Thu 31 May 2012
Thu 31 May 2012
31/07/12 16:55
The least successful part of my marathon four-week trip to Germany in late April and early May was the time spent on the Stuttgart - Singen line, also known as the Gäubahn. Having done all the preparatory work, it seemed sensible to go back and have another attempt at getting the shots.
Everything went smoothly at first and by 08:05 I was sitting on BA918 at Heathrow, ready to depart for Stuttgart. The captain was congratulating the passengers for getting onboard in such a timely manner and told us that the doors were already closed and we were ready to push back on time at 08:10. But we didn’t. It seemed that six passengers had somehow been unable to tell the difference between an Airbus and an Airport and had chosen to go through an open door into arrivals instead of getting on the plane. For a while it looked like we’d all have to get off and go through security again but common sense prevailed. The six miscreants were taken out and shot while the rest of us continued to Stuttgart, only 20 minutes late. It’s obvious now why it costs more to fly with BA than the likes of RyanJet and EasyAir, it’s for the entertainment provided.
Stuttgart Flughafen was pleasantly efficient and it wasn’t long before I was driving out in the direction of Eutingen im Gäu. The afternoon was spent on the Stuttgart - Singen line at various locations between Eutingen and Oberndorf, trying to dodge the clouds and phot the trains in sun. It wasn’t totally unsuccesful with three out of the ten trains attempted passing in good light. Everything ran reassuringly close to right time and with the expected traction, including the freights. It was amazing how much the vegetation had grown up in the six weeks or so since I was last here. Previously clear stretches of lineside had disappeared into the jungle and I had to give up on a couple of positions that were hopelessly overgrown. Fortunately there were alternatives.
Everything went smoothly at first and by 08:05 I was sitting on BA918 at Heathrow, ready to depart for Stuttgart. The captain was congratulating the passengers for getting onboard in such a timely manner and told us that the doors were already closed and we were ready to push back on time at 08:10. But we didn’t. It seemed that six passengers had somehow been unable to tell the difference between an Airbus and an Airport and had chosen to go through an open door into arrivals instead of getting on the plane. For a while it looked like we’d all have to get off and go through security again but common sense prevailed. The six miscreants were taken out and shot while the rest of us continued to Stuttgart, only 20 minutes late. It’s obvious now why it costs more to fly with BA than the likes of RyanJet and EasyAir, it’s for the entertainment provided.
S of Eutingen im Gäu
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.136 | NB freight | 12:40 | |
| 146.202 | RE19042 | 11:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 12:52 |
| 146.207 propelling |
RE19039 | 12:18 Stuttgart Hbf - Singen(Hohentwiel) | 13:09 |
| 101.050 | IC280 | 11:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 13:27 |
Mühlener Tunnel, N of Horb
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120.122 | IC187 | 13:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 14:36 |
Neckarhausen, S of Horb
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120.106 | IC186 | 13:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 15:16 |
Dettingen, S of Horb
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.086 | SB vans | 15:29 |
S of Sulz am Neckar
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 146.207 | RE19046 | 15:19 Singen(Hohentwiel) - Stuttgart Hbf | 16:29 |
| 101.050 | IC281 | 15:56 Stuttgart Hbf - Zürich HB | 16:55 |
| 101.121 | IC184 | 15:10 Zürich HB - Stuttgart Hbf | 17:08 |
