Germany : 21 - 25 July 2010 : Day by Day

This section shows the details of the trip on a day by day basis. If you’re looking for loco numbers or individual workings, you’re in the right place.

Select the day you want to view from the menu on the right or scroll down through the pages below.

To return to the main report click here.

21 July 2010

I flew from Heathrow to Dresden Airport on British Midland flight LH4767, a quixotic affair that didn't seem to know whether it was a British Midland or a Lufthansa flight. The Lufthansa website said it was operated by British Midland and vice versa. The aircraft looked like a BMI A319 on the outside but the inside was in Lufthansa colours right down to the logos on every seat and sick bag. Even the German cabin crew wore BMI uniforms to maintain the confusion.

Dresden Airport was also a bit wierd. Ultra-modern yet strangely reminiscent of the former East Germany. It was probably the way that everyone’s bags were x-rayed as they left the baggage hall. Presumably a traditional practice to ensure that visitors from the capitalist west weren’t smuggling subversive material into the DDR.

Once through the formalities, I shook off my Stasi tail and proceeded to the city centre on S-Bahn line 2, direct from the airport. Last time I was in Dresden, the railway was the Deutsche Reichsbahn and there really were Russian troops around. East and West had reunified a few months earlier and the hated Stasi had only been disbanded for around a year. It was interesting to see what had changed over the intervening 20 years. Most places either seemed to have been thoroughly modernised or just left to rot. If you like derelict industrial sites, this is the place for you.

Despite almost unbroken sunshine, it wasn’t easy to find good spots to photograph trains around Dresden Hbf or Dresden-Neustadt and after a couple of hours I gave up and took another S-Bahn train to Heidenau to find my hotel.

Dresden Flughafen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.933 S2 7249 16:16 Dresden-Flughafen - Pirna 16:16

Dresden-Industriegelände

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.973
propelling
S2 7250 15:54 Pirna - Dresden-Flughafen 16:29

Dresden-Neustadt

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.087
propelling
RE17464 16:23 Dresden Hbf - Leipzig Hbf 16:32

Dresden Mitte

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.562
propelling
S1 7060 15:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 16:36

Dresden Hbf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.210 RE38514 16:45 Dresden Hbf - Cottbus 17:04
143.112 S1 7069 16:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 17:30
143.xxx
propelling
S1 7070 16:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 17:30
143.585 S1 7071 17:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 18:00
143.967 S2 7255 17:46 Dresden-Flughafen - Pirna 18:09

22 July 2010

A gloriously sunny start. I took an early train to Kurort Rathen on the Elbe Valley line and walked east until I found a clear spot on the long curve beyond the village. After a couple of hours and several pictures, it was back to the station and on to Königstein to try some photos around the old Güterbahnhof east of the station. By now it was incredibly hot and humid, well over 30 degrees and very uncomfortable out of the shade.

In the early afternoon I climbed the hill west of the station and found a shady spot overlooking the line and the river. After a couple of trains had been photted, the sky suddenly clouded over. I waited to see if it would clear but the cloud became thicker and thunder could be heard, not to far away either. The decision to make a rapid return to the station was a good one as the heavens opened shortly afterwards.

I took a train to Bad Schandau and then the following one to Schöna to look for more photspots. The weather was clearly set in for the rest of the day so I returned early to Heidenau.

Heidenau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
371.015 (CD) EN457 19:01 Amsterdam Centraal - Praha hl.n. 07:19
642.043 RB17157 07:20 Heidenau - Kurort Altenberg 07:20
143.967 S2 7211 06:46 Dresden Flughafen - Pirna 07:24

Pirna

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.585 S1 7021 06:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 07:53

E of Kurort Rathen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
371.001 (CD) EC378 06:31 Praha hl.n. - Berlin-Gesundbrunnen 08:28
143.865 S1 7023 07:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 08:38
1216.233 (ÖBB) EN459 19:44 Zürich HB - Praha hl.n. 08:48
143.585
propelling
S1 7030 08:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 08:51
189.004   WB Containers 08:55
180.008   EB Containers 08:57
372.012 (CD)   WB Containers 09:01
143.157 S1 7025 07:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 09:08
371.005 (CD) EC171 06:36 Berlin Hbf - Budapest-Keleti pu 09:29
143.875 S1 7027 08:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 09:37
189.205 (ITL)
189.xxx (ITL)
  EB Containers 09:51

Kurort Rathen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.205 S1 7029 08:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 10:05

Königstein Güterbahnhof

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.112 S1 7031 09:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 10:44
143.883 S1 7033 11:12 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 11:12
143.875 S1 7040 11:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 11:14
371.001 (CD) EC173 06:14 Hamburg-Altona - Villach Hbf 11:36
180.012   WB Containers 11:38
143.883
propelling
S1 7042 11:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 11:44
143.562 S1 7035 10:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 11:44
372.011 (CD)   WB Containers 11:49
143.112
propelling
S1 7044 12:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 12:14
143.585 S1 7037 10:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 12:24
371.015 (CD) EC378 05:50 Wien Praterstern - Ostseebad Binz 12:28
143.585
propelling
S1 7046 12:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 12:46
143.359 S1 7139 12:00 Dresden Hbf - Schöna 13:03

Königstein (Sächs Schw)

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
180.xxx   EB Containers 13:58
371.xxx (CD) EC174 05:28 Budapest-Keleti pu - Hamburg-Altona 14:23
180.xxx
372.xxx (CD)
  EB Containers 15:03
185.xxx (ITL)
banked by
185.xxx (ITL)
  WB Oil Tanks 15:04
371.xxx (CD) EC177 12:28 Berlin Gesundbrunnen - Wien Praterstern 15:35
143.585 S1 7053 14:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Bad Schandau 16:12

Bad Schandau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
189.003   EB Containers 16:33
143.562 S1 7057 15:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 16:47

Schöna

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.112
propelling
S1 7074 17:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 17:01

23 July 2010

It was forecast to be dull and wet and that’s exactly what happened. I went for a trip to the Hoyerswerda - Horka line, travelling from Dresden to Ruhland on a Cottbus service, unusually formed of single deck stock, and changing to a Leipzig - Hoyerswerda service there.

The electrification ends at Knappenrode, a couple of stations out of Hoyerswerda, and passenger services on the line to Horka are operated by ODEG using Class 650 railcars. The line is also used by freight trains heading for Wegliniec in Poland via the Horka border crossing, my reason for being there. I travelled east to Niesky and waited for a couple of hours to see what showed up, recording two freights, both hauled by class 233 diesels. After two hours it was time to move on and I caught the next eastbound train. Passenger services turn right before reaching Horka and join the line from Cottbus for the run to Görlitz.

Görlitz is home to a Bombardier coach works, the former Waggonbau Görlitz plant, now producing DB Regio’s loco-hauled double-deck stock but the town appears to be 100% served by DMUs. Shame, as the station has a very photogenic overall roof.

The line from Görlitz back to Dresden is also photogenic but loco hauled passengers or freights must be very rare. I did see a freight, hauled by an ITL Class 285, at Bischofswerda but that was all. As expected, there was no sign of the sun all day.

Heidenau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
371.201 (CD) EN476 19:58 Budapest-Keleti pu - Berlin Hbf 08:10
143.865 S1 7026 07:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 08:13

Dresden Hbf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.342
propelling
S3 7310 08:36 Dresden Hbf - Tharandt 08:35
143.058 RE17447 06:58 Leipzig Hbf - Dresden Hbf 08:41
143.306 RE38506 08:45 Dresden Hbf - Cottbus 08:45

Dresden-Friedrichstadt

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
372.011 (CD)   EB Freight 08:49

Coswig (Dresden)

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
156.003 (MEG)   Stabled 09:03

Großenhain-Cottbus bf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.908 RE17225 08:38 Hoyerswerda - Dresden Hbf 09:29

Ruhland

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.038
propelling
RE26193 08:10 Leipzig Messe - Hoyerswerda 09:59
143.941 RE26196 09:31 Hoyerswerda - Leipzig Hbf 10:00

Hosena

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
185.598 (ITL)   Stabled 10:10

Hoyerswerda

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
650.069 (ODEG) OE99669 10:32 Hoyerswerda - Görlitz 10:32

Uhyst

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
233.179   WB Freight 10:51

Klitten

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
650.059 (ODEG) OE99668 10:25 Görlitz - Hoyerswerda 10:59

Niesky

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
233.219   EB Freight 11:59
233.219   WB Light Engine 12:34
650.069 (ODEG) OE99670 12:23 Görlitz - Hoyerswerda 12:42
650.059 (ODEG) OE99761 12:30 Hoyerswerda - Görlitz 13:15

Görlitz

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
642.660 RB17670 12:45 Görlitz - Dresden Hbf 13:45

Bischofswerda

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
285.106 (ITL)   EB Freight 14:39

Dresden-Klotsche

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.973
propelling
S2 7244 14:24 Pirna - Dresden Flughafen 15:05

Dresden Hbf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.157
propelling
S1 7054 14:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 15:30
143.909
propelling
S3 7324 15:36 Dresden Hbf - Freiberg (Sachs) 15:31
143.122 RE17230 15:41 Dresden Hbf - Hoyerswerda 15:37
143.116
propelling
RB17618 16:10 Dresden Hbf - Elsterwerda-Biehla 15:55
143.883 S1 7063 15:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 15:55
143.173
propelling
RB17326 16:06 Dresden Hbf - Zwickau (Sachs) Hbf 15:58
143.551
propelling
RE17464 16:23 Dresden Hbf - Leipzig Hbf 16:00
143.933 S2 7247 15:46 Dresden Flughafen - Pirna 16:10
143.828
propelling
S2 7250 15:54 Pirna - Dresden Flughafen 16:18
143.217
propelling
RB17620 16:35 Dresden Hbf - Coswig (Dresden) 16:20
143.033
propelling
S3 7326 16:36 Dresden Hbf - Freiberg (Sachs) 16:34
143.967 S2 7427 15:46 Dresden Flughafen - Pirna 16:37
371.005 (CD) EC172 05:27 Villach Hbf - Hamburg-Altona 16:49
101.045 EC172 05:27 Villach Hbf - Hamburg-Altona 16:58
143.562
propelling
S1 7066 16:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 17:00

24 July 2010

Another dismal day. I travelled from Dresden to Riesa on the Leipzig line then south to Stauchitz on the Chemnitz line, the limit of VVO ticket validity, then north again through Riesa to Elsterwerda, on the Berlin - Dresden main line, and finally to Elsterwerda Biehla, a few km to the north but on the east-west Falkenberg - Hoyerswerda main line.

I didn’t expect to see much at Elsterwerda-Biehla while waiting for my train back to Dresden but four freights passed in eighty minutes, all heading east and none hauled by DB locos. I couldn’t help wondering whether they were heading for the Hoyerswerda - Horka line and what would haul them there.

The return trip to Dresden was broken at Coswig for a short detour to Meißen-Triebischtal, the end of S-Bahn line 1, and back.

Heidenau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.884 S1 7025 07:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 08:45

Dresden Hbf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.585 S1 7028 08:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 09:18
(Another 143 dead on the rear and detached at Dresden Hbf.)
143.339
propelling
RE17450 09:23 Dresden Hbf - Leipzig Hbf 09:23

Dresden-Neustadt

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.087 RE17449 07:58 Leipzig Hbf - Dresden Hbf 09:34

Weinböhla

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
185.598 (ITL)   EB Light Engine 09:50

Priestewitz

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
140.261   EB Containers 10:00

Riesa

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
189.208 (MRCE)   WB Containers 10:21
143.243
propelling
RB17503 10:03 Elsterwerda - Chemnitz Hbf 10:41
143.342 RB17502 10:05 Chemnitz Hbf - Elsterwerda 11:11
482.xxx (SBBCargo)   EB Oil Tanks 11:12
143.087
propelling
RE17452 10:23 Dresden Hbf - Leipzig Hbf 11:19

Wülknitz

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
44.351   Stored 11:46

Elsterwerda

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
114.010   Stabled 12:03
(Cottbus loco)
143.116
propelling
RB17610 11:10 Dresden Hbf - Elsterwerda-Biehla 12:16

Elsterwerda-Biehla

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
189.204 (MRCE)   EB Oil Tanks 12:20
143.941 RE26198 11:31 Hoyerswerda - Leipzig Messe 12:23
(Halle loco)
143.818 RE38528 12:11 Falkenberg (Elster) - Cottbus 12:30
(Cottbus loco)
143.070
143.367
  Stabled 12:31
189.211 (MRCE)   EB Freight 12:40
(Off Elsterwerda line)
185.507 (Captrain)   EB Containers 12:50
182.600 (Hupac)   EB Containers 13:27
143.908
propelling
RE26197 12:10 Leipzig Messe - Hoyerswerda 13:37
(Magdeburg loco)
143.002 RE38529 12:14 Cottbus - Stralsund 13:40
143.116 RB17615 13:43 Elsterwerda-Biehla - Dresden Hbf 13:43
155.048
155.240
  SB Hoppers 13:47

Elsterwerda

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
114.012   Stabled 13:47
(Cottbus loco)

Coswig (Dresden)

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
155.078   WB Oil Tanks 14:30
101.063 EC177 12:28 Berlin Gesundbrunnen - Wien Praterstern 14:33
185.677 (ITL)   EB Freight 14:37
145.047   WB Light Engine 14:42
143.339
propelling
RE17460 14:23 Dresden Hbf - Leipzig Hbf 14:46
143.306 RE38509 13:14 Cottbus - Dresden Hbf 14:54
143.585 S1 7053 14:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 14:56
143.562
propelling
S1 7050 13:31 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 15:00

Meißen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.551 S1 7057 15:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 15:10

Meißen-Triebischtal

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
642.044 RB26591 15:25 Meißen - Leipzig Hbf 15:27
143.562 S1 7059 15:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 15:35

Meißen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.359
propelling
S1 7052 14:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 15:39

Dresden-Pieschen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.157 S1 7056 15:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 16:12

Dresden-Freiberger Straße

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.909
propelling
S2 7250 16:18 Dresden Hbf - Dresden Flughafen 16:20

Dresden Hbf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.562 S1 7059 15:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 16:30
143.933
propelling
S3 7326 16:36 Dresden Hbf - Tharandt 16:36
143.126 RE17463 14:58 Leipzig Hbf - Dresden Hbf 16:42
143.306
propelling
RE38514 16:45 Dresden Hbf - Cottbus 16:45
143.814 RB17325 14:33 Zwickau (Sachs) Hbf - Dresden Hbf 16:52
143.865
propelling
S1 7066 16:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 16:57
143.359 S1 7065 16:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 17:00
371.201 (CD)   Light Engine 17:03
143.884 S1 7069 16:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 17:30
143.112
propelling
S1 7070 16:31 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 17:30

Dresden Niedersedlitz

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.xxx (RBH)
143.638 (RBH)
  EB Light Engines 17:40

25 July 2010

The lousy weather continued for a third day. I had to get back to the airport for my Britische Midhansa flight back to London at 17:05 but there was plenty of time for a morning trip to Decin and back. Again a surprising amount of freight was seen, particularly as it was a Sunday.

Heidenau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
642.639 RE17275 08:25 Dresden Hbf - Litomerice Mesto 08:37
371.001 (CD) EC178 06:31 Praha hl.n. - Berlin Gesundbrunnen 08:43
143.359
propelling
S1 7028 08:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 08:43
143.654
banked by
143.xxx
S1 7025 07:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 08:45

Pirna

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
180.xxx   WB Freight 08:55
185.551 (MRCE)   Stabled 08:55

Obervogelgesang

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.033
propelling
S1 7030 08:41 Bad Schandau - Meißen-Triebischtal 09:00

Stadt Wehlen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
180.xxx   WB Freight 09:02

Bad Schandau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
186.138 (ITL)
185.677 (ITL)
  Stabled 09:17
750.235 (CD)
371.003 (CD)
  EB Oil Tanks 09:19
371.003 (CD) RB17262 09:00 Decin hl.n. - Bad Schandau 09:32
371.005 (CD) EC171 06:36 Berlin Hbf - Budapest-Keleti pu 09:36
143.884
propelling
S1 7034 09:31 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 09:41
642.038 RB17114 08:10 Pirna - Bad Schandau 09:44
143.562 S1 7027 08:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 09:46
186.138 (ITL)
186.140 (ITL)
  WB Light Engines 09:49
371.003 (CD) RB17263 09:52 Bad Schandau - Decin hl.n. 09:52

Krippen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
753.716 (Unipetrol)
753.715 (Unipetrol)
  WB Hoppers 09:54

E of Krippen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
753.7xx (OKDD)
753.7xx (OKDD)
  WB Containerised Coal 09:57
180.016   WB Flats 09:58

W of Schöna

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.926
banked by
143.654
S1 7036 10:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 10:03

Dolni Zleb

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
371.004 EC176 05:35 Brno hl.n. - Hamburg-Altona 10:08

Decin hl.n.

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
854.218 Os6623 10:41 Decin hl.n. - Ceska Lipa 10:28
163.091 Os6848 09:04 Most - Decin hl.n. 10:28
471.006 Os6813 10:28 Decin hl.n. - Most 10:28
162.013 R772 08:50 Praha hl.n. - Decin hl.n. 10:30
372.008   EB Light Engine 10:40
753.715 (Unipetrol)
753.716 (Unipetrol)
  SB Light Engines 10:40
180.017 (DB)   WB Light Engine 10:56
371.003 Os17264 11:00 Decin hl.n. - Bad Schandau 11:00
740.774   Stabled 11:00

Decin Postredni Zleb

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
372.006   NB Tanks 11:07

W of Schöna

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
180.018   EB Car Carriers 11:22

Krippen

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
753.7xx (OKDD)
753.7xx (OKDD)
  EB Freight 11:29
372.011 (CD)   EB Light Engine 11:35
143.xxx
propelling
S1 7042 11:31 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 11:40
143.570 S1 7037 10:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 11:59

Pirna

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
185.001   WB Containerised Coal 12:05
189.800 (MTEG)   EB Containers 12:05
189.003   EB Containers 12:05

Heidenau

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
180.015   EB Containers 12:40
371.015 EC378 05:50 Wien Praterstern - Ostseebad Binz 12:42
143.865
propelling
S1 7044 12:01 Schöna - Meißen-Triebischtal 12:43
143.884 S1 7041 11:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 12:43

Dresden-Zschachwitz

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
186.148 (Captrain)   EB Grain Hoppers 12:46

Dresden Hbf

Loco Train
No.
Train Details Notes
143.654
banked by
143.926
S1 7043 12:05 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 13:00
362.406   Station Pilot 13:00
185.551 (MRCE)   WB Oil Tanks 13:05
371.004 (CD) EC175 08:17 Hamburg-Altona - Budapest-Keleti pu 13:10
143.868
propelling
RE38512 14:45 Dresden Hbf - Cottbus 13:15
143.047
propelling
RE17458 13:23 Dresden Hbf - Leipzig Hbf 13:15
143.909
propelling
S2 7238 13:18 Dresden Hbf - Dresden Flughafen 13:18
285.104 (ITL)   EB Light Engine 13:29
143.562 S1 7045 12:35 Meißen-Triebischtal - Schöna 13:30
143.973
propelling
S2 7240 13:48 Dresden Hbf - Dresden Flughafen 13:48