With the end of the day approaching, my two very kind photo-colleagues took me to a spot in Bösinghoven. The wide open plain allowing for long light, and making you basically forget you’re in the heart of Germany’s heavy industry. We saw more NordWestBahn Lint41 motorcars, a Talent 2 electric unit operated by National Express, and one freight train. Someone forgot to put containers on … Continue reading The green heart of industry
The gloomy and short winter day ended at the monumental bridge over the Rhine river at Duisburg. I squeezed the camera through a fence to get a decent view on the steel monster, hoping for some freight but getting a bright passenger train. Nicely contrasting the bridge. It was only getting darker and I was getting more and mmore soaked and cold: the signal for … Continue reading Giant steel monster
Thoughts of the last moment are sometimes the better ones, I must admit. While packing our stuff to go home, it appeared to us that we could still make it for the TER Service to Sarreguemines. This service was one of the last ones hauled a BB67400 series diesel. We won the race against the clock; in what were really the last rays of sunshine … Continue reading Last minute
I’m always conscious of local culture when we’re out on a trip. A special interest in local beer culture makes a trip all the more interesting. In the background of this photo, you can see the buildings of the Brasserie Meteor. This independant brewery is home to Meteor (pils and lager) and Wendelinus (blonde and roussa), and also creates occasional brewings. We saw many trains, … Continue reading Brasserie Meteor
The wide plains north of Strasbourg allow straight tracks and fast trains. Here we see a local train that can ride 200 km/h. I’m sure this local doesn’t stop in every small village though. Continue reading High speed lcoal
The opening of the TGV-Est, planned for december 2016, would meant the end of the Eurocity trains between Brussels and Basel. Following all logic of French railways, passengers from Brussels to Switzerland have to use the TGV and pass through Paris… We love these classic trains, allowing cheap and relatively fast travel. That’s one of the reasons we were chasing them in the Vosges on … Continue reading Along the Marne – Rhine canal
When travelling around often, you get to know your favorite places. Whenever I travel between home and Switzerland, I try to include a stop at “Boulangerie Bernard” in the center of Mommenheim. Their butter rolls are de-li-cious and more than worth the short detour! On the morning of january 29th I had no effort convincing my fellow traveller to stop over at Mommenheim. We were … Continue reading A busy breakfast
An impressive train, consisting of 12 coaches and led by a heavy duty Ge 6/6 II engine has just left the station of Bever. The powerful engine is justified by the climb up the Albula pass – between Bever and St. Moritz the trains run run in a relatively flat valley. The backdrop is what makes the view. Flat valley and beautiful surroundings are probably … Continue reading Flat valley
We stayed around Bever for the next freight train, but decided to head to the beginning of the Albula line. First train we got was this RE to St. Moritz, hauled by a Ge 6/6 engine. Notice the mail car at the rear of the train. In the background, the town of Bever. We were a bit late, resulting in a “panic shot” from aside, … Continue reading Side view
Switching back and forth between locations – this view was too nice not to make a photo of it. Most of the Ge 4/4 III engines carry promotional liveries – consider this red one a lucky catch. Notice the blue Gourmino restaurant car in the middle of the train. Continue reading Rare in red
Railscapes 