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

A superb day on the Gäubahn with all the ICs worked by 120s except IC282. That had 110 210 so I wasn’t complaining at all. The weather was generally good although it clouded up in the middle of the afternoon then cleared again. There were no freights today although a northbound ballast with 2016 907 took me by surprise first thing in the morning. All the Stuttgart - Singen REs were 146s on double-deck push-pull sets (loco at the north end) again while the Stuttgart - Rottweil REs were solid 425s. Sightings below...

Loco	Train No	Train	Notes
146202	RE19608	07:22 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
2016.907		NB Ballast
120111	IC181	05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich Hbf
425309	RE19640	09:09 Rottweil - Stuttgart Hbf
146210	RE19605	08:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen	propelling
146220	RE19610	09:19 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
425305	RE19635	09:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Rottweil
120113	IC183	09:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich Hbf
110210	IC282	09:10 Zürich Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
120109	IC185	11:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich Hbf
146210	RE19612	11:19 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
120111	IC280	11:10 Zürich Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
425309	RE19644	13:09 Rottweil - Stuttgart Hbf
425305	RE19639	13:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Rottweil
120138	IC187	13:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich Hbf
120113	IC186	13:10 Zürich Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
146210	RE19617	14:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen	propelling
146220	RE19616	15:19 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
425309	RE19641	15:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Rottweil
120111	IC281	15:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich Hbf
120109	IC184	15:10 Zürich Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
146210	RE19618	17:19 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
120113	IC283	17:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich Hbf

Another glorious morning on the Gäubahn before heading east to Altmühltal. After a weekend of solid 146s on double-deck push-pull sets on the Stuttgart - Singen trains, the pattern broke down with RE19606 formed of a 146 on a single deck push-pull set and RE19610 formed of a 425 and a 426 EMU. No change on the ICs with 120s on everything, including one still in orientrot livery.

Loco	Train No	Train	Notes
146218	RE19606	07:14 Singen - Stuttgart Hbf
120139	IC181	05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich Hbf
120109	IC284	07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf
425305	RE19640	09:09 Rottweil - Stuttgart Hbf
146220	RE19605	08:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen	propelling
185135		SB Freight
425313+ 426010	RE19610	08:30 Schaffhausen - Stuttgart Hbf
425311	RE19635	09:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Rottweil
120136	IC183	09:55 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich Hbf
120113	IC282	09:10 Zürich Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf

The journey to Altmühltal took longer than expected, largely due to an hour or so wasted looking for locations between Ansbach and Treuchtlingen. East of Treuchtlingen was far better. I’d noted a few promising locations when I travelled the line in 2007 but DB have cleared away most of the lineside vegetation since then, opening up many more positions. I spent the last couple of hours of daylight on the big curve east of Dollnstein. I stayed at the Hotel Adler, close to the station in Solnhofen,

Loco	Train No	Train	Notes
152062		WB Freight
185373		WB Car Carriers
482007+ 482034		WB Freight
111130	RE35937	15:38 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf
111203	RE35938	15:28 München Hbf - Treuchtlingen
423xxx+ 423xxx		WB Empty Stock
111046	RB30289	17:35 Treuchtlingen - München Hbf	propelling
151070		EB Intermodal
111035	RB30290	16:25 München Hbf - Treuchtlingen
185293+ 140218		WB Light Engines
111223	RE35939	17:38 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf	propelling
111055	RE35942	17:27 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf	propelling