My husband is a train driver and he says that he always sees train spotters. Why would anyone want to spot...

Question

trains. Where is the fun?

Answer 1

OK, I admit it....I'm a(not yet former) train spotter. But truth be told, I really don't get as much joy from it as I used to years ago. Things just aren't as they used to be when I was younger. If you're not a train spotter now, trust me, you're not missing anything.

Answer 2

Why not? Seriously. Who are they harming?

I hate it when innocent people are ridiculed or sneered at. There are a lot more dangerous and/or immoral pass-times being indulged in at the moment.

Answer 3

Where is the fun in your fun? Why not question stamp collectors now?

Its whatever gets your gander going.

I think it gives them a personal fulfillment

I think you would like train spotters better than the train robbers, train hobos. More worse to take care of. And the worst people are the idiots who try to beat the train over the track crossing.

Answer 4

Its a hobby for him.

It is no where near as fun as what it could have been, and some of the more fanatical ones can be a pain, but its just the same with anyone who has a collection bug inside of them.

After all its not as bad as Bus Spotting, yes it does exist.

Answer 5

I do it sometimes, there's something about just watching a powerful train passing by. Can't explain it but I enjoy it.

Answer 6

i've been a gricer {trainspotter} along time now,the object of the game is to cop{get a number} and enter it,into your Ian Allen book and try to get all of the different classes of loco's,to understand more,if you can get to the Settle and Carlisle line at time when a steam engine is working hard up 'the long drag',with your camera,and anorak,potted meat sarni's,flask,and the proverbial,woolly hat,then a piece of pure magic will appear,could be an 'A4',Duchess,Prinnie,Black5,all pure joy,most exciting sight,ever,and i mean,ever,youll come back to see it again,guaranteed.or goto to a preserverd heritage line near you,still,an enjoyable day out,bye.

Answer 7

I did 14 years with BR and they were the pits(spotters not the 14 years)

Answer 8

Some people just really love trains.

It's fun for them (train spotters) to see a train, know what kind of train it is and know they may never see one again because it's rare.

It's not on my list to do, but don't you have something similar in your life?

A train spotter may not notice Brad Pitt walking down the street, but maybe you would freak out with excitement. (That is if your into Brad)

And for train spotters, they get to see "celebrity's" coming down the tracks every day.

Answer 9

There probably is no fun and they only do it for the money.

Answer 10

As an ex train spotter, in the times when we had proper trains ie steam locos,which were  magnificent pieces of engineering and lovingly cleaned and maintained by the crews, they were a joy to watch, however, todays engines are just functional, all look the same. All right they have names, but they are not the same as the old steamers.

I live by a crossing and it`s suprising how many people leave their cars to photograph the trains as they pass.

Answer 11

all train drivers are ex spotters. hes hiding a secret!

Answer 12

its there hobby like a sport but it isnt you know what i dont know lol lol lmao :):)

Answer 13

I see trainspotters a lot when im travelling on the East Coast Mainline.  

In fact - its fun to spot trainspotters - they look so funny!  Sometimes I announce when I spot one so the other passengers can share my joy and know that I spotted them 1st!

I might start making photos of them.

Does that make me a train-spotter-spotter?

Answer 14

Trains are big, noisy, greasey, and smokey.  They have all the qualities that attract guys in things (excepting women, of course.)  Guys are naturally attracted to big things that make noise and move, such as big excavating equipment, airplanes, and so on.  It might be genetic :-)   With trains, there's sort of the thrill of the hunt too.  Unlike earthmovers, they go fast enough to chase.

Kent in SD

Answer 15

I'm an occassional "spotter" or rail-fan.

I commute via the local train, and do my "spotting" as part of my hobby of Model Railroading... I take pictures and notes to gather details to use on my RR (The Yamson-Shepherd Stockton Pacific)... an N-scale layout filling a 10'x12' bedroom.

The FUN ? Watching a half mile long coal train pass through the area... the almost endless DTXX container stacks coming out of Oakland Ca and heading across the country... the careful balance of freight and local commuter and Amtak... and once a year, the Ringling Brothers Circus Train.

I can see where "rabid-spotters" could be annoying, disruptive, and even dangerous... but I do get abit angry hearing some of the anti-spotter comments.  ALOT of US are the ones who, in the USA particularly, write to State and Federal law makers to KEEP the rails... d**n the truckers unions, s***w the SUV drivers... lets build MORE rails and put the trains to WORK !

Answer 16

Whats the fascination with women and shopping? Its just something thats fun for these people. Its not doing any harm and makes them happy so just leave them to it.

They look odd though.

Answer 17

Don't worry about it. If you like it, do it. If you don't, don't. And don't criticise others for doing what THEY want to do.

I'm not a trainspotter, by the way.

Answer 18

You know, it's funny, kids love to watch toy trains, even though they don't see trains much in real life.  A lot of kids who love trains never see a train in real life at all. How is that possible?  I have no idea.  I just know that something is fascinating about how a train moves.

Some of us just don't ever get over it.

Answer 19

i work on the railway and i see them all the time, sorry but i cant get my head round it either, i think its all to do with engine numbers and stuff like that mmmmm ????

Answer 20

Just remember that some of the trainspotters of today will be the transport historians of tomorrow. All of their records - written and photographic may seem of little value right now (except to them) but where do you think people get the information from in order to produce half a library-full of railway books from - it doesn't fall out of the sky, it comes from all of those trainspotters, past and present ! ! !

Answer 21

I sometimes switch my television on and see all these men, dressed in shirts with other men's name on the back, and getting terribly excited about other men kicking a little ball around on some grass. What is the fun? Each to his own, in other words. What works for one, doesn't for another. It would be a boring old world if we were all the same.

Answer 22

Indeed, some train spotters/railfans are down right rude or disobey rules/laws to achieve whatever they are after (such as getting that perfect picture, etc.) but most are good, law-abiding citizens just interested in a particular hobby, which railfanning/train spotting includes everything from photography to studying/preserving railroad history.  In any event, while some people find it odd/different, the hobby is really no different from any other, people who take an interest or have a passion in a particular subject.

Answer 23

Some people think we're daft taking part in Yahoo! Answers.

They're doing nobody any harm.

Each to his own.

Answer 24

I've been fascinated with trains since I was a kid. Watching one on a track that isn't used very often or an engine from an obscure  railroad is the best.

Answer 25

Everybody I know doesn't think it's weird that I'm a railfan. In fact, they think it's cool because it's different and they actually give it a try as well. Some liked it, others didn't. It's a hobbie like any other, so don't be sooo critical about it.

Answer 26

To each his own.

I'm surprised to hear from so many of my brethren that they have encountered troublesome enthusiasts.  All that I have encountered have been far from rude or obnoxious,

As a matter of fact, I have dropped notes tied to fusees (flares) with my name and address and asked for a copy of any good photos of my train.  I have many.  Pretty cool, really.

But, on occasion, you will find the sketchy, rude or obnoxious in any walk of life.