The Unicum Guide To Trainspotting (Ft. JVids24)

As always, a massive thanks once more to Railway Graphics for drawing the fantastic artwork for the thumbnail. You can see more of their work here: / train.graphics
So, you've heard of or maybe have seen some people film trains for some reason and you think it may be a fun thing to do? Join me and the Random Person in this guide and you'll be on the way to become an MLG trainspotter in no time!
Thanks to JVids24 for helping me make this video. We had a great time filming it! You can view his channel here: / @jvids24
Railway Review playlist: • Railway Reviews
Additional resources for beginner trainspotters:
www.nationalrail.co.uk/statio...
www.rail-record.co.uk/guide-t...
www.networkrail.co.uk/communi...
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Donate here: ko-fi.com/danieldesiro

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all. I hope you enjoy this special unicum video as much as both me and JVids24 spent time in the middle of nowhere making it. This video has been in development hell since last year and I dedicate this in memory to my late sister, Aimee. She absolutely hated trains but I know she would've been rolling on the floor laughing if she saw this. Here's to 2023 being a year closer to death! Wooooooooo!

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

Merry Chrysler

[@AndymusThePrime]

I am really sorry to hear the loss. The video would have had her laughing and we all enjoyed the video. MLG train coverage is amazing, such a refreshing new perspective

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thanks man.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

@@CHAuto333 No. The whole point of the unicum style of videos is to use TTS as well as the style of thumbnails and presentation. What you're asking for is a pizza without cheese, sauce or for it to be heated.

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel If you don't mind the question, what TTS do you use for these videos?

[@threeninetyexpress9243]

What a video, definitely one of my favourites from you. I’m really sorry for your loss of your sister, but I’m sure she is smiling from heaven seeing this.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thanks mate, she certainly is. :)

[@FranekTransport0607]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel I'm sorry aswell, I'm sure she is proud of you

[@legoisthebest001SCR]

If you are near brum, I recommend paying a visit to Kings Norton because of the various classes of trains coming through with a complex layout that brings fright and cross country trains. Also it have a tons of good position to film at (such as the foot bridge, the southern end of platform 4 and the northern end of platform) Also sometimes you can see some special rail tours at spring and summer.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thanks for the suggestion :). Water Orton is on my list personally but I'll keep Kings Norton in mind too.

[@haymids]

​@@MaverickHunterDaniel local of the area here, you should also check out the crossing down the line, for Up Widnor Jct, and aswell, there is a footbridge over the Down Tamworth lines, sandwiched in the middle there is some goates and horses to keep your sanity.

[@jezza3450]

I envy you Brits when it comes to train spotting. More diversity in rolling stock than we have here! You'll see freights being hauled by the same asbestos cans, and just units in the rare places where there is commuter rail, oh and the occasional diesel passenger service. Even the special excursions are the same! Also want to give my condolences to you and your family for the passing of your sister.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thank you very much. At least New Zealand has a train network of sorts. I can't say much since I haven't really gone anywhere near the Southern Hemisphere outside of Grenada, if that even counts.

[@LennoxWAlexander]

I recommend Glasgow Central as you can see a variety of different trains plus it's more than likely you'll see two or maybe even three trains come into the station at once. The maze of tracks out of the station is very satisfying to watch from the distance too.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I could only imagine for the time being. Glasgow and the rest of Scotland is still too out of my budget.

[@AymanTravelTransport]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel and currently flooded so you'll need to hire a boat because LOL

[@somax1259]

I know its a bit cheeky but when I go trainspotting I just ask the station staff if I can go in for trainspotting and it has always worked for me. one time they just saw me coming and let me in :)

[@TheTrainiac377]

Same, the staff at my local station know me well so they usually know I do trainspotting

[@rs8382]

Same here

[@FarmYardGaming]

I asked for a platform ticket at Paddington to see the GWR sets and was actually told to do this but never did, maybe tomorrow is the day

[@verumignis4778]

Waterloo East is by far the best station for southeastern, and you can see every train passing through from the middle island platform.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

New Cross and St Johns deserve a mention, though it's easy for shots to get cockblocked by stopping trains.

[@verumignis4778]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel Ill have to check those out this weekend, and waterloo east also suffers from stopped trains blocking shots.

[@railquest]

Spot on, loved this - might send this to a couple of folk, spread the word of the hobby at last... If anyone lives in Merseyside, Cheshire or Greater Manchester - Acton Bridge is one of the best trainspotting stations in the UK for both passenger and freight spotters

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Appreciated. I've always wanted to go to Acton Bridge, but couldn't stomach the crap frequency of trains actually stopping there, not to mention nonexistent onward connections.

[@AymanTravelTransport]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel try the Longsight ASDA Carpark in Manchester as well, as the variety of passing trains every few minutes is insane and you get a great view of them as well!

[@Benji_transport_vids]

Great video! I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I'd recommend Euxton Balshaw lane to northerners because there's a variety of traction including: Passenger, Freight, Railtours, etc. It also has passing lines for Pendolinos and Voyagers at high speed!

[@makingmemesat3AM]

6:53 YOOO THAT WAS A SPOT I USED TO GO TO 10:15 YOOO THATS THE SPOT I GO TO RN

[@ReecesTrains]

Great video! Kirkstall Forge in Leeds is a good place to catch trains passing.

[@TheTrainiac377]

If anyone is in the South East, I’d suggest filming at one of these 4 stations, Lewes because you get some freight trains and a small variety of trains (before the end of April), Polegate because you get a pretty decent amount of trains stopping there, and having some nice angles to film at in general, Hampden Park because you get both passing and stopping trains, and finally Eastbourne because most trains don’t terminate there, they just turn around from there to continue their journey

[@Frowny13]

Loved this video!! The jokes got a good laugh out of me and it’s cool to see a guide to trainspotting. I’ve been trainspotting myself for well over a decade and I never get tired of seeing some trains. I live by the Northeast Corridor and usually go somewhere between Providence and Boston with it being my local area. The best station to trainspot is Forest hills as lots of trains pass there during rush hour, and you can even see subway trains nearby. Readville is also a good location as you get a good mix of trains passing by and stopping.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Glad you enjoyed it too :). JVids went to the USA and filmed some trains on the Northeast Corridor earlier in the year. Forgot where though.

[@Frowny13]

That’s cool! I’d love to see you go to the USA yourself someday. We don’t have the best rail system in the world but the railfan scene is massive. Maybe a railway review on an American train someday? ;)

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

@@Frowny13 Until I become a millionaire and acquire several plates of Kevlar, I don't really see myself stepping foot in the USA.

[@Frowny13]

Oh come on it’s not that dangerous here. Yes it does happen sometimes but that kind of stuff is usually an afterthought. I’m sure your buddy JVids can attest to that.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

He can, but I don't wanna go I'm afraid. Again, it's more money than anything.

[@LordEverythingtrains]

If you are in London, I'd reccomend Vauxhall, lots of trains. Spent 20 mins there and got 11 mins of footage. Plus lots of variety

[@davidk4926]

I am rather familiar with the Midland Mainline as my local line, so some personal suggestions for me on this line include Cricklewood, Luton airport parkway, Flitwick, Bedford, Kettering, Syston, Derby, Attenborough, and Sheffield. All good in their own ways, but my favourites to go to :) Loved the video as well, quality humour once again 👍💪

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thanks. Midland Mainline is a good option, provided you have access to a Swiss bank account considering EMR's abhorrent ticket pricing.

[@davidk4926]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel tell me about it 🙄

[@BACConcordeproductions]

Ipswich has quite a tight timetable and freight trains are quite common.

[@verumignis4778]

I kinda want to film at heathrow just to see how long i can get away with it

[@Spacebug111]

IMO wolverton is a good place for train spotting, you get really good shots of trains passing on the fast track, and there is also a curve which looks really good when the pendilinos go on it

[@smudgy9827]

Recommendation: If you're in wiltshire, head to westbury, there's good spots on the station and a short footpath a little ways away goes over the reading to taunton line and the line down to salisbury, I've seen a fair few trains there.

[@nowapproachingyt]

If there’s one thing I would suggest, it’s that I’d go to somewhere with at least 3 platforms (one for passing trains and 2 for stopping services). If you go to the central platform (usually platform 2, duh) you’ll usually have a great view on trains coming from either direction (sad that my local station has trees blocking the line :/)

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

So like St. Margarets?

[@nowapproachingyt]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel yeah something similar, I was kinda thinking about something like Mirfield station

[@AymanTravelTransport]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel or Cheadle Hulme up north

[@FranekTransport0607]

Cambridge North is a great station to trainspot at because you can see a mix of passing, terminating,stopping and occasionally freight train and normally two great northern services meet one heding to london and the other to King's Lynn or ely

[@317Dan]

You also get a few liners to London Gateway and Tilbury through Stratford, but most of those go via the GOBLIN because getting a path from the main lines over the electric lines towards Barking at Forest Gate Jn has about the same success rate as winning Takeshi's Castle. I'm more interested in freight overall, my local (ish) best station is Doncaster, but overall I'd say Stafford (why are the good stations always in terrible places lol), I've spent the night there on the station 3 times now to see the 60+ freight overnight

[@MatthewK421]

Watford Junction is a nice station to spot at imo (when trains are running of course 🤣) There’s a lot of variety and the trains are very fast too. The first time I went spotting at Watford Junction, the adrenaline after a Pendolino passing at 110mph was so high, it felt great!

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Watford Junction was a station that I was going to mention, however I am hesitent to reccomend the WCML until both Avanti and WMT clean up their act.

[@rs8382]

Understandable

[@andrewreynolds4949]

Yass I would recommend any place along the BNSF southern transcon route, there’s trains for hours there. Colorado has some fantastic stuff too. But I have made it a personal mission to get a picture of every caboose, steam locomotive, and historical pile of junk in my state. I’ll get back to you on that in about 30 years…

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Heh, my geographical knowledge on the USA is really bad, but your input is appreciated nonetheless :).

[@monoonyx]

Hadley Wood and Alexandra Palace (plus the London end of Harringay) are great spots for the ECML down south, while also being in oyster/travelcard zones if you ever want to pop out and find a cafe nearby. Also should add that a travelcard with a railcard zones 1-9 is around 10 quid, which is far cheaper than having multiple max TfL charges to your oyster because you haven't tapped out and the card thinks you've gone somewhere you shouldn't have.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thanks and yeah, travelcards rule. I really hate how obnoxious zones 7, 8 9 and the "special fare zones" are though.

[@JVids24]

brb off to collect my Oscar award for that performance /j

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

:3

[@aaronthomas6269]

South Kenton is one of the best stations to trainspotting as you nice mix of fast stopping and freights and it mostly empty there to and it un staff there to that good you can spend as you like

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I love filming at South Kenton, but again, WCML has dropped like a stone in terms of good services.

[@lrvproductions]

If you are around the North West I suggest you go to Castleton railway station, just outside Rochdale.

[@pinza55007]

Hi. Firstly, a Happy New Year to you. Now onto good places to spot. Eastleigh is great for people in the south, it has a good mix of stopping and non stopping diesel and electrics plus regular freight to and from southampton docks. The staff are trainspotter friendly. Also with two yards, a depot and the works, there is always something going on. Other places I have enjoyed are Hadley Wood, Harrow and wealdstone and Tilehurst. Hope people find that helpful. p.s. I just love your sense of humour. Anymore train reviews in the pipeline? maybe a 444/450 review?

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

A happy new year to you too mate. I did forget to mention Eastleigh, though it's certainly a good choice for variety. Same for the likes of Hadley Wood, Harrow & Wealdstone and Tilehurst too. As for the 444 and 450s? We'll see what the future holds this year. I have more than 6GB of photos and film of the 450 alone lol.

[@pinza55007]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel I suppose you could do the desirous family although there are many differences between them all. Good luck with it if you do it.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

The basic plan I had was to do all the electric ones sans the 380 (because no time and money for Scotland) then at a later time do the 185 seperatley. So either way, I would've done the family :)

[@lindabradtke]

OMG NICE

[@TML03]

Surprised no ones mentioned Nuneaton Station yet. You get a good mixture of high speed Pendolinos and freight, along with stopping services.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Oh yeaaaaaaaaaah, Nuneaton's a good one too, though it can be a bit of a hassle if you want to get a good shot of XC trains on their platforms without moving around. Thanks still, a good location to suggest.

[@lucastheelectrostar9176]

Lovely video! A place I recommend to trainspot at is Penge west. You can get lovely drivers doing horns at you, (especially the Overground & Southern ones) an array of fast and slow trains and the services are extremley frequent (unless theres a strike or no Southern services are running on that day), then yes. You should go there.

[@CPTrains]

I got kicked out of Penge West, funny how people get different experiences.

[@lucastheelectrostar9176]

@@CPTrains I've never gotten kicked out from Penge west, thats strange.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Anytime I hear about someone getting kicked out of a station, I'm always reminded of DarkRP admins or that bit in The Incredibles where Syndrome freezes people with his finger: i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/002/318/957/1f1.jpg

[@jakeee114]

Grantham is definitely one of the most underrated stations, quiet station with good variety and my personal favourite. Well if you like freight then maybe not as about 4 passes a year and that’s just a basic 66 with 5 hopper wagons Great video though

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Thanks mate.

[@a_eastcoast.pacer1]

In the NW, I recommend Leyland or Holmes Chapel as they have fast trains and stopping trains at a decent frequency!

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I quite liked Holmes Chapel or indeed any of the stations between Crewe and Stockport. One of the few lines to see a 175 at top speed. Provided there aren't delays of course.

[@So1]

You two know each other irl? Dang that’s cool Also this is a cool video I kinda wanna do this stuff

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Indeed we have, for more than 10 years now!

[@ScoutZz]

instructions unclear, train derailed into the platform and broke my phone. Disliked

[@andrewvannan1714]

Hatfield

[@hjhkgjfawdferyyurv1222]

skill issue+ratio

[@kieranstravels]

This sounds like a you problem good sir

[@LordEverythingtrains]

Your fault m8

[@temslink2000]

Id also recommend avoiding Stratford International one to many run ins with security who didn't believe we were there to just watch trains put me off

[@aldertravels]

if I want to film at Heathrow it's the one place I film in portrait, I hide behind a wall and pretend to be having a phone call, then stop talking when a trains about to arrive

[@AymanTravelTransport]

Ardwick in Manchester is also a great place for passing trains, not so much for stopping trains though lol; for a good mix of both, Levenshulme is a decent choice.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I've always fancied going to film there, though it's awkward because services stopping there are infrequent, to be kind.

[@SkyLiner-sf1qr]

If you're really northern, Newcastle Central Station is a good bet

[@TrainMan2345]

Great video just a quick question what text to speech program did you use in this and the railway review ?

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

It's called Balaboka.

[@TrainMan2345]

Thank you

[@Adriaan.]

Balcombe is good but trains pass through at 90mph so be careful lost a fiver to one once

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Indeed. Thoughts and prayers for your £5.

[@ballsinspector]

if you want to spot on the ecml, but can't go up north, another good spot is stevenage. get regular stoppers and trains passing through at over 100mph probably (i forgot the line speed through there). the only downside is it's in stevenage.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Agreed though honestly Stevenage isn't that bad compared to the likes of Stratford or Peckham.

[@ballsinspector]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel well thats a given. its nowhere near as much of a shithole. its just bland. boring with no soul. the only redeeming factor is that its on the ecml.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I'll let you have have bland.

[@eb_ic225]

Line speed through Stevenage is 125mph, making it one of the best spotting locations on the Southern ECML, especially as it is the first station with that line speed after leaving King's Cross, places like Potters Bar and Hadley Wood get lots of attention but trains through there are only 100-110mph usually

[@ballsinspector]

@@eb_ic225 oh right, nice. what other ecml stations have a 125mph line speed?

[@Boeing787Aviation]

I think You should trainspot at Morpeth

[@Max.railways]

Micheldever on the swml is one of the best in hampshire

[@ballsinspector]

for the southern end of the midland main line, luton, bedford and wellingborough are very nice for trainspotting. no clue at all about anything north of leicester.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Again, MML's good as long as you got a few spare £100 bills lying around.

[@ballsinspector]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel yeah i wish ticket prices on emr were much cheaper. like £40 or so booked in advance for a return to leicester from st pancras. and thats if you're lucky. off peak return is £70 without a railcard. To Leicester. What.

[@aalexazander]

although i dont trainspot much these days as im busy i would advise against filming at places like clapham junction and east croydon during the peak

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Good advice that I forgot to include, thanks!

[@classm3219]

Oh no. I once filmed a tram in portrait mode. Balls.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Look out for the entitiy :)

[@LordEverythingtrains]

This got me dying 😆

[@ArchiezAviation]

oops ive been recording portrait on my phone SORRY!

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Too late. The entity is on its way. :)

[@dettrains]

What about network rail visitor passes? You need them to trainspot at Network rail owned stations

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I've never heard of them or needed them considering that I've filmed at a bunch of NR owned stations like St. Pancras, Kings Cross, Euston, Marylebone and Liverpool Street just this year alone wtihout needing them. The secret ingridient is charisma.

[@AzureOtsu]

I'm megaman and I play world of tanks

[@smudgy9827]

You also might get a wave.

[@ismaeltch5999]

if you are in italy, more specifically tuscany, please don't even bother trying to film in any place around Siena, apart from 2 stations: Poggibonsi-San Gimignano and Arbia, as you can see a lot of trains and buses, and a lot of other reasons. The best station to trainspot i have ever been to is Montelupo Capraia: is an old-style elevated station, with curved tracks, and some repairs from rain and the sun, you can spot diesel, electric, and even tri-mode trains, that are in testing right now. this is a station in the Firenze-Empoli line, before Empoli, and after Lastra A Signa and Signa station because the line divides and trains get to stop or pass on one of the stations.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Ah very nice! Thanks for your input :)

[@Semaspots180]

whayyyyy donny on top

[@rs8382]

I would recommend Northallerton in the North (which is superior)

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I feel like a complete tool for forgetting Northallerton. Damn.

[@DaisIsDazed_]

I saw an IET at Northallerton when it was in testing, no livery or anything

[@Britainwithme]

What if you get beeped out nowhere

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Just try to hold steady and not overreact I'd suggest.

[@Toosplash.]

I film in portrait, I better change that.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Indeed you should.

[@Toosplash.]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel and I have as of now

[@dettrains]

Avoid Redhill they have moody staff

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Willing to believe you, though I had no issues with the staff when I went there earlier in the year.

[@armandobishop1683]

*PromoSM* 👌

[@catrobo2740]

@9:21? Lol