Day 2 in Bulgaria. I can’t remember how we prepared for this trip, and maybe that’s the reason why we didn’t get to see so much. We started to check out action in Pirdop, destination of a copper train running from Olen, Belgium. We didn’t get to see the train, but saw a lot of parked imported locomotives. Old British Rail power was resting next to ex-DSB and ex-DB power, but not much was moving.

We had heard about a late evening train though, that used to be hauled by one of BDZ’s Ludmilla locomotives. Not really knowing whether we would still see on of these magnificent “Bludmilla’s” (after their dark red color), we were extremely happy when we got one with the train from Silistra to Gorna Oryahovitsa on the non-electrified portion of the route.

We were still able to catch this same train in Samuil, where the Bludmilla was exchanged by a 44 series electric locomotive. The diesel dinosaur was gone already, but we were still able to make a photo of the train in beautiful light.