English Railfan at Home and Abroad

It took a girl to kick-start Dave Hewitt’s rail hobby when they rode on their bikes to the local level crossing to ‘take down train numbers’. He was instantly hooked, spending his spare time at the famous Tamworth station field, the passion for railways growing year by year. Passing his driving test, acquiring a camera and going to university in London provided Dave with the freedom he desired to pursue the hobby. However, the decline of steam dampened the ardour. It was never extinguished, however, just lying dormant for the right circumstances to reignite it. The moment came twenty years later, when he won an SLR camera on a TV quiz show. The immature trainspotter was now an embryonic railfan, photographing trains most weekends, experimenting with different styles to try and find the most appealing approach. Early on he photographed steam behind the Iron Curtain, and then travelled in Britain and beyond, enjoying the varied landscapes and traction that these trips afforded. In addition, he became a part-time volunteer at his local railway.In this book, Dave Hewitt, explores the railfan hobby through his spectacular repertoire of images which is sure to appeal to all those enthusiasts and modellers keen to further their own pastimes.