Train spotting for juniors

[CharlieChoc]

My son is 11 and is about to start his school summer holidays. He loves trains (more modern day than steam) and always has - I've spent many a weekend with him just cruising around on different trains. He would love to do some proper train spotting during the summer holidays and I feel it would be great for him to do this with other young train enthusiasts.
So my question is - does anyone know of a train spotting or train enthusiast club for juniors? Ideally one that does trips to see and ride on trains. We live in Surrey.

 

[Bishopstone]

You and your son may wish to check what the Rail Riders club has to offer:

The Home of Rail Riders, The Railway Club for Everyone

We are a general railway club for all ages, offering members discounts on Railway travel and other benefits

www.railriders.club

…although this is a national club, so probably won’t help specifically with making local train-based friendships.

If your son is moving-up to secondary school in the autumn, I hope he’ll strike lucky and find some fellow rail fans in the wider school community. Some secondary schools - not many - have railway clubs, or if your son is the confident type, he could ask staff about starting one, and see who comes!

Another option may be to investigate whether your nearest preserved railway has a volunteering scheme for juniors, or a young supporters club of some kind that offers in-person get togethers. I guess what your son really wants/needs is introductions to local rail fans of a similar age, and then once those contacts are made, they can do their own thing.

Otherwise - find the nearest large station with lots of exciting movements, and strike-up conversations with others hanging-around at the platform ends!

 

[James Wake]

There’s a group called Transport Sparks on Facebook that might help, lots of younger enthusiasts on there, mainly from London and Home Counties but many further afield too