Quote:
Originally Posted by Ikho
Hi everyone, my name's Izzy and I'm a third year illustration student at Westminster university.
I'm basing my project on trainspotting for my new project and at the moment I'm collecting information and images to use in my project.
My main aim at the moment is just to learn about the hobby and give it all a bit more of a personal/intimate feel by looking out for anecdotes or opinions from the people behind the trainspotting.
I've come up with some questions I'd love for people to answer for me if you have the time. You can answer all of them or you can just answer the ones you want to - it could even just be one of them. Anything you can tell me would be amazingly useful and would help me so much.
My e-mail is [email protected] if you would rather send me your answers or feel free to post your answers here. Thanks again!
Thank you for your time and apologies if any of my questions are silly/ignorant of the hobby and please let me know if I've been miss informed on anything.
Thank you!! |
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When did you start trainspotting? In the mid 50's
How often to you go? Sometimes daily on the way home from school.
What are the essential items you always take with you? Pencil and paper.
How does the 'trainspotter' stereotype make you feel? It has changed as trainspotting was much more common in the 1950's. In general I feel sorry for the people who make fun of it but have no real hobby/interests of their own!
Do you get much interest from members of the public? (pos/neg) Not really
What has been your best/worst experience? Best: Coming down Shap on the Birmingham-Glasgow Express in 1958 behind City of Birmingham. I timed the train at 100mph plus! Riding on the first public passenger train behind Tornado at the end of January 2009 between York and Newcastle and see the hundreds if not thousands of people lining the trackside then tell me people don't like steam trains!
What's the best/worst thing about the hobby? It tends to be compulsive!
How does it affect your day to day life? (if it does at all) Now I have retired many of the things I do are train related.
Your favourite train model? (if there is such a thing.. sorry I'm still learning!) Duchess of Sutherland.
Has trainspotting inspired you to do anything else?/Do you have any related hobbies that have sprung from trainspotting? I am helping to reopen the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway just north of Derby where I help replace trackwork and am learning to fire the Railway's first steam engine, which I helped to overhaul. I am now part of the team overhauling a second engine.
I am also involved in raising money to build a new LMS Patriot Class Locomotive to be named "The Unknow Warrior" and has been endorsed by the British Legion as The New National War Memorial Engine.
How does your wife/partner feel about your hobby? Do they come with you? She goes along with it and is a working volunteer at The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. She is also involved with the LMS Carriage Association restoring Carriages for use on the EVR.
Are there any 'slang' words used within the trainspotting community? Quite a few!
How would you feel if someone were to approach you while you were at a station and ask you a question? Would it be annoying? (I am planning on interviewing people at Clapham and taking photos but I don't want to be a pest) If people are genuinely interested I am happy to talk to them. Would probably bore the socks of them!
Where are the best stations in London for spotting? No idea, I'm a Northerner!
Do you mind being called a 'trainspotter'? I prefer to be thought of as a railway enthusiast!
Hope these answers are useful. Good luck with the project Izzy.
Best wishes,
John H-T.