Why are there so few eligible women on the railway forums? Why, when history tells us that women were the backbone of the Miner's Strike of the 1980s; when women fought so courageously (in some cases, to the death) for the vote at the turn of the 20th century; when, without women bus drivers, clippies and office staff the transport industry would never have played such an important role in winning the Second World War; why are there so few female transport enthusiasts?

It can't be genetic - there are an increasing number of female officers (and, indeed, captains) aboard the world's shipping fleet. It can't be discriminatory - 25 years ago we were adding female facilities to oil rigs, for goodness' sake!

It's not as if women haven't risen to the top in transport politics. In the UK, we've had Barbara Castle, Gwyneth Dunwoody and Ruth Kelly, to name but three very capable women who have all shaped our country's transport policy.

But why, oh why, are there so few female transport enthusiasts?

It's not as if there haven't been female transport role models in the media - who can forget Kylie's time as a mechanic in Neighbours?

It's not as if it's exclusively a man's world, either. Look at this picture of a National Express driver, in charge of her train to Scotland:

Where are you all?

While the men are out there, cameras at the ready, pencils and notebooks in hand, recording every aspect of Britain's railways, where oh where are our female counterparts?

(Answers, please, on a postcard, or by posting a comment!)