Germany : 19 - 23 October 2011 : Day by Day
31/07/12 17:02
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.
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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.
Wed 19 October 2011
31/07/12 17:02 | Wed 19 October 2011
Off to Germany again to photograph Ludmillas on freights in the hills east of Nürnberg.
I flew with Air Berlin from Gatwick to Nürnberg, arriving about 30 minutes early and had been bussed to the terminal, gone through immigration, collected my bag and the keys for my hire car by the time we should have landed. The car was a Chevrolet Sprint and by 11:30, I’d driven my Chevy to the levee, or at least to the level crossing at Hersbruck Ost, finding it anything but dry. The weather was dull and wet all day without even a hint of a break in the clouds. By mid afternoon it had turned bitterly cold as well.
There was nothing for it but to sit in the car and watch the trains go by. In the five hours I was there, no fewer than six 232 hauled freights passed and I was aware of at least one more on the “links Pegnitz” line across the valley. Only one of the freights I had expected wasn’t seen but if it had been a few minutes early, I’d have missed it. There were also three unexpected westbounds, the first of which could have been a very late 45360 from Cheb as it had about 50% Czech wagons in the consist.
A VBG class 223 worked the afternoon Nürnberg - Praha ALEX as expected. In between the locos there was an almost continuous stream of DMUs of classes 610, 612 and 648, often in double or triple formations. I counted about 40 workings in five hours.
By 16:30 it was clear that the sun wasn’t going to come out so, after clocking freight 45330, I gave up went to find my hotel in the village of Kirchensittenbach, a few km north of Hersbruck.
I flew with Air Berlin from Gatwick to Nürnberg, arriving about 30 minutes early and had been bussed to the terminal, gone through immigration, collected my bag and the keys for my hire car by the time we should have landed. The car was a Chevrolet Sprint and by 11:30, I’d driven my Chevy to the levee, or at least to the level crossing at Hersbruck Ost, finding it anything but dry. The weather was dull and wet all day without even a hint of a break in the clouds. By mid afternoon it had turned bitterly cold as well.
There was nothing for it but to sit in the car and watch the trains go by. In the five hours I was there, no fewer than six 232 hauled freights passed and I was aware of at least one more on the “links Pegnitz” line across the valley. Only one of the freights I had expected wasn’t seen but if it had been a few minutes early, I’d have missed it. There were also three unexpected westbounds, the first of which could have been a very late 45360 from Cheb as it had about 50% Czech wagons in the consist.
A VBG class 223 worked the afternoon Nürnberg - Praha ALEX as expected. In between the locos there was an almost continuous stream of DMUs of classes 610, 612 and 648, often in double or triple formations. I counted about 40 workings in five hours.
By 16:30 it was clear that the sun wasn’t going to come out so, after clocking freight 45330, I gave up went to find my hotel in the village of Kirchensittenbach, a few km north of Hersbruck.
Hersbruck Ost
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.252 | WB Freight | 12:14 (Ex Pegnitz line) |
|
| 232.609 | 51657 | Engelsdorf (b. Leipzig) - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 13:15 |
| 232.618 | 45365 | 12:35 Nürnberg Rbf - Cheb Freight | 13:18 |
| 223.064 | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:24 |
| 232.571 | WB Containers | 14:39 (Ex Amberg line) |
|
| 232.457 | WB Coal Hoppers | 15:21 (Ex Amberg line) |
|
| 232.654 | 45330 | Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:20 |
Thu 20 October 2011
31/07/12 17:02 | Thu 20 October 2011
It was totally overcast first thing but at least it wasn’t raining. My first destination was Penzenhof, near Etzelwang, on the Schwandorf line, for an eastbound freight and a westbound ALEX. As there was no sign of the clouds breaking I decided to try to find a spot overlooking the Pegnitz Gorge, east of Rupprechtstegen, on the Marktredwitz line. I’d seen a potential vantage point from the road through the gorge and my map indicated that there was a footpath or farm track that led to it. I couldn’t find any trace of the path and ended up taking a very circuitous route up the hill then stumbling around in the woods for about an hour before finally locating the position. Fortunately it was worth the effort and miraculously the sun came out for the westbound freight just before 12:00. I waited for another hour in case the miracle was repeated but the sun only came out again for a westbound DMU.
The afternoon was spent at Penzenhof on the Schwandorf line where I found to my dismay that a couple of good spots that had been lit until early evening a month ago were now in shadow by 15:00. Fortunately one spot escaped the shadows and one of the two westbound freights passed in half sun. The rest of the afternoon was spent checking out a few locations between Vorra and Hohenstadt on the Marktredwitz line, none of which really inspired. I finished the day’s photography with a couple of glint shots of DMUs at Hersbruck Ost.
The afternoon was spent at Penzenhof on the Schwandorf line where I found to my dismay that a couple of good spots that had been lit until early evening a month ago were now in shadow by 15:00. Fortunately one spot escaped the shadows and one of the two westbound freights passed in half sun. The rest of the afternoon was spent checking out a few locations between Vorra and Hohenstadt on the Marktredwitz line, none of which really inspired. I finished the day’s photography with a couple of glint shots of DMUs at Hersbruck Ost.
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.252 | 56900 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Luitpoldhütte Freight | 09:31 |
| 223.067 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:10 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:38 |
Pegnitz Gorge, N of Rupprechtstegen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 233.306 | WB Freight | 11:57 | |
| 232.654 | WB Stone Hoppers | 12:18 | |
| 232.xxx | 51746 | 11:02 Nürnberg Rbf - Engelsdorf (b. Leipzig) Freight | 12:45 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | WB PKP Coal Hoppers | 14:15 | |
| 223.067 (VBG) | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:30 |
| 232.571 | 56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:05 |
| 232.384 232.330 |
60333 | Herbertshofen Süd - Sulzbach-Rosenberg Hütte Freight | 15:28 |
| 232.252 | 45330 | Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:03 |
Fri 21 October 2011
31/07/12 17:02 | Fri 21 October 2011
The sky was completely clear at dawn but the fog soon rolled in and then stayed put for hours. I went to Penzenhof, west of Etzelwang, for the morning eastbound freight and westbound ALEX. The fog showed no sign of clearing so I still don’t know whether the shot would be lit at this time of year - I suspect not.
Next stop was Velden, where the fog was even thicker. Any hope of getting a freight coming out of the tunnel at the east end of the station faded as it grew progressively duller. Three freights were seen but there wasn’t a hint of light on any of them. Driving south, the weather didn’t get any better until just north of Hohenstadt where it went from terminally dull to brilliant sunshine in a few hundred yards.
The lunchtime freight to Engelsdorf was grabbed in full sun at Hersbruck Ost and then it was back to Penzenhof for the afternoon freight from Amberg, again in full sun. I hoped to get the PKP coal hoppers that had preceded the Amberg train westwards on the two previous days but it didn’t turn up. The final shot of the day was of the Plzen - Nürnberg freight at Hersbruck Ost.
Not a bad day in the end although at Velden I was beginning to wonder whether the sun would ever come out again.
Next stop was Velden, where the fog was even thicker. Any hope of getting a freight coming out of the tunnel at the east end of the station faded as it grew progressively duller. Three freights were seen but there wasn’t a hint of light on any of them. Driving south, the weather didn’t get any better until just north of Hohenstadt where it went from terminally dull to brilliant sunshine in a few hundred yards.
The lunchtime freight to Engelsdorf was grabbed in full sun at Hersbruck Ost and then it was back to Penzenhof for the afternoon freight from Amberg, again in full sun. I hoped to get the PKP coal hoppers that had preceded the Amberg train westwards on the two previous days but it didn’t turn up. The final shot of the day was of the Plzen - Nürnberg freight at Hersbruck Ost.
Not a bad day in the end although at Velden I was beginning to wonder whether the sun would ever come out again.
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.330 232.384 |
WB Light Engines | 09:07 | |
| 232.609 | 56900 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Luitpoldhutte Freight | 09:34 |
| 223.071 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:10 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 10:03 |
Velden (b. Hersbruck)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.589 | 51504 | München Nord Rbf - Engelsdorf (b. Leipzig) Freight | 10:31 |
| 232.511 | WB Car Carriers | 11:21 | |
| 232.654 | WB Stone Hoppers | 12:32 |
Hersbruck Ost
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.618 | 45365 | 12:35 Nürnberg Rbf - Cheb Freight | 13:18 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.071 (VBG) | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:36 |
| 232.252 | 56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:06 |
Hersbruck Ost
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.609 | 45330 | Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:31 |
Sat 22 October 2011
31/07/12 17:02 | Sat 22 October 2011
Another clear start and this time it stayed that way all day, without even a single cloud to spoil the party. With no freight booked to go east on the Schwandorf line I spent the first hour or so at Hohenstadt where the only freight seen was a distant view of one crossing over the valley to go east on the Schwandorf line. Oops!
Then it was up the Pegnitz Valley to Alfalter where three freights went north at hourly intervals and another came south. I assumed the third northbound was the train due an hour later and left for Penzenhof on the Schwandorf line where the eastbound ALEX was booked to be followed by an eastbound freight. The ALEX was late and the freight came first, followed almost immediately by an unexpected westbound.
That was basically it for the day. I went back to Alfalter for the only other potential working, a southbound “as required” freight that didn’t show up. Sundays look very quiet in the Hersbruck area so I left to spend the last day of the trip in Altmühltal where there should be regular 111 worked push-pulls and hopefully some freight as well.
Then it was up the Pegnitz Valley to Alfalter where three freights went north at hourly intervals and another came south. I assumed the third northbound was the train due an hour later and left for Penzenhof on the Schwandorf line where the eastbound ALEX was booked to be followed by an eastbound freight. The ALEX was late and the freight came first, followed almost immediately by an unexpected westbound.
That was basically it for the day. I went back to Alfalter for the only other potential working, a southbound “as required” freight that didn’t show up. Sundays look very quiet in the Hersbruck area so I left to spend the last day of the trip in Altmühltal where there should be regular 111 worked push-pulls and hopefully some freight as well.
Hohenstadt (on link line)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | EB Freight | 09:24 |
Alfalter, N of Hohenstadt
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 233.511 | 51504 | München Nord - Engelsdorf (b. Leipzig) Freight | 10:24 |
| 232.609 | 51748 | 10:45 Nürnberg Rbf - Engelsdorf (b. Leipzig) Freight | 11:24 |
| 232.461 | 49278 | Kolin - Woippy Freight | 12:05 |
| 232.388 | EB Freight | 12:27 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.654 | 56901 | 13:42 Nürnberg Rbf - Schwandorf Freight | 14:30 |
| 232.589 | WB Freight | 14:38 | |
| 223.072 | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:50 |
Sun 23 October 2011
31/07/12 17:02 | Sun 23 October 2011
The last day of the trip was spent on the electrified Ingolstadt - Treuchtlingen main line, which winds its way through some gorgeous scenery in Altmühltal. The weather started a bit misty but the day was generally sunny with only a few short lived clouds around mid-morning. As expected, the hourly Regio passenger services were worked by class 111s on double-deck push-pull sets. As on my previous visit to the line, the locos appeared to lead in either direction at random, with around 75% at the München end on this occasion.
There were five westbound freights during the seven hours I spent on the line, many fewer than would be seen on a typical weekday but not bad for a Sunday. Trains of car-carriers predominated but there was also a container train and a train of oil tanks. DB locos of classes 151, 152 and 155 were seen along with an HGK 185 and an RTC 186 double heading with a 183. The only eastbound working was a class 363 hauling a single inspection coach.
There were five westbound freights during the seven hours I spent on the line, many fewer than would be seen on a typical weekday but not bad for a Sunday. Trains of car-carriers predominated but there was also a container train and a train of oil tanks. DB locos of classes 151, 152 and 155 were seen along with an HGK 185 and an RTC 186 double heading with a 183. The only eastbound working was a class 363 hauling a single inspection coach.
Hagenacker, W of Dollnstein
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111.208 propelling |
RE59090 | 07:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:05 |
Breitenfurt, E of Dollnstein
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111.034 | RB59147 | 08:39 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf | 09:53 |
| 111.025 | RB59148 | 08:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 10:02 |
| 152.063 | WB Car Carriers | 10:26 | |
| 111.167 | RE59093 | 09:39 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf | 10:53 |
| 111.xxx propelling |
RE59092 | 09:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 11:00 |
| 155.139 | WB Car Carriers | 11:21 | |
| 111.208 | RB59151 | 10:39 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf | 11:56 |
| 111.056 propelling |
RB59150 | 10:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 12:00 |
Esslingen, E of Solnhofen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186.107 (RTC) 183.704 (?) |
WB Car Carriers | 12:17 | |
| 151.153 | WB Containers | 12:30 | |
| 363.170 | EB Overhead Inspection Coach | 12:49 | |
| 185.605 (HGK) | WB Oil Tanks | 12:54 | |
| 111.025 propelling |
RE59139 | 11:39 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf | 12:56 |
| 111.035 | RE59096 | 11:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 13:05 |
| 111.xxx | RB59153 | 12:39 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf | 13:49 |
| 111.034 propelling |
RB59154 | 12:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 14:10 |
| 111.056 | RE59097 | 13:39 Nürnberg Hbf - München Hbf | 14:48 |
| 111.167 propelling |
RE59098 | 13:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 15:08 |
| 186.282 (RTC) 189.xxx (RTC) 189.918 (RTC 18x.xxx (RTC) |
WB Light Engines | 15:12 |
Hagenacker, W of Dollnstein
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111.xxx | RB59156 | 14:28 München Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf | 16:05 |
