolling through clapham and always point them out if i have guests from outside the UK...they always have a laugh.

I am not a UK trainspotter, but I have always had interest in spotting all kinds of transport - buses, trains, planes, ferries, etc...

And I have to say that there's something unique about UK trains, though I cannot say what. After a 10-day visit to England and Scotland in 2000 using a railpass, I came home and was addicted to the Railway magazine for like 2-3 years. I'd go to Borders and read through most of the articles.

I mean, trains in the UK are far from the most advanced - and many of them always look very dirty on the outside. Especially the Type 43 HST that was the common type I traveled on during that trip. But just something magically about them that makes them so "addictive".

walkinaround: yes now that i think of it they seem to solitary creatures and 'work' is right in how seriously they scan the incoming trains. I'm not passing judgment, whatever thrills someone but can someone who spots trains explain that thrill?

pal,
i agree, not meaning to put anyone down for their hobby which is quite harmless (and extra eyes and ears around the train stations may prove useful one day).

i cannot explain the thrill, as i do not partake other than to casually take an interest in all forms of transport. i still miss my office building shaking to its foundation at 10:50 every morning as BA flight 001 to NY (concord) roared overhead.

is this even legal anymore? I wonder if someone might not think you are a terrorist casing the trains?

Possible, I suppose, but a terrorist would probably not be ticking off numbers in a list (they're hardly bothered about which train they might attack). Unless of course that was a cunning disguise.

Though I don't understand why anyone would want to 'spot' identikit modern trains, when I was a lad (how I've always wanted to say that) there was a thrill about the more glamorous of the great steam locomotives. I once saw 'King George V' and 'King George VI' with the great brass bell steaming out of Paddington at the same time.