backontrack
Established Member
People write trip reports on RailUKForums a lot. This is because we have a very large community. Some like to write reports to show where they've been and which trains they've been on or seen. I personally write occasional trip reports, though mine are more ruminations than spotter's logs. I don't spot trains, but I do like to write about the trips I've had.
With spotting, the type of train is key. To be able to do spotting in any real capacity, you have to know about train 'classes'. This is Basic Rail Enthusiasm 101.
1: Basic Rail Enthusiasm 101
As you may well know, we can split all the trains on our network into two different groups: loco-hauled and multiple unit. All freight trains are loco-hauled, while most passenger services are multiple unit. Loco-hauled passenger services operate in large numbers on the East Coast Main Line, however, and on the main line out of Paddington. They can also be found in some localised spots (such as Fife, the Cumbrian Coast, the main route into Norwich, and the Chilterns).
Multiple units can be divided into three groups, DMUs (diesel multiple units), EMUs (electric ones), and DEMUs (both).
To find out the class of a multiple unit train, look at the number on its front. This is the TOPS code. Here's a DMU to demonstrate.
The first three numbers of that code are the class. This is 158. This is a Class 158 train.
Giving the whole code on the front shows which train it is you've chalked off. Each unit in a class has a slightly different number. They're all unique, so once you've been on 158752 you need not tick it off again.
A locomotive is nearly the same. The only difference is that there are only 5 numbers in the code instead of 6. So we take the first two numbers - that's the class. So, this loco:
...is a Class 68. To be exact, it's 68004.
That's all very obvious. In fact, dear reader, you probably know that already. So let's get into terminology.
Winner: a completely new unit for you. It can be either:
a). a winner for sight: a train you've never seen out in action, or
b). a winner for haulage: a train you've never been on, or, if it's a loco, one that's never pulled you on a service
Dud: a train you've been on before or seen before
More terminology
These are also very simple terms.
Gricing: spotting
Bashing: going for haulage
Shack: a station
Fester: to wait at a station for a connection or a certain unit
Scratch/Shack Attack: to tick off a new station
Clag: noise/smoke given out by a train - commonly a loco, however certain multiple units also give out 'clag'
Thrash: the noise of a unit/loco's engine
Moves: to travel on a multiple unit
Haulage: to travel behind a loco
Red Pen: Red Pen is the name given to the act of ticking off certain units/locos for moves or haulage. Instead of ticking it off on paper, most Red Pen is done on the annual dedicated thread for it
Spoons: quite simple, Wetherspoons. Some posters like to visit new Wetherspoons outlets as well as go spotting/bashing, so you will see this in their trip reports.
Now we get to the fun stuff. Well, relatively speaking it's fun...
2: Naming trains (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Calling Trains 'Milkfloats' and 'Bananas')
Many enthusiasts like to give trains names.
Firstly, sometimes the makers or operators of the trains themselves give trains official names. Here are some official names:
DVT: Driving Van Trailer. These things are often plonked on the ends of locomotive-hauled trains. They allow the train to be driven from either end. Compare with a Class 91 loco, and then compare that with a Class 90 loco.
High-Speed-Train: a Class 43 diesel locomotive
Intercity 125: an HST-hauled train operated by Virgin East Coast
Intercity 225 or Mallard set: an 91-hauled train operated by Virgin East Coast
Parry People Mover (PPM): a Class 139
Pacer: Classes 142, 143 & 144*
Sprinter: any train from Classes 150 through 159, but in particular those outside this list:
Desiro: Classes 185, 350, 360, 380, 444 and 450
Coradia: Classes 175†, 180, 334 & 458
Pendolino: Class 390
Voyager: Classes 220, 221 & 222†
FUN FACT: Those Voyagers are Britain's only DEMUs.
*many people use the name 'Pacer' to refer solely to 142s
† 175s themselves are known as Coradias; the name also refers to the whole group of units. Similarly, this name refers to both Class 220s and the group to which they belong
‡ Hull Trains and Great Western call theirs Adelantes, while Grand Central call theirs Zephyrs
But it doesn't end there. Oh, no.
You see, many enthusiasts like to give trains their own names. Here are the main ones that have been recognised by the spotting community:
TRAM: an Class 43 HST. Don't confuse with an actual tram
MILKFLOAT: a Class 91 locomotive
BADGER or AVOCET: the Class 89 locomotive
SKODA: a Class 90 locomotive
BRUSH: a Class 47
DELTIC: a Class 55
BABY DELTIC: a Class 23
GROWLER: a Class 37
WESTERN: a Class 52
SHOE BOX: a Class 73
SKIP: a Class 67
CAT: a Class 68
TUG: a Class 60
GRONK: a Class 08 shunter
TEDDY BEAR: a Class 14 shunter
KESTREL: the HS4000
NODDING DONKEY or SKIPPER: a Class 142
DOGBOX or SKATEBOARD or BURGER VAN: a Class 153
NETWORKER CLUBMAN: a Class 168 with its original front end
HIPPO: a Class 175
DUSTY BIN: a Class 321
STARSHIP: a Class 323
HAPPY TRAIN: a Class 365
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR: a Class 390 Pendolino
PLASTIC PIG: a Class 442
There are many more - those are just the main ones. You're free to make up your own if you wish, just remember that, if writing them in a trip report, that your reader knows what you mean
That's all from me, however, if anyone has any suggestions of things to add, you can suggest them below and I'll do my best to add them
Oh, and, happy spotting!
With spotting, the type of train is key. To be able to do spotting in any real capacity, you have to know about train 'classes'. This is Basic Rail Enthusiasm 101.
1: Basic Rail Enthusiasm 101
As you may well know, we can split all the trains on our network into two different groups: loco-hauled and multiple unit. All freight trains are loco-hauled, while most passenger services are multiple unit. Loco-hauled passenger services operate in large numbers on the East Coast Main Line, however, and on the main line out of Paddington. They can also be found in some localised spots (such as Fife, the Cumbrian Coast, the main route into Norwich, and the Chilterns).
Multiple units can be divided into three groups, DMUs (diesel multiple units), EMUs (electric ones), and DEMUs (both).
To find out the class of a multiple unit train, look at the number on its front. This is the TOPS code. Here's a DMU to demonstrate.
The first three numbers of that code are the class. This is 158. This is a Class 158 train.
Giving the whole code on the front shows which train it is you've chalked off. Each unit in a class has a slightly different number. They're all unique, so once you've been on 158752 you need not tick it off again.
A locomotive is nearly the same. The only difference is that there are only 5 numbers in the code instead of 6. So we take the first two numbers - that's the class. So, this loco:
...is a Class 68. To be exact, it's 68004.
That's all very obvious. In fact, dear reader, you probably know that already. So let's get into terminology.
Winner: a completely new unit for you. It can be either:
a). a winner for sight: a train you've never seen out in action, or
b). a winner for haulage: a train you've never been on, or, if it's a loco, one that's never pulled you on a service
Dud: a train you've been on before or seen before
More terminology
These are also very simple terms.
Gricing: spotting
Bashing: going for haulage
Shack: a station
Fester: to wait at a station for a connection or a certain unit
Scratch/Shack Attack: to tick off a new station
Clag: noise/smoke given out by a train - commonly a loco, however certain multiple units also give out 'clag'
Thrash: the noise of a unit/loco's engine
Moves: to travel on a multiple unit
Haulage: to travel behind a loco
Red Pen: Red Pen is the name given to the act of ticking off certain units/locos for moves or haulage. Instead of ticking it off on paper, most Red Pen is done on the annual dedicated thread for it
Spoons: quite simple, Wetherspoons. Some posters like to visit new Wetherspoons outlets as well as go spotting/bashing, so you will see this in their trip reports.
Now we get to the fun stuff. Well, relatively speaking it's fun...
2: Naming trains (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Calling Trains 'Milkfloats' and 'Bananas')
Many enthusiasts like to give trains names.
Firstly, sometimes the makers or operators of the trains themselves give trains official names. Here are some official names:
DVT: Driving Van Trailer. These things are often plonked on the ends of locomotive-hauled trains. They allow the train to be driven from either end. Compare with a Class 91 loco, and then compare that with a Class 90 loco.
High-Speed-Train: a Class 43 diesel locomotive
Intercity 125: an HST-hauled train operated by Virgin East Coast
Intercity 225 or Mallard set: an 91-hauled train operated by Virgin East Coast
Parry People Mover (PPM): a Class 139
Pacer: Classes 142, 143 & 144*
Sprinter: any train from Classes 150 through 159, but in particular those outside this list:
- Super Sprinter: Class 156
- Express Sprinter: Class 158
- South Western Turbo: Class 159
- Clubman: Class 168
- Capitalstar: Class 378
Desiro: Classes 185, 350, 360, 380, 444 and 450
- Pennine Desiro: Class 185
Coradia: Classes 175†, 180, 334 & 458
- Adelante/Zephyr: Class 180‡
- Juniper: Classes 334 & 458
Pendolino: Class 390
Voyager: Classes 220, 221 & 222†
- Super Voyager: Class 221
- Meridian: Class 222
FUN FACT: Those Voyagers are Britain's only DEMUs.
*many people use the name 'Pacer' to refer solely to 142s
† 175s themselves are known as Coradias; the name also refers to the whole group of units. Similarly, this name refers to both Class 220s and the group to which they belong
‡ Hull Trains and Great Western call theirs Adelantes, while Grand Central call theirs Zephyrs
But it doesn't end there. Oh, no.
You see, many enthusiasts like to give trains their own names. Here are the main ones that have been recognised by the spotting community:
TRAM: an Class 43 HST. Don't confuse with an actual tram
MILKFLOAT: a Class 91 locomotive
BADGER or AVOCET: the Class 89 locomotive
SKODA: a Class 90 locomotive
BRUSH: a Class 47
DELTIC: a Class 55
BABY DELTIC: a Class 23
GROWLER: a Class 37
WESTERN: a Class 52
SHOE BOX: a Class 73
SKIP: a Class 67
CAT: a Class 68
TUG: a Class 60
GRONK: a Class 08 shunter
TEDDY BEAR: a Class 14 shunter
KESTREL: the HS4000
NODDING DONKEY or SKIPPER: a Class 142
DOGBOX or SKATEBOARD or BURGER VAN: a Class 153
NETWORKER CLUBMAN: a Class 168 with its original front end
HIPPO: a Class 175
DUSTY BIN: a Class 321
STARSHIP: a Class 323
HAPPY TRAIN: a Class 365
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR: a Class 390 Pendolino
PLASTIC PIG: a Class 442
There are many more - those are just the main ones. You're free to make up your own if you wish, just remember that, if writing them in a trip report, that your reader knows what you mean
That's all from me, however, if anyone has any suggestions of things to add, you can suggest them below and I'll do my best to add them
Oh, and, happy spotting!
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