Newbie terminology questions

[di9girl]

@duffield and @hexagon789 Both of your explanations have been fine

 

[hexagon789]

I've got the link for that Now, does spotting online count or is that a whole other can of worms?

I would say do whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[Nighthawke]

I've got the link for that Now, does spotting online count or is that a whole other can of worms?

I wouldn't count it, and I guess many/most others wouldn't either. Same with other "spotting" hobbies too - aviation for example. However it is your hobby to enjoy in any way you wish.

You mentioned earlier about asking "silly questions". The only people who will think them silly are the probably those who don't want to help and forget that they were beginners once too.

I'm still learning (aren't we all in some way?), and don't always like to ask seemingly obvious questions, so thank you for doing so.

Welcome to the hobby and enjoy - I hope you realise what you're getting into - LOL

 

[Peter C]

I wouldn't count spotting online as proper spotting - if you count the spotting of trains online as real spotting, you could go as far as to look up a photo of every engine/unit in the country, have a look, and then say you've seen it! But that's the best bit about this hobby. You do you.

-Peter

 

[hexagon789]

Welcome to the hobby and enjoy - I hope you realise what you're getting into - LOL

I would say that's the real can of worms

 

[Peter C]

I wouldn't count it, and I guess many/most others wouldn't either. Same with other "spotting" hobbies too - aviation for example. However it is your hobby to enjoy in any way you wish.

You mentioned earlier about asking "silly questions". The only people who will think them silly are the probably those who don't want to help and forget that they were beginners once too.

I'm still learning (aren't we all in some way?), and don't always like to ask seemingly obvious questions, so thank you for doing so.

Welcome to the hobby and enjoy - I hope you realise what you're getting into - LOL

I'd argue that the trainspotting hobby, for what it's worth, is one of the best hobbies out there - there's no set way of doing things and everyone is left to their own devices in that respect. Plus, we have hundreds of people online helping others.

-Peter

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

If someone is housebound, and online spotting is the only way they can conduct their hobby, then it is legit spotting in my opinion. Of course, it is an individual issue.

I think once you start to see a train, and know with the lights or windscreen what it might be, or know for sure what it is, then you're getting there. And of course, you have nicknames for the trains too, for example Class 66 is a shed (due to roof), class 67 is a skip (turn it upside down) (both also ying-yings), NMT (new mesurement train) is the flying banana (due to bright yellow colour), then you have others such as class 365 the happy train due to the grill looking like a smile.

 

[hexagon789]

If someone is housebound, and online spotting is the only way they can conduct their hobby, then it is legit spotting in my opinion. Of course, it is an individual issue.

I think once you start to see a train, and know with the lights or windscreen what it might be, or know for sure what it is, then you're getting there. And of course, you have nicknames for the trains too, for example Class 66 is a shed (due to roof), class 67 is a skip (turn it upside down) (both also ying-yings), NMT (new mesurement train) is the flying banana (due to bright yellow colour), then you have others such as class 365 the happy train due to the grill looking like a smile.

A list of class nicknames would be worthy of a thread in its own right - there's so many!

 

[Peter C]

A list of class nicknames would be worthy of a thread in its own right - there's so many!

Many a time have I thought about making that a reality!

-Peter

 

[hexagon789]

Many a time have I thought about making that a reality!

-Peter

I think there was something a while back, but not a proper dedicated one. It's probably just as easy to ask general questions like that in this thread to be fair

 

[Mrgoodspeed]

Here’s a very simple guide I wrote to go with the SpotLog app. http://www.rail3d.info/other/spotlog/how to spot trains.aspx

I really ought to move it to https://SpotLog.org

(and Yes I know, that’s meant to be a very simple guide, it does simplify quite a lot. And I need to update the links to point to https//SpotLog.org)

 

[Serathor]

to the OP, I too have a immense interest in all things railway especially UK Rail. However I hardly know anything, and am still learning everyday. I have been a member of this site for a while but only as long term lurker....Welcome to the Forum!