newbie

[alecras234]

Hi my name is Ash, im 38 and live in North Wales. I'm disabled and use a wheelchair and i go out with a mate once a week who isn't really into trains but he knows a little which has sparked my interest. I want to start going out more often to look at trains but around here there aren't many trains just the same old arriva and virgin trains. I went to see the Flying Scotsman back in May this year which i enjoyed. How do i start learning numbers of diesel engines, what DMU'S are and how to recognize them? Where or how do i begin learning ?

[G6 UXU]

Hello Ash and welcome to the forum from all the Staff, have a look round the gallery at all the different motive power on the rails in the UK and get a good book like the ICRS pocket combined volume, enjoy and all the best.

[DSY011]

Hello alecras234 (Ash) and welcome to the Railway Forum. North Wales also has some very fine narrow gauge railways which would also teach you a lot about steam loco's and their rolling stock..

[TRP]

Hi Ash, there's a book called Traction Recognition - I've seen it in Waterstones, but I haven't bought it. However it does look really good, full of the sort of details your looking for.

Product details: (taken from Amazon)

Hardcover: 296 pages
Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing; 3rd Revised edition edition (20 Nov. 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0711037922
ISBN-13: 978-0711037922
Product Dimensions: 16.1 x 2.1 x 21.8 cm
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 147,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

I think it's what your after, but I'd recommend that you try to have a look first, rather than take my word for it - I'm more into steam, than modern traction!

Wikipedia's generally quite good for this sort of info too.

Good luck with your search for info and hope you enjoy your railway trips.

Regards,

Tony

[alecras234]

what do i type into google to get the info? i tried traction but it showed pages of complex stuff! I did look at that book on amazon.

[boilersuit]

I reckon you'd do well to start with Wikipedia. Type in 'British Railways' and you'll get more info than you need on the chequered history of BR, which I suspect you don't want; but look further down the page and you'll see a section on 'Successor companies'. Here you'll find more relevant data about the modern scene, and by following the links you'll discover other pages giving details of rolling stock and other interesting stuff. You'll soon find yourself engrossed in it all. Enjoy!!

[TRP]

Hi Ash.

I typed in traction recognition - it gave me various entries, but, mostly for sale on Amazon or ebay. None of these give very much detail of what is in the book.
Another option may be the abc rail guide, also by Colin J Marsden and published by Ian Allen:

http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/ab...guide-2016.htm

Tony

[TRP]

Some useful Wikipedia entries:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...motive_classes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britis...multiple_units

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britis...multiple_units

Tony

[pre65]

Try this YouTube film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twarSFjLI7I

[alecras234]

Hi I want to start trainspotting but im not sure of what train is what. i want to go to a station with my camera and take photos of the trans and locomotives. i've ben watching people trainspotting and taking numbers on youtube but they know the names of trains like a shunter or a nuke flask, im thinking WHAT!?? i know a virgin and arriva train but any others i don't know. Should i just take the photos and research them later online?