After a couple of days in the Vosges it was time to move on to Germany for a visit to the Gäubahn, as the Stuttgart - Singen main line is known. I’d written off this line some time ago when the Stuttgart - Zürich InterCity services went over to ICE operation. Following serious problems with the ICE sets, all the ICs are now loco hauled again, mainly by 120s but with the odd 110 thrown in for good measure. There are also some 146s working push-pull sets between Stuttgart and Singen and a few freights as well.

This was my first visit to the area since the mid 1970s so much of the first day was spent finding photo locations and often missing the trains I would have liked to photograph. I did get a few good shots though, including a very pleasant surprise to end the day, 110 210 on IC 283. The weather helped with virtually unbroken sunshine all day, although the light was a bit hazy at first (volcanic dust?).

I stayed at the Hotel an der Glatt in Hopfau, a few km from the line and near to Sulz am Neckar.

Loco	Train No	Train	Notes
120102	IC185	11:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB
120113	IC280	11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf
146202	RE19609	12:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen	propelling
425303	RE19644	13:09 Rottweil - Stuttgart Hbf
120111	IC187	13:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB
146214	RE19617	14:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen	propelling
146202	RE19616	15:19 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
120102	IC184	15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf
120113	IC281	15:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB
185085		NB Freight
146214	RE19618	17:19 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
110210	IC283	17:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB