Belgium - 9th December 2008
I enjoyed Belgium so much last weekend that I made arrangements to go straight back for a couple more days!
Angel Trains Cargo loco E186 205, on hire to SNCB/NMBS and numbered 2813, is stabled at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid.
2-car SNCB/NMBS electric multiple unit number 640 arrives at Liège, in between flurries of snow.
Of the 60 SNCB/NMBS Class 13 electric locomotives, 20 are used for express passenger work, travelling at speeds of up to 200kph. 1346 is seen here at Liège.
Passing light engine through Liège is this elderly electric locomotive, 2248. Built in the 1950s, these locos still find use on peak time commuter trains.
Another Class 22, number 2226, also seen at Liège.
Holland, Belgium and France - 30th November 2008
A pair of Arriva EMUs, numbers 503 and 505, stabled at Dordrecht.
A pair of 'Benelux' international trains pause side by side at Antwerp. 1190 is heading to Amsterdam, whilst 1181 is en route to Brussels. The increasingly unreliable locos are gradually giving way to hired-in Bombardier Traxx F140 MS locomotives, which will work on the route until they themselves are replaced by new high speed EMUs operating on the new HSL-Zuid high speed line.
With the short sighted abandonment of the proposals in the 1990s to run Eurostar trains North of London to major UK cities, the trains for the project, which had already been built, were surplus to requirements in the UK. The then British East Coast Main Line operator used several sets for a time whilst their core fleet underwent a refurbishment programme, but the majority went to work in France. Here haf sets 3311 and 3312, carrying SNCF and TGV branding over their Eurostar livery, prepare to depart Lille-Flandres with a TGV service.
Standing at Paris Gare-du-Nord is 15022, at the head of a rake of Corail intercity stock.
A close-up of the nameplate affixed to 15022 Pantin.
Class 15, number 215045 stands at the blocks at Paris Gare-du-Nord, having just arrived with a rake of duplex coaching stock.
Belgium and Holland - 29th November 2008
A weekend trip to Belgium, Holland and France, travelling by Eurostar. Despite the operational difficulties resulting from the recent fire in the Channel Tunnel, both the outward service to Bruxelles Midi and the return from Paris Gare du Nord ran on time.
Our outbound service, the 07:10 London St Pancras-Bruxelles Midi, was formed of Eurostar half-sets 3201 and 3202. With the magnificently restored clock in the background, the rear car of 3201 stands at the blocks at St Pancras shortly before departure.
EMU 357 departs from Bruxelles Nord with a surburban service.
A Thalys set arrives at Bruxelles Nord station.
A number of Bombardier Traxx electric locomotives have been hired by Dutch operator NS to work 'Benelux' international trains between Amsterdam and Bruxelles, prior to the opening for passengers of the new HSL-Zuid high speed line between Belgium and Holland. Here 186 120 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
SNCB's Class 13 locomotives, a derivative of a French design, are used on both freight and passenger workings within Belgium. Here passenger locomotive 1352 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
SNCB Class 21 number 2108 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
A nice suprise shortly after arrival in Bruxelles was this staff charter, hauled by a trio of Class 77 locomotives - 7811, 7814 and 7819
An even nicer suprise was this veteran diesel locomotive on the rear of the aforementioned staff charter - Class 55 number 5515 was built in the early 1960s, and is still going strong.
I'm not sure what to make of these EMUs - designated Class AM96. Number 516 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
An EMU of a conventional design, number 257, arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
2153 is shown here stabled at Oostend.
Back to Bruxelles, where EMU number 420 is shown arriving at the city's Nord station.
EMU 398 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
SNCB Class 27 number 2749 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
Looking decidedly tatty, SNCB diesel locomotive number 6243 is shown here at Namur on an OHLE inspection train.
Finally, a pair of NS Mat64 EMUs stabled at Den Haag Centraal.
Our outbound service, the 07:10 London St Pancras-Bruxelles Midi, was formed of Eurostar half-sets 3201 and 3202. With the magnificently restored clock in the background, the rear car of 3201 stands at the blocks at St Pancras shortly before departure.
EMU 357 departs from Bruxelles Nord with a surburban service.
A Thalys set arrives at Bruxelles Nord station.
A number of Bombardier Traxx electric locomotives have been hired by Dutch operator NS to work 'Benelux' international trains between Amsterdam and Bruxelles, prior to the opening for passengers of the new HSL-Zuid high speed line between Belgium and Holland. Here 186 120 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
SNCB's Class 13 locomotives, a derivative of a French design, are used on both freight and passenger workings within Belgium. Here passenger locomotive 1352 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
SNCB Class 21 number 2108 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
A nice suprise shortly after arrival in Bruxelles was this staff charter, hauled by a trio of Class 77 locomotives - 7811, 7814 and 7819
An even nicer suprise was this veteran diesel locomotive on the rear of the aforementioned staff charter - Class 55 number 5515 was built in the early 1960s, and is still going strong.
I'm not sure what to make of these EMUs - designated Class AM96. Number 516 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
An EMU of a conventional design, number 257, arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
2153 is shown here stabled at Oostend.
Back to Bruxelles, where EMU number 420 is shown arriving at the city's Nord station.
EMU 398 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
SNCB Class 27 number 2749 arrives at Bruxelles Nord.
Looking decidedly tatty, SNCB diesel locomotive number 6243 is shown here at Namur on an OHLE inspection train.
Finally, a pair of NS Mat64 EMUs stabled at Den Haag Centraal.
France - 8th November 2008
I managed to find some of Ryanair's fabled free flights - booked a return trip from East Midlands Airport to Paris Beauvais for the princely sum of 2p. Main purpose of the trip was to travel on the diesel line through the mountains from Clermont Ferrand to Nimes so not many photos were taken - not helped by the weather. So just two photos in todays collection - I'll have to return sometime soon!
Working a Paris-bound RER Line C service, duplex unit 20990 pauses at Epinay sur Seine.
Fret allocated diesel loco 63932 performs a shunt move at Clichy Levallois.
Germany - 19th September 2008
The final day of my trip to Holland, Germany and Switzerland. I decided to head back to the Rhine-Ruhr area for more photos at Boppard, and Koblenz.
Still fairly common on both freight and passenger workings in Germany are the Class 218 locomotives, built in the 1970s. 218 414-1 and 363 710-5 are stabled at Koblenz Hbf.
Built in East Germany as class 250, some 270 production locomotives were delivered between 1977 and 1984. Here 155 233-0 passes through Boppard Hbf heading North.
482 029-6, works number 33603, is one of 35 TRAXX F140 AC1 delivered to Swiss national operator SBB by Bombardier between 2001 and 2003. Wearing the 'cargo' livery of SBB this locomotive is pictured heading North through Boppard Hbf in Germany's Rhineland area with a freight train on 19th September 2008.
Germany - 18th September 2008
Day four of my week-long trip to Holland, Germany and Switzerland. Photos from Bremen, Hamburg-Harburg and Hannover.
DB shunting locomotive 363 919-3 marshalls coaching stock in the yard at Bremen.
DB use a number of departmental multiple units for use as test trains. Track measurement units 726 005-2 (front) and 725 005-3 are stabled at Hannover.
Track measurement units 725 005-3 (front) and 726 005-2 are stabled at Hannover.
Shunting locomotive 363 146-2 sits at Hannover in between shunting duties.
DB shunting locomotive 363 919-3 marshalls coaching stock in the yard at Bremen.
Deutsch Bahn AG's 101 074-3 is one of a class of 145 electric locomotives built by ADtranz between 1996 and 1999 for use on DB's network of InterCity services. This locomotive was pictured approaching Hamburg-Harburg whilst hauling IC2311, the 09:26 intercity service from Westerland to Heidelberg.
DB use a number of departmental multiple units for use as test trains. Track measurement units 726 005-2 (front) and 725 005-3 are stabled at Hannover.
Track measurement units 725 005-3 (front) and 726 005-2 are stabled at Hannover.
Shunting locomotive 363 146-2 sits at Hannover in between shunting duties.
Germany - 17th September 2008
My travels in Central Europe continue, with photos from Weisbaden, Boppard and Köln.
Some 480 units of Class 420 were built for DB from 1971 for use on S-Bahn networks. Largely replaced by more modern designs of EMU, many units have found work in the Rhine-Ruhr area on S-Bahn services. 420 272-7 departs Wiesbaden Hbf with an S-Bahn train to Hanau via Frankfurt am Main.
Built in the 1970s for East Germany's national operator Deutsch Reichsbahn by LEW Hennigsdorf as DR Class 250, these locomotives were renumbered to Class 155 by DB upon the reunification of Germnay. Now operated by DB subsidiary Railion, they are used to haul freight throughout Germany. Here 155 269-4 heads North at Boppard Hbf.
One of the most common electric locomotive classes in use in Germany, some 636 locomotives were built for East Germany by W Hennigsdorf as DR Class 243. 143 078-4 heads North through Boppard with RE 4368, a semi fast service from Frankfurt am Main to Koblenz, formed of double deck stock. 143 068-4 was on the rear.
Built in the late 1980s, the production series of 60 Class 120 locomotives share a number of features with their successor, the Class 101. Here, 120 140-9 passes through Boppard heading North with IC 2024, an intercity service from Frankfurt am Main to Hamburg-Altona.
It didn't take long for potential advertisers to discover the potential of the large flat bodysides of the Class 101. Wearing an attractive advertisement for German model manufacturer Roco, 101 102-2 speeds through Boppard Hbf.
The Hohenzollernbrücke connects the stations of Köln Hauptbahnhof and Köln-Deutz. Rebuilt after World War II when the original bridge over the Rhine was destroyed, it is the most heavily used rail bridge in Germany, and is overlooked by the imposing Köln cathedral.
Germany and Switzerland - 16th September 2008
The second day of my trip to Central Europe. Photos from München and Zurich.
Arriva liveried 183 001 stands at München (Munich) at the head of ALX 455, the 08:44 service for Praha (Prague). Introduced to service in October 2007, this is one of Siemens' ES 64 U4 electric locomotives, works number 21130.
Deutsch Bahn AG's 145 ADtranz-built Class 101 locomotives are capable of 220kph, and are primarily used on InterCity trains.
101 119-6 stands at München, having arrived with an InterCity service.
460 078-9 is one of SBB's Re 460 electric locomotives, also known as Lok 2000. 119 examples were built between 1991 and 1996 by SLM and ABB. This locomotive is fitted with a webcam, which is fitted into the other cab. It is sponsored by Swiss Tourism and viewable here. She was pictured at Zurich, having been uncoupled from a recently arrived train. Amazingly, I've managed to locate the image transmitted moments before this photo was taken - see here!
RBe 540 single car EMUs are used on Zurich's S-Bahn network. They are normally used in top and tail formation, with 6 unpowered coaches in between a pair of units. EMU 540 015-5 is at the rear of one such formation shortly before departure from Zurich.
Holland - 15th September 2008
A selection of photos from a day spent in Holland, as part of a week-long trip to Central Europe.
Many Intercity trains in Holland are still loco-hauled, with Class 1700 locomotives, built by Alsthom in the early 1990s, providing the motive power. Here 1731 pauses at Eindhoven.
Built by Alsthom between 1981 and 1983, NS Class 1600 locomotives were based on the SNCF Class BB 7200. Now owned by Railion Nederland, Railion branded locomotive 1621 passes light engine through Eindhoven station, heading South-East.
A mystery working... Private operator Shunter Ractie's 203 101 passes through Eindhoven station dragging a 2-car DMU.
Railion Deutschland's 189 077-1 is one of 100 Siemens' ES 64 F4 electric locomotives ordered in 1999. it was pictured in Railion livery passing through Eindhoven with a freight train.
A pair of Mat '64 EMUs stand at Roosendaal - 2-car Plan V unit 888, and 4-car Plan T unit 530 await their next turn of duty.
A pair of Belgian class 77 locomotives, 7787 and 7773 shunt in the yard at Roosendaal.
Built between 1988 and 1994 for Dutch national operator NS by MaK, the NS Cargo 6400 series locomotives are now owned by DB Schenker subsidiary Railion Nederland. 6503 stands at Roosendaal between duties at lunchtime.
Railion branded 6517 passes through Roosendaal with a well loaded car train.
Thalys PBKA set 4342 heads North through Dordrecht Zuid with a high speed Intercity service.
An updated version of the Class 1600 design, 81 Class 1700s were built by Alsthom between 1991 and 1994. 1757 passes Dordrecht Zuid heading South with IC 1949, the 13:21 from Den Haag Centraal to Venlo.
The versatile 'Class 66' design of locomotive, built by EMD in Canada, is popular on the European Mainland as well as in the UK. HGK liveried 'Euroshed' DE 64 passes Dordrecht Zuid light engine heading South.
MaK-built 6400 locomotives often operate in pairs or threes. Operating in multiple, 6443, 6480 and 6444 head a coal train passing South past Dordrecht Zuid.
Belgian Class 11 locomotives work services between Amsterdam and Brussels. 1189 is pictured passing through Dordrecht Zuid with one such service.
Still wearing it's NS Cargo livery under the Railion branding, 6500 passes South through Dordrecht Zuid.
Koploper EMUs are used on many intercity services in Holland. Units 4035 and 4024 stand at Utrecht Centraal.
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