Did you know that in 2019, over 1.7 billion journeys are made on trains annually in Great Britain, making it the 5th most used train network in the world? Or that there are over 10 000 miles of train tracks in the UK? Although we may take the railway system in the UK for granted, it’s truly unbelievable how important it is to our transport, and more generally, many of our daily lives. Due to this, I interviewed my dear friend, Ben Cusack - a passionate trainspotter and railway photographer. 

 

Q: What sparked your initial interest in railways?

A: I don't really remember much about the origins of how I came to love railways and trains so much, but it was probably to do with the fact that I could watch the London Trams from my bedroom window. I lived in Croydon along the tram line from a very early age, and I was hooked from the very beginning - the actual trams were fun to ride on and experience, the network map looked interesting and inspired me to draw my own diagrams, and the places the trams could take me were all sorts of fascinating things you'd expect a small child to be fascinated by. In the last 7 years or so, I've had so much more opportunity to learn about railways and trains and to actually experience more of them in this country, which has honestly grown my love for them.

 

Q: You’ve been train and tramspotting for a while now. Over the 7 years of this, what are some things that you have come to particularly love about them?

A: One distinction I should make first; I have two interests in this field, trains and railways. "Trains" refer to the physical rolling stock operated on the railways, how they work and everything about them. "Railways" are the more interesting side in my opinion; it involves lines, connections, maps, operations, signalling, architecture and a whole array of history. I think a particularly cool thing about trains and railways I find is how much there is to learn and explore about them, because it's such a fascinating field in its variety and never-ending nuance. 

 

For me, my favourite thing about trains and railways were probably the maps when I started being a rail enthusiast. I'm a fan of graphic design, and learning the maps always kept me occupied, to the point where I have genuinely learnt the entire Tube map by heart. Now though, I've found a lot more interest in the architecture of the railways and how it varies and progresses, but also the history of abandoned lines and stations that can be explored. As I've said, there's so much variation and and endless pool of things to learn, which excites me, particularly when it comes to railway infrastructure and building. 

 

More recently, I've taken a lot of enjoyment in learning and exploring the actual trains, because I love systems and standardisation, of which the UK railways are full of! From AC inverters to TOPS numbering to liveries, rolling stock is a lot more varied than a lot of people think; a train isn't ever just a "train", it's something far more specific and interesting with its own unique aspects and quirks. Again, variation like this is interesting!

 

Q: In your opinion, why should more people care about railways?

A: I genuinely think that a lot of people need to realise the effort people put into running quality train services every day for millions of people. Commuters are so quick to judge and to complain about every minor imperfection, when a lot of the time it isn't at the fault of the staff, or indeed even the train operator. Our network is extensive, efficient, and impressive, and the millions of people that commute using trains every day never realise the good side, only the bad. If only people were a little more positive, and maybe went on a train in their free time every now and then to relax or clear their mind, then people will realise the true beauty of our railways.

 

Thanks so much, Ben, for the interview, and I wish you all the best in your future trainspotting endeavours. Above, I have attached numerous fantastic photos Ben has taken, and I would encourage you to take a look!