Welcome.

look forward to your views on life and on (our) secret affliction. I dont admit I'm a "train spotter" in public either

I do. I confront the car lovers and the 'anorak' jibes head on! :D

Good for you Trev.
There is something sadly wrong when the biggest slob alive can be considered cool and macho simply by having an interest in cars or sport whilst having a interest in railways gets you branded as a weirdo.

I think being interested in railways is cooler than being interested in cars or sport.

Hello ad welcome Stu. I'm openly a railway enthusiast, I don't care what people think.

What I realy need is a 30 second (or shorter) explanation of my railway interests before the listener switches off or comes back with a predictable joke.

"I am interested in trains" is answered with "So you're a trainspotter then" or "Where's your anorak?"

"I am intertested in Heritage Engineering" stops the jibes, but sounds rather pretentious.

"I love the smell of steam and hot oil in the morning" gets them backing towards the door ! :eek: and is a rotten chat up line as well.