I recall  as a train spotting kid we used to count the number of coaches or wagons on every train that passed.

I have to admit I still do it. I've just been watching a few train vids on youtube (I blame Di for luring me to Youtube with vids of Snoozebury) and once there I watch other train vids and count coaches/wagons. (second childhood obviously!)

Mind you not got it as bad as some bloke I saw at a few shows in the Bristol area back in the 80s with an Ian Allan ABC ticking off numbers on layouts!

Yep I still do that

Considering I used to live very near two level crossings where china clay trains went past, and I knew how many wagons were in each train, that is especially weird

Yep!! Every train I see or train film, I count the coaches and, even worse, I check to see if I've got the right number of N gauge coaches on my layout. How sad is that!!

Actually, one of the things that really annoys me when watching video of either the real thing or the models, is when the photographer concentrates on the loco, and you don't get a chance to count the coaches/wagons.

I count as well and really get miffed if the video fades to a new shot before all the counting has been completed 

Cheers John.

Quote from: Yet_Another on March 06, 2016, 09:28:07 PM
Actually, one of the things that really annoys me when watching video of either the real thing or the models, is when the photographer concentrates on the loco, and you don't get a chance to count the coaches/wagons.

It's not just me then!!!

And here's me thinking I suffered from 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder'  . I just have to count the carriages and, like others, get really annoyed when I can not finish the counting before the camera angle moves  . David.

And here's another 'counter' along with all the angst if I don't get the chance to finish my count

Back in the day when I was running our club's UK-based layout, when in a mischievous evil mood, I used to run a full set of HAA hoppers. Round the train went, with a few kids counting the number of wagons. It was a long train - 36 wagons - so often they weren't absolutely certain if they had counted correctly. Next time it did the circuit it only had 34; then the next time 35, so on, so forth. The brighter kids caught on fairly quickly...

I have not encountered someone ticking off the numbers of the locos on the layout, but I recall one layout (00 gauge) which did produce a 'spotters' list of all the locos you could see on the layout that day.

I count if it's a four or five coach Voyager so I know whether I'm standing or sitting in the luggage rack.

Quote from: Yet_Another on March 06, 2016, 09:28:07 PM
Actually, one of the things that really annoys me when watching video of either the real thing or the models, is when the photographer concentrates on the loco, and you don't get a chance to count the coaches/wagons.

+1! Watched a video of Law Junction last week where this was really irritating!

FWIW, the habit never goes away!! Aa a former professional railwayman, although now long departed from my one-time career, if a train comes into view, I still automatically count the wagons and do the necessary calculations to determine train size.  As well, I still (also automatically) check and call signal colours and aspects when I see them.  Conversations with former colleagues indicate that I am not alone.

As I said, it never goes away...

 

...a counter from Italy...

Marco

No, I won't admit it..... oops, I think I just did 

Quote from: Komata on March 06, 2016, 11:38:33 PM
FWIW, the habit never goes away!! Aa a former professional railwayman, although now long departed from my one-time career, if a train comes into view, I still automatically count the wagons and do the necessary calculations to determine train size.  as well, I still (also automatically) still check and call signal colours and aspects when I see them.  Conversations with former colleagues indicate that I am not alone.

As I said, it never goes away...

A colleague at work used to work for British Rail at Paddington many years ago.  She still checks any train she sees, to make sure it has a tail lamp.

Quote from: austinbob on March 06, 2016, 09:48:58 PM

Quote from: Yet_Another on March 06, 2016, 09:28:07 PM
Actually, one of the things that really annoys me when watching video of either the real thing or the models, is when the photographer concentrates on the loco, and you don't get a chance to count the coaches/wagons.

It's not just me then!!!

It bothers me too.  As I've become more interested in running correct (or, at least, believable) trains I've taken more notice of what's behind the locomotive.  But photographers seem to assume no-one is interested in anything but engines...