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
A railway crossing in the middle of nowhere, right next to an abandoned bridge and railway bed, seems to be a preferred spot for local painters. This adds to the already abondened feeling scene, which probably looks and feels a lot different during another season. I still find the view from this side of the bridge quite fascinating. I also like the modern train in … Continue reading Desolate crossing
The Ruhr area is densely populated with not only people, but also train tracks. Difference is that population is probably increasing, and the number of tracks are probably decreasing. This photo is taken standing atop a bridge of a once active railway line. The line going underneath connects Oberhausen to the Dutch Betuwe route and thus sees a lot of traffic from the port of … Continue reading An abandoned bridge
Second stop on the day trip was to get the car approved in a TüV Prufcenter to drive into the Ruhr area, necessary if you want to avoid fines. Third stop was the station of Krefeld Uerdingen. I arrived here by accident, after all it was a trip meant to explore the area, and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw: a nice looking old … Continue reading Posing in Krefeld
In the first half of 2016 I (finally) started exploring the German Ruhr region, a region said to be busy with railfreight traffic. My route to the region runs along the Eindhoven – Venlo line, which also sees quite some freight trains… a logic stop for having breakfast! In America I found this view – it is stitched together using 3 photo’s to get the … Continue reading Half a horse
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
Railscapes 