Are Trainspotters hated??

Hmm... I guess train spotters does have a negative connotation for some reasons.

FOr example, my friends just dont seem to understand why I like trains so much. They say that I should get a life instead of filming trains.

I totally agree with Jim. A lot of enthusiasts dont do themselves favours, in reference to their dress, hygiene and behaviour.


Go on a railtour or visit a transport bazaar, and you can see them.

Trainspotters are not hated IMHO, but misunderstood and therefore ridiculed.

I remember reading many years ago, that a significant minority of railway enthusiasts have Asperger's syndrome [mild autism] which affects their social skills. They see things in black or white, while the rest of us can differentiate the two. Similarly, they have obsessive traits...so collecting numbers, tickets etc appeals to their personality. Not a nice condition to have really.

I remember seeing a kid [about 16] at Shoreditch on the last day, and you could tell he was Asperger's, he was obsessed with the history of the line and talked about it in minute detail.

I think they have a bad rap only because of a minority that think the rules are joke and think they can photogrpah anywhere and scream abuse when they are told off from AO's/Station Staff/Police or fined for that matter.

On the other side of the fence some rail staff need to know the rules before mouthing off. I've read stories of Staff (Weather it was transit officers, Station Staff, train crew) Claiming that it is against the law to do that or that they have to delete thier photos(to which the reply has sometimes come from railfans "what rule/ regulation are you acting under). There are rules set out for this by the means of (For instance Connex) Permits.

By no means both sides are perfict. But they do need to co-operate with each other. Both sides have a minority that don't know the rules.

Some make it worse for themselves, others don't. Not all enthusiasts have strange traits or dress or break safety laws.

Agreeing with the comments about hygiene/dress etc., there is also the perception about it being pointless (though aircraft spotters seem to escape that one). The concept of writing down numbers just to complete collections really does seem daft except to other control-freaks. Yet, though I'm not a 'spotter' (and with apologies to Colin who knows what's coming ) I would rather spend a whole day on the end of a busy platform than one hour fishing (which to me would feel like a day anyway!).

And to repeat something from before: my son was once ridiculed as a 'spotter' of both trains and buses. However, once he set up his website and SELLS (i.e. makes money out of) his photos suddenly he is held in high regard once again. Oh how silly the world can be .

Incidentally now if he is challenged when out he styles himself as a 'semi-professional transport photographer'

I was , in a rather small way, picke don at school because of my hobbies...

Quite by chance I happened to meet a fellow former class room pupil, whom many years ago claimed I'd never be able to do anything... Quite by chance I happened to be in uniform.

Let us just say, how the tables were turned!!! [in my favour, because he was in the boat he claimed I would be in...]

Of course, nowadays I don't get out and about as often as I used to, which is a good thing I suppose...

hahaha, oh dear ! I actualy found that rather entertaining. Not exactly stero typical "train spotters" tho, at least they were clearly having fun ...and ...i rather fancy less likely to be bothered by random thugs ! Good luck to them !

Sadly many train staff (and bus staff) do seem to pick up a mess room culture to dislike train spotters and to inhibit their fun if at all possible. Even officaldom finds them soft targets.

I'd agree some bus / train spotters don't help themselves for the reasons stated, BUT i even detect derision from posters here ...Don't kid yourselves folks, if your posting or reading on here your a train spotter even if you don't write down numbers !!!

I suppose my hobbies were seen as a bit odd whilst i was at school ! I am quiet clear at work that I am a train & bus enthusiast and will jump on anyone critical of such hobbies ! Out and proud

Besides all good parents train their kids to become train spotters ... several times a day, every day, I am waved at by children on bridges or platforms. If I see them in time I will always wave back or toot the whistle (provided that will not give a misleading indication elsewhere). On my train driving test i was waved at from a bridge, and the examiner used the secondary whistle to acknowledge ;D ;D ;D Kids love it, and some of us remain big kids !