Question about "Trainspotting"

[Ash]

This is one of my all time favorite films.

For the life of me I've never figured out why it's called "Trainspotting"

Is it about spotting that train that'll take you away from all of the bad s**t that's been going on in life?  
Getting away from it all?
(robbing, heroin addiction, having a crappy life in general etc...)

When Renton's parents lock him in his room to get off junk, his wallpaper is nothing but trains.

That figures in with getting away from it all.  (coming off heroin)

Or is there more to it than that?

Does anyone here have a really good idea as to why Irvine Welsh gave his novel this title?

[ahab]

"Trainspotting", the British hobby of tracking locomotive engine numbers is used as a metaphor, not only for heroin addiction, but also for life's general meaninglessness. I got that from the apollo.com review of the film. hope it helps!


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[Neville]

Also heard that in the original play (yeah, the film is based on a play) the characters watch trains go by as a cheap entertainment, hence the title.

[Ash]

Sorry Ahab, you lost me there somewhere.
You were just a little vague.
Maybe a little more detail is in order.

[ahab]

that was all i got or at least that is what the site said. i guess that some people watch the trains and keep track of the numbers ?!?.... kind of like license plate bingo maybe



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[Pete B6K]

If you really can't grasp what trainspotting is from Ahab's explanation, there's a foolproof one here.

Trainspotting

I'm not entirely sure about the exact relevance to the film. Seen as it's one of your favourite films, you should probably read the book, the trainspotting connection is probably much clearer there.

Pete

[Reed Rothchild]

I understood it was because junkies have problems sometimes trying to find decent veins to shoot up into, after all the decent veins have collapsed or got infected.