During the extended autumn break this year I also took some days off to take care of my daughter. Apart from playing at home, we also went out to the tracks one day. This time we went to Zichem. We enjoyed a picknick and the company of friends who live closeby, that we hadn’t seen in real life since a couple of months. There were … Continue reading Social time
During the last weekend of October, train traffic between the Belgian seaports and Germany was diverted over Mechelen, Leuven and Aarschot. This promised some intense freight traffic between Mechelen and Leuven.I decided to take my daughter out for a day along the tracks. Playing with the ball and a bicycle – on safe spots! – and occasionally snapping some shots with the camera. We both … Continue reading Q stands for quality time
On the way back home after a day of work in Antwerp, I needed some air. I decided to spend some time on the Schelde’s left bank, and see what would be coming.I was lucky enough to get one of the first rides of a Vectron locomotive from BLS Cargo. And some other interesting trains. It weren’t the trains, however, that made it a good … Continue reading Beautiful light, after all
3 photos, 3 regions, 1 day. I started the day in Drongen on the 4-track section of line 50A from Ghent to Bruges. The second freight train that came through was the Railtraxx containershuttle from Oradea to Zeebruges. Second destination: Idergem, between Geraardbergen and Denderleeuw, where I could catch a 1344 with a train connecting Longeau to Aalst.Third destination: Berneau, for a few trains in … Continue reading Cargo from west to east
This is the last photo I made of a B-Logistics train. 10 days later, the company was rebranded to Lineas. It was all about the name then: we had to wait a few more days before the first Lineas styled locomotives would exit the workshop.On a nice April evening, we see 1329 with mixed freight train 41898 on the way to Antwerp. It left Somain … Continue reading The end and a new beginning
Back to Horna Stubna, to check what action can be expected next. THere was not much asking involved, as we saw this train running into the station. This is the train I came to Slovakia for: cement train 55721 from Lietavská Lúčka to Zemianske Kostoľany, pulled by 3 Bardotka engines. Some people see a similarity between the locomotive’s nose and Brigitte Bardot, hence the nickname. Continue reading Meeting up with Brigitte Bardot
A bit closer to track level, aiming my telelens through the bushes, I snapped a photo of Railtraxx’ train 42554 from Passau to Antwerp. I discovered this view on a rainy day, and it turns out to be useful on a regular overcast moment too, albeit without the special effects with water involved. Continue reading A view for when it’s overcast
This is a place I keep returning to, because it’s just so much fun. To get there you have to climb up a hill, find a way between walls and bushes, and concentrate to get your gear up in one piece. A mini-adventure so to say, and I prefer it this way. It’s one reason why I love this hobby so much. The hill offers … Continue reading Mini-adventure
This is the last spot of the afternoon already: freight train traffic was scarce. A northbound intermodal train runs through the town of Braubach. “through” has to be taken literally here: it passes right in front of the houses. Considering this is one of the busiest freight lines in Germany, you can understand why inhabitants of the villages are complaining about noise. Let’s hope authorities … Continue reading A railfan’s dream house
A spot I keep returning to is this one close to Kamp-Bornhofen. Is it because of a previous time when I missed this same train hauled by a black class 66 engine? I had taken a group photo using the camera’s timer a few moments before, and had forgotten to turn it off. And you only notice it when pressing the shutter button results in … Continue reading About beeps and clicks
