Germany : 12 April - 09 May 2012 : Day by Day
31/07/12 16:58
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.
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.
Thu 12 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Thu 12 April 2012
The first day of the trip was spent travelling from the UK to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) by road. There was some rail interest en-route in the form of the Eurotunnel shuttle journey from Cheriton to Coquelles. The shove engine was named “Jessye Norman” which would make it 9005 unless it’s been upgraded and renumbered 9805. I seem to have lost the ability to see through concrete walls so didn’t see the number.
After eight extremely enjoyable hours of motorway driving (the stationary traffic in Lille was a delight) I arrived at Grünholz, between Sulz and Oberndorf on the Stuttgart - Singen line, in time to see a couple of trains. Only 101s this time but there should be some 115s and 181s over the weekend.
After eight extremely enjoyable hours of motorway driving (the stationary traffic in Lille was a delight) I arrived at Grünholz, between Sulz and Oberndorf on the Stuttgart - Singen line, in time to see a couple of trains. Only 101s this time but there should be some 115s and 181s over the weekend.
Cheriton Eurotunnel
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9xxx t & t with 9005 |
06:50 Cheriton - Coquelles Car Shuttle | 06:50 |
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf (Neckar)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.032 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 16:54 |
| 101.055 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 17:08 |
Fri 13 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Fri 13 April 2012
A full day on the Gäubahn, the Stuttgart - Singen line, between Horb and Rottweil. The big attraction this year is the variety of motive power diagrammed to work Stuttgart - Zürich IC services. Four different classes were in action today with a class 110 (instead of the booked class 115) and a class 181 (as booked) joining the usual 101s and 120s. The trains appear to be shorter than they were a couple of years ago with 5-coach rakes of SBB stock on every train seen and no strengthening for the Friday afternoon crowds.
There were also a few freights hauled by class 185s and even a yellow 203 on a yellow ballast train. The Stuttgart - Singen RE trains were worked by class 146.2s, as expected, while the Stuttgart - Rottweil REs continue to be worked by class 425 EMUs.
The weather started foggy then cleared briefly before clouding up. There were a few short sunny breaks during the day but overall it was a frustrating experience, especially as the 110 just missed the sun on both occasions I tried to photograph it. The 181 was slightly better behaved and caught the sun once out of three attempts.
There were also a few freights hauled by class 185s and even a yellow 203 on a yellow ballast train. The Stuttgart - Singen RE trains were worked by class 146.2s, as expected, while the Stuttgart - Rottweil REs continue to be worked by class 425 EMUs.
The weather started foggy then cleared briefly before clouding up. There were a few short sunny breaks during the day but overall it was a frustrating experience, especially as the 110 just missed the sun on both occasions I tried to photograph it. The 181 was slightly better behaved and caught the sun once out of three attempts.
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf (Neckar)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 181.212 | IC181 | 05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich HB | 08:54 |
| 185.085 | NB Containers | 09:03 | |
| 101.069 | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:11 |
| 146.203 propelling |
RE19035 | 08:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 09:37 |
| 185.214 | SB Freight | 09:48 |
Oberndorf-Aistaig
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.032 | IC183 | 09:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 10:56 |
| 110.480 | IC282 | 09:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 11:07 |
| 203.005 (D-SGL) | NB Ballast | 11:32 | |
| 146.204 | RE19037 | 10:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 11:38 |
| 185.066 | NB Freight | 12:07 | |
| 146.203 | RE19042 | 11:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 12:26 |
| 120.106 | IC185 | 11:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 12:56 |
| 181.212 | IC280 | 11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 13:08 |
S of Rottweil-Saline
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.213 propelling |
RE19039 | 12:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 13:53 |
| 146.204 | RE19044 | 13:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 14:03 |
| 101.032 | IC186 | 13:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 14:50 |
| 110.480 | IC187 | 13:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 15:17 |
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.213 | RE19046 | 15:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 16:27 |
| 181.212 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 16:56 |
| 120.106 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 17:10 |
Dettingen, S of Horb
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.066 | SB Freight | 18:26 | |
| 101.032 | IC283 | 17:57 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 18:46 |
Sat 14 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Sat 14 April 2012
A second day on the Stuttgart - Singen line. Today’s highlight was the booked class 181 working from Stuttgart to Singen and back on IC181 (appropriately enough) and IC280. Most of the other IC services were worked by class 101s although there were a couple of class 120s as well. REs were the usual mixture of 146.2s on Singen trains and 425 units on Rottweil trains. Every train seen was worked by the booked class. There were a couple of freights as well, both 185 hauled.
There was some watery sun during the morning but by lunchtime the cloud was thick and unbroken. I started off at Grünholz again then headed north to Eutingen as the sky seemed clearer in that direction. After the light finally died, I used my free KONUS Gästekarte to travel down to Rottweil and back by EMU in search of new photspots.
There was some watery sun during the morning but by lunchtime the cloud was thick and unbroken. I started off at Grünholz again then headed north to Eutingen as the sky seemed clearer in that direction. After the light finally died, I used my free KONUS Gästekarte to travel down to Rottweil and back by EMU in search of new photspots.
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 181.207 | IC181 | 05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich HB | 08:54 |
| 185.312 | SB Coal | 09:07 | |
| 120.106 | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:09 |
| 185.312 | SB Coal | 09:11 | |
| 146.203 propelling |
RE19035 | 08:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 09:35 |
Eutingen im Gäu
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.080 | IC183 | 09:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 10:32 |
| 146.204 | RE19040 | 09:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 10:53 |
| 146.213 propelling |
RE19037 | 10:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 11:09 |
| 101.032 | IC282 | 09:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 11:29 |
| 185.066 | NB Freight | 12:05 | |
| 120.105 | IC185 | 11:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 12:33 |
| 146.203 | RE19042 | 11:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 12:52 |
| 146.204 propelling |
RE19039 | 12:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 13:08 |
| 181.207 | IC280 | 11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 13:29 |
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.213 | RE19044 | 13:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 14:27 |
Rottweil
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.080 | IC186 | 13:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 14:50 |
Sulz (Neckar)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.203 propelling |
RE19043 | 14:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 15:29 |
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.069 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 16:55 |
| 120.105 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 17:07 |
Sun 15 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Sun 15 April 2012
It was forecast to be a dull, wet day and that was exactly how it turned out. Instead of sitting around feeling miserable, I decided to go exploring in the hope of finding some new photspots. The Konus Guest Card didn’t cover all the lines required so I bought a Baden-Württemburg Lander Ticket and was pleasantly surprised to find there was a first-class version available for €31, well worth the extra €10 to avoid the Sunday afternoon hordes and travel in a manner befitting an English gentleman touring foreign parts.
My route took me from Oberndorf to Tuttlingen first, shoved by 146.203 on RE19035. The next leg was on IRE3220, the “Schwarzwald Bunny”, pushed to Donaueschingen then pulled to Neustadt by 218.464, well off the beaten track for a Kempten loco. There are a handful of really nice locations on the Donaueschingen - Neustadt section, including Döggingen and Löffingen stations, each with a full set of semaphores, and a viaduct on the descent to Neustadt. It’s just a shame there are only four loco hauled trains a week, eight if you count the pushers.
I didn’t know what to expect from Neustadt down to Freiburg and was happy to find 143.810 and 143.350 top’n’tailing a packed 6-coach dosto set. Apart from a single train hauled by a 146, every train I saw on the line was top’n’tail 143s.
At Freiburg things went very wrong. I had planned to take an RE to Offenburg then travel down the Schwarzwaldbahn to Konstanz before returning to Oberndorf. I’d checked Max’s Moleworks website and the only alterations seemed to be south of Freiburg with everything to the north running according to plan. Unfortunately it wasn’t true and the 13:07 RE was shown as cancelled with no obvious alternative arrangements made. The ICs and ICEs were running on time so the line wasn’t closed.
When I enquired, the 14:03 was also said to be cancelled but I couldn’t understand the explanation or what the alternative arrangements were. The people in this corner of Germany seem incapable of stating things clearly, so you never get a simple answer to any question and my brain couldn’t cope with the stream of complexity coming it’s way.
At this point I gave up on Offenburg as I would have struggled to get there in time to complete my planned trip. The only sensible way out was to return to Neustadt. The first train up the Höllentalbahn was going to Seebrugg (143.312 and 143.972) so I took that all the way to the end of the branch (new track) before returning with the same locos to Titisee and catching the next train (143.350 and 143.810) to Neustadt. Unfortunately my calculations were an hour out and instead of getting the 218 back to Donaueschingen, it was a horrid, whiny class 611 DMU.
Things improved at Donaueschingen with a run behind 146.233 down to Singen and then good old 146.203 back up to Oberndorf.
Apart from a reasonable number of new locations noted, there were a couple of points of interest on the journey including the old steam depot south of Tuttlingen containing at least 17 unrestored steam locos, most if not all of them ex-DR rebuilt class 50s or 52s. I was also surprised at the number of stabled 185s and 152s at Singen. There are a limited number of freight workings over the Gäubahn so there must be a fair amount of freight over the Schwarzwaldbahn to account for so many locos.
I saw both the Stuttgart - Singen IC turns booked for class 115 haulage on Sundays. 110.480 was working one turn but the other was 115.509 in a really stupid livery. Just as well it was cloudy or I’d have been very annoyed!
My route took me from Oberndorf to Tuttlingen first, shoved by 146.203 on RE19035. The next leg was on IRE3220, the “Schwarzwald Bunny”, pushed to Donaueschingen then pulled to Neustadt by 218.464, well off the beaten track for a Kempten loco. There are a handful of really nice locations on the Donaueschingen - Neustadt section, including Döggingen and Löffingen stations, each with a full set of semaphores, and a viaduct on the descent to Neustadt. It’s just a shame there are only four loco hauled trains a week, eight if you count the pushers.
I didn’t know what to expect from Neustadt down to Freiburg and was happy to find 143.810 and 143.350 top’n’tailing a packed 6-coach dosto set. Apart from a single train hauled by a 146, every train I saw on the line was top’n’tail 143s.
At Freiburg things went very wrong. I had planned to take an RE to Offenburg then travel down the Schwarzwaldbahn to Konstanz before returning to Oberndorf. I’d checked Max’s Moleworks website and the only alterations seemed to be south of Freiburg with everything to the north running according to plan. Unfortunately it wasn’t true and the 13:07 RE was shown as cancelled with no obvious alternative arrangements made. The ICs and ICEs were running on time so the line wasn’t closed.
When I enquired, the 14:03 was also said to be cancelled but I couldn’t understand the explanation or what the alternative arrangements were. The people in this corner of Germany seem incapable of stating things clearly, so you never get a simple answer to any question and my brain couldn’t cope with the stream of complexity coming it’s way.
At this point I gave up on Offenburg as I would have struggled to get there in time to complete my planned trip. The only sensible way out was to return to Neustadt. The first train up the Höllentalbahn was going to Seebrugg (143.312 and 143.972) so I took that all the way to the end of the branch (new track) before returning with the same locos to Titisee and catching the next train (143.350 and 143.810) to Neustadt. Unfortunately my calculations were an hour out and instead of getting the 218 back to Donaueschingen, it was a horrid, whiny class 611 DMU.
Things improved at Donaueschingen with a run behind 146.233 down to Singen and then good old 146.203 back up to Oberndorf.
Apart from a reasonable number of new locations noted, there were a couple of points of interest on the journey including the old steam depot south of Tuttlingen containing at least 17 unrestored steam locos, most if not all of them ex-DR rebuilt class 50s or 52s. I was also surprised at the number of stabled 185s and 152s at Singen. There are a limited number of freight workings over the Gäubahn so there must be a fair amount of freight over the Schwarzwaldbahn to account for so many locos.
I saw both the Stuttgart - Singen IC turns booked for class 115 haulage on Sundays. 110.480 was working one turn but the other was 115.509 in a really stupid livery. Just as well it was cloudy or I’d have been very annoyed!
Oberndorf (Neckar)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110.480 | IC181 | 07:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 08:58 |
| 101.xxx | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:06 |
| 146.203 propelling |
RE19035 | 08:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 09:38 |
Aldingen (bei Spaichingen)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.204 | RE19040 | 09:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:59 |
Donaueschingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.464 | IRE3220 | 08:10 Ulm Hbf - Neustadt (Schwarzw) | 10:42 |
Neustadt (Schwarzw)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.810 t & t with 143.350 |
RB26932 | 11:31 Neustadt (Schwarzw) - Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf | 11:31 |
Hinterzarten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.050 t & t with 143.316 |
RB26931 | 11:10 Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf - Seebrugg | 11:44 |
Himmelreich
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.109 | RB26935 | 11:40 Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf - Neustadt (Schwarzw) | 11:58 |
Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.312 t & t with 143.972 |
RB26945 | 13:10 Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf - Seebrugg | 13:10 |
Himmelreich
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.316 t & t with 143.050 |
RB26940 | 12:39 Seebrugg - Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf | 13:30 |
Hinterzarten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.810 t & t with 143.350 |
RB26944 | 13:31 Neustadt (Schwarzw) - Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf | 13:46 |
Feldberg-Bärental
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.042 t & t with 143.364 |
RB26948 | 13:39 Seebrugg - Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf | 14:01 |
Seebrugg
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.972 t & t with 143.312 |
RB29652 | 14:39 Seebrugg - Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf | 14:39 |
Feldberg-Bärental
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.050 t & t with 143.316 |
RB26949 | 14:10 Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf - Seebrugg | 14:58 |
Neustadt (Schwarzw)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.350 t & t with 143.810 |
RB26951 | 14:40 Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf - Neustadt (Schwarzw) | 15:25 |
Donaueschingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.269 185.391 |
NB Freight | 16:18 | |
| 146.233 | RE5323 | 14:09 Karlsruhe Hbf - Kreuzlingen | 16:18 |
Immendingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 214.010 {LW} | shunting ballast wagons | 16:29 Leonhard Weiss ex DB 212.188 (rebuilt) |
Singen (Hohentwiel)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11111 (SBB) | stabled | 16:59 | |
| 146.236 propelling |
RE5320 | 16:33 Kreuzlingen - Karlsruhe Hbf | 17:00 |
| 115.509 | stabled | 17:05 | |
| 146.203 | RE19048 | 17:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 17:19 |
Talmühle (Baden)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110.480 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 17:36 |
Aldingen (bei Spaichingen)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.213 propelling |
RE19045 | 16:19 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 18:00 |
Talhausen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.085 | NB freight | 18:16 |
Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.049 | IC283 | 17:57 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 18:57 |
| 115.509 | IC182 | 17:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 19:04 |
Mon 16 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Mon 16 April 2012
In contrast to the previous day there’s very little railway activity to report today, partly due to the cold, dull, wet weather and partly due to bad guts sapping my enthusiasm. I did manage to have a second look at a few potential positions spotted from the train yesterday and then ambled down scenic Donautal from Tuttlingen to Sigmaringen. There would be some great shots along here if there were a few more loco hauled trains. From Sigmaringen I trundled across to Altstädten on the Oberstdorf branch and checked out the 2143 on the ALEX trains before calling it a day.
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.003 | IC181 | 05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich HB | 08:57 |
| 101.115 | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:12 |
S of Tuttlingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.284 | SB Freight | 10:36 |
S of Altstädten (Allgau)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84170 | 15:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 17:28 |
Tue 17 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Tue 17 April 2012
By the standards of this trip, today wasn’t a bad day, which means it wasn’t particularly good but not a total write off. The whole day was spent on the Oberstdorf branch, mainly around Altstädten, trying to photograph the 2143 shuttling back and forth on the ALEX trains. The morning wasn’t bad with a number of shots in good light, including both the 218 hauled ICs. By lunchtime the sky had clouded over and, although there were plenty of breaks during the afternoon, the vast majority of trains passed in the gloom.
Most trains on the branch are DB Regio services worked by class 612 DMUs, with the odd class 628 appearing on RB services. During the week, class 218 worked push-pull sets are restricted to a handful of early morning and evening trains.
Most trains on the branch are DB Regio services worked by class 612 DMUs, with the odd class 628 appearing on RB services. During the week, class 218 worked push-pull sets are restricted to a handful of early morning and evening trains.
S of Altstädten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84165 | 08:16 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 08:33 |
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84162 | 07:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 09:37 |
| 218.476 | IC2084 | 09:26 Oberstdorf - Augsburg Hbf | 09:48 |
| 218.456 | IC2012 | 09:47 Oberstdorf - Hannover Hbf | 10:06 |
N of Altstädten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84167 | 10:12 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 10:32 |
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84164 | 09:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 11:25 |
S of Fischen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84169 | 12:16 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 12:34 |
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84166 | 11:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 13:37 |
S of Immenstadt
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84171 | 14:16 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 14:41 |
S of Altstädten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84168 | 13:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 15:27 |
| 218.476 | IC2085 | 13:56 Augsburg Hbf - Oberstdorf | 15:59 |
S of Immenstadt
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84173 | 16:12 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 16:39 |
S of Altstädten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84170 | 15:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 17:29 |
| 218.487 | IC2013 | 05:58 Magdeburg Hbf - Oberstdorf | 18:18 |
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84175 | 18:12 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 18:29 |
| 218.xxx propelling |
RE57651 | 16:15 Ulm Hbf - Oberstdorf | 18:39 |
Wed 18 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Wed 18 April 2012
Another dull day, exactly as forecast. Today’s mission was to check out some locations on the Füssen branch that I’d noted from the train around 18 months ago. This year’s timetable saw a big increase in the number of loco worked trains on the branch with around half the Augsburg trains and all the München trains now diagrammed for 218s and push-pull sets. The remaining services are worked by DMUs of classes 628 and 642.
The best locations all turned out to be within a few km of Weizern-Hopferau station and mainly to the south. There is a good spot just north of Seeg but that was the only one I found anywhere else. There are poles and wires along the east side of the line virtually the whole way, making morning photography difficult, except where the line swings round at Weizern-Hopferau. The other problem is that the locos are always at the south end of the push-pull sets, making it difficult to work the spectacular mountain backdrop behind Füssen into the pictures. Still there are several excellent shots to go back for on a sunny afternoon, something I’ve yet to see on this trip.
The best locations all turned out to be within a few km of Weizern-Hopferau station and mainly to the south. There is a good spot just north of Seeg but that was the only one I found anywhere else. There are poles and wires along the east side of the line virtually the whole way, making morning photography difficult, except where the line swings round at Weizern-Hopferau. The other problem is that the locos are always at the south end of the push-pull sets, making it difficult to work the spectacular mountain backdrop behind Füssen into the pictures. Still there are several excellent shots to go back for on a sunny afternoon, something I’ve yet to see on this trip.
N of Weizern-Hopferau
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.485 | RE57504 | 07:51 München Hbf - Füssen | 09:42 |
| 218.485 propelling |
RE57507 | 10:06 Füssen - München Hbf | 10:18 |
S of Weizern-Hopferau
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.493 | RB57340 | 09:04 Augsburg Hbf - Füssen | 10:50 |
| 218.493 propelling |
RB57343 | 11:05 Füssen - Augsburg Hbf | 11:13 |
| 218.460 | RE57506 | 09:51 München Hbf - Füssen | 11:48 |
| 218.460 propelling |
RE57509 | 12:06 Füssen - München Hbf | 12:13 |
| 218.457 | RE57508 | 11:51 München Hbf - Füssen | 13:51 |
N of Seeg
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.457 propelling |
RE57511 | 14:06 Füssen - München Hbf | 14:26 |
| 218.493 | RB57346 | 13:02 Augsburg Hbf - Füssen | 14:37 |
N of Altstädten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84173 | 16:12 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 16:32 |
Thu 19 April 2012
31/07/12 16:58 | Thu 19 April 2012
Undoubtedly the best day of the trip so far, not that there’s been much competition. My time was split between the Oberstdorf and Füssen branches, which are less than 40 minutes apart by road.
The first couple of hours were spent between Altstädten and Fischen, on the Oberstdorf line, in brilliantly clear light with the mountains clearly visible for the first time since I got here. 2143.21 was still working the ALEX trains and 218.476, also seen a couple of days ago, was on IC2084.
Midday and the early afternoon saw a change of location to Weizen-Hopferau on the Füssen branch where freshly repainted 218.469 was working Augsburg locals and the clouds were playing “Stuff the photter” with an alarming degree of success. 218.457/460/485 were on the München REs.Things improved a little in the early afternoon with a couple of trains photographed in good light.
Back on the Oberstdorf branch, the clouds had thickened up and the light seemed to have gone for good by 16:30. I almost gave up for the day but then a great blue hole opened up over Altstäden. Two more shots were taken in good light before the clouds finally won the battle, another pic of 2143.21, probably my best so far, and a shot of 218.456 on IC/RE2013. That made four properly lit shots this afternoon, more than on every other afternoon of the trip so far put together.
Time to celebrate with a steak and a few beers methinks!
The first couple of hours were spent between Altstädten and Fischen, on the Oberstdorf line, in brilliantly clear light with the mountains clearly visible for the first time since I got here. 2143.21 was still working the ALEX trains and 218.476, also seen a couple of days ago, was on IC2084.
Midday and the early afternoon saw a change of location to Weizen-Hopferau on the Füssen branch where freshly repainted 218.469 was working Augsburg locals and the clouds were playing “Stuff the photter” with an alarming degree of success. 218.457/460/485 were on the München REs.Things improved a little in the early afternoon with a couple of trains photographed in good light.
Back on the Oberstdorf branch, the clouds had thickened up and the light seemed to have gone for good by 16:30. I almost gave up for the day but then a great blue hole opened up over Altstäden. Two more shots were taken in good light before the clouds finally won the battle, another pic of 2143.21, probably my best so far, and a shot of 218.456 on IC/RE2013. That made four properly lit shots this afternoon, more than on every other afternoon of the trip so far put together.
Time to celebrate with a steak and a few beers methinks!
N of Fischen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84165 | 08:16 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 08:33 |
| 612.087 | RE3932 | 08:38 Oberstdorf - Ulm Hbf | 08:56 |
| 612.004 | RB57641 | 07:10 Ulm Hbf - Oberstdorf | 09:09 |
| 628.431 | RB57666 | 09:04 Oberstdorf - Immenstadt | 09:24 |
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84162 | 07:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 09:30 |
| 218.476 | IC2084 | 09:26 Oberstdorf - Augsburg Hbf | 09:49 |
S of Weizern-Hopferau
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.469 | RB57340 | 09:04 Augsburg Hbf - Füssen | 10:49 |
| 218.469 propelling |
RB57343 | 11:05 Füssen - Augsburg Hbf | 11:15 |
| 218.485 | RE57506 | 09:51 München Hbf - Füssen | 11:46 |
| 218.485 propelling |
RE57509 | 12:06 Füssen - München Hbf | 12:13 |
| 642.214 642.121 |
RB57342 | 11:03 Augsburg Hbf - Füssen | 12:48 |
| 642.121 642.214 |
RB57345 | 13:05 Füssen - Augsburg Hbf | 13:13 |
| 218.460 | RE57508 | 11:51 München Hbf - Füssen | 13:51 |
| 218.460 propelling |
RE57511 | 14:06 Füssen - München Hbf | 14:15 |
| 218.469 | RB57346 | 13:02 Augsburg Hbf - Füssen | 14:50 |
N of Seeg
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.469 propelling |
RB57349 | 15:05 Füssen - Augsburg Hbf | 15:25 |
| 218.457 | RE57510 | 13:51 München Hbf - Füssen | 15:38 |
S of Immenstadt
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84173 | 16:12 Oberstdorf - München Hbf | 16:40 |
S of Altstädten
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2143.21 (SVG) | ALX84170 | 15:19 München Hbf - Oberstdorf | 17:27 |
| 218.456 | IC2013 | 05:58 Magdeburg Hbf - Oberstdorf | 17:58 |
S of Blaichach
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.459 propelling |
RB57651 | 16:15 Ulm Hbf - Oberstdorf | 18:28 |
N of Fischen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 628.431 | RB57637 | 07:25 Memmingen - Oberstdorf | 08:41 |
Fri 20 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Fri 20 April 2012
After a few days in the Allgäu it was time to return to the Stuttgart - Singen line for another attempt at photographing the weekend 115 and 181 turns. The forecast was poor so I hadn’t expected to get anything worthwhile today. By lunchtime the day was living up to expectations with nothing photographed in good light despite there having been some good sunny breaks.
Everything changed around 13:00 and from then on, virtually everything passed in full sun including two trains booked for the 181 (181.214) and one booked for the 115 (actually 110.491 but I didn’t complain). It hadn’t got any sunnier, the clouds had just been retimed to miss the trains.
Everything changed around 13:00 and from then on, virtually everything passed in full sun including two trains booked for the 181 (181.214) and one booked for the 115 (actually 110.491 but I didn’t complain). It hadn’t got any sunnier, the clouds had just been retimed to miss the trains.
Eutingen im Gäu
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.096 | IC183 | 09:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 10:33 |
| 146.213 propelling |
RE19037 | 10:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 11:08 |
| 110.491 | IC282 | 09:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 11:29 |
| 185.097 | NB freight | 12:07 | |
| 120.106 | IC185 | 11:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 12:33 |
| 146.218 | RE19042 | 11:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 12:52 |
| 181.214 | IC280 | 11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 13:28 |
| 110.491 | IC187 | 13:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 14:32 |
| 146.213 | RE19044 | 13:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 14:51 |
| 146.218 propelling |
RE19041 | 14:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 15:09 |
| 101.096 | IC186 | 13:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 15:27 |
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf (Neckar)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.214 | RE19046 | 15:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 16:27 |
| 181.214 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 16:56 |
| 120.106 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 17:09 |
Dettingen, S of Horb
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.097 | SB freight | 17:56 | |
| 146.218 | RE19048 | 17:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 18:38 |
| 101.096 | IC283 | 17:57 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 18:44 |
| V100.2335 | NB light engine | 18:56 | |
| 110.491 | IC182 | 17:10 Zürich HB - Frankfurt(Main) Hbf | 19:19 |
Sat 21 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Sat 21 April 2012
Henceforth known as Almost Day on account of the number of shots that were almost in sun but missed good light by less than a minute. Today’s 181 on the Stuttgart - Zürich ICs was 181.212, which successfully avoided passing in the sun. 120.140 was more co-operative, as were a couple of 146 worked REs.
The bulk of the Stuttgart - Zürich service is 101 worked on a Saturday so it wasn’t difficult to tear myself away to try a few shots of the 218 working to Neustadt (Schwarzw) and back. Surprisingly, both shots on the impressive Gutachbrücke, a few km short of Neustadt, were in good light as it had been pitch black and raining a few minutes before.
The bulk of the Stuttgart - Zürich service is 101 worked on a Saturday so it wasn’t difficult to tear myself away to try a few shots of the 218 working to Neustadt (Schwarzw) and back. Surprisingly, both shots on the impressive Gutachbrücke, a few km short of Neustadt, were in good light as it had been pitch black and raining a few minutes before.
N of Oberndorf-Aistaig
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 181.212 | IC181 | 05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich HB | 08:55 |
| 120.106 | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:08 |
S of Rietheim
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.096 | IC282 | 09:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 10:38 |
Tuttlingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 203.002 (LW) | shunting ballast wagons | 10:50 Leonhard Weiss ex-DR 202.335 |
S of Tuttlingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.113 | IC183 | 09:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 11:32 |
| 146.xxx | RE19042 | 11:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 11:40 |
| 146.214 propelling |
RE19037 | 10:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 12:19 |
| 181.212 | IC280 | 11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 12:31 |
Döggingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.491 | RE22311 | 13:11 Rottweil - Neustadt (Schwarzw) | 13:59 |
Gutachbrücke
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.491 | RE22311 | 13:11 Rottweil - Neustadt (Schwarzw) | 14:24 |
| 218.491 propelling |
IRE3215 | 14:32 Neustadt (Schwarzw) - Ulm Hbf | 14:36 |
S of Rottweil-Saline
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.213 | RE19046 | 15:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 16:08 |
| 120.140 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 16:47 |
| 101.114 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 17:13 |
Sun 22 Apr 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Sun 22 Apr 2012
A day to forget. There was plenty of sunshine from the start and well over twenty trains to photograph but virtually nothing passed in good light. Virtually everything almost passed in good light and there were numerous occasions when a few seconds would have made all the difference. The best shot I got today was of a class 611 DMU, that’s how desperate it was.
There were two class 110s out on Stuttgart - Zürich ICs today, 110.416 and 110.487, as well as a class 115, the same graffiti covered heap as last week. All the other ICs were worked by class 101s as booked. Apart from the fact that 110s have been turning up on 115 turns, not that there’s really any difference between the two classes, everything I’ve seen in the six days I’ve spent on the Stuttgart - Singen line has been worked by the booked power.
There were also a few oddities out including a privately owned ex-DB V100 hauling a couple of old coaches, a DB owned ex-DR V100 in yellow on a departmental freight, an SBB Cargo 482 light engine and a couple of 185 hauled freights. The 218 was seen returning from Neustadt to Ulm but I was too far away to see the number.
There were two class 110s out on Stuttgart - Zürich ICs today, 110.416 and 110.487, as well as a class 115, the same graffiti covered heap as last week. All the other ICs were worked by class 101s as booked. Apart from the fact that 110s have been turning up on 115 turns, not that there’s really any difference between the two classes, everything I’ve seen in the six days I’ve spent on the Stuttgart - Singen line has been worked by the booked power.
There were also a few oddities out including a privately owned ex-DB V100 hauling a couple of old coaches, a DB owned ex-DR V100 in yellow on a departmental freight, an SBB Cargo 482 light engine and a couple of 185 hauled freights. The 218 was seen returning from Neustadt to Ulm but I was too far away to see the number.
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf(Neckar)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110.487 | IC181 | 07:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 08:54 |
| 101.113 | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:14 |
| 146.218 propelling |
RE19035 | 08:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 09:36 |
| V100.1041 | NB Empty Stock | 09:44 |
N of Oberndorf-Aistaig
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.213 | RE19040 | 09:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 10:26 |
| 101.136 | IC183 | 09:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 10:54 |
| 203.309 | NB departmental | 10:59 (DB loco) |
Oberndorf-Aistaig
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.141 | IC282 | 09:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 11:07 |
S of Tuttlingen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.214 propelling |
RE19037 | 10:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 12:19 |
| 482.040 (SBB-C) | SB light engine | 12:26 | |
| 110.487 | IC280 | 11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 12:40 |
| 101.112 | IC185 | 11:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 13:30 |
| 146.214 | RE19044 | 13:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 13:38 |
| 115.509 | IC187 | 13:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 15:31 |
| RE19046 | RE19046 | 15:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 15:38 |
S of Rottweil-Saline
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.112 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 16:48 |
| 185.090 | SB containers | 17:06 | |
| 110.416 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 17:15 |
| 146.214 propelling |
RE19045 | 16:19 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 17:56 |
| 146.218 | RE19048 | 17:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 18:06 |
| 185.089 | SB freight | 18:12 | |
| 611.xxx | RE22310 | 17:32 Neustadt(Schwarzw) - Rottweil | 18:42 |
| 115.509 | IC182 | 17:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 18:49 |
| 101.036 | IC283 | 17:57 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 19:14 |
Mon 23 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Mon 23 April 2012
Another poor day but at least it was cloudy most of the time, not just when the trains passed. The day started with a brief spell on the Stuttgart - Singen line. I live in hope that a 101 will fail and something exotic will appear in its place, the sun will come out and a squadron of pigs will perform a flypast. Unfortunately for me, if not for the passengers, the 101s just seem too reliable and the ICs in both directions turned up with the booked power. The oil train that followed was looped at Grünholz for the REs in both directions.
With no prospect of the weather improving, I gave up on the Gäubahn headed east to Hersbruck, east of Nürnberg, to see a large Russian lady, well, actually several large Russian ladies, all called Ludmilla. No sooner had I arrived at Hersbruck Ost than 232.426 came past on 45365, running well ahead of its expected time, although not far off when it was booked to pass last year. There wasn’t anything else expected on the line to the north so I headed out along the Schwandorf line where two westbound freights were expected but no fewer than four actually turned up. There was also an RTS 203 running light, the ALEX to Praha and a class 719 ultrasonic test train, converted from a class 614 DMU and painted in a fetching all-over yellow livery. All that was missing was some good light.
With no prospect of the weather improving, I gave up on the Gäubahn headed east to Hersbruck, east of Nürnberg, to see a large Russian lady, well, actually several large Russian ladies, all called Ludmilla. No sooner had I arrived at Hersbruck Ost than 232.426 came past on 45365, running well ahead of its expected time, although not far off when it was booked to pass last year. There wasn’t anything else expected on the line to the north so I headed out along the Schwandorf line where two westbound freights were expected but no fewer than four actually turned up. There was also an RTS 203 running light, the ALEX to Praha and a class 719 ultrasonic test train, converted from a class 614 DMU and painted in a fetching all-over yellow livery. All that was missing was some good light.
Grünholz, N of Oberndorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101.083 | IC181 | 05:56 Frankfurt(Main) Hbf - Zürich HB | 09:00 |
| 101.021 | IC284 | 07:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 09:09 |
| 185.195 185.189 |
NB oil tanks | 09:17 |
Hersbruck Ost
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.426 | 45365 | 13:29 Nürnberg Rbf - Cheb Freight | 12:43 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 203.501 (RTS) | EB light engine | 14:29 | |
| 232.527 | WB PKP coal hoppers | 14:31 | |
| 223.072 | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:33 |
| 719.001 | EB ultrasonic test train | 14:38 (3-car DMU) |
|
| 232.571 | 56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:09 |
| 232.618 | WB freight | 15:20 | |
| 232.238 | 45330 | 03:30 Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:03 |
Tue 24 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Tue 24 April 2012
The forecast was for an overcast day and I had a plan to travel the lines from Nürnberg to Schwandorf and Hof to look for photo positions. At 07:00 the sky was totally clear and it began to look like I’d have to replan. Unfortunately it wasn’t necessary as the weather had closed in completely by the time I left the hotel and within ten minutes it was raining. Back to plan A then.
I drove to Hersbruck (rechts Pegnitz) and bought a Bayern Ticket Single for the day. As with the Baden-Württemburg Ticket I had last week, there’s a first class version available for €31, very useful on the overcrowded DMUs in this part of the world. Even so, I couldn’t always get a seat facing the way I wanted on the side of the train I wanted.
I travelled into Nürnberg first, on a DMU inevitably, to try to find some decent maps but couldn’t find the ones I wanted. The next leg was east to Schwandorf on another DMU. I hadn’t travelled the line for many years and was surprised to find semaphore signals at Sulzbach-Rosenberg Hütte, Luitpoldhütte and Freihöls, none of which looked particularly easy to photograph. East of Amberg the line is single track. From Schwandorf I travelled south to Regensburg on an ALEX service with 223.069. A good proportion of the ALEX fleet was at Schwandorf just after 11:00 with 223.070 and 223.071 arriving on ALX355 from Regensburg, 223.072 backing down to take the train forward to Plzen and 223.069 on my train. There would be another loco at Nürnberg waiting to take the afternoon train to Plzen and another on its way from Plzen. No wonder they need the 2143 to work the Oberstdorfs.
The original plan was to return from Regensburg to Hersbrück but I didn’t feel I needed a second pass over the line and decided to travel north to Hof on the next ALEX service, behind 223.069 again. I’m really glad I did this line because there are numerous potential photo positions, that I was unaware of, and semaphore signals at Nabburg, Windischeschenbach (try saying that after a few) and Reuth (bei Erbendorf). Freights are few and far between but I did see a handful. In particular there appears to be a Müll operation in the area around Schwandorf with class 294s collecting trainloads of rubbish from various collection points and taking them to an incinerator (but I haven’t worked out where yet).
From Hof, where I did find the map I needed, I returned to Hersbruck by DMU then backtracked to Kirchenlaibach to check out the other side of the line before finally returning to Hersbruck. There are numerous potential photo positions on this line as well, mainly between Kirchenlaibach and Hersbruck.
It was an interesting day on a number of fronts, firstly the number of potential photo locations noted. They won’t all be as good as they looked from the train but I usually get close to 50% right and that’s enough to keep me going for years.
Secondly there was the contrast between the different types of train. The class 610 DMUs were quite comfortable with 2+1 seating and good legroom in first class but neither of the units I travelled on had a working toilet, a problem on longer journeys.
The 612s all had working toilets but the seating in first class wasn’t noticeably different from that in second class. Where it did differ was the absence of the strange, brain-rotting, whining noises that second class passengers on these units and the 611s are subjected to. I don’t know where the noises come from but if I was to hazard a guess, I’d have to say it probably involves torturing cats. What was also noticeable was just how rough riding the 612s were. I’ve had smoother rides in freight wagons in the third world (yes, really!).
The ALEX trains were several orders of magnitude more comfortable than either of the DMU types and a real pleasure to travel on. I hope Bayern is happy with its ALEX contract and extends it to other routes. Dresden to Nürnberg would certainly benefit from proper trains, four hours on a 612 is more than I could take.
DB seems to be on the retreat in this corner of Bayern with most local services around Regensburg, Hof and Bayreuth operated by Vogtlandbahn/ALEX or an outfit I’d never seen before called AGILIS (Unimaginitive would be a better name based on its drab, grey livery).
I drove to Hersbruck (rechts Pegnitz) and bought a Bayern Ticket Single for the day. As with the Baden-Württemburg Ticket I had last week, there’s a first class version available for €31, very useful on the overcrowded DMUs in this part of the world. Even so, I couldn’t always get a seat facing the way I wanted on the side of the train I wanted.
I travelled into Nürnberg first, on a DMU inevitably, to try to find some decent maps but couldn’t find the ones I wanted. The next leg was east to Schwandorf on another DMU. I hadn’t travelled the line for many years and was surprised to find semaphore signals at Sulzbach-Rosenberg Hütte, Luitpoldhütte and Freihöls, none of which looked particularly easy to photograph. East of Amberg the line is single track. From Schwandorf I travelled south to Regensburg on an ALEX service with 223.069. A good proportion of the ALEX fleet was at Schwandorf just after 11:00 with 223.070 and 223.071 arriving on ALX355 from Regensburg, 223.072 backing down to take the train forward to Plzen and 223.069 on my train. There would be another loco at Nürnberg waiting to take the afternoon train to Plzen and another on its way from Plzen. No wonder they need the 2143 to work the Oberstdorfs.
The original plan was to return from Regensburg to Hersbrück but I didn’t feel I needed a second pass over the line and decided to travel north to Hof on the next ALEX service, behind 223.069 again. I’m really glad I did this line because there are numerous potential photo positions, that I was unaware of, and semaphore signals at Nabburg, Windischeschenbach (try saying that after a few) and Reuth (bei Erbendorf). Freights are few and far between but I did see a handful. In particular there appears to be a Müll operation in the area around Schwandorf with class 294s collecting trainloads of rubbish from various collection points and taking them to an incinerator (but I haven’t worked out where yet).
From Hof, where I did find the map I needed, I returned to Hersbruck by DMU then backtracked to Kirchenlaibach to check out the other side of the line before finally returning to Hersbruck. There are numerous potential photo positions on this line as well, mainly between Kirchenlaibach and Hersbruck.
It was an interesting day on a number of fronts, firstly the number of potential photo locations noted. They won’t all be as good as they looked from the train but I usually get close to 50% right and that’s enough to keep me going for years.
Secondly there was the contrast between the different types of train. The class 610 DMUs were quite comfortable with 2+1 seating and good legroom in first class but neither of the units I travelled on had a working toilet, a problem on longer journeys.
The 612s all had working toilets but the seating in first class wasn’t noticeably different from that in second class. Where it did differ was the absence of the strange, brain-rotting, whining noises that second class passengers on these units and the 611s are subjected to. I don’t know where the noises come from but if I was to hazard a guess, I’d have to say it probably involves torturing cats. What was also noticeable was just how rough riding the 612s were. I’ve had smoother rides in freight wagons in the third world (yes, really!).
The ALEX trains were several orders of magnitude more comfortable than either of the DMU types and a real pleasure to travel on. I hope Bayern is happy with its ALEX contract and extends it to other routes. Dresden to Nürnberg would certainly benefit from proper trains, four hours on a 612 is more than I could take.
DB seems to be on the retreat in this corner of Bayern with most local services around Regensburg, Hof and Bayreuth operated by Vogtlandbahn/ALEX or an outfit I’d never seen before called AGILIS (Unimaginitive would be a better name based on its drab, grey livery).
Lauf (r. Pegnitz)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | 56900 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Schwandorf Freight | 09:15 |
Schwandorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.070 (VBG) 223.071 (VBG) |
ALX355 | 09:01 München Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 10:58 |
| 223.072 (VBG) | ALX355 | 09:01 München Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 11:02 |
| 223.069 (VBG) | ALX84111 | 09:40 Hof Hbf - München Hbf | 11:06 |
Regensburg Hbf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 183.003 (VBG) | ALX84111 | 09:40 Hof Hbf - München Hbf | 11:42 |
| 183.002 (VBG) | ALX84106 | 10:44 München Hbf - Hof Hbf | 12:10 |
| 232.528 | WB Hoppers | 12:15 | |
| 223.069 (VBG) | ALX84106 | 10:44 München Hbf - Hof Hbf | 12:15 |
Regenstauf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | SB containers | 12:30 |
Schwandorf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 294.717 | shunting | 12:45 |
Weiden (Oberpf)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 294.745 | SB Binliner | 13:11 |
Marktredwitz
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.259 | NB freight | 13:51 | |
| 232.217 232.528 |
stabled | 14:55 | |
| 232.xxx | SB freight | 14:56 |
Rupprechtstegen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | SB freight | 16:16 |
Wed 25 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Wed 25 April 2012
Although today’s forecast was much better it was still after lunchtime before I got any shots in sun, and then it was only weak sun. More disturbingly, one of the sunny shots vanished off the memory card shortly after I had taken it. It was definitely there because I checked the positioning of the loco immediately afterwards. A few minutes later I thought I ought to check it for sharpness but it wasn’t there. I replaced the memory card immediately afterwards to avoid overwriting anything but so far my recovery software has failed to find any trace of the missing pic.
The day was split between the Nürnberg - Cheb and Nürnberg - Schwandorf lines, starting and finishing on the Schwandorf line, west of Etzelwang, and spending much of the morning and midday period on the Cheb line, south of Vorra. Freights seen were generally in line with the times published on the Güterzugkursbuch but there was an extra train on the Schwandorf line, apparently diverted due to moleworks on the Regensburg - Nürnberg line. As if to prove the point, the electric loco was still attached (but obviously not powering).
The day was split between the Nürnberg - Cheb and Nürnberg - Schwandorf lines, starting and finishing on the Schwandorf line, west of Etzelwang, and spending much of the morning and midday period on the Cheb line, south of Vorra. Freights seen were generally in line with the times published on the Güterzugkursbuch but there was an extra train on the Schwandorf line, apparently diverted due to moleworks on the Regensburg - Nürnberg line. As if to prove the point, the electric loco was still attached (but obviously not powering).
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.618 | 56900 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Schwandorf Freight | 09:27 |
| 223.070 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:29 |
Alfalter, N of Hohenstadt
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.426 | 51683 | 04:42 Zwickau - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 10:25 |
| 232.388 | 45365 | 13:29 Nürnberg Rbf - Cheb Freight | 12:19 |
Lehendorf, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.252 185.388 |
WB freight (diverted) | 14:20 | |
| 223.070 (VBG) | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:32 |
| 232.618 | 56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:06 |
| 232.280 | 45330 | 03:30 Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:00 |
Thu 26 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Thu 26 April 2012
A good day, at last, with eight freights, seven of them photographed in sun. All but one were 232 hauled, the exception was a 233, and one was double headed.
I started with a brief visit to the Hof/Cheb line where the expected train turned up almost immediately in poor light. The next move was over to Etzelwang on the Schwandorf line where the cloud was beginning to break. The morning freight passed in good light but only just. The loco was less than 100 yards away when the shadows cleared the track.
Then it was back to the Hof/Cheb line again, this time going to Velden as the cloud was still hanging on in the west. I’d never seen Velden in sun before noon so the light angle at 10:00 came as a bit of a surprise. Fortunately nothing came for a couple of hours, by which time the light was tickling the fronts of two southbound freights that passed in quick succession.
The afternoon was spent near Etzelwang again with four westbound freights, including a colourful train of PKP coal hoppers, and an eastbound ALEX bagged between 14:00 and 16:00, all in superb light. The light was so good, I even photted some of those nice class 610 DMUs. Apart from the afternoon ALEX from Praha, photographed at Hersbruck Ost, that was it for the day.
I started with a brief visit to the Hof/Cheb line where the expected train turned up almost immediately in poor light. The next move was over to Etzelwang on the Schwandorf line where the cloud was beginning to break. The morning freight passed in good light but only just. The loco was less than 100 yards away when the shadows cleared the track.
Then it was back to the Hof/Cheb line again, this time going to Velden as the cloud was still hanging on in the west. I’d never seen Velden in sun before noon so the light angle at 10:00 came as a bit of a surprise. Fortunately nothing came for a couple of hours, by which time the light was tickling the fronts of two southbound freights that passed in quick succession.
The afternoon was spent near Etzelwang again with four westbound freights, including a colourful train of PKP coal hoppers, and an eastbound ALEX bagged between 14:00 and 16:00, all in superb light. The light was so good, I even photted some of those nice class 610 DMUs. Apart from the afternoon ALEX from Praha, photographed at Hersbruck Ost, that was it for the day.
Eschenbach, N of Hohenstadt (Mittelfr)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.388 | 45360 | 06:00 Cheb - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 08:27 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.069 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:30 |
| 232.528 | 56900 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Schwandorf Freight | 09:36 |
Velden (b Hersbruck)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.426 | 49278 | Kolin - Woippy Freight | 11:56 |
| 232.675 232.569 |
SB welded rail | 12:17 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.330 232.588 |
EB light engines | 13:27 |
Lehendorf, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.259 | WB freight | 14:30 | |
| 223.069 (VBG) | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:32 |
| 232.528 | 56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:05 |
| 233.452 | WB PKP coal hoppers | 15:30 | |
| 232.457 | 45330 | 03:30 Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:00 |
Hersbruck Ost
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.070 | ALX354 | 13:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 17:38 |
Fri 27 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Fri 27 April 2012
A glorious start to the day with superb clear light and not a cloud in the sky. My first location was a spot near Ranna, north of Neuhaus on the Nürnberg - Hof/Cheb line (thanks for the tip Brian) where four westbound freights passed in just under four hours. Then it was up to Engelmannsreuth, further up the same line. Within an hour there had been a freight in each direction.
Then everything changed. A huge raft of cloud raced in from the south-west, killing the light everywhere very quickly. The freight also stopped flowing. I hung around until 17:00 but there were no more freights and no sign of the cloud clearing. Just when I decided to call it a day, the cloud melted away as quickly as it had arrived, tempting me to stay another two hours in the hope that something would turn up. Inevitably nothing did.
Looking at what should have run and what actually did run, I reckon that the two freights seen at Engelmannsreuth were the two scheduled to run during the afternoon, both running very early. Such is life in the world of freight photography. The bonus was that all the trains ran while it was sunny.
Then everything changed. A huge raft of cloud raced in from the south-west, killing the light everywhere very quickly. The freight also stopped flowing. I hung around until 17:00 but there were no more freights and no sign of the cloud clearing. Just when I decided to call it a day, the cloud melted away as quickly as it had arrived, tempting me to stay another two hours in the hope that something would turn up. Inevitably nothing did.
Looking at what should have run and what actually did run, I reckon that the two freights seen at Engelmannsreuth were the two scheduled to run during the afternoon, both running very early. Such is life in the world of freight photography. The bonus was that all the trains ran while it was sunny.
NE of Ranna, N of Neuhaus (Pegnitz)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.388 | 45360 | 06:00 Cheb - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 08:21 |
| 233.511 | 51683 | 04:42 Zwickau - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 09:58 |
| 232.569 | 49262 | Kolin - Calais Ville Freight | 11:50 |
| 232.426 | SB ballast | 12:02 |
Engelmannsreuth, N of Schnabelwaid
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.388 | NB freight | 12:52 | |
| 232.359 | SB freight | 13:34 |
N of Schnabelwaid
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.569 233.511 |
NB light engines | 15:46 |
Sat 28 April 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Sat 28 April 2012
The most disappointing day of the trip without doubt. Brilliant sunshine all day long and not a single freight seen.
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.067 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:38 |
Wed 02 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Wed 02 May 2012
Back in Germany after three fairly successful days in the Czech Republic. I didn’t get many shots today but did manage to bag a few I’d failed to get in sun before, as well as finding another excellent location, one of the potential spots I’d noted from the train last week. A couple of shots I’d got before were worth redoing as the landscape had changed beyond belief in less than a week with the arrival of warmer weather. A good day overall with only one train I tried to photograph passing in cloud.
Freight traffic on the Schwandorf line appeared to have returned to normal after the May Day holiday but there were fewer trains than expected on the Hof/Cheb line. The empty stock train consisted of two coaches in undercoat and didn’t require the combined effort of two 232s to shift it. I suspect the coaches were tagged onto what would otherwise have been a light engine move. The steel train, on the other hand, appeared to be very heavy and the pair were down to less than 20mph when it passed me.
Freight traffic on the Schwandorf line appeared to have returned to normal after the May Day holiday but there were fewer trains than expected on the Hof/Cheb line. The empty stock train consisted of two coaches in undercoat and didn’t require the combined effort of two 232s to shift it. I suspect the coaches were tagged onto what would otherwise have been a light engine move. The steel train, on the other hand, appeared to be very heavy and the pair were down to less than 20mph when it passed me.
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.675 | 56900 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Schwandorf Freight | 09:28 |
| 223.064 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:37 |
Pegnitz Gorge, N of Rupprechtstegen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | 45365 | 13:29 Nürnberg Rbf - Cheb Freight | 12:36 |
| 232.xxx | SB Rails | 13:04 |
Lehendorf, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.675 294.717 |
56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 14:21 |
| 223.064 (VBG) | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:30 |
| 232.262 232.457 |
EB Steel | 14:41 | |
| 232.589 232.618 |
WB Empty Stock | 15:09 | |
| 233.176 | 45330 | 03:30 Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 16:05 |
W of Sulzbach-Rosenberg
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 223.068 (VBG) | ALX354 | 13:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 17:33 |
Thu 03 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Thu 03 May 2012
Another reasonable day after a slow start. I spent the morning on the Nürnberg - Hof/Cheb line, where all the freights to or from Cheb ran as expected but none of those on the Hof route showed up. Whether this was a consequence of electrification work on the Reichenbach - Plauen - Hof line is unclear. The RE and IRE trains that use the same route seemed to be running as planned.
It took a long time for the cloud to break so the lack of morning trains wasn’t too much of a problem. Eventually, three freights showed up in 20 minutes around midday.
The afternoon was spent on the Schwandorf line where a westbound stone train ran in addition to the two regular freights and the ALEX trains. The sky never really cleared all day although there were more sunny breaks in the afternoon. One good shot in sun at lunchtime and two more in the afternoon wasn’t a bad result for a day that was forecast to be mainly cloudy.
It took a long time for the cloud to break so the lack of morning trains wasn’t too much of a problem. Eventually, three freights showed up in 20 minutes around midday.
The afternoon was spent on the Schwandorf line where a westbound stone train ran in addition to the two regular freights and the ALEX trains. The sky never really cleared all day although there were more sunny breaks in the afternoon. One good shot in sun at lunchtime and two more in the afternoon wasn’t a bad result for a day that was forecast to be mainly cloudy.
Alfalter, N of Hohenstadt (Mittelfr)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.527 | 45360 | 06:00 Cheb - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 08:32 |
| 233.511 | 49278 | Kolin - Woippy Car Carriers | 12:08 |
| 232.527 | 45365 | 13:29 Nürnberg Rbf - Cheb Freight | 12:17 |
| 233.521 | SB Stone | 12:27 |
Lehendorf, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.359 | WB Stone | 14:24 | |
| 223.070 | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:38 |
| 232.176 294.760 |
56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:07 |
W of Sulzbach-Rosenberg
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.569 | 45330 | 03:30 Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:47 |
| 223.064 | ALX354 | 13:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 17:28 |
Fri 04 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Fri 04 May 2012
Another good day with seven freights photographed, all in sun, although two of them were only just in the light. There were also another two freights going the wrong way at the wrong time that got away. Add in three ALEX workings in sun as well and it has to be one of the best days of the trip (and probably the last decent day judging by the weather forecasts).
Once again, the Zwickau freight due through Pegnitztal around 10:30 failed to show but the other trains ran when they were expected. It’s refreshing to find an area where the freights run as planned and to time as it removes much of the uncertainty about where to go and when and makes it worth putting the effort in.
Once again, the Zwickau freight due through Pegnitztal around 10:30 failed to show but the other trains ran when they were expected. It’s refreshing to find an area where the freights run as planned and to time as it removes much of the uncertainty about where to go and when and makes it worth putting the effort in.
Alfalter, N of Hohenstadt (Mittelfr)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.527 | 45360 | 06:00 Cheb - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 08:29 |
Penzenhof, W of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.675 | 56906 | 08:37 Nürnberg Rbf - Schwandorf Freight | 09:28 |
| 223.067 (VBG) | ALX357 | 06:00 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 09:37 |
Pegnitz Gorge, N of Rupprechtstegen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.xxx | SB Stone | 12:01 | |
| 232.xxx | 49262 | Kolin - Calais Ville Car Carriers | 12:20 |
W of Sulzbach-Rosenberg
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232.654 | WB PKP coal hoppers | 14:11 | |
| 223.067 (VBG) | ALX353 | 14:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Praha hl.n. | 14:53 |
| 232.675 | 56908 | 14:49 Amberg - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:06 |
| 232.618 232.589 |
EB steel | 15:48 | |
| 232.571 | 45330 | 03:30 Plzen - Nürnberg Rbf Freight | 15:52 |
| 232.589 232.618 |
WB light engines | 16:25 | |
| 223.070 (VBG) | ALX354 | 13:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 17:31 |
Sat 05 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Sat 05 May 2012
There was a chance of sun for the first couple of hours but nothing came of it. I spent most of the morning at a location east of Etzelwang that I’d previously spotted from the train. Walking to the position from the road it dawned on me that it was a spot I’d used in 1985 but the good part of it had become very overgrown in the intervening 27 years, leaving only a short, and not very good, section clear.
The freight I was expecting didn’t show but three that I wasn’t expecting did, including a fairly anonymous orange MAK G1206 on a train of swap bodies. It did have a UIC number on the fuel tank but the only bit that registered was 511 (some detective work required). A few days ago a local gricer had mentioned trains being diverted away from Pegnitztal today and running via Weiden and Neukirchen but there was nothing on Max’s Moleworks list to indicate any changes, so I’d dismissed it. However, it might only have been freights that were diverted, which would, at least explain the two Ludmillas on westbounds. The car train seen was not the regular lunchtime working conveying Peugeots and Citroens from Kolin, this one was all VWs.
By 11:00 it had started to rain, as forecast, so I set off westwards to my base for the last few days of the trip, Walluf, on the outskirts of Wiesbaden. The Penzion I had booked was called the Lok Inn but it didn’t occur to me that it might have a railway connection until I tapped the address into the satnav. It was the Bahnhofstraße bit that gave the game away. Turns out it’s not just in Bahnhofstraße, it is the Bahnhof, Niederwalluf Bahnhof on the Rechte Rheinstrecke to be precise, converted into very comfortable accomodation. I can see the trains from my window but the platform canopy makes it all but impossible to see the numbers. That’s probably a good thing as it will force me to go out, at least when it stops raining.
The freight I was expecting didn’t show but three that I wasn’t expecting did, including a fairly anonymous orange MAK G1206 on a train of swap bodies. It did have a UIC number on the fuel tank but the only bit that registered was 511 (some detective work required). A few days ago a local gricer had mentioned trains being diverted away from Pegnitztal today and running via Weiden and Neukirchen but there was nothing on Max’s Moleworks list to indicate any changes, so I’d dismissed it. However, it might only have been freights that were diverted, which would, at least explain the two Ludmillas on westbounds. The car train seen was not the regular lunchtime working conveying Peugeots and Citroens from Kolin, this one was all VWs.
By 11:00 it had started to rain, as forecast, so I set off westwards to my base for the last few days of the trip, Walluf, on the outskirts of Wiesbaden. The Penzion I had booked was called the Lok Inn but it didn’t occur to me that it might have a railway connection until I tapped the address into the satnav. It was the Bahnhofstraße bit that gave the game away. Turns out it’s not just in Bahnhofstraße, it is the Bahnhof, Niederwalluf Bahnhof on the Rechte Rheinstrecke to be precise, converted into very comfortable accomodation. I can see the trains from my window but the platform canopy makes it all but impossible to see the numbers. That’s probably a good thing as it will force me to go out, at least when it stops raining.
E of Etzelwang
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 233.521 | WB car carriers | 08:45 | |
| ? | EB Swap Bodies | 09:30 | |
| 223.063 (VBG) | ALX350 | 05:07 Praha hl.n. - Nürnberg Hbf | 09:36 |
| 232.527 | WB freight | 09:42 |
Sun 06 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Sun 06 May 2012
The day was forecast to be cloudy and wet but at least the morning was dry enough to go exploring locations around Assmannshausen and Lorch on the Rechte Rheinstrecke. The afternoon was a lot wetter so checking any locations more than a couple of minutes walk from the car was asking for trouble. Even so, I still got trapped on the new platform at Kaub when the heavens opened unexpectedly. Fortunately there was a shelter with a seat where I sought refuge for around an hour until the deluge ceased.
As usual when I visit the Rhein Gorge, most of the action was on the other side of the river. There were plenty of freights but most of them ran on the left bank, along with the IC trains and the local EMUs. All that ran on the right bank were the local EMUs and a handful of freights, well under one an hour each way. The reason was undoubtedly single line working between Kaub and Rüdesheim while work was being done on the overhead south of Lorch.
Nothing particularly unusual was seen on either side of the river but workings of note on the west bank included the 218 worked RE18849 and an IC with a 120 on the front and a dead 101 at the back.
After returning to my base at Neiderwalluf, I took a unit into Wiesbaden to look for some decent maps of the south end of the Rhein Gorge. Much to my surprise I found some proper EMUs of class 420 still at work on S8 services (Wiesbaden - Frankfurt - Hanau). The only loco worked trains seen in the 75 minutes I was there were 143s on push-pulls to Darmstadt and Aschaffenburg. An IC arrived just before I left but I didn’t see the loco that pulled it in. 120.127 was backing down onto the stock as we left.
As usual when I visit the Rhein Gorge, most of the action was on the other side of the river. There were plenty of freights but most of them ran on the left bank, along with the IC trains and the local EMUs. All that ran on the right bank were the local EMUs and a handful of freights, well under one an hour each way. The reason was undoubtedly single line working between Kaub and Rüdesheim while work was being done on the overhead south of Lorch.
Nothing particularly unusual was seen on either side of the river but workings of note on the west bank included the 218 worked RE18849 and an IC with a 120 on the front and a dead 101 at the back.
After returning to my base at Neiderwalluf, I took a unit into Wiesbaden to look for some decent maps of the south end of the Rhein Gorge. Much to my surprise I found some proper EMUs of class 420 still at work on S8 services (Wiesbaden - Frankfurt - Hanau). The only loco worked trains seen in the 75 minutes I was there were 143s on push-pulls to Darmstadt and Aschaffenburg. An IC arrived just before I left but I didn’t see the loco that pulled it in. 120.127 was backing down onto the stock as we left.
Treuchtingshausen (Left Bank)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218.xxx propelling |
RE18849 | 09:30 Koblenz Hbf - Wissembourg | 10:15 |
| 120.xxx t & t with 101.xxx |
IC1920 | 12:15 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - | 13:11 |
S of Lorch
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 152.051 | NB freight | 11:35 |
Kaub
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145.078 | NB Containers | 14:30 | |
| 185.340 | NB coal hoppers | 15:22 |
Wiesbaden Hbf
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 143.242 propelling |
RB15773 | 17:38 Wiesbaden Hbf - Darmstadt Hbf | 17:27 |
| 143.238 propelling |
RB15727 | 18:38 Wiesbaden Hbf - Aschaffenburg | 18:24 |
| 120.127 | light engine | 18:35 |
Mon 07 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Mon 07 May 2012
Another disappointing day with no shots of loco hauled trains in full sun. It started promisingly enough with breaks in the cloud at Walluf, where I’m staying, and plenty of freight going past while I was having breakfast.
Out on the lineside it was a different story with almost unbroken cloud and very little traffic. In the first three hours only three freights passed and it was almost another three hours before the next one. Things got better after 15:00 with eleven more trains in the four hours to 19:00, a total of 15 freights in ten hours.
Once again, there were more freights on the left bank along with the loco hauled ICs and 143s on the 2-hourly REs. The weather improved in the late afternoon but clouds managed to get in the way for every single train I tried to phot.
One observation of note was a 103 going south in the morning with a matching rake of red and cream stock, just like it used to be when there were proper passenger trains in the Rhein Valley. It was on the other side of the river so I couldn’t see the number. Also on the left bank, all the RE trains seen were top’n’tail 143s on three or four coach dosto rakes.
Out on the lineside it was a different story with almost unbroken cloud and very little traffic. In the first three hours only three freights passed and it was almost another three hours before the next one. Things got better after 15:00 with eleven more trains in the four hours to 19:00, a total of 15 freights in ten hours.
Once again, there were more freights on the left bank along with the loco hauled ICs and 143s on the 2-hourly REs. The weather improved in the late afternoon but clouds managed to get in the way for every single train I tried to phot.
One observation of note was a 103 going south in the morning with a matching rake of red and cream stock, just like it used to be when there were proper passenger trains in the Rhein Valley. It was on the other side of the river so I couldn’t see the number. Also on the left bank, all the RE trains seen were top’n’tail 143s on three or four coach dosto rakes.
S of Lorch
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.339 | NB Freight | 09:19 |
Treuchtingshausen (Linke Rheinstrecke)
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103.xxx | SB special | 09:40 |
S of Lorch
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1216.902 (RTS) | NB grain hoppers | 09:53 |
N of Assmannshausen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189.286 (Dispo) | SB Containers | 11:34 |
Loreley Tunnel, N of Kaub
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.291 185.360 |
SB coal hoppers | 14:36 |
Kaub
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151.001 | NB Freight | 15:29 | |
| 185.280 | NB oil tanks | 16:01 | |
| 155.222 | SB freight | 16:05 | |
| 185.518 (TXL) 185.514 (TXL) |
SB oil tanks | 17:10 | |
| 185.138 | NB freight | 17:38 | |
| 185.236 | SB freight | 17:56 | |
| 186.107 (Railpool) | SB containers | 18:03 | |
| 185.319 | SB car carriers | 18:16 | |
| 185.543 (Captrain) | NB light engine | 18:27 | |
| 152.066 | SB coal hoppers | 18:52 | |
| 185.525 (Crossrail) | NB containers | 18:56 | |
| 152.169 | SB oil tanks | 18:57 |
Tue 08 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Tue 08 May 2012
A better day in every respect with a lot of sunshine and a lot of trains on the Rechte Rheinstrecke. There were still some quite long gaps between freights at times. In contrast to the previous two days, there was a lot less freight traffic on the left bank.
It got seriously cloudy about 15:00 and I almost gave up for the day several times but always decided to wait a little longer to see if the cloud broke. It did around 17:40 and for the next hour there was some glorious light but no northbound trains. Eventually a black Dispo 189 passed a minute or so before the light faded for good. I’d have preferred a red engine but a black one would have have to do.
It got seriously cloudy about 15:00 and I almost gave up for the day several times but always decided to wait a little longer to see if the cloud broke. It did around 17:40 and for the next hour there was some glorious light but no northbound trains. Eventually a black Dispo 189 passed a minute or so before the light faded for good. I’d have preferred a red engine but a black one would have have to do.
S of Lorch
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.339 | SB freight | 09:16 | |
| 185.351 | SB containers | 09:20 | |
| 185.xxx | NB freight | 09:24 | |
| 482.015 (SBB-C) | NB containers | 09:29 | |
| 142.130 (BYB) | SB vans | 09:33 | |
| 185.xxx | SB freight | 09:36 | |
| 152.xxx | NB freight | 09:50 |
N of Assmannshausen
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202.743 (BWESA) | NB freight | 10:17 | |
| 421.385 (SBB-C) | SB car carriers | 10:19 | |
| 185.077 | SB swap bodies | 10:34 | |
| 189.001 | SB trailers | 10:39 | |
| 185.020 155.061 |
NB oil tanks | 10:44 | |
| 185.239 | SB freight | 10:52 | |
| 1116.568 (WLB) | NB containers | 10:56 | |
| 155.175 155.267 |
NB freight | 11:02 | |
| 203.315 | SB track machine | 11:14 | |
| 1216.922 (GKB) | NB grain hoppers | 11:16 | |
| 185.158 | SB containers | 11:17 | |
| 185.342 | SB freight | 11:21 | |
| 185.100 | NB vans | 11:22 | |
| 145.060 | NB containers | 11:26 | |
| 140.772 140.806 |
SB coal hoppers | 11:37 | |
| 185.289 | SB freight | 11:51 | |
| 185.xxx | NB coal hoppers | 11:55 | |
| 185.201 | NB freight | 12:00 |
Loreley Tunnel, N of Kaub
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145.099 (XRail) | NB containers | 12:39 | |
| 189.106 (Dispo) | SB containers | 13:04 | |
| 145.069 | NB containers | 13:05 | |
| 189.099 (Dispo) | NB containers | 13:35 | |
| 482.022 (SBB-C) | SB intermodal | 13:41 | |
| 293.002 (RTS) 293.001 (RTS) |
NB spoil tippers | 13:46 | |
| 185.173 | SB freight | 13:48 | |
| 145.931 (XRail) | NB intermodal | 13:52 | |
| 185.609 (RBSAF) | NB grain hoppers | 13:55 | |
| 482.014 (SBB-C) | SB containers | 14:04 |
Kaub
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.139 | NB swap bodies | 14:31 | |
| 185.611 (BTK) | SB intermodal | 14:51 | |
| 189.021 | NB swap bodies | 15:00 | |
| 189.212 (Dispo) | 15:06 | ||
| 185.189 | SB freight | 15:10 | |
| 185.529 (LTE) | NB grain hoppers | 15:32 | |
| 185.xxx (???) | NB intermodal | 15:55 | |
| 155.xxx | SB freight | 15:58 | |
| 152.013 | NB swap bodies | 15:59 | |
| 185.167 185.045 |
SB oil tanks | 16:20 | |
| 482.017 (SBB-C) | NB trailers | 16:39 | |
| 145.058 | SB chemical tanks | 16:40 | |
| 482.045 (SBB-C) | SB containers | 16:48 | |
| 185.198 | NB intermodal | 17:00 | |
| 482.011 (SBB-C) | NB intermodal | 17:06 | |
| 266.105 (RCHEM) | NB chemical tanks | 17:28 | |
| 185.308 | NB freight | 17:32 | |
| 185.356 | SB freight | 17:47 | |
| 189.998 (Dispo) | NB intermodal | 18:39 | |
| 185.380 | SB containers | 18:48 | |
| 482.002 (SBB-C) | NB intermodal | 18:57 | |
| 151.039 | SB oil tanks | 18:57 |
Wed 09 May 2012
31/07/12 16:57 | Wed 09 May 2012
The final morning of the trip was dull and wet and forecast to stay that way. I went to Oberwesel on the Linke Rheinstrecke for a couple of hours before starting the long trek home via Luxembourg, southern Belgium, Lille and the Channel Tunnel.
The 103 hauled southbound passenger was seen again, this time north of Mainz just before 10:00, making me wonder if it’s a regular working.
The 103 hauled southbound passenger was seen again, this time north of Mainz just before 10:00, making me wonder if it’s a regular working.
Oberwesel
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145.092 (XRail) | NB containers | 11:08 | |
| 411.065 | ICE27 | Dortmund Hbf - Wien Westbf | 11:19 |
| 143.910 t & t with 143.263 |
RE4287 | 11:02 Koblenz Hbf - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf | 11:34 |
| 101.043 propelling |
IC2218 | 09:37 Stuttgart Hbf - Hamburg-Altona | 11:48 |
| 101.108 | EC101 | 06:20 Hamburg-Altona - Chur | 12:31 |
| 189.097 (Dispo) | SB containers | 12:37 | |
| 143.280 t & t with 143.825 |
RE4284 | 11:08 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - Koblenz Hbf | 12:45 |
