Trainspotting Tips

Master the Art of Railway Photography and Trainspotting

SAFETY FIRST: Do not trespass onto the track. This is for your own safety and also others around you. Always follow railway safety guidelines and respect private property.

Respect Other Enthusiasts When Filming

Remember not to get into other people's shots - it is very annoying and may ruin their footage. Also rail enthusiasts will probably want not only good visual footage but good audio quality.

Getting Started

Planning Your Trip

Research your chosen heritage railway's website for timetables, locomotive information, and station locations. Once you've identified a line you'd like to visit, visit that line's website to find vital information, including train schedules and which way the locomotives are facing.

Best Times to Visit

Perfect Conditions: Ideal shooting conditions are a cold bright day with a low sun, so either morning or afternoon is best. Winter is particularly good as the sun is always fairly low. On a warmer day, you get very little exhaust, so aim for temperatures around freezing when steam appears to be coming from everywhere!

Lighting and Positioning

Best Lighting: Sunlight to the side and behind is best for steam train photography. You'll have the train lit by the sun and pick up more texture in the smoke.

If you have the opportunity, try and stand in a spot with the sun either behind you or to your side. This will mean you have the best light for your photos and help you avoid issues with shadows.

Composition Techniques

Capturing the train coming towards you, with nearby countryside providing context, is the most popular composition for train photography.

Don't get so wrapped up in capturing that steam train that you forget about the background! A good background can set a photograph off in all sorts of interesting directions.

Creative Angles: Look for angles that not everyone else does. Go high, go low, go inside, put your camera under the train if it's not moving and safe to do so.

DON'T GET BOWLED

Ensure that your view of a railtour isn't blocked by another train.

Don't Get Bowled:
1. Arrive at the station roughly an hour before the train goes through.
2. If you don't know the station well, ask a member of staff there what direction is which and if they know anything about what platform it is passing or stopping or if it's going on a 'through line'.
3. Get onto your selected platform.
4. If going on a 'through line', check the timetable to see if any trains are due on that platform within 10 minutes from when it is due to pass, if there is one, change platform.
5. Set up.

Station Photography

Steam trains tend to spend a fair bit of time at the station, especially the terminal ones. This is a good time to take detail photos of the train while it's stationary.

The front of the loco is the most important so make sure that's the sharpest point of focus. Use bridges to get a higher viewpoint - the one at the station will provide invaluable height over a potentially crowded platform.

Recording Your Sightings

Many trainspotters keep detailed records of their sightings. This might include a notebook with engine numbers, dates, and locations, as well as photographs or videos of the trains they spot.

Some spotters also collect tickets, badges, or other memorabilia related to trains and railways.

Etiquette and Weather

Photography Etiquette

Always be respectful to your fellow photographers. Never go and stand directly in front of another photographer - if they were at that spot before you, respect that.

Be aware of 'people traffic' as some places will be very crowded. Be at your chosen spot at least an hour before the tour is scheduled to begin.

Weather Considerations

Don't Let Weather Stop You: If the weather is not perfect, still go out with your camera. If the sky has become dark after a rainy evening, the contrast of the dark sky and the white steam of a train can look simply magical.
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