A Bagful of Brejlovics


02 -21 April 2008

Report by Duncan Cotterill

Introduction


The two main aims of this 20-day trip were to fill in some gaps in my coverage of Czech diesel worked lines and to have another go at the 753 hauled freights around Liberec. In the event. I couldn't resist revisiting some old favourites as well. A hire car was used to get around and the flexibility it provided proved extremely useful on what turned out to be a difficult trip weather wise.

Brno - Jihlava

(Table 240)
The trip started with a few days in the Brno area, initially photographing class 750s and 754s on the Jihlava line. About half the passenger trains on this scenic secondary main-line are loco hauled although the proportion drops significantly at weekends. Class 854 railcars handle the bulk of the remaining services although a few of the older class 850s can also appear, particularly at weekends. Like most Czech diesel lines, freight traffic is sparse.

I found everything as expected with the exception of a class 742 working a few railcar turns. The poor weather scuppered my plans to try some new locations. Fortunately the sun did break through every day but only for short periods.

Sightings

(loco number : trains worked)

§ = freight train
* = double headed
** = banked
*** = double banked

WED 02/04/08
742 098 : 82470§*
742 429 : 82470§*
750 243 : 922, 661
754 025 : 4813,
754 026 : 666,
754 041 : 665,
754 062 : 4886,
814 011 : 4877
854 007 : 4810, 4815
854 021? : 4882,
854 025 : 4817

THU 03/04/08
742 098 : 82470§*
742 429 : 82470§*
742 014 : 4882 (vice unit),
750 243 : 4886,
754 009 : 4839, 4830, 4845, 666,
754 025 : 667, 922, 661,
754 062 : 923, 664, 665,
754 076 : 4806, 4813,
814 011 : 4877,
854 001 : 4809,
854 012 : 4810, 4815,
854 206 : 4824, 4841

FRI 04/04/08
742 014 : 4809 (vice unit),
750 022 : 4814,
750 243 : 923, 664, 665
754 018 : 4816,
754 041 : 4806, 4813,
754 046 : 4839, 4830, 4845, 666,
754 062 : 925, 4836,
754 076 : 662, 667, 922, 661,
814 011 : 4877,
854 007 : 4824, 4841, 4882,
854 206 : 4815,
854 222 : 4808

SUN 06/04/08
754 046 : 662

Zdar nad Sazavou - Tisnov

(Table 251)
The first Saturday was spent on the Zdar nad Sazavou - Tisnov line, which has some class 754 workings at weekends as well as the usual class 714s. This is a steeply graded and curvaceous line through extremely attractive country with 100% loco haulage. My aim was to get some shots at the west end of the line but the weather was more co-operative whenever I strayed towards the east.

Sightings


SAT 05/04/08
714 028 : 14916
714 204 : 14913
714 220 : 14909, 14910
754 009 : 1676, 1677
754 023 : 14906, 14911, 14912, 14921.

Brno - Veseli nad Moravou

(Table 340)
The final line covered in the Brno area was the double track route to Veseli nad Moravou, which also has a good proportion of class 754 workings. Unfortunately these are concentrated in the peak hours, heading into Brno in the early morning and returning east during the afternoon. Most trains that head in the right direction past the best locations at the right time of day are worked by class 842 units. As expected, it proved very difficult to find good locations for the afternoon rush of trains from Brno but the handful of morning and midday trains produced some very satisfying images. The weather here was actually quite good with sunshine most of the time.

Sightings


SUN 06/04/08
754 037 : 1723
842 004 : 1724

WED 09/04/08
742 014 : 4118 (vice unit),
754 008 : 4148,
754 013 : 1727,
754 021 : 4115,
754 037 : 4113,
754 049 : 4114,
754 067 : 1729,
754 075 : 4116,
842 035 : 1725,
842 036 : 1732,
850 001 : 1726 (vice 842?),

THU 10/04/08
754 008 : 4105,
754 013 : 1722,
854 025 : 4108,

Ostrava - Valasske Mezirici

(Table 323)
This is probably the busiest diesel worked line in the Czech Republic. It runs south through rather unphotogenic country from Ostrava to Frydlant nad Ostravici then turns west and climbs into the hills passing Frenstat pod Radhostem on its way to Valasske Mezirici. Class 754s work the vast majority of passenger services at the Ostrava end of the line with around half terminating at Frydlant and the rest at Frenstat. There is very little loco haulage at the west end of the line where class 842s and 810s work most services. This was my first attempt to photograph the line and I concentrated on the section between Frydlant and Frenstat in order to get loco hauled trains in good scenery. After a few days chasing Brno's colourful engines, the stream of plain grey and green engines soon became a bit tedious. Fortunately the boredom was relieved by one red 754 and a 742 working a number of railcar turns.

Sightings


SUN 06/04/08
750 308 : 1444 (Brno engine as booked),
750 119 : 1642 (Brno engine as booked),
754 031 : 3127,
754 039 : 3125, 3124,
754 065 : 3123,
754 077 : 3120, 3129,
754 081 : 3172, 3131,
810 088 : 3177, 3176,
842 020 : 1641 (Brno unit as booked),

MON 07/04/08
742 205 : 1611, 3166, 3105 (vice unit),
742 379 : 90017§
754 031 : 3112, 3119,
754 039 : 3116, 3123, 3122,
754 064 : 3110*
754 065 : 3110*, 3125,
754 068 : 3114, 3121, 3118, 3127,
754 077 : 3152, 3153,
754 080 : 3150, 3151,
754 081 : 3120, 3129,
842 019 : 3104,
842 025 : 3102, 3173,

TUE 08/04/08
742 205 : 1611, 3166, 3105 (vice unit),
742 226 : 90017§
754 039 : 3114, 3121, 3127, 3128,
754 065 : 3116, 3123, 3122, 3131
754 068 : 3112, 3119,
754 077 : 3110, 3125, 3124, 3133,
754 079 : 3120, 3129,
810 088 : 3168, 3177,
842 011 : 3101, 3102, 3173, 3172,
842 019 : 3175, 3174,

Olomouc - Sumperk

(Table 290)
This line isn't at all scenic but it does see a mixture of loco hauled workings (class 749s) and old railcars (class 851s) on the section east of Unicov. I stopped off for a couple of hours on my way to the Jesenik line and found some pleasant locations around Ujezd u Unicova.

Sightings


THU 10/04/08
749 260 : 13719,
749 263 : 13717, 13714,
850 029 : 13719 (on rear), 13716,
851 006 : 13715, 13712,
851 019 : 13710,

Sumperk - Jesenik

(Table 292)
What a superb line this is. This year even more passenger trains are loco hauled with four workings each way on weekdays and more at the weekends. As well as the class 749 loco haulage, there are old railcars of classes 831 or 851 and class 751 hauled freights. The scenery is excellent and the line abounds in good photo positions.

A number of trains booked for class 831s were covered by class 851s but everything else worked as expected. Once again, poor weather was the biggest problem with cloud and rain making photography difficult most of the time.

Sightings


THU 10/04/08
749 246, 905,
749 248 : 906, 907,
749 259 : 908,
851 012 : 3655,

FRI 11/04/08
749 246 : 909, 906,
749 248 : 904,
749 259 : 903,
751 119 : 81761§,
751 141 : 81821§,
810 055 : 3609, 3612,
831 110 : 3610, 3613,
831 182 : 3658,
843 019 : 1705,
851 028 : 3606,

SAT 12/04/08
749 107 : 906,
749 248 : 905,
749 250 : 3615 (piloting 851 from Ostruzna as booked)
749 259 : 908,
749 263 : 1704,
751 144 : 81761§,
831 105 : 1706,
851 028 : 3615,

SUN 13/04/08
749 246 : 905,
749 248 : 902, 909, 906, 907,
749 250 : 904,
749 253 : 3615,
749 259 : 903, 908,
749 263 : 1701, 1704,
831 182 : 3658,
843 001 : 1702,
843 019 : 1705,
851 006 : 3662,
851 028 : 3608, 3655, 3660,

Tremesna ve Sleszku - Osoblaha

(Table 298)
With Saturday 12th April forecast to be a write off weather wise, I looked for something different to do and decided to visit the Tremesna - Osoblaha line. This is CD's only narrow gauge line and runs through sparsely populated farming country close to the Polish border. The scenery is pleasant although not spectacular and all trains are loco hauled by class 705 diesels. The weather turned out as expected so I'll have to go back to get some well-lit pictures.

Sightings


SAT 12/04/08
705 916 : 20605, 20606, 20607,

Letohrad - Lichkov

(Table 021)
This line had been a favourite a couple of years ago when it hosted double-headed class 751s on heavy freights bound for Poland. Electrification work started in May 2007 and the freights were diverted to run via Mezimesti leaving a sparse railbus service often substituted by buses. I thought it would be interesting to see what progress had been made over the past year. The answer is not a lot. The semaphore signals at Lichkov have gone and the section from the Polish border through Lichkov to Mladkov has been poled but isn't wired yet. South of Mladkov little has changed apart from the installation of a few concrete mast bases. It looks like the electrics won't start running for quite some time.

Letohrad - Tyniste nad Orlici

(Table 021)
This is another line where the frequency of loco hauled fast trains has increased over the past couple of years and there are now class 754 hauled passengers every couple of hours for most of the day. Although I'd travelled over this line on several occasions, this was the first time I'd tried photographing it. It wasn't easy to find good spots and by lunchtime I'd given up and moved on to the Trutnov line.

Sightings


MON 14/04/08
750 162 : 1952,
754 048 : 791, 790,
754 078 : 793

Jaromer - Trutnov

(Table 032)
Fast trains on this line use the same pool of class 754 diesels that work the Letohrad trains but there are also some freights worked by class 742s and now class 751s as well. Local passengers are booked for class 854s and some workings include a class 954.2 driving trailer with a first class compartment. On my second day these trains were covered by a class 810!

This is a very photogenic line running through hilly country and there are many good photo positions. I concentrated on the area around Cerveny Kostelec this time and managed to get some pictures before the cloud moved in to spoil the party.

Sightings


MON 14/04/08
751 101 : 53691§*,
751 220 : 53691§*,
754 030 : 657,
754 048 : 1785,
754 050 : 659,
754 078 : 655, 656,
854 014 : 15411, 15416, 15415,
854 019 : 15414, 15413, 15418,

TUE 15/04/08
742 280 : 1783 (vice unit),
742 309 : 63320§,
742 390 : 66384§***, 53691§*,
742 491 : 66384§***, 53691§*,
750 162 : 657,
751 145 : 66384§*,
751 354 : 66384§*,
754 030 : 1782, 1785,
754 048 : 651,
754 050 : 655*, 656,
754 061 : 654**, 655*,
754 078 : 653, 654,
810 309 : 15407, 15411, 15416 (vice 854),
854 215 : 15405, 15409, 15414, 15413,

Liberec - Cernousy - Zawidow

(Table 037)
There aren't any loco hauled passengers on this scenic line and most services are now worked by 3-car class 814 units. It's attraction comes in the form of a few heavy freight trains hauled by class 753 diesels, often in pairs. Apart from pick-ups, diesel hauled freights aren't very common in the Czech Republic and there aren't many lines where the classic class 751s and 753s are still used. The route from Nymburk to Zawidow in Poland via Mlada Boleslav, Turnov and Liberec is the last stamping ground of the class 753. Class 742s and 743s can also be seen on some freights.

The weather had been problematic for the whole trip but it was at its worst during the six days at Liberec with no sun at all on three days. Unlike my last couple of trips to Liberec, the class 753s ran very reliably this time so it wasn't difficult to be in the right place when the sun did come out. When the full hourly passenger service is running, southbound freights face a long wait to cross at Mnisek u Liberce and it's easy to get a shot around Raspenava or Oldrichov and then drive round to get a second shot south of Oldrichov - providing you have a car of course. On a line with such a sparse service, this increases the number of potential shots significantly.

Sightings


WED 16/04/08
742 203 : 44203§*,
742 204 : 44203§*,
743 002 : 83541§,
743 003 : 44202§**,
753 187 : 44202§,
753 352 : 44201§,
814 213 : 6315, 6314, 6319,
814 215 : 6317,

THU 17/04/08
742 203 : 47205§*,
742 204 : 47205§*,
742 217 : 44202§, 41239§,
743 002 : 83541§,
753 211 : 44200§*,
753 229 : 44200§*,
753 352 : 44201§,
810 424 : 6316 (trailing 814),
814 211 : 6315, 6314, 6319, 6323,
814 213 : 6312, 6317, 6316, 6320, 6324,

FRI 18/04/08
742 203 : 47204§*, 47205§*,
742 204 : 47204§*, 47205§*,
743 002 : 83541§,
753 141 : 44202§*, 44203§*,
753 187 : 44202§*, 44203§*,
753 211 : 44200§*, 44201§*,
753 229 : 44200§*, 44201§*,
810 424 : 6311,
814 203 : 6309, 6310, 6315, 6314, 6318, 6323, 6322,
814 211 : 6308, 6312, 6317, 6320,

SAT 19/04/08
753 141 : 44200§*, 44201§*,
753 187 : 44200§*, 44201§*,
753 211 : 44202§*,
753 229 : 44202§*,
814 203 : 6313, 6312, 6320,
814 215 : 6315,

SUN 20/04/08
753 211 : 44200§*, 44201§*,
753 229 : 44220§*, 44201§*,
814 213 : 6310, 6315,
814 215 : 6312,

MON 21/04/08
743 002 : 83541§,
743 009 : 44202§**,
753 211 : 44202§*,
753 229 : 44202§*,
753 352 : 44200§, 44201§,
814 211 : 6315, 6314,
814 213 : 6312, 6317,

814 203 paired with 814 204,
814 211 paired with 814 212,
814 213 paired with 814 214,
814 215 paired with 814 216.

Liberec - Turnov

(Table 030)
The fast passengers to Pardubice and many of the locals to Turnov or Nova Paka are worked by class 843 units. After a couple of years without any booked loco hauled passengers, there are now a few workings booked for class 714 haulage. Unfortunately they weren't very reliable during my visit and one of the two diagrams was always covered by a railbus.

This line forms part of the Nymburk - Zawidow freight route but most of the class 753 workings are during the hours of darkness. It is an extremely scenic route with steep gradients and sharp curves and it's a shame it doesn't have more loco hauled trains.

Sightings


WED 16/04/08
843 011 : 5407,
843 013 : 984,
843 015 : 5408,

THU 17/04/08
714 212 : 5404,
810 242 : 5405 (vice 714),
843 017 : 980,
843 018 : 985,

SAT 19/04/08
714 212 : 5406,
742 203 : 63411§*,
742 204 : 63411§*,
753 211 : 64300§*,
753 229 : 64300§*,
810 242 : 5405 (vice 714),
843 015 : 5413,
843 018 : 982,

SUN 20/04/08
749 251 : 944,
810 577 : 5405 (vice 714),
810 597 : 5406 (vice 714),
843 018 : 985,
854 009 947,

MON 21/04/08
714 212 : 5404,
753 352 : 64300§,
843 016 : 985,
843 018 : 980,

Liberec - Ceska Lipa

(Table 086)
Yet another superbly scenic line from Liberec, this time heading west. The replacement of the last class 749 hauled fast trains by class 854 railcars last year left the line without any loco hauled passengers but there are a couple of class 714 workings this year. Freight traffic is limited to pick-up goods trains but these are quite well timed for photography at the Liberec end of the line.

Sightings


THU 17/04/08
714 212 : 6606,
742 225 : 83521§,
854 017 : 689,
854 202 : 6605,

SAT 19/04/08
714 212 : 6612,
854 017 : 696,

SUN 20/04/08
714 212 : 6612,

Travel Arrangements


I had a narrow escape from the Heathrow Terminal 5 fiasco when BA put up their fares to Praha, making Czech Airlines the preferred option on both price and timing. The flights out and back with CSA were uneventful.

Much as I enjoy travelling around by train and hiking to the locations, it didn't really lend itself to the type of trip that was planned on this occasion. A car gave me the flexibility to vary my itinerary to suit the changeable weather and disruption caused by CD's engineering work.

Two things soon became apparent when travelling by car. On the down side, it was very noticeable how isolated from the railway you are when you don't travel by train. For instance, I didn't see a single electric locomotive during the whole trip.

More positively, when not tied to CD's lethargic schedules, it's amazing how quickly you can get from one place to another. The Czech Republic is a small country, so it shouldn't be a surprise, but when the 140km journey from Praha to Liberec takes almost 3 hours by fast train, it can seem like a vast continent. The congested trunk road network isn't particularly pleasant to drive on but there are often alternative secondary routes that avoid large towns and are usually faster than the main roads.

Future trips will be done by car or train as appropriate as each mode has its advantages.

Hotels used were as follows :
Hotel Winkler, Trebic :
http://www.hotel-winkler.cz

Hotel Bartos, Frenstat pod Radhostem :
http://www.hotel-bartos.cz/english.htm

Hotel Club, Kyjov :
http://www.hotel-club.cz/english/main.html

Hotel Park, Ostruzna :
http://www.hotelparkcz.cz/index_soubory/Page500.htm

Hotel Filipinum, Jablonne nad Orlici :
http://www.filipinum.cz/en/index.html

Hotel u Beranka, Nachod :
http://www.hotel-beranek.cz/?to_lang=en

Hotel Imperial, Liberec :
http://www.imperial-hotel.cz/en/index.html

Apart from the Bartos in Frenstat (a truly excellent hotel but not convenient for rail travellers until the mythical new Frenstat mesto station opens), all have been described in previous reports.

Comment


The rail scene in the Czech Republic is steadily changing as the funding for modernisation becomes available. However, the changes aren't always for the worse. The rebuilding of class 852 and 853 railcars into 854s certainly had a negative impact on a number of loco hauled services but in other areas some lines have gained more loco hauled workings. There are more daytime loco hauled trains on the the Frenstat - Frydlant section of 323, more daytime 749 workings from Olomouc to Unicov and more 749s on the Jesenik line. The lines from Hradec Kralove to Trutnov and Letohrad have also benefitted from more loco hauled trains. Tyniste nad Orlici to Mezimesti may have lost its class 714 workings but the locos have been redeployed on other lines that didn't see any loco haulage last year. Every year, things seem to change and inevitably some loco hauled workings will disappear forever. However, the news isn't usually all bad and there are often new opportunities as well.

The biggest change to affect diesel worked lines in the near future will be the deployment of class 814 units rebuilt from class 810 railbuses and class 010 trailers. At the moment, these appear to be displacing 810s rather than anything else. Nothing brought this home more effectively than a visit to Liberec station on a wet Saturday afternoon. There were five departures scheduled in the half-hour I was there and none were 810s. A situation virtually unthinkable a couple of years ago.

The split of CD into passenger and freight sectors seems to have gone relatively smoothly and virtually all freight locos I saw carried the two tone blue and white CD Cargo logo. At Liberec, the Cargo locos now stable in the yard and not at the depot, which only appears to service passenger sector locos and units. In spite of their transfer to Nymburk depot, the former Liberec class 753s continue to work as before. Now that CD Cargo has decided to convert a number of their sisters to 753.7s, the survivors can't last too much longer. At least they're likely to be replaced by proper engines and not ugly pairs of cab to cab 742s.

Three weeks of generally poor weather would normally make for an extremely frustrating trip but most days had just enough sunshine to produce one or two good shots. Before moving to Liberec there was only one day when I didn't get any well lit shots. Overall, the trip served its purpose reasonably well with first visits to several lines, new locations on most of the others and a few more shots of the elusive 753s around Liberec.

Thanks to all those who helped with freight times and loco diagrams - all very much appreciated.