Persistent myths amongst (at least certain sections of) the enthusiast fraternity:
1. Photographing preserved trains means you are directly contributing to their continued existence and have an automatic right to choose what colour they should be painted*
2. That any current piece of rolling stock which is today regarded as common or uncomfortable** will never, ever be regarded as a historical item at some point in the future.
3. The Somerset & Dorset was as beloved by every single person who was there at the time as it is by those who have only ever seen it safely behind a glass screen on Ivo Peters films and/or in picture books.
4. That no branch lines in the steam era were slow, dirty, damp and drafty, with a rubbish train service and staff who had days when they didn't behave like they were in an Ealing comedy.
5. That any given stretch of disused railway in the UK should be reopened and, look, here are all the economic benefits, it has limitless potential (etc etc)
6. Anyone who doesn't agree with the idea to reopen any stretch of former railway is a (spoken in deprecatory tones) 'tree hugger'.
* Photo charters excepted, I know
** Yes. Pacers.