We spent a recent family weekend in the border region near Montzen. On two occasions I got out to make a few photos in Remersdaal: once during daytime, once during nighttime. Both times I got a mixed freight train from Antwerp to Köln headed by a double Traxx engine. And that’s where the similarities between the two photos end. 4 different liveries, 2 operators and … Continue reading Night and day
Car traffic to the port of Zeebrugge has been booming in recent months. Many car trains drive to and from the port 24 hours per day, operated by almost all freight operators present on Belgian rails. On one of the few dry days we’ve had in weeks, I ventured out into the fields to flash some trains. Besides a Railtraxx and a Crossrail train, I … Continue reading Empties under a starry sky
One quiet evening along the tracks, again typical for the current days: dark, dry, not too cold.Dry is relative though, as I got the car almost stuck in the mud getting here.I was treated with 5 trains in a row: 4 from Zeebrugge, 1 from Ghent. All towards Germany and beyond. Here we see Lineas hauling a train with destination Milan, Italy. It looks well … Continue reading Parade
Last Sunday was worth getting outside. It was dark and cold, but dry, a recipe for a quiet evening photoshoot. The two freight trains that I could photograph happened to be both loaded with GTS containers. One coming from Switzerland and heading to the Belgian coastal port, the other one doing exactly the inverse. Continue reading To and from the mountains
It was a cold cold evening, yesterday. During the waiting, I could see the grass slowly turn white. By the time the two freight trains had passed, my tripods were covered with a thin frosted layer.The first train, hauled by a Traxx locomotive, looks like a train from Antwerp to Dourges. The second one is the most intriguing though. Description of the load was “big … Continue reading Frosty white containers
Autumn season is there: time to get into the night again. I started the new season with a warming up session in Wetteren. Testing a new addition to the gear, and learning more about which spots are suitable for this type of photography. This was a very ice photo to make. Getting the gear set up using feeling only, tweaking location and gear until things … Continue reading A new season has started
Just an hour before curfew, we see Crossrail’s 186 496 conquering the steep slope towards Montzen. It’s hauling intermodal train 43511 from the port of Zeebrugge towards Basel. Continue reading Before curfew
On Saturday I’ve been making a few photos of the weekend detours during daytime (Warm winter light). On Sunday I wanted to still catch some of the detours, and decided to do so in the evening. The moon was beautiful the last few evening, but I was a bit late to get a good photo of it. You can still see it on the top … Continue reading Wood and steel
A well-deserved day off work was spent standing in the freezing cold, wind. With the camera closeby, hoping that the awaited train would come soon. For the last photo of the day, sun had set and night had fallen. A las minute decision led us to the old station of Ertvelde, where we quickly set up some lights. Lesson of the day: triggering two camera’s … Continue reading With or without?
Tonight was a cold, very cold, Sunday evening. But it was dry, not too windy, and there was still some snow left! Trains between Bruges and Ghent were taking the scenic route again, to my great pleasure. I found myself a spot between Aarsele and Tielt to set up the gear. I expected a few freight trains, and some work trains returning home after the … Continue reading Blue hour
Railscapes 