Another shot of the same train as one week earlier, with a different consist. On April 11th 2017, almost exactly 3 years ago, an SNCF TRAXX locomotive was seen transporting coal wagons towards France. Continue reading Same but different
As shadows were getting longer, a distant noise announced the train I came here for. The rush hour train with a 21 series locomotive was nice, and a freight train would only make it better. The then regular SNCF train towards France was about right on time and marked the moment to head home after a succesfull photo-evening. Continue reading Tubes for France
What is now a classic view may be over sooner than later. The 21 series locomotives are being phased out, just like the M4 coaches. They are now primarily used on rush hour trains, just like the 22 series locomotives with their M2 coaches a couple of years ago. They may seem unintersting now, but we’ll look at the pictures with nostalgic feelings once the … Continue reading Nostalgia to come
During the commute home, I had noticed a couple of times a train pulled by an SNCF TRAXX in the early evening. With the days getting longer, a few photo opportunities presented.We see a coal train coming from the direction of Gent, towards France. The rail line is starting a big S-curve here, that will end up in Gent-Sint-Pieters station. A really long time ago, … Continue reading Coal, and some history
From the Ijsland section, locomotive 7807 continued north, towards the Petrol section. Interesting, maybe the crew was going to pick up a train. I caught them back at the outer end of the Petrol shunting yard in a setting that makes it easy to see where the shunting yard got its name. Continue reading Petrol
A loose engine is entering the Ijsland section of the port of Antwerp’s rail network. It has just dropped off some cars at the Amerika-Zuid section.When visiting the port, I always make sure to check what’s happening at this section. Very often there is some activity, and at the time it still lokked very authentic. Now concrete blocks have been installed to separate rail from … Continue reading After dropping off some cars
These Corona-times are strange. Stuck at home, no more physical social contact or activities. As already stated by a few opinion makers, I also believe this void will make place for human creativity to come up with solutions for everyone’s daily needs. Creativity will also be needed to keep the trains running. Be it on the level of the rail operator, maintainer, supporting staff. Rail … Continue reading Opportunities ahead
Photoshop or not? Contrary to what you may think, only timing and luck were needed to get the red tractor next to the identicaly colored DB engines.No idea if this location still exists, or if bicycle highway fences are blocking the view. Continue reading Red
Railway lines usually follow a smooth profile, and their route is therefore very suitable for different forms of soft transport. Line 59 between Gent and Antwerp is no exceptions: a bicycle highway is being constructed on large portions of the line. Extremely useful for sporty commuters.Add to that the inexplicable urge to place fences all over the place -> the bicycle highways are a challenge … Continue reading About fences
Through the fog I managed to find a way to the bridge over the outer end of the Zandeken yard. An earlier attempt to photograph the train in the fog failed completely, as the train was just not visible. Close to the bridge, visibility was a lot better. The 77 series loco will pull the train to Gent-Zeehaven, where an electric loco will take over … Continue reading Dirty new concrete
