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
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
Railscapes 