Line 241 Dresden - Schöna
The main line from Dresden towards the Czech border runs along the Elbe Valley, a gloriously scenic route between wooded hills and rocky outcrops, dotted with picturesque villages and hilltop castles. The line is busy with local and long distance passengers and frequent freights, hauled by a variety of classes from DB, CD and several independent operators.
16 photos
go to Dresden - Schöna galleryLine 610 Bebra - Fulda
The Bebra - Fulda line runs along Haunetal, a beautiful river valley flanked by rounded, forested hills and dotted with small farming villages. The railway is far from the quiet backwater you might expect in such a rural idyll. It's a double track electrified main line and a vital link between northern and southern Germany. Freight traffic is heavy and varied and there were regular loco hauled passengers as well when I first visited in 2006.
24 photos
go to Bebra - Fulda GalleryLine 970 Immenstadt - Lindau
The western section of the Allgäubahn, from Immenstadt to Lindau, is one of the most photogenic lines in Europe, running through the gloriously scenic Oberallgäu region, just north of the Alps. The line has served as a diversionary route on several occasions over recent years, adding EuroCity passengers and long freights to the usual mix of loco hauled ALEX trains and DB Regio DMUs.
go to Immenstadt - Lindau gallery Line 970/975 Kempten - Immenstadt
The Kempten - Immenstadt line is part of the Allgäubahn, the scenic, double-track, diesel-worked main line from München to Lindau. The The Kempten - Immenstadt section carries regional passenger trains from München, Augsburg and Ulm to Lindau and Oberstdorf, some of them loco hauled as well as a couple of InterCity services and a pair of EuroCity trains from München to Zürich.
go to Kempten - Immenstadt galleryLine 975 Immenstadt - Oberstdorf
The first of a number of remastered and expanded galleries covering the Allgäubahn and associated lines. The branch from Immenstadt to Oberstdorf carries fairly heavy passenger traffic for a single track route. As well as regular trains from München, Augsburg and Ulm, the line hosts a couple of InterCity workings and a few locals as well. Although many trains are worked by DMUs, there are a good number of loco hauled workings as well.
go to Immenstadt - Oberstdorf galleryLine 800 Gemünden - Würzburg
The valley of the River Main provides a convenient route for traffic from Frankfurt and northern Germany into Bavaria. Like the Bebra - Fulda line, freight traffic is heavy, the scenery is attractive and the passenger trains are loco hauled. Most of Railion's electric locomotive classes can be seen at work here along with diesels and electrics belonging to open-access operators. UPDATED with additional images from 2006 and 2009.
28 photos
go to Gemünden - Würzburg galleryLine 950 München - Salzburg
The München to Salzburg line is a busy, electrified, double track, international route carrying a wide variety of passenger and freight trains including Austrian Korridorzüge taking a shortcut across German territory between Salzburg and Kufstein. The landscape is pleasant rather than spectacular but good photo positions are relatively easy to find. I visited the section of line between Traunstein and Freilassing in April 2010.
12 photos
go to München - Salzburg galleryLine 990 Ingolstadt - Treuchtlingen
The line from Ingolstadt to Treuchtlingen runs along Altmühltal, a beautiful winding river valley dotted with picturesque villages, small farms and rock outcrops with intriguing names like the Twelve Apostles and the Devil’s Pulpit. This is a busy, double-track, electrified, freight route with an hourly local passenger service worked by class 111s on push-pull sets. All the usual DBS electric freight locos can be seen along with a good variety of independent operators’ locos.
19 photos
go to Ingolstadt - Treuchtlingen galleryLine 740 Stuttgart - Singen
The Stuttgart - Singen main line is an important part of the north-south link between western parts of Germany and Zürich. This single-track, electrified line runs through glorious scenery, along the valley of the river Neckar on the east side of the Black Forest. Inter City services had already gone over to tilting ICEs but continuing problems with these units have led to a return to loco haulage with class 120s working Stuttgart - Zürich services. There are also some freights and loco hauled regional passengers.
14 photos
go to Stuttgart - Singen galleryLine 940-947 Mühldorf Area
Mühldorf lies at the centre of a network of diesel worked lines east of München. The line from München sees a good proportion of loco hauled workings, mainly on double deck push-pull sets but most passenger services on the other lines are worked by DMUs. The real attraction is the heavy freight traffic to and from the chemical works in the area.
16 photos
go to Mühldorf Area galleryLine 970/975 München - Oberstdorf / Lindau
The line south from Kempten runs through the Oberallgäu, an area of rolling hills and small farms in the shadow of the Bavarian Alps. The railways here are diesel worked with a mixture of modern DMUs and older locomotives doing the honours. Freight traffic is sparse but there are frequent passenger trains to photograph.
24 photos
go to München - Oberstdorf/Lindau galleryBayern (Miscellaneous)
Bayern Land covers a huge area of south eastern Germany and is more commonly known to English speakers as Bavaria. Its railways are as varied as its landscape with rural branches serving picturesque villages in the Alpine foothills, fast main lines crossing vast agricultural plains and bustling cities with busy suburban networks. This gallery includes photos that don't fit neatly into the other galleries.
4 photos
go to Bayern (Misc) gallery
