294:
241:
309:
207:
326:
225:
431:. I'd never commuted by rail, but there is an almost-universal fascination amongst British people for steam trains, and as a boy I'd always enjoyed going to various railways while on holiday. I did subsequently become a trainspotter, in the autumn of 2008. I'd just got back from my first visit to the job centre, and was feeling that I'd signed my life away to be a shelf stacker, so I decided to go out somewhere. I'd been working on Commons sorting photos of my home city of
945:
161:
117:
107:
269:
33:
127:
87:
137:
90:
97:
797:. I also have several reference books for various areas, which can help. It's not very hard to keep the route maps up to date - the line ones don't tend to change much, as you usually don't put in that much detail beyond the stations. The succession boxes can be trickier, as service patterns do change, and you occasionally get the odd place like
614:
the placement of some rubbish bins. The
British railway system is huge, even larger if you include historical lines, and it's pretty much impossible for one person to know everything. That said, because of the nature of the system, we don't always agree on things, particularly names. There was a very large discussion last month about whether
764:
at GA. People working on railway articles (at least in the UK and North
America) have the luxury of working in a field where almost every aspect of the industry has been the subject of a book at some point; the best advice I could give would be to learn where to locate these books, and also to learn
508:
I have always been interested in rail transport since a very young age. I have found
Knowledge to be a good outlet for this and for collaborating with other people interested in the different aspects of the rail industry and everything else about it. I am not really a trainspotter. I describe myself
444:
I've always been interested in transport, and particularly railways so joining this project when it started seemed a natural thing for me to do. Apart from a few days here and there, I've never commuted by rail, although I would have done for several years if the stations within walking distance of
613:
It's mostly because people there are usually very helpful. Several times I've come across a photo I want to categorise which is of a train, which I can sort, but might have no information about where it was taken - asking on the project talk I've seen people be able to identify a station just from
480:
I think) and thought it looked like a good way to find topics of interest to work on and ask for help when I needed it. I don't commute at present, but if I did I would try to use rail if at all possible. "Trainspotter" is a very narrowly defined term for a small part of what's really a much wider
466:
I don't like the term "trainspotter" as it has negative connotations, at least here in the UK, and portrays an image of an anorak-clad individual standing at the end of a platform. I hope my interests in railways are more rounded than that. I've always been interested in railways and have a good
534:
I don't tend to do much work on actual articles, I'm more involved in the photos on
Wikimedia Commons. However, I would say more current operating articles, as they're generally easier to photograph; though I have produced several route diagrams for defunct lines. That said, I've recently been
674:
getting featured list status after I effected a major reformatting from a messy bulleted list to a table. This was a while before even the FL nom, so I can't take a significant amount of the credit. My copyediting and similar tasks on other articles may have helped in a small way to other
1005:
636:
Newcastle, Birmingham New Street, Glasgow
Central have all been among the bigger disputes and some are still ongoing. However generally there are a huge amount of people interested in a variety of aspects of rail transport in the UK. We have had a huge history of
552:
I'm more of a wikignome and facilitator rather than a major contributor of prose. I tend to work on a wide variety of railway articles, although the
Westcountry and London are particular focuses, as is wherever I've recently travelled. The
344:. The project, begun in April 2006, currently conducts expansion and maintenance on over 11,000 pages. There are 26 featured articles, 5 featured lists, and 52 good articles included in the project's scope. The project maintains a
110:
498:
defining technology of the period, so there's a lot of train-related material there. I wouldn't consider myself either a trainspotter or a railfan; my interest is in the infrastructure, rather than in individual
642:
The project has 26 featured articles, 5 featured lists, and 52 good articles. Have you contributed to any of these? Do you have any advice for improving articles about railways in the UK for FA or GA promotion?
618:
should be moved to St
Pancras International railway station or not, as that's the current name but maybe not the common name. Furthermore, we are still divided over train naming - we currently use a system of
188:
570:
A bit of both - basically anything that I come across which would benefit from improvement, with a slight focus on areas with which I have a personal connection. My two rail-based article creations were a
602:
The project's talk page is very active. What brings so many editors together for discussion? Is there anything unique about the project or the topic that might contribute to the high levels of activity?
770:
Railway articles often include detailed route maps and color-coded lists of rail lines. What sources of information are used to create these visual aids? How much effort goes into keep these updated?
130:
100:
140:
810:
There are a number of good rail atlases available for the UK, covering both current and historic railways, and comparing these gives a good indication about changes of station names, etc.
785:- you can see most details from the aerial photos, and often you can still see the paths of old railways on the landscape. For older lines, and also for finding disused stations, I use
1066:
696:
in my sights to bring up to FL standard. The best advice I can give is to arm yourself with plenty of reference material, read through it thoroughly and then write the best you can.
467:
knowledge (and access to some more obscure reference material), which is why I joined the project. I commute by rail most days, though recently I've been cycling sometimes instead.
1020:
73:
989:
932:
923:
377:
361:
120:
1052:
994:
984:
880:
969:
915:
345:
974:
962:
435:, and realised that some Bristol stations were severely lacking photos. I started with the stations, and trainspotting sort of came naturally from that.
956:
52:
41:
717:
823:
741:
689:
179:
1133:
1025:
902:
349:
1032:
353:
801:
where to keep the next/previous consistent for a particular service you need to go against the standard next/previous for that line.
558:
21:
892:
Many of the articles about smaller and historic stations are very stubby and it would be great if we could expand some of these.
1108:
1080:
1009:
856:
693:
369:
1103:
1098:
1040:
Just to let you know, I've changed my username. I don't know if you want to change my quotes in the article to reflect this.—
883:
in the UK that we have no photos of, which is quite surprising, though many of those are quite rural and have very low usage.
822:
is a good place to discuss the technical sides of these. At the project, we also have a list of company and system colours,
597:
I seem to focus mainly on maintenance around the project. Overall article wise, I tend to focus more on modern railways etc.
588:
On railways which were operational in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some are still operational, some are long defunct.
757:
671:
539:-related articles, which hold a certain emotional connection to me, as my grandmother lived right next to the station at
1093:
373:
561:
articles were two of the first articles I ever created as a
Wikipedian (I'd recently taken very good photos of these).
798:
341:
514:
Do you find yourself working more on articles relating to currently operating railways or historic/defunct railways?
287:
218:
453:) had not both been closed in the 1960s. I don't consider myself a "trainspotter" but I do think of myself as a "
729:
365:
1048:
855:
The project does collaborations with geographical projects as well as other transportation projects, such as
721:
67:
846:
and with the various geographic projects and task forces, but I'm not sure if there is formal collaboration.
1088:
944:
914:
Next week's article will be printed, bound, and sold. Until then, see our previously published work in the
525:
Mostly historic railways, with some heritage railways thrown in. I am also interested in railway accidents.
412:
What motivated you to join WikiProject UK Railways? Do you commute via rail? Would you consider yourself a
357:
46:
32:
17:
909:, are often lacking in sources and early operational history. Improvements to these would be very helpful.
737:
572:
233:
761:
713:
615:
333:
1041:
805:
733:
679:
554:
461:
389:
245:
197:
Submit your project's news and announcements for next week's WikiProject Report at the
Signpost's
540:
509:
as a rail enthusiast and am more interested in the routes and stations, as well as the journey.
477:
249:
705:
654:
319:
257:
781:
I've created quite a few route maps, and I use a variety of sources. The most useful one is
1114:
302:
210:
8:
446:
277:
906:
457:", as I'm interested in the stations, history, etc rather than seeing individual trains.
1062:
428:
293:
253:
240:
765:
to disregard websites, which are often very professional-looking but frequently wrong.
1016:
850:
814:
631:
592:
536:
503:
450:
401:
198:
192:
ran out of steam. Please help them end the drive with a strong push in the final day!
843:
685:
744:
at FA (plus assorted tangentially related but not primarily railway articles like
476:
I found the project via the talk page of an article I was working on at the time (
308:
896:
790:
700:
583:
565:
485:
471:
397:
393:
329:
282:
214:
206:
887:
863:
is a resource on the routes of the network and discussing some technical sides.
837:
753:
745:
725:
665:
658:
547:
439:
385:
298:
1127:
1058:
874:
860:
819:
776:
709:
608:
576:
529:
422:
381:
261:
150:
868:
What are the project's most pressing needs? How can a new member help today?
325:
264:, improve tunnel security, and prevent accidental falls and suicide attempts
224:
794:
782:
648:
624:
520:
413:
405:
481:
interest, but I don't object to its use, although "enthusiast" is better.
312:
490:
I'm interested in 19th century civil engineering, rather than in trains
186:
After clearing out nearly all of the backlogged articles from 2008, the
315:
229:
183:
begins
Wednesday. Do you have what it takes to climb the leader board?
749:
356:
available to all Wikipedians. WikiProject UK Railways is a child of
268:
454:
432:
786:
427:
I think I originally joined due to my interest in the
260:
intended to reduce noise, decrease wind caused by the
831:
Does the project collaborate with any other projects?
297:
A Third Class carriage built in 1898 and used on the
280:
engine ever constructed and was built to replace the
1030:If your comment has not appeared here, you can try
657:article to GA status, mostly in collaboration with
627:
ceased to exist, and that's caused a few arguments.
213:, an early steam locomotive built in 1829 for the
1125:
623:, even for trains which were manufactured after
718:Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
842:There is an obvious crossover with the parent
336:, is represented at the station by this statue
742:Wotton (Metropolitan Railway) railway station
690:List of railway stations in the West Midlands
148:
286:which had been damaged beyond repair in the
903:Category:British Rail diesel multiple units
380:). We spent some time with project members
340:This week, we took a ride on the trains of
905:and its contemporaries, many of which are
390:Optimist on the run (formerly Tivedshambo)
1045:(the admin formerly known as Tivedshambo)
559:LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa
324:
307:
292:
267:
239:
223:
205:
1033:
824:WP:WikiProject UK Railways/Colours list
14:
1126:
694:List of Talyllyn Railway rolling stock
675:recognitions, but I don't keep track.
51:
1134:Knowledge Signpost archives 2011-05
758:Infrastructure of the Brill Tramway
672:List of London Underground stations
27:
943:
159:
53:
31:
28:
1145:
1015:These comments are automatically
670:I was indirectly responsible for
881:list of some 50 current stations
288:Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash
219:Liverpool and Manchester Railway
135:
125:
115:
105:
95:
85:
857:WP:WikiProject London Transport
1026:add the page to your watchlist
861:Route diagram template project
730:Waddesdon Road railway station
653:I was involved in getting the
236:sometime between 1890 and 1905
13:
1:
789:which maps Britain using old
722:Quainton Road railway station
1001:
370:WikiProject London Transport
18:Knowledge:Knowledge Signpost
7:
1081:delivered to your talk page
738:Wood Siding railway station
684:My only FA so far has been
234:Tan-y-Bwlch Railway Station
10:
1150:
762:Railway stations in Cromer
714:Hellingly Hospital Railway
616:St Pancras railway station
688:, though I assisted with
334:London Paddington station
1067:23:39, 30 May 2011 (UTC)
1053:09:58, 30 May 2011 (UTC)
787:New Popular Edition Maps
734:Westcott railway station
555:Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
374:WikiProject UK Waterways
360:(see our interview from
276:(pictured) was the only
246:Westminster Tube Station
342:WikiProject UK Railways
180:June Wikification Drive
1023:. To follow comments,
948:
936:"WikiProject report" →
478:British Rail Class 180
337:
322:
305:
290:
265:
250:Jubilee Line Extension
237:
221:
164:
36:
947:
793:maps from before the
706:Brill railway station
692:. I've currently got
655:Hawkhurst Branch Line
328:
320:Didcot Railway Centre
311:
296:
271:
258:platform screen doors
243:
227:
209:
163:
35:
1019:from this article's
928:"WikiProject report"
621:British Rail Class X
366:WikiProject UK Trams
303:Metropolitan Railway
1042:Optimist on the run
907:fairly high-traffic
806:Optimist on the run
680:Optimist on the run
462:Optimist on the run
447:Cheddar Valley Line
278:BR Standard Class 8
211:Stephenson's Rocket
1010:Discuss this story
990:Arbitration report
980:WikiProject report
949:
429:Ffestiniog Railway
358:WikiProject Trains
338:
332:, named after the
323:
306:
291:
274:Duke of Gloucester
266:
254:London Underground
238:
222:
189:May Copyedit Drive
165:
65:WikiProject report
42:← Back to Contents
37:
1046:
1034:purging the cache
995:Technology report
799:Filton Abbey Wood
537:Severn Beach Line
451:Henbury Loop Line
449:) and my office (
318:crossover at the
68:The Royal Railway
47:View Latest Issue
1141:
1117:
1076:Want the latest
1044:
1037:
1035:
1029:
1008:
985:Featured content
967:
959:
952:
935:
927:
901:The articles in
686:Talyllyn Railway
494:. Railways were
376:(interviewed in
372:, and cousin of
352:, and plenty of
199:WikiProject Desk
169:
168:WikiProject news
166:
162:
153:
139:
138:
129:
128:
119:
118:
109:
108:
99:
98:
89:
88:
59:
57:
55:
1149:
1148:
1144:
1143:
1142:
1140:
1139:
1138:
1124:
1123:
1122:
1121:
1120:
1119:
1118:
1113:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1084:
1073:
1072:
1039:
1031:
1024:
1013:
1012:
1006:+ Add a comment
1004:
1000:
999:
998:
960:
955:
953:
950:
939:
938:
933:
930:
925:
791:Ordnance Survey
637:transportation.
330:Paddington Bear
215:Rainhill Trials
204:
203:
202:
195:
173:
172:
167:
160:
158:
154:
147:
146:
145:
136:
126:
116:
106:
96:
86:
80:
77:
66:
62:
60:
50:
49:
44:
38:
26:
25:
24:
12:
11:
5:
1147:
1137:
1136:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1086:
1085:
1075:
1074:
1071:
1070:
1069:
1014:
1011:
1003:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
970:News and notes
966:
954:
942:
941:
940:
931:
922:
921:
920:
913:
911:
910:
893:
884:
865:
864:
847:
828:
827:
811:
802:
767:
766:
754:Chesham branch
746:Aylesbury duck
726:Tunnel Railway
697:
676:
662:
659:User:Redrose64
639:
638:
628:
599:
598:
589:
580:
573:former station
562:
544:
526:
511:
510:
500:
482:
468:
458:
436:
362:September 2010
299:Chesham branch
196:
194:
193:
184:
174:
170:
157:
156:
155:
144:
143:
133:
123:
113:
103:
93:
82:
81:
78:
72:
71:
70:
69:
64:
63:
61:
58:
45:
40:
39:
30:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1146:
1135:
1132:
1131:
1129:
1116:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1082:
1079:
1068:
1064:
1060:
1056:
1055:
1054:
1050:
1043:
1036:
1027:
1022:
1018:
1007:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
964:
958:
951:In this issue
946:
937:
929:
919:
917:
908:
904:
900:
898:
894:
891:
889:
885:
882:
878:
876:
872:
871:
870:
869:
862:
858:
854:
852:
848:
845:
841:
839:
835:
834:
833:
832:
825:
821:
818:
816:
812:
809:
807:
803:
800:
796:
792:
788:
784:
780:
778:
774:
773:
772:
771:
763:
759:
755:
751:
747:
743:
739:
735:
731:
727:
723:
719:
715:
711:
710:Brill Tramway
707:
704:
702:
698:
695:
691:
687:
683:
681:
677:
673:
669:
667:
663:
660:
656:
652:
650:
646:
645:
644:
643:
635:
633:
629:
626:
622:
617:
612:
610:
606:
605:
604:
603:
596:
594:
590:
587:
585:
581:
578:
577:proposed line
574:
569:
567:
563:
560:
556:
551:
549:
545:
542:
538:
533:
531:
527:
524:
522:
518:
517:
516:
515:
507:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
487:
483:
479:
475:
473:
469:
465:
463:
459:
456:
452:
448:
443:
441:
437:
434:
430:
426:
424:
420:
419:
418:
417:
415:
409:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
364:), sister of
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
335:
331:
327:
321:
317:
314:
310:
304:
300:
295:
289:
285:
284:
283:Princess Anne
279:
275:
270:
263:
262:piston effect
259:
255:
251:
247:
242:
235:
231:
226:
220:
216:
212:
208:
200:
191:
190:
185:
182:
181:
176:
175:
171:News in brief
152:
142:
134:
132:
124:
122:
114:
112:
104:
102:
94:
92:
84:
83:
75:
56:
48:
43:
34:
23:
19:
1077:
979:
963:all comments
912:
895:
886:
873:
867:
866:
851:Simply south
849:
836:
830:
829:
815:Simply south
813:
804:
795:Beeching Axe
783:Google Earth
775:
769:
768:
699:
678:
664:
647:
641:
640:
632:Simply south
630:
625:British Rail
620:
607:
601:
600:
593:Simply south
591:
582:
564:
546:
528:
519:
513:
512:
504:Simply south
502:
499:locomotives.
495:
491:
484:
470:
460:
438:
421:
414:trainspotter
411:
410:
402:Simply south
378:January 2011
368:, nephew of
348:, a list of
339:
281:
273:
187:
178:
1115:Suggestions
1083:each month?
1017:transcluded
975:In the news
957:30 May 2011
535:working on
313:Mixed gauge
54:30 May 2011
1057:Updated. -
1049:ask me why
897:Alzarian16
879:We have a
701:Iridescent
584:Iridescent
566:Alzarian16
486:Iridescent
472:Alzarian16
398:Iridescent
394:Alzarian16
350:open tasks
316:baulk road
230:photochrom
79:Share this
74:Contribute
22:2011-05-30
1109:Subscribe
1021:talk page
888:Thryduulf
844:WP:Trains
838:Thryduulf
750:Noel Park
666:Thryduulf
548:Thryduulf
445:my home (
440:Thryduulf
386:Thryduulf
354:resources
256:features
1128:Category
1104:Newsroom
1099:Archives
1078:Signpost
1059:Mabeenot
926:Previous
875:mattbuck
777:mattbuck
609:mattbuck
530:mattbuck
423:mattbuck
382:mattbuck
151:Mabeenot
121:LinkedIn
101:Facebook
20: |
916:archive
649:Mjroots
541:Redland
521:Mjroots
455:railfan
433:Bristol
406:Mjroots
301:of the
252:of the
248:on the
232:of the
217:on the
111:Twitter
859:. The
820:WP:RDT
575:and a
492:per se
404:, and
346:portal
131:Reddit
91:E-mail
1094:About
16:<
1089:Home
1063:talk
934:Next
760:and
748:and
740:and
557:and
272:The
244:The
177:The
141:Digg
752:);
496:the
149:By
76:—
1130::
1065:)
1051:)
924:←
918:.
756:,
736:,
732:,
728:,
724:,
720:,
716:,
712:,
708:,
408:.
400:,
396:,
392:,
388:,
384:,
228:A
1061:(
1047:(
1038:.
1028:.
965:)
961:(
899::
890::
877::
853::
840::
826:.
817::
808::
779::
703::
682::
668::
661:.
651::
634::
611::
595::
586::
579:.
568::
550::
543:.
532::
523::
506::
488::
474::
464::
442::
425::
416:?
201:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
