Train talk

[Pip]

Forgot to add  -  maybe I'd be best left to sit alone !    [+o(]

[Alcazar]

[quote user="KatieKopyKat"]Regarding trainspotting,  how does it work?  Do you take the number of all the trains that you see or something?[/quote]

Apparently "invented" as a hobby by one Ian Allen in the late '40's, round about when "British Railways" came into being, and diesels were but a distant dream.

Each loco carried a unique cabside number. All you did was note the ones you'd seen, then underline them in the books of number lists that...........wait for it...............Ian Allen [:D] published.

In those days, locos were still very regional, still were, right up to 1970 or so, and therefore it was a great day if you spotted one from far away, maybe on an excursion or something. A day out to a distant place was something to be dreamed about for weeks before you went! And we always went by train, of course.

The hobby had it's slang, (to sneak round an engine shed without permission was called "bunking the shed", and carried a possible penalty of a fine, but more likely a kicked behind from the shed foreman if you were caught).

It also had it's insults[:D] A "cribber" was a spotter who underlined stuff he hadn't seen, and a "summeronly" was a spotter who only went in fair weather! To use either insult to anyone but a good friend meant instant fisticuffs, usually resuting in being thrown off the platform.

I still remember HORDES of spotters on the ends of platforms at Doncaster, (our local mecca), Crewe, the London stations, etc, and almost every station carried a chalked notice: "Trainspotters are not allowed on the platforms unless in possession of a valid ticket for travel". It was widely ignored. We couldn't afford the tickets, the station staff had little time to check, so long as no rowdyism erupted, and the transport police were notable for their absence..........a bit like now, really[:D]

Regards, Alcazar

[Llantony]

But do they have mobile phone free carriages?  And if so do people take any notice?  (They don't in the UK)  I seldom travel by train but used to look forward to it as a bit of peace and a chance to read, now it's spoiled by people yelling into their phones all the time.

Re talking to people, I love meeting people on trains & planes.  I realised I was getting old when I said to my son 'I met a really interesting man on the train - he worked for Sky Movies' and son said pityingly 'Mother, when did you start talking to strangers on trains?'

PS has anyone tried going by train from Toulouse to Barcelona?  I've a feeling you have to book as they get very busy/

Maz

 

[Russethouse]

The sun would be setting at that time.  It was a long journey in the 70's casting a red hues for as far as I could see.  In London the block of flats next door used to spoil that sight every night.

My nan and grandpa (welsh speaking) used to meet us at the little station.  We used to walk along a little woooden bridge, up a steep path to the end terraced house on top of the hill.  The views were incredible.  He used to wrap me up in a welsh shawl and carry me around the garden sharing strawberries...... sorry going on a bit.

Anyway that's why I like trains.  They take you somewhere nice

Reminded me of the Railway Children ...............sweet ![:)]

[Alcazar]

[quote user="Llantony"]

But do they have mobile phone free carriages?  And if so do people take any notice?  (They don't in the UK)  I seldom travel by train but used to look forward to it as a bit of peace and a chance to read, now it's spoiled by people yelling into their phones all the time.

Maz

 

[/quote]

They do on GNER in this country, but I'm not sure about France.

A friend went to London recently on GNER, sat in a Mobile-free carriage, and was annoyed when a lady used one for almost the whole journey.

When he finally approached her about it, guess who she worked for? Only GNER!

He wrote to complain, and received a free first class return to London, for his trouble.

Alcazar

[Just Katie]

I can understand what Alcazar is saying when he questions golf and fishermen.  Also I get a little bit tantrummy when I have played golf.  I don't understand how people can say it is relaxing.  Fishing... I quite like getting dragged along on fishing outings.  Your vision changes and after a while you can easily see below the water for quite a distance.  It is like as if the water comes out to meet you.  But I don't get train spotting.

As I have said I love trains in fact I get birthday cards with trains on.  But what I would like to know is what do you do with all the numbers?  Oh, and how do you find out if someone is fibbing?  Please will someone sell this sport to me?

[Alcazar]

[quote user="KatieKopyKat"]

I can understand what Alcazar is saying when he questions golf and fishermen.  Also I get a little bit tantrummy when I have played golf.  I don't understand how people can say it is relaxing.  Fishing... I quite like getting dragged along on fishing outings.  Your vision changes and after a while you can easily see below the water for quite a distance.  It is like as if the water comes out to meet you.  But I don't get train spotting.

As I have said I love trains in fact I get birthday cards with trains on.  But what I would like to know is what do you do with all the numbers?  Oh, and how do you find out if someone is fibbing?  Please will someone sell this sport to me?

[/quote]

Sport??? LOL, it's not a sport Katie, it's a hobby, a calling, a passion.[:-))]

The numbers are noted in little notebooks on the days out, then, when you're back home, you look each up in your published book, and, if not seen before, underline it. That's called a "cop". If you've seen it before, you've not copped it. Simple. Some modern spotters use dictaphones to note numbers, and yes, I've seen people noting WAGON numbers off long trains.  Even wagon numbers are published with where they normally stay, etc all in the book. Modern spotters are equipped with binoculars, for distances, and even high-powered halogen torches to carry on in the dark.

When I was REALLY interested, I went on a day excursion to the Isle of Wight, just to see the ONLY class 05 shunter in existance, which happened to be stationed there. No other way to see it, you see? 

How can you tell who's cribbing, (fibbing)? Can't really, except by talking to them about WHEN and WHERE they saw certain locos. There's so much info about rare sightings these days in the UK that anyone cribbing is soon undone.

Alcazar

[Gardian]

Alcazar .............

Without wishing to be too 'picky', it was Ian Allan.

I've got my 'Combined Volume' from around 1960 in front of me - somewhat threadbare, but cherished nonetheless.  That bloke saw an opportunity ....... and the rest is history.

You're down this neck of the woods, aren't you?   We (as kindred spirits) should talk.  Offline of course, cos nobody else seems the slightest bit interested. 

 

 

[Tresco]

... cos nobody else seems the slightest bit interested. 

Except Katie! Take her with you!

No, no. Katie, let them go off together. [:D]

Trainspotters are like Twitchers - you simply can't understand it unless someone you like gets you into it.

I had a Twitcher friend. He was very patient and knowledgable, but he tried to suck me into his Twitchy world.

Trainspotters might be the same. OK, they might only try to drag you as far as Crewe, or some lesser known paradise (in their terms) but still, be on guard (no pun intended) Hee hee. [:D]

 

[Alcazar]

When we were first married, many years ago, if we were on an outing and there was somewhere railway nearby, we often made a detour. I even found that shed foremen would let us look around if Rosie asked, whereas if I asked on my own, I would be summarily thrown out. Can't THINK why[:D]

Anyway, it all came to an end. Rosie hasn't been since the day she insisted that the majority of spotters were ESN, (Educationally sub-normal, as was, now SEN), and I insisted they weren't. We went to Paddington to see the last few of a special class that used to work out of there, "Westerns", since all 73 were named, and each name began with the word, "Western".

Guess who we were approached by? Yup........you got it in one. Took us ages to shake him off, and she's refused to go since.

Oh well, I've lost interest in the UK scene now anyway, except in very general terms. At least those who work on FRENCH railways seem to LIKE their jobs and be proud of what they do.

Alcazar

[EuroStar]

The only things that interests me in the UK railway scene are the Channel Tunnel + Rail Link and steam trains. I think that those working on French railways have every reason to be proud of their jobs - they couldn't have chosen something better.

[jc]

Was in the "Ian Allen" shop last week!!!

[Pierre ZFP]

Can't stand trains!! Comes from more than 20 YEARS of commuting to London and back at least 5 days a week, an hour each way on a good day....if I was lucky. Having said that, I quite like Le Shuttle and Eurostar, and the TGV is quite nice, especially the new  Paris Est line.  Then there's the trains in Lux station with destinations like Basel, Milan, Nice, Paris etc that I want to jump on on impulse, and of course, it goes without saying, all steam trains, then I've always fancied The Blue Train and the Orient Express..... OK, OK trains aren't so bad...But I'm NOT going to note down the numbers!!!

You do get Train Spotters in France.  I've seen them at the end of the platforms with very expensive state-of-the-art video gear (I suppose if you don't have a girlfriend you can afford it)  Out of curiousity, I've stood by them and overheard their conversations, definitely in French  (could have been Belgium I suppose)

Also popular in Germany where there is a whole TV station dedicated to it - Bahn TV,  actually, when they're showing a restoration or similar, it's quite interesting in its way but my German is not up to the speed to take in all the details.

So, do you just underline these train numbers in a book or also add details like place and time?

Oh yeah, the sleeping/dribbling/snoring carriage for me too please.

 

[EuroStar]

I find the TGV quite nice too.

[daisymay]

I will admit it. My husband is a train spotter (and model railway enthusiast)We took a trip to Paris last month. Me to look around some museums etc and him to look around some railway sites! On the train up to Paris MOH was scribbling down numbers and the French family sitting opposite us got to chatting. It turned out the gentleman had started his career as an engine driver and retired as a fairly high up manager in SNCF. As you can imagine this made the journey for MOH especially as monsieur told us about all sorts of things including the aerotrain which was an experimental monorail and whose elevated line is still visible from Orleans towards Paris. I'm all for talking to people on trains, and planes.....

[EuroStar]

Chatting to an engine driver would also make the journey for me.