Hello Lee and welcome to the forum.
I really enjoyed reading about your spotting days. I am a bit older than you so my first spell of train watching was in the days of steam but my most recent period roughly coincides with yours. I really enjoyed watching and photographing British trains in the 1980's but for me everything started to go downhill in the early 90's and now my main interest is in Swiss trains.
P.S. For old times sake I have posted a photo of the green Class 40 at Chester depot in 1984
http://www.railwayforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2725&cat=500&ppuser=40