Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
suitcases; cases and bags carried by travelers
resident
factory
coupon
luggage
TOEIC vocab test: Free word games: Online Verb Noun Adjective Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Idea of train spotting?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | What do you want to talk about?
A question about the movie Iceage | How to learn English?
Message Author
Idea of train spotting? Fri Mar 17, 2006 22:22 pm  Idea of train spotting?
 

Hi, we recently had a discussion about train spotting and the original meaning of the term. I friend of mine said it would have to do with travelling from one spot to another by train. Then we looked it up on the internet and we found out that train spotting is a popular pastime in the UK and the US. Train spotters would spend time around train depots, stations and other railway locations to write down the serial numbers of the trains that pass by. I have never heard of such a thing in Germany (which doesn't mean it doesn't exist). I'd like to know what those train spotters do with all that data? What is the use of this activity?
_________________
So, who is the best online chatter in world Wink ?
FrankU
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 103
Location: Heidelberg

Idea of train spotting? Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:46 am  Idea of train spotting?
 

Train spotting is definitely not traveling by train from one spot to another. It's the other activity you mentioned. Spotting means to catch sight of something.

For a while after art school, I worked for an art museum that traveled from town to town in a converted train, so I can tell you at least one thing those train buffs do with the information they gather. They go aggravate the heck out of anyone they find working on or near a train, just by sharing it with them. Initially it can be interesting, but after half an hour or so, you want to turn to them and bark, "This train's my JOB, man! Not my fetish!" Generally they profess to be able to tell you all the history and manufacturing details of the cars on your train, but each guy tells you a different story.

They're something like the people who memorize minute details about Star Trek.

By the way, the radio equivalent of that is called DXing. (I don't know what the DX stands for.) DXers scan the shortwave dial, and sometimes the AM dial, searching for far-flung stations. Then they send post cards to them, and the shortwave stations send them post cards back, sometimes along with souvenirs. This is probably dying now that there's not much interesting on shortwave anymore and so many stations are switching to webcasting.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4337
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsLearn some cool expressions in the following cool storyHave you read a good anecdote today? Subscribe to free email English courseAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!
Idea of train spotting? Tue Mar 21, 2006 15:04 pm  Idea of train spotting?
 

I've found some quotes of CV's on the internet, one of them was kind of scary. This guy wanted to be a busdriver, he says he has been collecting pictures of buses and trams for twelve years already in two different files from the oldest to the latest ones, so he is really interested in this job.
The funniest thing, in Hungary you don't have to be a maniac to be hired as a busdriver because they don't pay that much, they are happy if anyone walks in and asking for being hired. He could've been trained and got the job in no time, instead of dreaming about it for twelve years.
I don't think he's got the job, though
spencer
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 326

Display posts from previous:   
A question about the movie Iceage | How to learn English?
ESL Forum | What do you want to talk about? Idea of train spotting? All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Differences between custom formality and declarationAnother Contest! Meaning of "Now I are one"?Contest! Meaning of 'I had a very good year that day'Swallow, my sister, O sister swallowFootball player buildPlease help me to adjust itSack vs. fire (different versions of English)A cultural question for ConchitaDad’s Day and Las Fallas!The seventh artWhy do Amercians have problems practicing languages?Stereotypes about AmericansFat Tuesday in AmericaInternal Combustion Engines and Bill Gates in ChinaPlease help me!Learn English with this Website7 Secrets for ESL LearnersReading is the best way to learnIdea of train spotting?

Discover English-test.net
The black sheep of the familyThe repression campaign?can vs could (I could/can finish the project tomorrow)What does shortage mean?SAT Exam Test: Vocabulary Sentence: English VerbsSAT practice test: Interactive word games: Free Online Verb QuizDefine perpetuate, discard, rue, translate, baste, bombard, miscountPimsleur Mandarin Chinese Quick and Simple: Pimsleur Mandarin Chinese Language ProgramPreposition poem: Between the linesEnglish grammar quiz: English Slang Idioms (103)Ganglands audiobook download

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course written by Alan Townend
First name E-mail