Does your friends and work colleages know you're a.........

davidaward · Post by **davidaward** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:53 pm

I used to get the P--- taken out of me at School but now I get respect from most people at College and out and about, as it is an interesting hobby. Myself and a freind at college seem to have been sucessful (partially) in changing the image of rail enthusiats.

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:50 pm

No problem at school. In the 60's almost every kid was a trainspotter at one time. They were a valued part of the nation.

There was still bullying but there always has been.

Couldn't really miss the trains in Bletchley as it divides the town into four and you're necer more than a mile from a railway line with the station, unlike many, in the middle of the town

spitfiresrbest · Post by **spitfiresrbest** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:26 pm

I was standing in WH Smith with my boyfriend looking for the newest issue of Heritage Railway and he said he was going to move away to find some magazines that were more acceptable socially

Everyone mocks me for it but I dont really care. Ive done things like fly Tiger Moths and stuff and I frequently drive steam engines on my dad's friend's estate - when my mates get the opportunity to drive steam for real they tend to get more excited than they'd like to admit. Everyone loves transport

Goingnorth · Post by **Goingnorth** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:26 pm

spitfiresrbest wrote:I was standing in WH Smith with my boyfriend looking for the newest issue of Heritage Railway and he said he was going to move away to find some magazines that were more acceptable socially Everyone mocks me for it but I dont really care. Ive done things like fly Tiger Moths and stuff and I frequently drive steam engines on my dad's friend's estate - when my mates get the opportunity to drive steam for real they tend to get more excited than they'd like to admit. Everyone loves transport

You mean things have have been deemed cool by people with vested interests.

Don't knock it till you try it!

thenudehamster · Post by **thenudehamster** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:32 pm

I don't give a toss whether they know, they approve, or care! So long as I don't harm anyone it's my choice to do what I like.
I have a friend who introduced me to TS, and others who can't see what the attraction is. My wife makes jewellery and is crazy about ice hockey and basketball, my son is mad on football, my stepson loves gridiron football and strategy games; so long as they don't expect me to play with them, I won't ask them to play trains.

37sRuleOK · Post by **37sRuleOK** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:21 pm

I'm 17, so of course none of my friends know about my train interests!

I like my teeth the way they are, not being knocked out by narrow-minded disgruntled peers...

mattvince · Post by **mattvince** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:52 pm

Goingnorth wrote:You mean things have have been deemed cool by people with vested interests.

Don't knock it till you try it!

Why do you think 125mph-capable cars are considered 'cool', yet 125mph trains are 'sad'? Ignoring of course the fact that cars can only legally do 70mph, whereas many of the aforementioned trains do 125mph day-in-day-out. The answer is, of course, that the car companies put bucketloads into marketing which is inevitably aimed at making their car appear 'cool' (needless to say: hence more sales!).

I'd challenge anyone to stand just behind the yellow line on the 'mains' platforms at Didcot Parkway, when an HST goes through at 125mph. If you don't come away from that impressed, than there is obviously something wrong with you!

pepsipowell · Post by **pepsipowell** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:59 pm

The reaction from my friends I liked best was when I was talking about UKTS, and one of them said 'You mean there are actually other people like you?!'. I laughed so hard I nearly choked!

Jonathan

trainmad · Post by **trainmad** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:24 pm

I get light hearted jokes taken at me at school (which I have heard all before like "Choo Choo Thomas") but no one hates me for it, although I do get on know it all who takes the mick and then trys to get himself back on track when I give him the right answer to a question.

What I have noticed is the number of younger people who are on these forums

who is under 16?

I'm 15!

Are trains becoming a more interesting hobby again?

spitfiresrbest · Post by **spitfiresrbest** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:53 pm

Not vested interest. He probably went off to look at Vogue or something

Im gay, in the TA (though on a year's break) and a train buff so what people think is cool never influences me

southcoasttrains · Post by **southcoasttrains** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:40 am

My work colleages know I'm interested in railways, my manager is an enthusiast too.
My friends have accepted it.

Cuchulain · Post by **Cuchulain** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:44 am

People i work with, were quietly interested when i told them i was part owner of a train.
ATM i don't get any hassle about it, because i'm not totally mad train spotter {we have one bloke who openly collects numbers and plates}. I also have more interest in the depots than the trains.
With the present situation at Fratton, alot of guys are always asking me who's recruiting for maintenance staff

davidaward · Post by **davidaward** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 1:57 pm

Having a railway interest helped my Uni application, it gave me something to write about on my CV, not too many can sayit certainly stands us out as being interesting and individual people, how many could say they have

Driven and fired a Black 5
Interest in Photography and long archive library of pictures
Large Model Railway Collection
Member of Several Societies
Travel around a lot
Files of my Work Available for Download nationally.

All these are linked to my intial railway interest.

mattvince · Post by **mattvince** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:14 pm

I personally kept quiet during school, although my flightsimming was more open (mainly because I knew a few others who were into MSFS, one of whom is training to be an airline pilot). No-one knew outside my family that I was into MSTS. It certainly avoids hassle. At Uni, that's different, a lot of people on my course are into trains, buses and/or planes. I guess it's who you know and where you go...

222004 · Post by **222004** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:11 am

mattvince wrote:
Goingnorth wrote:You mean things have have been deemed cool by people with vested interests.

Don't knock it till you try it!
Why do you think 125mph-capable cars are considered 'cool', yet 125mph trains are 'sad'? Ignoring of course the fact that cars can only legally do 70mph, whereas many of the aforementioned trains do 125mph day-in-day-out. The answer is, of course, that the car companies put bucketloads into marketing which is inevitably aimed at making their car appear 'cool' (needless to say: hence more sales!).

I'd challenge anyone to stand just behind the yellow line on the 'mains' platforms at Didcot Parkway, when an HST goes through at 125mph. If you don't come away from that impressed, than there is obviously something wrong with you!

I'm going to try doing that one day! Sounds like it'll be fun! mmm, 43 diesel smell at 125mph...(drools)

Passed through Didcot Parkway at about 40mph yesterday after waiting for a slow service in front of us to get out of the way. We eventually overtook it, but we were 30 minutes late into Reading as a result. Still, I can't complain, as I got a picture of a 08 (my first one!) and a couple of 66s, as well as a shot of some yellow NR trucks!

I personally no longer care what other people think of me being a trainspotter. If I did, I wouldn't have gone to Reading yesterday to spot 165s and 166s. My camera can currently hold 60 pictures in one session, which I filled in less than 3 hours, having to delete some great scenery shots of the snowy hills at Swansea yesterday morning, and one of 158822 (which I regret doing now)!

Anyone else seen 43037 and its nameplate?