Encouraged by the previous train, I explored the line further. A bit further in Flandersback I came upon the view below. Trains were coming from the opposite side than what I was hoping, so I settles with a lonely engine… for now, because it seems this line sees quite some traffic: a future visit is only a matter of time. Continue reading Getting some lime
The Angertalbahn is a non-electrified line connecting Ratingen and Wülfrath. It doesn’t see passenger trains anymore since long, but there is still frequent freight traffic to the Rheinkalke lime factory. I didn’t have any knowledge of train times but decided to give it a try. Explore, discover photo opportunities and, who knows, see a train. In Flandersbach luck was already on my side: a train … Continue reading This looks like a busy line
Next on the list of places to visit was the freight rail line from Duisburg to Düsseldorf. There still exists an old signalling cabin at the Abzweig Tiefenbroich: here, the Angertalbahn to Wülfrath splits off of the main tracks. The 3 photos below passed in a timespan of only 20 minutes. Continue reading Abzweigstelle Tiefenbroich
Watching the shunting movements is fun, but after a while you start wondering where the big trains are. I decided to explore the line further and was lucky: at Angerhausen, while checking out a possible photo location, I suddenly heard a train coming. Yes, a train with a real big engine was entering the frame. Mission accomplished! Continue reading Caught a big diesel
The last 2 visits I made to the Ruhr area tasted like… more. 5 days after the last visit, weather forecast looked really good. I got up early to be in the area at the creek of day. I had done some more research in the meanwhile and found out that the non-electrified line to the HKM factory sees quite a lot of traffic. I … Continue reading Scrap to coils
By the time I got to the Ruhr area, I only got to check out the Duisburg-Hochfeld railway bridge, where I ended my previous visit. It’s an interesting structure, mainly because of the original 1870’s bridgehead standing next to the bridge currently in use. DB’s 185 192 is crossing the Rhine river with an intermodal train, probably heading south. There are so many lines running … Continue reading Historic bridges
On my way to the Ruhr area, I stopped in Sint-Martens-Voeren again. There was another photo I wanted to make of the viaduct, and weather conditions where such that it could become an interesting image. This photo is the result. While some people are standing outside, waiting a train, most of the people in the village try to stay warm, judging by the smoke plumes … Continue reading Looking cold
I shot a few more different angles of the viaduct before heading back to the car. As is too often the case, another train came while I was preparing to leave. A quick sprint, as only a railfan who just heard a train can produce it, resulted in this photo. I didn’t think it would work out at first… but once edited I found this … Continue reading Last-minute perspective
Besides going to Switzerland with my parents as a kid, we also stayed in the Voeren region during summer vacation. It were fun vacations, and I also have great memories of the trains crawling up the hill towards the German border. Around the viaduct of Sint-Martens-Voeren I actually made my first train photos, only featuring now disappeared locomotive classes.I enjoy going back there. The region … Continue reading Back to the roots
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
Railscapes 