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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2015 14:05:10 GMT
Hi there,
This Friday myself and a friend are going to have our first tube train spotting day!
We wanted to spend about a 1hr 30mins at the following outside in the fresh air stations:
Wood Lane (circle/hammersmith)
Turnham Green (district/piccadilly)
Finchley Road (jubilee/metropolitan)
Do you think these are good choices?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thank you.
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Post by domh245 on May 3, 2015 19:38:59 GMT
It depends what you want to do. If you want to rack up numbers that you have spotted, then somewhere like earls court or finchley road are good. If you want to film or photograph, then the lines between hammersmith and ealing common will be quite good. But those stations do look like a good choice, but i'm curious as to why you chose wood lane? what do you hope to get there?
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Post by spsmiler on May 3, 2015 19:54:07 GMT
What tickets will you be using? I hope you understand about Oyster and journey time limits.
It may be that you will be better off with paper tickets, which can be expensive. Or you could buy platform tickets, which cost £1 each. However if you visit all these locations in one day and include journeys from your home stations it may still be better to buy paper one day Travelcards. The hassle of being deemed to have failed to touch out after a journey (because you are on the platform train spotting) is such that the higher price of a paper ODTC makes sense.
re: your choice of stations, if you solely want Underground trains then your choice of stations are OK.
In the past I've stood at the London end of West Hampstead Jubilee Line as then the Chilterns can be seen as well.
Royal Oak will also give you the FGW services, although the direction of the sun can be a pain for photography.
Another station which might be of interest is South Kenton. I've often used the London end of the platform, and although again the direction of the sun can be an issue there is a very wide choice of trains to see, including Bakerloo Line, Overground and various WCML. My profile pic comes from South Kenton, it was facing north so the sun's direction was not a problem. Oh and if you do go to South Kenton make sure your journey from Queens Park is in a Bakerloo Line train, as these pass through a trainshed.
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Good luck with the station staff. In theory you are supposed to tell them before spotting so that they know that you are not "loitering" at the station. The trouble is that it gives them the chance to say "no", especially if you intend to use cameras. So I rarely do this myself. Note however that if filming you must not use tripods, even if you are right at the end of the platforms where few passengers go.
Simon
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Post by MoreToJack on May 4, 2015 4:25:06 GMT
Royal Oak will also give you the FGW services, although the direction of the sun can be a pain for photography. Royal Oak station is closed until mid-May for "station upgrade works" (read: replacing the staircase). Good luck with the station staff. In theory you are supposed to tell them before spotting so that they know that you are not "loitering" at the station. The trouble is that it gives them the chance to say "no", especially if you intend to use cameras. So I rarely do this myself. Note however that if filming you must not use tripods, even if you are right at the end of the platforms where few passengers go. As usual, I find your comments about station staff interesting, borderlining on the scaremongering. The *vast majority* of my station colleagues across the combine are extremely friendly and will have absolutely no problem with enthusiasts photographing or filming on platforms - provided that no tripod or flash is used, and enthusiasts are respecting the operation of the railway (remaining behind the yellow line and in public areas, etc). Always exceptions, but it's by no means as regular or as much of a problem as you seem to make it out, here and elsewhere. And, for clarity, I speak as both a member of station staff and as an enthusiast whilst writing this post (although comments do not reflect those of the company etc.). That said - I would echo your suggestion of using a ODTC if the OP & friend are planning to spend time at stations without exiting, and/or are unfamiliar with Oyster. Although there is a considerable cost difference if staying within zones 1/2 (£6.40 versus £12) it can get more complicated if you don't touch out before the maximum journey time is reached. I'd be happy to advise further if you *do* want to go down the Oyster route, though. HTH. |
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Post by spsmiler on May 4, 2015 16:38:53 GMT
I'm sorry that my comments about filming at stations has caused an upset.
I agree that the overwhelming majority of LU's station staff are indeed friendly and welcoming but I have also had some very bad experiences.
Probably the worst was during the special run of the 1938 Tube Stock Heritage train immediately prior to the introduction of the new signalling system on the Northern Line, when a member of station staff at Leicester Square told me that it was illegal to film the trains and had I not caught the next train to a different station I would have missed seeing the Heritage train on that leg of its travels. I had wanted to film the same train passing through the same station but at different platforms. btw, I was using a small hand held camcorder / no tripod.
I later learnt that the Traffic Circular had actually told staff about the special journeys and that people should be allowed to film its passing. Had I know this at the time I would have made a formal complaint.
Simon
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North End
Beneath Newington Causeway
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Post by North End on May 4, 2015 22:56:37 GMT
Royal Oak will also give you the FGW services, although the direction of the sun can be a pain for photography. Royal Oak station is closed until mid-May for "station upgrade works" (read: replacing the staircase). Good luck with the station staff. In theory you are supposed to tell them before spotting so that they know that you are not "loitering" at the station. The trouble is that it gives them the chance to say "no", especially if you intend to use cameras. So I rarely do this myself. Note however that if filming you must not use tripods, even if you are right at the end of the platforms where few passengers go. As usual, I find your comments about station staff interesting, borderlining on the scaremongering. The *vast majority* of my station colleagues across the combine are extremely friendly and will have absolutely no problem with enthusiasts photographing or filming on platforms - provided that no tripod or flash is used, and enthusiasts are respecting the operation of the railway (remaining behind the yellow line and in public areas, etc). Always exceptions, but it's by no means as regular or as much of a problem as you seem to make it out, here and elsewhere. And, for clarity, I speak as both a member of station staff and as an enthusiast whilst writing this post (although comments do not reflect those of the company etc.). That said - I would echo your suggestion of using a ODTC if the OP & friend are planning to spend time at stations without exiting, and/or are unfamiliar with Oyster. Although there is a considerable cost difference if staying within zones 1/2 (£6.40 versus £12) it can get more complicated if you don't touch out before the maximum journey time is reached. I'd be happy to advise further if you *do* want to go down the Oyster route, though. HTH. I know there were a few issues during the most recent 38TS on the Northern Line, unfortunately there do still seem to be a few staff who seem to like making trouble on this issue. Depends on the individual personality, however there are a small minority of station staff who can be a right royal pain in the backside even towards staff in the legitimate execution of their duties, so I can well understand enthusiasts may get issues with some people. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2015 7:59:46 GMT
Thanks for all the replies guys, we had already considered the touch in/out with oyster so the plan is to get a paper travel card. If im at a station for more than an hour even with a valid ticket I always make myself known to a member of staff and find 99.9% are absolutely fine. Purpose of the trip is for numbers as just starting out, photography will come at a later date. I choose the stations listed simply by checking out you tube to see where I could see the most at a outside station.
Will let you know how I get on.
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Post by norbitonflyer on May 6, 2015 9:48:39 GMT
Not so sure why Wood Lane is preferred over other open air stations on the Hammersmith branch. If simply collecting numbers is the aim, getting as close to the middle of the line (half way along) reduces the time it takes to see everything (the determining factor being how long it will take for the last train to have passed through before you arrived to get back to you). The mid point of the H&C is Kings Cross, of the Circle is Liverpool Street, but they are not open-air. Edgware Road seems the optimum place for collecting S7s. (You will also be less conspicuous hanging around and not getting on the next train, as many people change trains there)
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class411
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Post by class411 on May 6, 2015 11:39:22 GMT
If it's a bright day and you want to take maximum advantage of the available daylight as the train enters the station, the ends of either Goldhawk Road or Shepherd's Bush Market are both open, and I've never seen a member of LU staff on the platforms of either. (They would need to climb a lot of steps and there's no real need for them to do so.)
I'm not sure how far the canopy extends at Wood Lane, but when stopping there it always feels rather enclosed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2015 10:33:30 GMT
That said - I would echo your suggestion of using a ODTC if the OP & friend are planning to spend time at stations without exiting, and/or are unfamiliar with Oyster. Although there is a considerable cost difference if staying within zones 1/2 (£6.40 versus £12) it can get more complicated if you don't touch out before the maximum journey time is reached. I'd be happy to advise further if you *do* want to go down the Oyster route, though. HTH. Can I just check I understand this correctly: In a few weeks I will be in London for work, and expect to have several hours (in the evening peak) to kill before my off-peak ticket out of Paddington is valid. I shall have a mainline ticket with Zones 1-6 - so I won't have any problems with over-staying my time limit without checking out - is that correct? Secondly, I don't get up to London very often, and I have recently added TFL stock numbers to my spotting app. I expect to finish work (at Excel) between 1500/1600 and catch my train home from Paddington after 1900. I'd like to see as many different classes as possible in the available time, and check the numbering in my app for as many units as possible in the time, and maybe get some photos. Any suggestions as to route / where to spend time? (and route from Paddington to Excel in the morning to maximise spotting without too much delay in the morning) Thanks, MRG |
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Post by norbitonflyer on May 9, 2015 12:28:02 GMT
I'd like to see as many different classes as possible in the available time By classes are we talking purely about Underground stock? There are very few places you can see more than one type at the same time - Finchley Road - Wembley Park, Rayners Lane to Uxbridge, Barons Court - Ealing Common, Mile End, and (if you are at the right places to see through the cross-tunnels), at places like Stockwell or Oxford Circus.. To see a bit of everything, you could go from Excel to Bank, then Waterloo, Embankment, Westminster, Green Park, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Holborn, Lancaster Gate and walk round the corner to Paddington. "check the numbering in my app for as many units as possible in the time" Not sure I understand what it is you want to do. |
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Post by MoreToJack on May 10, 2015 5:54:28 GMT
Can I just check I understand this correctly: In a few weeks I will be in London for work, and expect to have several hours (in the evening peak) to kill before my off-peak ticket out of Paddington is valid. I shall have a mainline ticket with Zones 1-6 - so I won't have any problems with over-staying my time limit without checking out - is that correct? Correct, if you have a paper/magnetic one day travelcard you are free to stay "inside" the system for as long as you like. Double check that it is a travelcard (It will say so on the top) rather than just a ticket to U12*6 (i.e. a single journey to any station within zones 1-6). Secondly, I don't get up to London very often, and I have recently added TFL stock numbers to my spotting app. I expect to finish work (at Excel) between 1500/1600 and catch my train home from Paddington after 1900. I'd like to see as many different classes as possible in the available time, and check the numbering in my app for as many units as possible in the time, and maybe get some photos. Any suggestions as to route / where to spend time? (and route from Paddington to Excel in the morning to maximise spotting without too much delay in the morning) I don't quite understand your comment wrt a "spotting app", but I'd issue a word of caution depending on your source for LU stock numbers, as there's a few lists floating around with a number of errors that are commonly reproduced. This book is the most comprehensive and accurate list I know of (Where they're all in one place) if you're interested in checking it that way (Assuming this is a list you've compiled yourself and want to check as accurate, rather than ticking off units that you've seen/ridden/photographed). I'd echo norbitonflyer's suggestions for locations/routes - as they've mentioned, there's not many places where you can see more than one stock at once, although there are a few stations with multiple lines/interchanges that could work out for you. HTH. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 11:43:58 GMT
Thanks, that's helpful. Sorry I was not clear. This is a smartphone app for recording train numbers. It has a database of loco/unit/car numbers. For a long time I resisted adding TFL numbers to the database as I felt I didn't know enough about TFL to be able to get it even vaguely accurate (and don't have the time to maintain it). However, a number of people requested the inclusion of TFL, and someone even sent me a list of numbers. When I started to look at the list(s) I had been sent, I spotted a number of problems with the data I had been given and following more research, would agree with your comment "there's a few lists floating around with a number of errors that are commonly reproduced". I've done the best I can to get it accurate, although I'm sure it's far from 100%. What I wanted to do in the time I have available (as I said, I don't get up to London that often) was sample as many lines as possible (tube and sub-surface) and see how the data in the app compared to real observation. Hope that makes more sense, and thanks for the help. |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 11:47:13 GMT
This book is the most comprehensive and accurate list I know of (Where they're all in one place) Sorry - which book? |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2015 8:50:08 GMT
Guys just a quick update, our day out in London went very well, we spent about 1 hour 30 mins at each of the following stations: White City, Turnham Green and Finchley Road with also a quick visit to Ealing Broadway. Staff we did see we approached and showed our paper travel cards and said what we were doing and they had no problems with us being there at all.
Turnham Green is a lovely station, we sat on a bench out in the fresh air watching the trains come in and out, will revisit here again in the near future.
As it was our first spotting trip we came home with loads of numbers to mark off so very happy.
Thanks again with all the advice.
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