Rail enthusiasm takes many forms I think. There's modellers, loco bashers, route-building fantasists and industry experts. Of course they're not mutually exclusive, but I find it interesting how some types of rail enthusiasts approach the interest so differently. Which one are you? I'm a fantasist and somewhat of a modeller. Being born post-privatisation and 'South of the River' I never rode on any locomotive traction, so never was one to get behind as many locos as possible and sit in the coach nearest the engine, but always loved sitting in a motor coach of a Wessex Electric or a GEC Networker
I'm definitely a spotter, quite young to have seen any locomotives so it's quite an exotic thing to see but I tick them off just like any EMU or DMU.
I've built my whole own spreadsheet for ticking the trains off when seen
I get videos when I have downtime (e.g. if I'm waiting for a train) or if something notable will go by.
I tick off stations as I use them, I've started keeping track of mileage because for me it's not much work to just copy and paste my commute.
I keep track of the trains I get as well in terms of schedule, rolling stock, delay and ticket.
I'm often by the best door for getting on/off the train (which may be not the closest to the exit if I know I have a lot of time for trainspotting)
I don't make many intentional journeys to tick off or see things but if I'm in the area or going by I'll tick it off (e.g. me and my family were in Blackpool coming back at a very good time for me to tick off Salwick the other day)
When my family are going somewhere we're usually in 2 groups, them in the car and me on the train, and that includes journeys like Avanti or TPE where people are giving up on them.