Why isn't Trainspotting cool?

Hello everyone,
It's that burning question that everyone wants to know the answer to. So today Lawrie talks about his feelings on the subject, and watches some trains go past.
Photo credit: Daily Herald Archive/National Media Museum / Science & Society Picture Library
A video shot, featuring, and edited by Lawrie.
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[@evelynkinson5524]

The issue how I see it is similar to motoring. Trains, like cars, have gone from an image of somewhat glamour and personal pride/genuine involvement to a method of commuting or just getting about, sometimes even a problem to the masses. People in general don't even know anything about the car they drive nevermind modern railways

[@lmm]

Sadly I think you're correct

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

Trains used to be _the_ method of getting about if you're going any distance other than by boat

[@ashleyjiscool]

I am someone who doesn’t see it as commuting and I try to tick off trains with heritage trains counting and i want more comfortable trains and I would run to catch a 319 (haven’t been on one) and the ones that er partly perversed or fully as I want to go on all that hasn’t been all scraped (except the ones that kill) and even go back in time to ride the scraped units (example 123) as I never rode them except the 365

[@nickking5663]

The weird thing is how the same thing happened to plaines but plainespotting is still a big thing

[@lmm]

@@nickking5663 doesn't have quite the same negative press though

[@smudgy9827]

As a train spotter, I've gotten weird looks from passengers on trains, even been slightly deterred to go into a station by them, but then you get the drivers that get a bit of joy when they see a trainspotter, I've gotten loads of waves and even had a small chat with a driver before they departed.

[@patrickl2195]

I don’t spot trains, though I do enjoy learning about their history and engineering. I will support anyone who does spot trains. We all deserve to do the things we enjoy, that do no one any harm, in a respectful and accepting environment. Good on you, Lawrie.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much. I completely agree

[@campingstoveman]

Totally agree with you patrick, I enjoy anything mechanical, as a retired mechanical engineer I am amazed how technology has gone from the horse and cart up to today. The only thing that annoys me is Lawrie reffering to steam as dinosaurs, dinosaurs are extinct steam is not its just part of the link through to today.

[@iiExplosionz12]

This. As a transport enthusiast myself, I mostly go on train rides and do a bit of spotting trains as a hobby, just to lower my stress levels and just make my own content as I've been doing for some time. I really do like the transport side of things and would like to expand my knowledge and the history of the railway

[@MrStark-up6fi]

Man your intro hits hard. For my entire childhood I’ve been bullied just for having a huge obsession with planes. Society just don’t understand enthusiasts well yet

[@captainelliot8767]

I was as well, getting my pilots license now everyone can’t stop asking me about it lmao, showed em

[@aplane9625]

My crush said that trains suck a few day before the holidays My life was all around trains I’m now completely dead to her

[@MrStark-up6fi]

@@aplane9625 seems like she might not be a loyal person

[@turbopanda7012]

@@aplane9625 seems like shes not a respectful person

[@fmplayze]

I hate when people bully you for liking trains or vehicles 😢

[@alanthefisher]

Great writing, and I totally agree even from a North American perspective. Once in awhile I'll bring a non-foamer to a proper steam excursion and they'll start to understand why its cool. Also alot of the same aspects apply to model railroading too

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! Glad it applied over the pond. Steam is a good gateway, most people appreciate that if nothing else

[@Yawwie]

Trainspotting has always been one of those things I'm afraid of admitting to other people because of how they may react, as I know it's 'uncool' and a strange thing to do, but I've always loved it. For me though I'm more of a modern sucker for transport. I love seeing and hearing a good bit of plastic flying past lol, but I do agree that the variety of rolling stock is massively dying out.

[@bb-3653]

Word, (me and you are more EMU fans, at least I'd assume, lol, but that doesent take away from the validity of what you are saying or i etc) I preffer EMUs alot but even then , there's still alot of room for interesting quirks to be installed, i.e the appearence, traction sound programming of the traction control (as alot of modern units after 2020 in the uk are soulless asf. ) the aventra stock are the bain of my existence with regards to modern trains. They make no traction sound apart from a brief take off and that weird whistling sound the igbt vvvf's make. , and their design looks something out of a marketing/corporate rendering plan for the year 2100 for an airport subway or something, their horrible . Their ugly. Desiro cities are a bit of a drag too although the 707s (SWR) merely having a better paint job make them alot more welcoming but the motors are still meh..but alot better than aventras. 700s make me want to sleep. I do hope that the next wave of EMU's aren't so shit...ahem cough "southeastern getting new fleet in 2027" , let's hope they try to advocate for some creativity as resembled in their networker fleet. I really hope so. Nice vvvfs like Japan nice motors etc. Nice design overall. Anything but aventra scum, id much preffer CAF as the candidate is there's no other. And even then , maybe plan a design for a different type of train overall to southeastern design prefrence. Because ..boiii the railways interesting nature is hanging by a thread .

[@lmm]

I know that feeling well. It does take the excitement out when you know what's coming 😂

[@Tipman2OOO]

@@bb-3653 lol you sound like you're trying to scrape the last bit of meat off a wing that's already been picked over while describing the coolness of modern trains.

[@bb-3653]

@Rudy you mean I'm going into super detail ? If so then yeah, I'm going ham🤣🤣 I do hope future emus aren't just aventra types their friggin horrible .

[@u686st7]

Pretty much the same in the USA. The variety is dying.

[@martynwarren3192]

I’ve always had the same problem and still do. I have no interest in people, fads, fashions, trends, football teams and anything else the majority of the population are obsessed with. I am fascinated in anything mechanical. Planes, trains, boats, ships, rockets… anything. I’m not a spotter… I’m like you Lawrie, an enthusiast in old stuff.

[@lmm]

You clearly have excellent taste!

[@CR-xr7xp]

Good for you mate, it's a gift to have a deeper passion for something.

[@Mgameing123]

@@lmm Im more a guy to modern units. I don't go train spotting because as you said it is hella boring, Same units, Infrequent service. Though I don't feel much seperated in fact i can easily get onto the tracks because there is barely any fences except in built up areas.

[@carnivorousvegan69]

Same I never learn what trends mean until they are gone and I'm 15 but I love trains

[@Majkl.]

same here. Busses, lorries and trains

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

I expected to offer my German perspective, being of a similar age as you, and having been interested in trains all my life, and being the son of a train enthusiast of the - early -postwar generation. However, I can merely type: "I agree". To my mind, you covered all the relevant aspects. Well done, Lawrie!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! Glad to know, and somewhat saddened to hear its the same with you!

[@the_retag]

@@lmm the situation is slightly better in germany i think. there is i'd say a bigger variety of traction, with many different goods locos as well as high speed trains and international service, as well as german steam locos being largely of standard classes as well due to early nationalisation/combination of pre german national grids, making the draw towards heritage (away from spotting) a little smaller. but overall the same general problem

[@StarstreakHVM]

Wer?

[@ZOG_EXTERMINATOR]

Your grandad was a good man!

[@THE_IRON_HORSE]

People always used to bully me for liking trains, oh you like trains, but when I finally got my confidence I finally stood up and I started posting trains to my story, now most of my friends want to railfan with me, they always ask me when I'm going to watch trains,

[@MrStark-up6fi]

Dominance asserted

[@AegisEdge]

so based.

[@MJTributeChannel2040]

I must say, this video hits very deep. It makes me realize how fast things have changed. I'm also not a trainspotter, but a modell train builder. Trains fascinate me since I was a little child. It is the same here in Germany as you describe it in the UK. Fences aren't even that common here, but huge sound barrier walls to avoid noise pollution. Part of me does understand the reasons behind these new infrastructures, but part of me feels quite claustrophobic when I take the train and all I see for almost 100 kilometres is a grey wall when I look outside the windows. Also it is of course always a bit sad, when you hear the slight sound of a train behind those walls but you can't see it. I was always a very quiet and shy person, and when I was little I had a sweet silent spot: at the end of a railway bridge with five tracks, there was a plank, covering some cables. It was hidden behind a tree and about 3 meters above the nearby pedestrian walk, right beside the tracks. Around 20 years ago, I would spend hours just sitting there, listening to the birds and the wind in the trees and observing the signals for the trains to pass by. There where all kinds of locomotives, the big BR 232, the 150 or the 151, sometimes in light red or green color scheme with endless freight trains, regional trains with the old 140 or 141 locomotives, intercity trains in blue, red or dark orange, sometimes even pulled by a 103 if I was lucky to see one of those beauties still operating. Commutter trains where white and yellow, or light turquoise and the locomotives where painted different too, sometimes still showing off the old colors from the 80s and early 90s, sometimes the famous "Silberlinge"-carriages would also appear behind those old machines. Now, 20 years later the place is gone, there is no plank and no tree. The bridge has been expanded to seven tracks, with sound barriers and the beloved sweet spot is no longer there. All the different trains are gone, and all you see is a bunch of red multiple unit trains and they all look pretty much the same. There are hardly any locomotives anymore, and if there is one, it is in most cases a Siemens Vectron (they are simply everywhere here). It would be quite rare to see anything different. The design of the new ICE trains is horrendous, and every intercity line train is just colored plain white by now. Only my modell train captures the memories from my childhood when the tiny 141 is travelling through our basement.

[@alexthewoo]

Probably one of the best videos you guys have produced, I feel this captures the feelings of a lot of people in the community, myself included. Well done

[@lmm]

Thank you very much. Glad I got the tone right!

[@TransportNut89]

I love being a train and bus spotter!

[@SJTrains2024]

Same

[@lmm]

And that's good!

[@Albergarri788]

Same

[@ambivalentonion2620]

bus spotters are one I've never understood

[@TransportNut89]

@@ambivalentonion2620 there's a fair few of us around!

[@AlienneAshford]

I feel this; in the states all of our trains have more or less homogenized into one standard locomotive type with limited designs. (With the exception of heritage units which pop up here and there) but ive also loved watching trains and fully support it.

[@lmm]

Oh really? That's a bit boring then

[@AlienneAshford]

@@lmm Sadly, I still love the engines, but I would adore some variety. I need to get out to some of our heritage railways at some point in my life.

[@traingirl3234]

@@lmm Yeah, it's a bit boring. I would say probably 80-85% of the locomotives that I see are the same basic design - though it does make it that much more exciting when something different comes by. Whether that's the one daily passenger train or an old unit that hasn't been replaced yet.

[@chicagolandrailroader]

Interesting take on this topic. Here in the U.S things are pretty much the same. I was never really bullied for liking railways because I was never open about it. I'm more into model railroads than trainspotting, but sometimes it's a fun thing to do with friends to pass an afternoon. I relate to your sentiments, and I like your content.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you've got like minded people, it is noteably better.

[@SlowLineTrainspotting]

I always remember going to a station just to see what came through, which gave it a different kind of excitement, the surprise of not knowing. Now I usually just go out for the special ones because I can look them all up. Still really fun to do!

[@lmm]

Sometimes a day by the lineside is just a good day out

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

In 2008 I bought a new bridge Camera which had video capability. I filmed an Adelante train pulling out of LLanelli Station to test this facility, and when I showed the video to my works supervisor (To show off the camera) he responded with "That's Sad..." It's a train - A marvelous piece of engineering that I was quite pleased to have video'd and had a go at him verbally (He was quite approachable as a person, and took it in good grace). He said that he thought trainspotting was quite a nerdy and geeky pastime and don't go showing this to the other guys on site as they'd probably label me as a Twat and ignore me, even during lunch breaks. Funny thing is, in America (That big chunk of land across the Atlantic), they actually build platforms, and not the type we use to board trains, for Railfans to watch and film trains from. At least that's one thing they got right. Ralifans and, by British terminology, Trainspotters Are Cool people and should not be derided by non Fans. Personally I dislike Football, but I don't think that those people who do like it are daft, stupid or should be referred to as Twats or any other derisive terms. However, I still maintain that the term "The Beautiful Game" can be applied to any game, Even Snooker, and should not be exclusively applied to football.

[@lmm]

That's a fair point - well done for calling your boss out over it!

[@bfapple]

This comment confused me until I realised you were writing about Class 175s (not Adelante)

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

@@bfapple Class 175: Adelante but slower and uglier

[@bfapple]

@@Danse_Macabre_125 Class 175s are not Adelantes - that was a First Group brand name specific to the 180s.

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

@@bfapple My comment was a reference to the fact that both the -you'll be going nowhere- Class 180 and 175 are from the same Alstom Coradia 1000 family

[@TrippaMazing87]

My guilty pleasure is watching Trainspotting videos, even if it’s not super cool. We call it “Rail Fanning” over here in America, and I’ve taken a liking to them because of how few trains there are over here. Wish there was more love for the rails these days!

[@lucaslucas2933]

It’s amazing how peaceful it can be to just sit by and watch a subway or a freight train go by. Done it since I was a kid.

[@andreagrasso9189]

I'm not a train spotter, but when I see a cool train or tram I can't abstain from taking a picture. When I was a toddler, my grandpa used to bring me to our town's train station and we would watch trains go by, and I loved it, so I guess that explains it. Nowadays I take the train daily to go to university, and I love it, because those 15 minutes of train ride are the perfect time to relax and enjoy the ride. From my bedroom's window I can see my town's station as well, and I cannot imagine living far away from a train station, not only because it would be less easy to commute, but also because I would miss seeing trains go by everyday. I remember once that, when we were on a school trip in high school in another city, I took a video of a tram passing by, trying to make sure I wasn't being seen by anybody, but a classmate saw me and mocked me for what I was doing. Back then it hurt a lot, but now I'm more open about my interest for trains when I meet new people :)

[@maaciek6750]

I was bullied for rail pasion whole primary school, but I stopped to listen them, today I still spend my time on Trainspotting and Im happy about that, I hope that in the future I will be working in anything connected with trains. In my opinion every trainspotter is special beacuse it's not so popular thing to do. During my holidays I spent about 6 hours every day to record and take photos of trains, and I dont regret any minute standing there. Im so happy that i stayed in it till today and I can recognize most of the locomotives just by the shadow of it.

[@lmm]

I'm glad you stuck with it and still enjoy it!

[@samuelwright4172]

I feel like some train memories lie in sentimentality. My local cross country may be plastic boxes on wheels, but they are a symbol of home to me. My grandad used to take me on train rides to Derby, on a class 170, and taken back on a 221 supervoyager, while passing trains left right and centre, is a slight sign that railways might be enjoyed, but I still enjoy seeing a 170 or a class 221 as it reminds me of happy times. Steam railways are memorable aswell. A steam engine that is personal to me is 9f 92214, (the one that is green but not evening star) seeing that for the first time as a child made me look up in awe. People dislike it for its polished appearance, on a short passenger train, and inauthentic livery. But to me, that is a reminder of even when I am older of happier times. Seeing that engine on a five coach train, resplendent in Br green, and with a nameplate is as authentic to my childhood, as an older enthusiast seeing the same engine dirty, rusty and on a train of windcutters. Thanks for reading.

[@lmm]

There is indeed that. I never looked twice at a 153, but now they've gone, I miss the whirr and clatter. That was my childhood heading off to see my dad. It is important to remember that people like us didn't see steam in the UK, so what we look on fondly is what we see. The 9F in green has done excatly what it's meant to, you've taken note of it. It's not black, it was interesting.

[@royfearn4345]

@@bfapple large bits of them are!

[@vasco77l97]

I'm a bird spotter and I sometimes fear some judgement too, but we are cooler when we are ourselves. :) Cheers for spotters and enthusiasts

[@lmm]

Oh really? I'd never thought of that

[@Trainviking]

03:38 so true. I love trains but I'm not a spotter at all. I don't care that much about older trains but I do care about modern technology and sustainable travel. You're so right, trainspotters aren't harmful to anyone and knowing these data is much more useful than knowing how many times a soccer player scored a goal. Great video!

[@jacekhozejowski2869]

Well, japanese trainspotters ("tori-tetsu", wich couldbe translated as "photo-railfans") sometimes create dangerous situations, mostly to their own kind.

[@Titan604]

11:14 Lawrie's last five attempts at cloning himself are showing steady improvement.

[@lmm]

I'm getting there!

[@MervynPartin]

One of the joys of being a trainspotter in the "good old days" (i.e. 1950s- 1970s) was travelling by train to somewhere special to do some spotting. The trains were comfortable with no airline seats, windows were big and from every seat, you could actually see the scenery outside. Arriving at Paddington was an exciting occasion, with the sound and the sight of locos all around. Even the diesel and electric locos of that era had more character. At some places, like Severn Tunnel Junction for example, after getting off the train you could ask the friendly shed foreman if you could go around and more often than not he would ask "did you come by train?" If so then you were allowed in. At some sheds, you might even get a short ride in the cab. It was definitely cool. Cardiff Docks were open and easy to cycle around. I even had a ride on a coal tippler discharging coal trucks into a ship. Train travel now is so uninteresting and uncomfortable. If you can find a window seat, the linesides are covered in trees so no scenery. I am glad that I was able to keep my railway interests alive by membership of several railway societies, maintaining and driving steam and diesel locos, and at one time part owner of a tool and mess van. I also liked running my garden railways- as you also appeared to enjoy with that shot of you driving a Maxitrak Barclay loco.

[@lmm]

I used to love driving there! It was amazing fun when I was little. The heritage and 'real' railways are entirely different beasties. I'm pleased to be part of the heritage movement. Ah, the adventures back in the day. Can you imagine it in modern times?

[@georgedeane2564]

I used to feel out of place at Uni when I'd go to Lincoln Station or sometimes Newark Northgate to watch trains go by. Now I work as a Civil Engineer mainly focused on rail projects, everyone has a similar interest in trains and I can finally share my passion or even learn something new in something I'm interested in without feeling like an outcast. And there's nothing cooler than sitting on a bench I helped decide to be put on a station platform, gazing at a bridge I know all the intricate details of after months of design as trains pass by.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

In my experience, if you get a train from Lincoln you're going to Newark Northgate if you want to or not!

[@noelhass3712]

Was probably the only kid in my school that had interest in railways, others into football, cricket etc, which I found then & still do as bout as interesting as watching paint dry. Being 3rd generation railwayman we lived in railway cottage by line, used to watch trains from our back fence. In my 2nd year of high school I started to ride Friday evening goods to another town, stay in barracks with crew, come back Saturday. Next year I started writing letters to railways applying for positions, no vacancies at time. This continued on thru next year, half way through my 4th year of high school I left and worked as builder's labourer, wheeling barrows of cement, passing tools etc, my late father as part of his job with railways, ran length on Fairmont trolley to Port Pirie and stayed over night in barracks, returning next day. In conversation with Stationmaster he heard about some vacancies, which he informed me of on his arrival home. I wrote necessary letters, and waited, had reply to go for interview at Port Augusta with Operations manager, Loco Superintendent and Loco Roster clerk, on 13 October 1980 I started as Junior Trainee Engineman Cleaner at Port Pirie Loco! Retired now, I still love trains!

[@SeaKing61]

You want to come to Leicester mate. Walked into town yesterday and saw a 56 on the way there and a 47 on the way back without even trying. Got 37s, 47s, 56s, 60s, even a 58 and a 26 on Leicester depot due to UKRL. Unfortunately some of it has moved away to Loughborough and they're building a shed for the 93s or some such modern loco at Leicester now too which leaves less space for the lovely old stuff.

[@lmm]

That's very good! Don't have any of that round here!

[@ben.taylor]

The sort of people who mock us for our interests are usually jealous that they don't have something their passionate about. They can't handle it and so they try and bring you down to make themselves feel better. I've had the same thing my whole life, but I don't let it get to me. I don't really go out to spot trains as much as I used to, but my interest is still there. And with that are the same people who in reality are so insecure about what THEY do with their lives. But screw em.

[@frankmcgorman962]

I guess trainspotting is regarded as a somewhat eccentric hobby then? And I do get the impression that if you want to see the more unusual machinery, like a Deltic or a Warship, you have to go to a special gathering, such as the East Lancashire Diesel Gala or the Severn Valley Railway. It's one of my "bucket list" vacation ideas, to spend a couple of months in England, taking in all the special steam and diesel events, to relive some childhood memories of visiting my grandparents in Lancashire.

[@Mr-pn2eh]

Or just simply watch lmm for those who don't live in the UK. Like me

[@lmm]

It's a different hobby certainly. Though perhaps crewing a steam engine is more eccentric. If you definitely want to see something, going to a heritage railway gala is likely the best way to go about it. Be a super trip, that's for sure. In the meantime, watching LMM is a good shout!

[@alistairshaw3206]

A brilliant video again Lawrie. You put your point across so well. I'm a heritage enthusiast, I worked on the Railway from 1976 to 1985 in Scotland, S&T department and have volunteered at a few heritage railways. Football bores me, I can't see the attraction. I love most old methods of transport , trucks, buses, railways, WW2 aircraft and my collection of classic motorcycles. It would be a boring world if we were all the same, so we should welcome diversity in people's interests!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! I'm pleased to see someone who worked on the railway agrees with the thoughts! That's also very true, would make platforms very crowded if we all liked trains!

[@jvmalta081]

i know the feeling ! i hated football ! we dont have trains in malta but I was raised close to the airport and the school i went for secondary and technical institute happened to be in the flight path and even now at 41 years of age i still love to spot planes ! and if i manage to travel to be somewhere close to a train i would like to know every bit of info about it !

[@lmm]

I suppose plane spotting is quite similar to train spotting. Just sit back relax and watch?

[@jvmalta081]

@@lmm i just stop and watch the planes , visit museums and collections where i can , now with the aid of internet one can follow aircraft on Flight Radar and other apps ;)

[@patricksmodels]

And you've got a beautiful Aviation Museum in Malta!

[@Nina-bh5jj]

I dont go and sit and watch trains (no time + adhd) BUT when im at york station twice a week i take in everything, i have a massive note on my phone detailing every train ive seen + travelled on, plus i know the names, numbers and typical routes/times of the trains at york. I only have a real interest in the trains you see in york and the rest of the north, as well as an enthusiasm for seeing steam engines. Id probably call myself a train enjoyer!

[@jonahwillis2781]

I assume you’ve visited the National Railway Museum near there then. I’ve always wanted to go myself

[@Nina-bh5jj]

@@jonahwillis2781 oh, many MANY times haha. My parents took me as a kid and since moving here ive been a fair few times. If you can, go this april, the flying scotsman is gonna be there!

[@jonahwillis2781]

@@Nina-bh5jj Unfortunately I don’t live in the UK so I’ll probably miss The Flying Scottsman’s appearance, but I will be there this August. Seems like a rail fan’s nirvana!

[@Nina-bh5jj]

@@jonahwillis2781 Idk what kind of trip youll be on but if you have the chance, be sure to check out locomotion at shildon too! It’s just north of darlington, which is like 20 mins up the mainline from york. Its smaller than the museum in york but I really enjoyed my visit

[@planestrains3676]

As someone who was born in 2006, I’ve grown up with tilting pendolinos and voyagers etc… so I’m not really a fan of a lot of the old stuff as it’s never been relevant to me, the stuff we’ve got now, all sorts of trains, all sorts of liveries, variety of stations, I just enjoy doing it… Great video though

[@aplane9625]

I grew up with class 90s on greater Anglia

[@davidzadro2939]

Every now and then I sit by the lines and try to see certain units, sometimes I go looking for a model that only one of is still in service, because where I live it still runs and I find it a nice surprise

[@lmm]

That keeps it interesting for sure!

[@jrainey94]

Hey Lawrie, it’s surprisingly long overdue that a video like this gets made. I got into train spotting & even train riding for a while when I was a child, partly because when I grew up in Dalmuir (commuter town on the outskirts of Glasgow and has a busy station) in the mid-late 1990s - born in 1994, btw - it was a good way to pass the time whenever there is nothing else to do that is exciting. I didn’t like football even when my Dad used to be a local football captain and still never do to this day so it provided another opportunity to do something to pass the time. Going about the railways for even longer distances after we moved back to Dumbarton in 1998 was also partly fuelled by the fact that my Papa George (died of COPD & mild vascular dementia in February 2019) used to work on the railways as an engineer until he retired in the early 90s which earned him huge discounts on rail travel not just across Scotland but the entire UK, which was great for him to see our extended family members living in Southern England, particularly in Milton Keynes. Getting to know more routes helped to solve some natural curiosities about the world. The railways were genuinely diverse with lots of locomotives, DMUs & EMUs, especially at the busier city stations like Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley, Carlisle, Newcastle and also certain towns like Motherwell. Now it’s starting to feel like there is increasingly less diversity of trains on the railways but the diversity hasn’t died yet. Nowadays, the occasional railtour ventures past Dumbarton. The demonisation of trainspotters seemed to happen more right after the 7/7 attacks in London when more barriers were put up in City stations and they were looked at with more suspicion than ever, like they somehow could be possible spies for foreign nations or terrorist groups. Some things that made me not want to fully be enthusiastic about train spotting included not just certain times where obnoxious types of people (especially teenagers or youth gangs) would hang about on trains or at train stations but seeing big groups of football fans at stations would be an instant turnoff for wanting to be there. Plus, given that I have mild geliophobia on top of high-functioning autism, there were certain things that would happen with train drivers & rail staff members that would not only turn me off from wanting to be at stations but it would make me feel that I wasn’t the best version of myself that you feel you should be for everyone else. This also put me off from wanting to be a train driver when I grew up, even if there was less of a chance for becoming one anyway. I’m glad that more cool trains are showing up in Glasgow lately including HSTs for ScotRail. Just mainly offering my perspective on things and I’m glad that many trainspotters feel the same way about negative perceptions about them & how these issues get addressed.

[@europeansteamtrains]

I would call myself a heritage enthusiast as like the heritage steam, but when I’m abroad in Switzerland I like the more modern and current electric traction so would say there I’m more of a spotter than I am here in the UK, but over in Europe I would say train spotting and like trains in general is more normalised! Great video by the way!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@barhamd1]

Interesting thoughts. I don't know about anyone else but I'm finding post-covid that people are actually more accepting of the kind of 'whatever floats your boat' hobbies and more willing to talk about them. I've discussed railway modeling in a work environment and actually had people express a bit of envy that I have an engaging hobby. I even ended up listening to a guys who do fantasy war-gaming or model engineering. Find your own cool....

[@baddriversofnorthcentralma1594]

I guess that's something that we take for granted here in the States. Our primary locomotives are starting to get limited, but we have so many different rail companies here. In my region alone, we have CSX, Norfolk Southern, Maryland Midland, Canton Railroad, MARC, and Amtrak. Each company have their own unique history, paint schemes, and right of ways that make trainspotting each one fun in its own way. Although many people here still think we are weird for just wanting to train spot or do a chase through the mountains. One of my favorite places to go that isn't too far is Harpers Ferry, WV. There is a passenger station there where you can set up and just watch freight and passenger trains all day. One of the best parts too, is that it has a unique scene where the trains go through a tunnel and emerge directly onto a bridge crossing the Potomac River.

[@lmm]

Oh that sounds amazing

[@lewisdwyer1536]

Brilliantly made and very thought-provoking. Like yourself, I, too, was seen as a bit of a weirdo for loving the railways, meaning I kept it as a hidden hobby even now. However, it's nice to be different from the crowd.

[@lmm]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Being different from the crowd is something that we do on the channel very well!

[@LionGaming98]

I think what doesn't help with the popularity with the modern railways is the fact that it is not easy to get a job on the railways unless its a track engineer or maybe the odd station assistant job. It's pretty much impossible to get a job as a driver even if you already work for a railway company.

[@lmm]

Yes, it is hard to get into

[@nudel_089]

Move to Germany, the Deutsche Bahn is falling apart 😂😂😂. They need every helping hand.😜😜😜😜

[@mastermuc0]

What??? In Germany they look for so many drivers they can’t even fulfill their current timetable and have to reduce service. Their staff shortage is huge

[@trainsonthebrain]

First time coming across your channel, lovely presentation! Lots of valid points throughout. In my case, essentially if it’s on rails, I’m a fan. Steam, modern, heritage, mainline, even the Underground. It’s ok to narrow focus to one type of traction, but equally it’s ok to love them all! I like how GBRf have customised and named a lot of their locomotives. I’m amazed more companies don’t do this, even for their EMUs - it’s an easy win in the publicity stakes and helps recapture some of that romance of the old days. I think the likes of Francis Bourgeois will be very important for transporting perceptions in the future. The TikTok generation can breath new life into the hobby. Easy to forget Francis is only 21 and already has a huge following. Really cool, thought provoking piece. All the best! Nick 👍

[@lmm]

Glad you enjoyed it - check our Lawrie Goes Loco, you might enjoy it! Big fan of GBRfs heritage liveries. That's big kudos.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

Was that the "trainbow" thing? Not in my name.

[@trainsonthebrain]

@@worldcomicsreview354 What do you mean?

[@suhandatanker]

I used to go to my local LRT station as a child and buy a ticket just to wait on the platform to watch the train go by! Good ol' days. (1998 Bombardier ART 200 series, kelana Jaya Line LRT)

[@robertstevenson4910]

I couldn’t agree more with what you said in the video. I’m a trainspotter… exclusively to either the Dutch railway’s (ns) or the mainline high up in Scotland, both for the reason of the diversity in consists that pass me. I even got lucky enough to forget about the Scotsman’s 100’th anniversary, and to then see it pass me on my way to Edinburgh central. But the age of people lining up next to platforms are, yes… gone. But it doesn’t stop me from heading up the street to see some trains pass by with the occasional whistle.

[@nvire5202]

I think the train spotting scene in France ain't the same than in the UK, we get sometimes old locomotives like the CC6500 and our regional trains here in the Alps still have a lot of BB22200 push pull locomotives and still the more "modern" regional trains have variation in their type and liveries and we also get the TGV high speed trains which also has variations. And tbh train spotting at the high speed lines seeing trains going past at 300km/h is cool!

[@lmm]

Yes, that is cool! I remember the first time I saw one, very exciting.

[@simzen6492]

I honestly respect and admire you so much for creating this video. It's a topic rarely discussed and one that's never been spoken of in the same light as you've shone it in. Great video!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@sacrilegiousboi978]

I was never a trainspotter (as in writing down numbers for specific units), but as a kid, being at a railway station was like being in a candy store for me. I often had a hard time sleeping the night before a train journey as I was so excited. I would ask my parents if we could eat lunch on the platform and just watch the trains go by. I also played a lot of train simulators growing up. My enthusiasm for trains declined rapidly during my teens. I never really thought about it until now but I can see it was probably due 1. wanting to fit in and be cool due to the pressures of puberty so I diverted my enthusiasm towards other things that were more socially acceptable 2. the railway became more modern, boring and homogenised in the 2010's, less variety, retirement of old rolling stock that I used to love like HST's, BREL units, slammer units etc. and 3. when I was a kid, I often travelled on trains to London with my parents for weekend day trips or outings to various places, but in my late teens and early 20's I started commuting when I was studying and working in London, so they became associated with the daily grind instead of fun day trips, and by this point I was travelling mostly on class 700's which I hate. As a kid I always used to wonder why everyone looked so miserable on trains and now I know lol. I still do enjoy watching old footage of mainline trains from the late 90's and early 2000's as the variety, colours and sounds are so much more varied and interesting. I've noticed the same thing with aviation and planespotting. It used to have glamour and a sense of occasion, observation decks used to be common but now planes are just flying buses. Gatwick Airport used to be full of so many charter airlines and international carriers with cool liveries as well as a variety of "classic" planes including tri-jets and 747 jumbo jets, now Gatwick Airport is mostly just EasyJet A320's.

[@thenswtrainspotter]

I can relate, but I still love the railways and some old diesel locomotives are in operation to this day in NSW. Also aren’t some HSTs still in service

[@southeasttrainhub]

Hi Lawrie, What a fantastic video with some unbelievably true points made, and how, in a word, dire, the modern railway is unfortunately fast becoming. I've been into trains/railways for around 12 years now, and I've had my fair share of direct hatred from people about being interested in different aspects to others. Over the years, I've learnt that being different isn't something to be ashamed of, and I'm proud of everything I've managed to capture during my time as what I class myself as, a Railway Enthusiast. In 2015, I set up this KZbin channel, 'South East Train Hub', with an early aim of capturing interesting workings surrounding East Anglia and further afield. Just shy of 8 years later and it's grown very much significantly as the content that I've been producing has obviously been of interest to many. I don't have the most high tech of solutions for filming... I film on an iPad (iPhone too where necessary) as well as a Panasonic camcorder for large events where my iPad just wouldn't quite cut the mustard. I was thinking about upping the anti to every video being filmed with the camcorder, but with these thoughts around 2017/2018, I didn't see it as justifiable to change after all the previous uploads I'd produced, filmed from my iPad. iMovie is used as my editing software on my iPad for my videos, and its never let me down, which is why I've kept plodding on with how things are, because it works, I'm happy with it, and going by the comments I receive, so are my viewers, which is all I can ask for. Why should I change if something works that I'm happy with, and why should anyone, for that matter? People should keep on doing what they love and keep up what they're passionate about within the railway scene, I feel, and so what if people prefer to be a little different to the way I do things? Everyone should be happy in their own rightful way and enjoy what they do and never feel ashamed of being a little different. A superb video once again and nice to see some local East Anglian locations at Ipswich, Westerfield, Derby Road and Gun Lane, too! All the best, and take care, Jake (South East Train Hub).

[@boomerix]

Yeah the half hourly commuter rail doesn't create many feelings except for "I'm going from A to B". But when I take a sleeper to see a friend a 1000km west from me, it does stir the romantic feeling of adventure in me. You are meeting new people who are like you travelling a long distance. So you are with complete strangers, but talking and getting to know them is easy as you already have in common that you are on a journey. You already have 1 topic to talk about and since you are in a compartment it still feels private enough. If you found good company you can get a bottle and some cards out as well. Also the train itself is more interesting as it usually is far longer with more unique carriages and engines then commuter trains. It really is a proper journey and not just the mundane commute from A to B.

[@Living_Life_RN]

I think the key difference for trainspotting over being a railway enthusiast is that trainspotting is partially a form of ‘collecting’. Taking down the numbers is a lot like collecting coins, stamps, fossils, trading cards, or anything of the sorts. All of these kinds of ‘collecting’ hobbies have the same kind of stigma behind them due to being rather quiet and ‘antisocial’ (that’s lack of socialisation, not damaging property etc) to the unknowing eye. Obviously all of those hobbies listed above can lead to good friendships, particularly now through online communities, but the reputation still stands. Railway modelling can be treated the same way, however if you say you go to a club and show at exhibitions then people become a little more impressed, almost like when a railway enthusiast says they volunteer for a heritage railway.

[@lmm]

I think you're completely right

[@MHX11]

I‘m from switzerland, and trains still are my form of freedom. Every time I want to go somewhere I take the train or a bus there (since I got a subscription). I‘m really proud of it and that’s why I also trainspot sometimes here.

[@gerrytierney6500]

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!! What indeed is wrong with people simply enjoying themselves with a harmless pursuit and get to meet likeminded people? A meditation on life through the lens of train spotting. Thank you for putting this really marvelous piece together.

[@levirhoden]

I don’t have much commentary to add. I’ve watched your stuff for awhile and also tend to enjoy heritage railroading more. Yet this still struck a chord. Thank you for making it.

[@lmm]

You're most welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thesudricmerman3318]

some thing I learnt over my life is who cares what you like and interested in as long not harming anyone you should be able to do what you love and if people have a problem screw them and lite them be sad little people.

[@lmm]

That's a good mantra to have.

[@goldenretriever6440]

Here in the US the railroads call people who trainspot (or railfan as we call it) foamers I’m surprised they haven’t generalized that term to people who get excited about pretty much anything

[@SFSproductions1]

I am more into the steam locos and early DMU's and diesels but because I'm in wales when I go trainspotting there's nothing special like ever, I'm always seeing the 175's and 800's and maybe the occasional 150/153's. When I take my grandpa with me he dosent stop talking about the steam age and what the railway was like when he was my age and it always brings a smile to my face

[@lmm]

That's a lovely thing to do - I remember the good old 153s

[@SFSproductions1]

@@lmm I'd say the 158 is my favourite DMU, quite sad it will be replaced by the 197s in the future

[@TheBrickGuy7939]

A class of modern traction I like is the Voyager. A high speed DMU with a boxy heavy duty aesthetic and cool engine sound.

[@deejayy2k]

used to love being at school next to the rail line, we had a signal at one end of the playground, if we were really lucky a train would get stopped there and we could race it across the playground once it got moving again. if we were really lucky we would be on the bridge over the line on the way home as train came by.

[@lmm]

That seems far more accepted than it was at my school!

[@Keyswiz71]

This very subject is covered within Ian Carter's book "British Railway Enthusiasm". Definitely worth a read!

[@lmm]

I'll keep an eye out for it!

[@trainlover123trainsrock]

@@lmm 1:28 what station is that by the way

[@highdownmartin]

Thanks mate. Just ordered a copy. Ian Marchant wrote a good book about railways as well parallel lines

[@Welwyn22]

Wow... This video hit virtually every nail on the head. In my case, I grew up in a Norfolk town that lost both of its railways by 1980, but I started out in east Hertfordshire where several rail routes were (and are) still very much in use. Then came a move to the other side of the world with infrequent visits back to where I was happiest. As a teenager, I started writing these feelings down and fantasizing about my primary school characters doing what I could not, and still having them facing nearly all of those same dilemmas that I did. They, however, had each other to confide in and share their experiences. I had nobody. At least nobody who cared. Trainspotting is something I looked forward to every time I returned to the UK. However, the scene has definitely become more and more dystopian. It's actually gotten to the point that I enjoy my hobby more in continental Europe, or North America, than on my old stomping ground. Heritage Railways are now the spice to any UK trip I make.

[@Ash-928]

I'm not a "spotter", I just love old skool diesel and electrics the same way I'm into cars, I loved travelling on trains with my dad in the 80s and 90sI The variety was awesome, my favorites were 37s, 47s, 87s, 90s and best of all the HSTs with their Valenta engines and screaming turbos!

[@lmm]

Ah the good old days!

[@MrTimDunn]

Lawrie; hullo. I’ve pondered similar often - in fact I’m sitting at my desk above which on the wall is a rain-beaten cue card from BBC Trainspotting Live, a programme which was my first TV gig. It’s a long story, but I managed to co-present it because I decided at least someone there needed to be genuinely sympathetic to the cause. What followed surprised me. I did a huge number of press interviews and I noted -as you have - parallels between fishing or football scores etc; even comics and Star Wars. There was much healthy debate. But I disagree with some of your assertions re trainspotting now, or the romance of rail. Now; I can’t speak for your experiences, indeed I didn’t get bullied for loving railways at school; but I’ve not experienced negativity on any level in recent years when I’ve said “I’m off to look at XXXYYY at Zzzz” in a new livery, or whatever. But then I do live in a somewhat cosmopolitan world where differences and individuality are celebrated- perhaps it is not like that everywhere. So. Rather like your somewhat despondent comments re the use of rail or the importance of rail in our lives (where for many - and I know this because it is literally my job to analyse that data - you’ll find that it is far from as negative as you suggest) - it is not true to say that trainspotting is negatively perceived by all. Those who do perpetuate tedious outdated tropes are fast becoming tedious outdated tropes themselves. The love of rail continues - perhaps not manifested in a desire for number collecting, but in its sheer beauty as a concept. Bring on 2025, because there’s a lot for us all to celebrate.

[@CambriaJunction]

^^^ have to agree with some of this. The video makes many good points but I think underestimates what the railways still mean for a lot of people. For me it's the railways that take me to see my family, see my friends, do many of the things I enjoy. They are how I've made innumerable significant journeys throughout my life. Not just in the UK but in continental Europe and beyond. For me they still represent freedom and possibilities. Yup, they are in many ways less interesting in the detail of their operations, but they change with the world around them. They are still an immense and complex network, that continues to work, often against the odds. It's a network that involves people as well as machines and I think that for many of those people it's more than just a job. And yes it has beauty as a concept! Especially in an age where we are going to have to start thinking seriously about energy and as many places get ever more congested. Finally, I don't quite agree about the distinction between "trainspotter" and "railway enthusiast". The first is a subcategory of the second. I'm a railway enthusiast, but I don't think of myself as a spotter because I've never been bothered about collecting numbers. I enjoy a visit to a heritage railway and I'm also interested in the modern "mainline". Sometimes I find myself on a platform end amongst a group of spotters. I'm not exactly part of their tribe - I'm not taking down numbers - but (as correctly identified in the video) we're all there, at least partly, for the same thing, just an excuse to take some time out and watch the world go by, maybe contemplate that world, just like fishing. Or maybe even like going to the cinema.

[@Adam__-nx3op]

What an absolutely sterling video Lawrie, you could not have explained this better. Definitely my favourite video of yours to date.

[@lmm]

Oh thank you very much!

[@g10118]

Lawrie makes it cool. (never really paid much attention to trains but your enthusiasm for them gave me a new appreciation!)

[@ProjectMarlin]

I watched this last night and was thinking of the line next to the farm I keep my truck at. there is a siding for freight to pull in to let the express past right by the yard and as a kid/ young adult I used to love seeing and hearing the Diesels pull back on to the main line. We used to see a good variety of traction including 37's and 60's but now all you see is 66's. However today I was pleased to waste a bit of my day listening to 60029 Ben Nevis idling in the siding and then pulling back on to the main line.

[@eze8970]

The romance has gone as you said. For decades it's been trains 'bad', cars/alternative travel 'good', with lack of investment, declining services & labour disputes making it's image worse. Far more instant distractions now. Hopefully any sort of spotting is becoming more understood now, & it doesn't hurt anyone. P.S If your friends' Iron Maiden Powerslave t-shirt is an original, it's ancient & should be saved & put on display! Up the Irons!

[@lmm]

I have no idea about the shirt 😂 I hope so, it certainly feels less worthy of doing though!

[@tomasbarbosa8654]

I think cars are the only thing that don't get hate, if you start talking about a ferrari everyone gets interested, if you are talking about a steam engine everyone stares at you... I wish there was more stuff about trains on the media, like with cars.

[@jameshardy4354]

I'm not interested in cars but yes seems to be the way it is how can a box on 4 wheels get so mutch hype I just dont understand

[@thetechnocrat4979]

@@jameshardy4354 I think it's because cars are a consumer product which everyday people can buy and use. Even expensive, luxury cars act as an aspiration for people as one can buy them once they are wealthy enough. With aircrafts, it's because they can fly and luxury private jets are an aspiration for some. But compared to cars, passenger and freight aircrafts don't get much hype. They are seen in a similar vein to trains. Buses have it even worse. I hardly see anyone liking buses. Liking ships is also a rarity. Honestly, I don't like a lot of cars (only a few exceptions that I like for their styling aspect). I think they look like boring, squashed metal bugs who try too hard to look cool. Modern trains and planes, unfortunately, look very dull and lifeless. So, they don't fare well in comparison to the metal bugs.

[@MrStark-up6fi]

Honestly, it’s society for ya. You mention a plane and you get bullied

[@jameshardy4354]

The problem is only the rich could afford a car the problem came when everyone could afford a car

[@thetechnocrat4979]

@@MrStark-up6fi True, even plane spotters are looked at in a weird way.

[@owenjones-wells9395]

Your video bought up very interesting points I'd not thought much about before. I'd have to class myself as a railway enthusiast. When I was younger is go down to the nearest station to watch the freight trains and would always make sure to catch a glimpse of any steam excursion I could get to. I always wanted to have a career with network rail, and went on work experience at a network rail site. It wasn't for me, and I've ended up working in quality in manufacturing. My love of trains is now purely a hobby.

[@InstantKarma_1]

This video randomly popped on my recommended, and I am glad I took the time to watch, thus that I think you acknowledged this issue perfectly tbqh. I grew up among mostly EMUs when I was little, but even so, there was a fair bit of diversity. And on that note, as you mentioned about the locomotives passing by, because of their heritage and age, they'd be so much hype to witness pass by. But on a whole, my love will still stand and stay for EMUs, just cos of how I feel about them tbh. Can concur that as a train enjoyer (Used to Trainspot and ride trains around with some of my family when I was younger), I've started gravitating more to other modern transportational machinery; buses and hypercars (Supercars too). However, with London's bus network falling under the same blandness as trains, it becomes increasingly hard to stay interested with the upcoming and current rollingstock (Especially as I can't stand the Boris Buses, thus the B5LH buses that look like the Borris Buses - can't recall it's name), same with the trains, just like how the Class 700 DesiroCity replaced the entirety of Thameslink's rollingstock, instead of what I was initially *always* hoping; more rollingstock to enjoy watching/riding. Now, I can possibly only enjoy watching a 319, a 387, and a 700 passing by together in the same location on Train Simulator, just so I can enjoy the hopes I dreamt of. Furthermore, because of the decisions the DfT keep making, thus how some private companies are also struggling with their issues, I have a fair sized - lack of a better term - hatred to GA (Greater Anglia) and it's precisely to what you mentioned about all the fancy locomotives you'd see. I personally feel that NXEA (National Express East Anglia) was at the prime of the GEML services, aesthetically speaking. Not only was the rollingstock vast, and not only did you have a fair share of sub classes from a few units, but most of the trains had transitional liveries which'd make all the train sets look so colourful honestly. I miss that, it was such a joy to witness those sights. There's been some changes I really haven't enjoyed, but just tolerated, cos life is honestly full of odd shenanigans and nuisances. But "change" doesn't have to be all bad, and as you said, some of us may need to change too, mostly so there's not such a huge discord in the community. Perhaps fonding over some nostalgia in heritage and memorable traction that used to roam not only the rails, but the rails. Hell, I'd even say the water and air at this point, as I'm sure that perhaps other areas have similar issues too. I digress, and apologise for rant-sounding comment, this video was very well made, and tackled sone very critical subjects on the matter. Massive like for this, truly a well made video Oh, I almost forgot, I was also bullied when I was younger for my fascination with buses, trains, and cars, and nowadays, I mostly keep quiet about it, or just quickly mention it as a quick disclosure so that it's acknowledged, but isn't risked of being judged for my odd interests. The whole stereotypes of this madness are completely unfair, and can truly shatter one's confidence and love for a certain topic said individual enjoys

[@westlondontransportwildlif5810]

A great video Lawrie and there are a lot of points I do agree with. I do like filming trains but I don't do it all the time. I only go out and see the odd train or if I do go and watch trains somewhere it will only be for a bit and then I go on a lovely walk around a historic town or in the countryside. I have never been mocked or bullied for my interest in trains as my friends know that despite not sharing the same interests and even though I'm not an avid supporter of football for example I will still watch the odd game (The World Cup final was incredible). I just see it as a hobby and something I do from time to time and if there is a particular train running on my local line I want to see then I will go and see it but if I go out somewhere then I will only film trains for maybe 1 hour and get clips together of the trains to make into a video to share with everyone and then as I said go on a walk as I enjoy just being out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of towns and cities. Trains and railways bring me to these places out in the countryside and I can connect the two together and it helps me relax in particularly stressful times.

[@lmm]

It's the joy of it, going out and relaxing, and maybe seeing a train.

[@SammyBFilms]

Ok, here's my takes: I don't think it that's the right question to ask. Or it's a very decorated version of the question that should be asked. If I may, I'm going to re-phrase that question into something that is much deeper and more important than whether it's "cool", based on something you said in this video. And for the point I'm making, lets forget the "railway theme" of the question, and have it as: "why isn't _your hobby here_ cool. Here's a different way I'm seeing of asking that question: Why am I not good enough. Think about it, where does the need to question our passion and what we choose to do, really come from? It comes from others doubting, and finding our time spending habits "odd" "silly" "not cool", what ever similar word you use. And here's the important/deeper part..... what do pretty much all us railway enthusiasts have in common?..... We were mocked/bullied for it at school. It doesn't come from us. It comes from others that doubt you, mostly from a younger age when it gets stuck in the mind easily. That example can be applied to many other things, I'm sure, but I've never heard your question, or anything like it within this community. I think really it's us..... that needs to change the way we think others perception of us is. And the people that mock us today are few and far between. I wouldn't want a few bad apples to shape the way I see the public perception of us. I don't think it's a railway issue, more of a societal one. My other take is much more of a technical one: The concept of "train spotter" can't really exist in today's world. Before the big steam ban many years ago, trains could be anywhere in the country. As you say, you could stand on a bridge and watch the 2857 fright train by chance, and never see or even know where it would be next. That might be the only chance you get to see it. Now-days, you can find out where every single train is without leaving your pc chair. There's none of that, "who knows what I'll see today" approach. Sure, you can go and look at a train you've always wanted to see, and take down it's number, but there's no rush to see it, you know where it is, and you can go and see it the following weekend if you want. The way we can enjoy railway has just changed. I guess in a round about way, I pretty much agree with what you're saying yeah, I just don't think it's as black and white to describe your favourite area of railways any more. We're all railway enthusiast who enjoy different parts of the railways. And just to throw another one in here, does it need to be cool? Always good to bring stuff like this up and chat. Happy new year Lawrie!

[@lmm]

I think it's more that humans generally don't like what they find to be different. There's this mentality of "I don't like that, therefore they must be weird to like that, therefore I want to stay away" And railway enthusiasts end up on the wrong side of that thought process. I certainly agree that it's very different today. Although, you'll know the train is running from something like real time trains, but you won't know what the actual motive power will be, so the trainspotting excitement is still there.

[@highdownmartin]

@@lmm Good post and a good reply. I’m reminded of a vid I saw recently discounting the myth that Ringo Starr was a shite drummer; as the bloke doing the vid got people of that opinion to try and play along on some lesser known tracks. They failed miserably and all said “ but I’d heard that he wasn’t very good and never really looked into it more than that”. So spotting ( and a love or interest in, railways is assumed by the general public to be nerdy , uncool, weird but they’ve never ever thought about it, it’s just received wisdom. Which makes them feel better about about crying when some men they like ,kicking a bag of wind around , do it badly .

[@ELRTrainspotter]

I’ve waited to watch this video, as I felt I needed the right time. I completely agree Laurie, perfectly put. Thank you for saying what we’re all thinking!

[@tescotrain]

This is a great video I live in East London so I got a lot of traction when privatisation became a thing to just now. I wasn't old enough to see everything but I loved it none the less. I also liked it when I saw randomly something rare come unexpectedly on the railway like a LO 315 operate with a TfL rail one, now you don't exactly see that anymore

[@OliverWalkerNG_official]

I would call myself a trainspotter. Like you said it’s relaxing and enjoyable

[@lmm]

It's a nice thing to do.

[@sr7791]

Much more enjoyable than sitting in front of the Tell-Lie-Vision

[@OliverWalkerNG_official]

@@sr7791 indeed

[@BennyBizzle1]

What a great video. Raises some great points. I missed the glory days and I'm trying to live it now by driving the class 31 up and down a couple of miles of NLR every now and again. Although I missed the glory days, those locos are around in smaller numbers and tracking down and photting them is a challenge and exciting. I even find interest in the class 66s they've all got small variations and things. Like you said, just being near the lineside is relaxing. As for the public perception, I own my hobby, I'm loud and proud and confident about it and in the face of such conviction people don't seem to go for the anorak comments. They are amazed that I have such commitment to something, let's face it, most people who criticise just sit at home drinking their life away. That's fine, it's their choice. I'd rather be a train spotter, hiking around in fresh air, practicing an art (photography) and enjoying life 👍👍

[@BennyBizzle1]

Also, sorry for.the essay

[@lmm]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm hoping to get to you guys and film with it later in the year! 66s aren't bad, I just preferred it when it was mixed with other things like the 70's. But you're an active volunteer, and I think that changes how the general public sees you. You drive the massive great train!

[@BennyBizzle1]

@@lmm As I said at Warley, you will be very welcome and we will get something arranged. We are in a bit of trouble at the minute with some bridge timbers but that's another story. Yes, I'm quite lucky, I'm a short drive away from the WCML and WCML and live on the MML so can see much more variety. That's true, I do have that I suppose. But often I don't offer that information. I usually start with I'm a train spotter 😂

[@lmm]

@@BennyBizzle1 ah fair enough. Hope to see you guys later then!

[@TheSteamdriver]

I think that is why I largely get a positive reaction when I tell people. Is because I am volunteer at Amberley Museum on the Museum railway involved with the local model railway club and watching trains in general either at another heritage railway or going or going somewhere a bit different on the network so I could different stuff and not just 377s and 700s

[@TowerBaron]

Great video! I'm not a train spotter but I do like watching videos on railroads and trains. Naturally, I love seeing them in person as well. Unfortunately, here in Brazil, railroads are kinda scarce. On the other hand that might be one of the reasons why I started liking trains so much. Once a year or so I visit my grandparents who live in another state. The whole journey takes around 7 hours by bus (it's not possible to go by train anymore), and as a kid I was fascinated by the long empty iron ore trains we could see on our way there. It always felt great travelling and looking at the window hoping to catch a train on its way to the mines. However I agree with you regarding the boring part. I'm not nearly as interested in commuter trains as in cargo trains since they all look kind of the same. And while I mainly see iron ore trains on my travels, sometimes you can see different kinds of wagons, different diesel engines and the occasional general cargo wagons sitting on a yard being arranged.

[@lmm]

Oh that's really interesting to here your perspective from Brazil!

[@jamieknight326]

This is beautifully written and presented. Fantastic work Laurie. I think this overlaps with the concept of neurodiversity and how attention and interest can flow in different ways. Folks who have intense interests outside of what’s typical can be judged for it harshly, but the intensity of the interest can be a hugely positive thing in our lives. It can also change the world. I wonder how many trainspotters built skills which led to innovation in other areas. It’s all part of the variety which makes the world an interesting place. Whatever name we choose for it, it has a huge value to us and society as a whole.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! Yes indeed, we all work in different ways, I'm certainly one who has gone all in to his hobby!

[@adamleewicks8529]

So very true, I prefer old locomotives , steam standard gauge and narrow gauge. I miss the class 90,153,156,170 and the 37 ,47,68 . Not can of this modern stuff 745,755,720 to quiet miss the engines that made noise showing how hard they were working especially 156 ,153,170. When I went on them used to open th window latch above window just to listen to the nous on 156,153. But 170 didn't have window latch but still amazing sound even at night.

[@lmm]

The 153/6's are the sound of my childhood!

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Something a bit different from you. Nice. I think the 'anorak' comes from the number colectors. I'm an Aircraft enthusiast, but I'm not bothered whick one of a type I see, I don't collect aircraft tail numbers, I just enjoy seeing different aircraft. I think we find number collectors a little, different. But hey, as ling as they are happy.

[@lmm]

I think with any hobby it's how deep do you delve? Being on the footplate is pretty deep in the heritage movement, but you can enjoy just going for a train ride.

[@FreedomtowerStudios]

Awesome Video Lawrie! I just subscribed! Being a avid trainspotter since i was a kid and filming them for KZbin for a long time, I agree with with you. Its the people who don't understand that give us the hard time! For example, when i was a kid in New Jersey, our passenger railway, NJ Transit used, U34CH's, GP40PH-2s GP40FH-2s and F40PH-2CATs. Loved those engines, now its just futurist looking locomotives.

[@BritishTrainspotting]

I think your distinction between trainspotter and enthusiast is well explained and quite necessary to distinguish. I consider myself an enthusiast (aswell as a trainspotter) for semi-modern traction, things like second gen MUs and the early privatised stock like voyagers or adelantes. I do also enjoy other trains, some modern trains stand out, like the flirts or 777s for their quirky design or above average quality, and I quite like the sound and sense of power older diesel locos have, like 37s or 45s. However I certainly would jump at the opportunity to go to a train gala or other special rail event in the future once the time and money are in my grasp.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@BritishTrainspotting]

@@lmm No problem!

[@matthillmedia]

Great video, I disagree a bit about modern trains but that's what makes us all different. Train spotter friend with the Poweslave Iron Maiden shirt on noted too - trains and heavy metal, great combination 🙂 New subsriber here, I look forward to working our way through your videos. Cheers. Matt

[@worldcomicsreview354]

I remember reading an article about a "war" in trainspotting between, I beleive, the "kettlers" who love steam engines, and the diesel enthusiasts. Though it was probably as overblown as the "comic con hooligans" of a few years back.

[@Duececoupe]

Probably because no more steam and LMS, LNER, GWR and Southern....🤨🤔😉 Still love my trains (and other older technical marvels), but feel absolutely nothing about today's contraptions.... Damn, I miss being a fireman on steam locomotives and that smell of coal etc., etc.... I hope that you and fellas are all doing well my friend....my round I believe! 🍻

[@Duececoupe]

What we need (besides more steam) is more Class 37's etc., etc., with upgraded internals....😉😎

[@lmm]

Do love a 37. I love being involved with the heritage movement. It's an amazing thing! We're good thanks - we'll hold you to that! 😂

[@Duececoupe]

@@lmm Yip, I totally agree....I need to get back into that up here in Glasgow, if there is anything going on, I miss shoveling coal! 🥺😥 Please do, I'd be honoured and happy to buy a couple or so rounds and chit chat about steam and whatnot! 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 The '37 is a nice looking locomotive, I don't know about the Class 58 and 66, they're just (mumbling) not very nice looking....like the Class 42, have a wee soft spot for those as well! 😁😎

[@Uftonwood2]

I believe the number taking was just the excuse to be there, to be witness to the raw power of a steam engine, the heat, the smell, those ever evolving clouds of smoke and steam, the drama of the slipping wheels as they started, the treasured ‘cab’. All gone now.

[@hawkerhellfire9152]

The first few clips speak volumes. Absolutely no noise or drama.

[@lmm]

Excatly! That's the problem!

[@hawkerhellfire9152]

@Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels kzbin.info/www/bejne/maKWl4duaseinpI There are some fair exceptions mind. I video'd these snarling little beasts last year. Sadly now getting very rare. I don't know what I like more about the last clip, the roaring engine, the sanders going flat out or the friendly wave from the driver!

[@BreoSims]

Great video

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@NatRailwayMuseum]

Of course it's cool!

[@alexmegyeri818]

I used to be an avid trainspotter from another European country with a badly aging rolling stock, where increasingly commonplace failures used to result in some rather intriguingly random trainsets as they scrambled to find a replacement engine or coach for duty in place of the failed one, it brought some unintentional variety which kept being fun to catch on camera. Today we have somewhat more reliable service as more and more of the same few standard model DMUs and EMUs have taken over, and with that trainspotting became mundane to me, I feel like I've lost the point in watching the same standard EMU go by for the 1550th time.

[@iainbruce3376]

I spent a childhood going round local yards, junctions and platforms. Saw some cool stuff. The original Euro stars being pulled by diesel loco through kent prior to delivery, constant TML rock trains from the tunnel build, steam tours and the constant 37/33 workings at hoo junction. Even the old slamdoor ceps and veps held an interest. I could never go back and do that again because what is left is so so dull, grey bland and shiny.

[@LegoJamTrain567]

Wait... its not cool?

[@lmm]

Long as you think it is, that's fine!

[@rogajones]

Have you heard of Francis Bourgeois - he is doing really well on social media and channel 4 have just done a load of vids with him and celebrities trainspotting. Your comments about school were similar to my experiences - I much preferred railways (real & model) to football. Anyway - mind how you go, and thanks for the vid.

[@lmm]

He's not my cup of tea.

[@BritishTrainspotting]

I dislike Francis Bourgeois. He is a persona whom makes general entertainment, not trainspotting content. He has further swayed the public's view on trainspotters and enthusiasts, all trainspotters and enthusiasts have their own way of doing things and anyone with that level of publicity should consider explaining that.

[@isaac_fuller_]

For me, I haven’t spotted in ages due to being kind of depressed. Still haven’t got back to it, and have changed my job prospects from the railways to something else. However, my love for the heritage railway has never died out, I will always get giddy over a steam engine. Part of that for me is the whole romance with the 50s and 60s we as a country still have (music, fashion, and cars as well). It paints an idyllic image of a nicer world. The way the railways used to be intertwined with industry and communities, especially where I live in south wales is so fascinating to me, which is how I got so interested in Human Geography for Uni! As you said, the railways are simply a boring thing to get us from A to B now, and with the strikes, a serious bone of contention. Hopefully the railways will get some more investment from a better government and some of that romance returns.

[@AlexG-pp3oy]

Love hearing your perspective. I don’t trainspot, but I have always been fascinated by trains and am very interested in train networks, such as the London tube network. I’m also autistic, and I know that a stereotype of autistic folks is that we love trains. I do think an element of the attitude towards trainspotters, and enthusiasts in general, is due to society’s discomfort with autistic special interests. I think a lot of non-autistic people have met autistic folks who they deemed “weird”, who happened to also be very interested in something specific, so they associated that level of interest with being “weird”. But I also think that what is “cool” to be interested in depends a lot on media - being a super fan of a sport generates a lot more income than trainspotting, especially at a population level. I think it has been in the interest of media companies to depict sports fandom as “cool” and niche enthusiasm as “nerdy” for a while now, which has coincided with the decline in romanticism around trains. I do hope that’s changing. I am starting to see it - more and more people online are embracing niche hobbies and becoming interested in previously uncool things. Hopefully one day, we train lovers in all our different varieties will be seen as cool! (And for the record, I think trainspotters are very cool, but I’m just an autistic nerd!)

[@fanassy9109]

I from time to time trainspot in Lisbon, Portugal and post some pictures on Instagram.. I've come to the conclusion that people my age (I'm a high schooler) don't seem to trainspot not because it necessarily became boring, but because visibly it became poorer, it doesn't have it's asthetic. A great example is that there's a small section of the metro that goes above ground for a very short amount of time, then I posted a video, a friend of mine asked me where ot was because she wanted to take asthetic pictures there. That can also be seen in London or in Tokyo, the energy those places give on the internet are eye-catching for people of my age, but no one thinks of them as trainspotting. That makes me believe the problem is not that the vehicles are boring, but that the scenery is not worked on which makes the whole place boring

[@stefantrainspotter]

1:00 I love trains too and I cam understand you. Keep up with your work Lawrie!

[@justaflo1922]

Those are very interesting points. I love trains since i was a child and i would call myself a trainspotter back when i was ~15 years old. Today im working for DB in Germany for 6 years now as a traindriver and my view has changed a bit. I now get nostalgic feelings when i see a train from the 70s, which were still common in ~ 2010, when i was spotting nearly every day. I‘m very very happy to still be able to drive the DB Class 420 (developed in the late 60s/early70s) at least once week here in Munich, which brings me great joy. But driving all the modern, silent DB Class 423s etc, which are sooo easy to handle is just…work for me, without many emotions…

[@bigdave586]

Excellent video. I was an avid train spotter as a youth, back in the 70's. I still love travelling on the railway and visiting preserved lines and in the last 3 years, have had the pleasure of introducing my grandson to trains too! He lives a few minutes walk from Derby Road Station, Ipswich and even at age 2, was starting to read the names off of the containers on the Felixstowe Docks freights and to read, Abillio Greater Anglia, from the Station posters. Now age 4, I've taken him to both the Stour Valley and Colne Valley railways, where he's so enjoyed DMU and open truck rides! His real delight and wonder recently was to sit at the front of a driverless train on the DLR. Such fun!

[@westerner2549]

My grandad told me that when he was a little boy he would go to a railway bridge at watch all the steam engines rumble by, he even took down there numbers down in a book as they past, but sadly he doesn’t know where it is.

[@billymarshall6717]

Well said and a well rounded video. Thanks.

[@lmm]

You're most welcome!

[@HMStrainspotter]

I like that your not bashing trainspotters your just explaining that you are a railway enthusiast instead of a trainspotter

[@countludwigvonnippeltassel]

A fantastic video, Lawrie. Very well written and presented with some extremely valid points. Thank you.

[@lmm]

You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it