Tue 10 Sep 2013
Tue 10 Sep 2013
11/10/13 09:11
The Paris - Belfort line was long overdue for a visit so I took a detour from my usual driving route to Germany to try a few shots of CC72100s. After a very early start and an uneventful journey under the Channel on EuroTunnel’s 05:48 shuttle, it was straight down the Autoroute to a spot west of Troyes, arriving at 11:30.
Although most of the drive from Calais had been in sunshine, it started raining just before the first train appeared. It was still a pleasant surprise to find a CC72100 on 11647, as I had half been expecting a unit, but I gave the picture a miss. All of the non-InterCités workings seen were bi-mode AGCs of the B82500 persuasion in one of the most repulsive liveries I’ve ever seen.
On to Bayel, east of Bar-sur-Aube where the expected CC72100 on 1741 passed five minutes earlier than expected in the middle of another downpour, meaning that I missed seeing the number. Although the timetable fiche showed the 13:20 ex Belfort as running, it wasn’t on Hafas and it was no great surprise when it didn’t show up. The spot I’d found for it was a cracker but will have to wait for another time. Two westbound freights were seen, a block train of cereal hoppers behind a BB75000 and a mixed freight led by no less than four BB67400s, three of them in yellow livery. I didn’t manage a picture of either freight but it was third time lucky for the CC72100 on the 15:12 from Paris, which passed in good light.
The day’s final location was in the Marne Valley between Chaumont and Langres where another CC72100 was bagged in good light. Just as I decided the light wasn’t going to last for the next loco hauled passenger, the nearby crossing gates closed and an eastbound freight, hauled by a pair of BB67400s rolled by, again in good light. Then it was off to find my hotel and try to make myself understood in French that was almost as bad as the livery of the local DMUs.
Although most of the drive from Calais had been in sunshine, it started raining just before the first train appeared. It was still a pleasant surprise to find a CC72100 on 11647, as I had half been expecting a unit, but I gave the picture a miss. All of the non-InterCités workings seen were bi-mode AGCs of the B82500 persuasion in one of the most repulsive liveries I’ve ever seen.
On to Bayel, east of Bar-sur-Aube where the expected CC72100 on 1741 passed five minutes earlier than expected in the middle of another downpour, meaning that I missed seeing the number. Although the timetable fiche showed the 13:20 ex Belfort as running, it wasn’t on Hafas and it was no great surprise when it didn’t show up. The spot I’d found for it was a cracker but will have to wait for another time. Two westbound freights were seen, a block train of cereal hoppers behind a BB75000 and a mixed freight led by no less than four BB67400s, three of them in yellow livery. I didn’t manage a picture of either freight but it was third time lucky for the CC72100 on the 15:12 from Paris, which passed in good light.
The day’s final location was in the Marne Valley between Chaumont and Langres where another CC72100 was bagged in good light. Just as I decided the light wasn’t going to last for the next loco hauled passenger, the nearby crossing gates closed and an eastbound freight, hauled by a pair of BB67400s rolled by, again in good light. Then it was off to find my hotel and try to make myself understood in French that was almost as bad as the livery of the local DMUs.
Savières, W of Troyes
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72140 | 11647 | 10:42 Paris Est - Troyes | 12:05 |
| B82505 | 11944 | 10:47 Culmont-Chalindrey - Paris Est | 12:20 |
Bayel, E of Bar-sur-Aube
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| B82501 B82513 |
11649 | 12:12 Paris Est - Culmont-Chalindrey | 14:23 |
| 721xx | 1741 | 13:12 Paris Est - Belfort Ville | 15:07 |
| B82511 | TER1542 | 14:53 Culmont-Chalindrey - Troyes | 15:42 |
| 75457 | WB Cereal Hoppers | 15:56 | |
| B82505 | 11743 | 14:12 Paris Est - Culmont-Chalindrey | 16:23 |
| 67xxx 67xxx 67xxx 67xxx |
WB Freight | 17:17 | |
| 72190 | 1745 | 15:12 Paris Est - Belfort Ville | 17:18 |
Thivet, W of Langres
| Loco | Train No. |
Train Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72121 | 1848 | 16:50 Belfort Ville - Paris Est | 18:17 |
| 67528 67617 |
EB Freight | 18:22 | |
| B82515 B82501 |
11948 | 18:17 Culmont-Chalindrey - Paris Est | 18:35 |
