from Thursday 22 February to Thursday 14 March 2024
365 photos
Welcome to "Phil's Loco Photos"
from Thursday 22 February to Thursday 14 March 2024
365 photos
from Thursday 25 January to Thursday 1 February 2024
149 photos
As I had five days left on my global InterRail it was time to get back into EU to finish it off. As Germany was having strikes I booked a Eurostar ticket and used the outward validity on my InterRail. A very early start from Chesterfield and then a very smooth fast 373 Eurostar to Bruxelles. I then had 1831 to Luxembourg for an EMU to Metz. Sybic power from there to Strasbourg and another one on to Mulhouse. Early start next day and the first Sybic of the day to Basel and straight on to Interlaken Ost. Very pleased to find 465.017 (one of my last two) on the GPX train which went forward from Zweisimmen with required 8001 which I did to Schönried and then went to Luzern via Bern to cover the ZB turns getting one winner. Then to Zürich and a Railjet to Feldkirch for the night. Headed east early to Linz, and then to České Budějovice for 263.002 to Plzeň and on to Praha for one night. A procession of DMUs next day via Tanvald and then required EU46-512 from Szklarska Poręba Górna to Opole for the night. I took an EP07 to Wrocław for a short run with EU07-1518 to Wrocław Mikołajów for the Polregio to Świebodzice for required EU07-1513 to Jaworzyna Śląska and EU07-1601 to Sedzislaw as we got delayed at Wałbrzych Główny due to a fatality. Back north to Wałbrzych Miasto for EU07-1513 to Sedzislaw and EU07-1601 back to Wrocław and after a trip to Rawicz I walked to the Scandic hotel for the night. Next day Polregio to Jelenia Góra for required EU07-1527 back to Wrocław and then a trip to Leszno and back and then a rounder to Brzeg. Then to Opole for two nights in the Mercure. Another day on the Cargo action on the Jelenia Góra line followed by a couple of moves on the final day and Wizzair back to Birmingham
from Thursday 21 December 2023 to Thursday 4 January 2024
297 photos
I started my annual Christmas and New Year escape with a very civilised mid-morning BA flight from London City - Firenze and then a bit of a rush to get into town with the excellent tram service and straight south to Campiglia Marittima. I was hopeful that as quoted I would make a 464 on the branch to Piombino Marittima which I had been after for ages. Thankfully I got it and even a bonus 464 run down from Firenze when the quoted Rock turn was also a 464! I managed photos at both Piombino Marittima and Piombino stations and then stayed on the train back to Pontedera-Casciana Terme where I stayed the night. Next day up to Empoli and picked up a new 445 and then a nice 456 kilometre run with required 401.020 to Trieste. On arrival there I found top’n’tail required 403s on the Roma overnight which were done to Monfalcone and then to the B&B hotel I Trieste. Next day out to Udine to pick up another two 403s, only one new this time. I then made my way to Ljubljana with EC135 and was delighted to have 363 power from Villa Opicina but sadly not forward on EC150. I left very early on IC310 but not a 363 so returned from Zidani Most and thankfully then found 363.037 was doing Citadella so a great result. I went to Hodoš and back to Zidani Most and my first ever 541 up via Celje and a night in Ljubljana. Christmas day was straight up to Graz and Wien and on via ČD to Katowice for one night. Boxing day was busy covering two PKP Cargo Vectron turns on EIC services and a bonus with a required EP07 as well. The EIC from Kraków - Warszawa was on a very impressive load twelve for the run north to Warszawa for two nights. Next day was see how many of the five new Vectron’s I could get on the BWE circuit, four was a good result with concentrating my efforts around Rzepin. Next day EU46 Cargo power to Katowice and then to Tarnów and EU07-1506 was successfully put in the book and then to Opole for two nights. Three more targets next day with 193.634, EU160-032 and EU07-1601 all being got during the day. It was then on to Győr via Wien and out to Székesfehérvár for 630.020 on Citadella and then two of the “new” MÁV 182s as I made my way to Győr for one nights. Two more 182s had with a trip to Szombathely and then o Wien and Graz for New Years eve in thankfully a quiet part of town. I then decided to do more 182 chasing on MÁV as little hope of any 363 action in Slovenia. I went the scenic route from Graz - Linz and the Railjet to Tatabánya for a new 182 back to Győr. Made my way to Békéscsaba next day and three new 418.1s was an excellent result on the cross-country route to Szeged and then back to Budapest for two nights. Final full day was a couple more182s and then 431.006 back to Budapest and then next day to Wien and my flight back to Manchester and home
from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 October 2023
179 photos
A one week visit to Morocco started with Ryanair from Stansted - Marrakech and then the long trek north to Fès via Rabat and Kenitra. Next day after a trip to Meknes and back I then started the eastbound journey to Oujda stopping off at Taza and Taourirt. This was my first visit to the new station building at Oujda and as expected very few of the shops were in use. I booked into the Ibis for three nights. The Wednesday should have been the possibly first ever charter to Jerada but permission was withdrawn the day before so not good news. So a shorter route was done to go south to Guenfouda where we reversed and then via the single-track curve west of Beni Oukil to Naïma and back to Oujda. As we had such an early finish quite a few people did a return trip to Taourirt and both DH were required so a good result. Next day was the long run south to Bouarfa with DH-411 and dead DH-367 on six carriages. We had a few photo-stops on the way south and arrived in Bouarfa just before sunset. After a fleet of taxis to a local restaurant it was back north overnight with DH-367 leading in a too warm couchette. After a freshen up in the hotel and breakfast I made my way west stopping off at Taourirt and the doubling back from Taza to Guercif and then to Fès. On the Saturday we went to Meknes and then the classic line north to Tanger for an hour in the busy new station building and then back south with a TGV Duplex via the new line with a max speed of 319km/h. It was then back to Fès stopping off at Meknes for a pizza. Back home on the Sunday morning with the required Ryanair printed out paper boarding pass which then needed stamping (scribbled on) by queuing up at the check in queue. A good on time flight back to Stansted.
from Tuesday 12 to Wednesday 20 September 2023
143 photos
I started a nine-day trip from Manchester with another delayed Ryanair flight. Sadly it wasn’t late enough landing in Berlin to get EU261 and €250. I walked to the S-bahn platform and went to the old Schönefeld station for the short walk to the Intercity hotel. Severe thunderstorm at 04.00 woke me up and so I was awake in plenty of time to get the 05.19 182 to Ostkreuz where I then had a 147 to Hbf. I then used a bargain €10.50 ČD “First minute” ticket to Praha, although I got off at Ústí nad Labem and did a four-loco move to Chomutov and back to Teplice v Čechách getting in tow new white Vectrons. I then went to Praha and on to Plzeň for a night in the Ibis. IC with a white winner to Cheb next morning and the inbound EBS charted from Erfurt with black livery 232.083 and dead inside ex ČD 781.349 (now as V200.507). I then went to Praha and checked in to the Ibis Mala Strana. I spent the Friday on the main line to Česká Třebová and got three more new white Vectrons taking me up to date for now. A full day at Benešov started with 232.083 from Praha to Olbramovice and back with the 781 via Strančice. The next trip had 770.001 with 751.236 top’n’tail to Olbramovice and back via Říčany. I then did a quick bonus move with 2050-04 which was needed and finally required 754.045 back to Praha on the diesel route. The Sunday was M61.010 out of Praha and to Olbramovice and then 475.111 to Tábor and back to Benešov. Finally, it was a 258 km run with 232.083 all the way to Cheb via Plzeň. Back to Praha on the Monday and to Brno and on to Uherského Hradiště via Přerov for one night. Next morning to Břeclav and blue livery 362.011 on EC130 was a great surprise but it only made it to Přerov where 350.012 took over to Bohumín. After a fill in to Hranice na Moravě I took EC102 to Katowice for one night. Straight forward run to Wrocław next morning via Opole, not best pleased to see my last two EP07s light engine as I make my way to the airport and my flight to Leeds.
from Monday 21 August to Monday 4 September 2023
193 photos
The seventh PTG tour of Alaska started from Gatwick with a BA 777 on a cloudy flight all the way to Vancouver where we had one night in town. We then took the early Amtrak train to Seattle next morning where we left our bags with Amtrak (free if checked in) and the took a tram from the transit tunnel to Westlake for the Monorail to the Space needle and walk down the hill to Pub 70 (near Pier 70). An excellent nice slow lunch and then a free shuttle back to King Street station. We took the tram to SeaTac airport where we met rest of the group for our flight to Fairbanks arriving about midnight. We had a tourist day in the far north with a visit to the Fountainhead Car museum and then Pioneer Park and the replica steam loco in action. On the Thursday we took "Denali Star" for our long luxurious ride south to Anchorage via Denali and Talkeetna and on the Friday we went to Spencer Glacier and back. Saturday was a free day in Anchorage and then Seward with a cruise on the Sunday. Monday we flew to Juneau where we stopped off at the Salmon Hatchery as this is normally an excellent place to see Bald Eagles but too warm this time so hardly any seen. Early start next morning to go with our School Bus to Auke Bay and then we sailed on the “Hubbard” to Skagway. We then had four nights in this incredible magical town, rail activities included a Summit trip for some of us on the Wednesday and then an all-day round trip to Carcross on the Thursday and steam loco 73 on a Fraser Loop excursion on the Friday. The final day was train 23 to Fraser and then a bus to Whitehorse (once we’d got it going) for one night. Afternoon flight Vancouver for a few hours and finally the usual exhausting flight back over the Atlantic and a big dose of jet lag!
from Sunday 30 July to Saturday 5 August 2023
73 photos
A hastily planned trip to Poland as the temperatures dropped to a decent level and some Cargo EU07 and EU46 action was taking place. Best deal flight was an Avios booking from London City - Frankfurt on a comfy E190 so it was brakes on and plenty of thrust and charge down the runway and a very steep climb which was great fun! On time in Frankfurt and bus, walk, bus, walk to get to the Regio station and a black Vectron from Hbf to Fulda for the night. Slotted 193.603 in my book next morning and an ICE to Berlin via Leipzig. PKP Taurus to Zbąszynek for an EP07 to Zielona Góra for the Cargo EU46 turn, but it was a Grifin. I took it Poznań for an EMU to Szamotuły and thankfully EU46-504 back to Poznań for one night. Went Koło next morning to cover two EU46 Cargo turns and Cargounit 6193.058. First EU46 was a Griffin and the correct 193 was behind. Up to Piła for the Cargo EU07 turn but it was a standard IC EU07 for the long run to Kraków. North to Sędziszów for a dud Cargo EU07, but then had a winner to Maków Podhalański and a dud back. Finished with a cool IC move to Dębica and back. Silly early start next day got me a new Cargo EU07 to Tarnów and then back to Kraków and out to Miechów for my last Griffin. Back to Tarnów for same Cargo back in to Kraków Główny and a trip to Katowice to finish the day. Friday to Jaworzno Szczakowa as EU07-1508 was coming in on a TLK and then Cargo power back to Poznań for EU46-501 out to Koło and then back Poznań. Last day quite early start as a Poznań - Gniezno was being diverted via Września. Then a round trip to Bydgoszcz to end the trip and Ryanair back to Birmingham
from Thursday 13 to Tuesday 18 July 2023
54 photos
A few more days in Belgium started with a comfortable €300 set to Bruxelles and I got a ticket from Leuven - Charleroi to keep busy. I had 19+18 top'n'tail out and back to Charleroi and then to Leuven for one night in the Ibis Budget. The rooms were being refurbished with better air conditioning though not in use yet. I then started a five-day first-class Benelux InterRail as summer trains quite probably would be very busy. I took top'n'tail 27s to Bruxelles and then to Antwerpen and then to Rotterdam via Breda. Then on to Eindhoven and Maastricht for another EMU to Liège which was my base for four nights. I returned to Bruxelles for 27s to Leuven and then fast line return to Liège. Next morning, I went to Brugge for a quick trip to Zeebrugge-Strand and then to Gent and Oostende. Next a coastal tram for the 36.4km journey to De Panne and then I took the summer "EXP" train back to Liège. Top'n'tail 1924+1914 on luxury I11 stock and a small rarity in that the train doesn't stop at Leuven. Sunday I went to Rotterdam first and then Amsterdam and then a through train to Eindhoven. Back to Breda and Bruxelles for the same 19s back to Liège. On Monday I started by going to Breda via Bruxelles and then to Antwerpen and Essen and back. Next to Verviers and the excellent station cafe and back to Liège. Tuesday was final day so to Bruxelles again and then to Ath to back Bruxelles, Gent, Leuven and finally the airport and winning €300 set back to St Pancras
from Saturday 24 June to Tuesday 4 July 2023
163 photos
A few more days to use up on my InterRail and a very cheap Ryanair from Liverpool - Beauvais flight got me out to France. A nice early landing and quick exit from the airport and a twenty-minute bus journey into town for an EMU to Paris-Nord. Then about another hour on RER D to Évry-Courcouronnes for the Ibis Styles hotel. A hot EMU back to Gare de Lyon next morning and then 26026 south on an IC to Clermont-Ferrand. After a Nevers and back it was time to retreat to a nice cool hotel for the night. Long DMU run to Lyon-Part-Dieu and then quality 22200 power to Genève. Four 460s got me to Sargans where I stayed for three nights. The Tuesday took me to Davos Platz to have 603 in the heritage train to Filisur and then to St. Moritz and an out and back to Alp Grüm with pairs of quality Abe4/4 beasts each way. Back to Sargans with 648 and then 11159 to finish the day. The Wednesday was MGB day and I never get tired of going to Andermatt and the superb red engines. I went to Realp and Oberwald to get familiar with the DFB layout which I was doing next day. Early return to Andermatt next day and then to Realp for the short walk to the DFB station and steam loco 704 over the old Furka pass route via Furka and Gletsch where I got off. I waited about an hour for the almost totally empty diesel turn with twin engine MGB 61 down the hill to Oberwald. I then made my way to Brig to get to Basel but south of Lax we stopped beside a road and lots of people looking forward and pointing at something. Some plonker had put their car on the railway, blocking the road at the same time! After about twenty minutes the driver changed ends and we went back north the short distance to Lax. As it was likely going to be a long wait to get anywhere I opted to return back to Andermatt. I scored 95 down the hill to Göschenen and then had to have an EMU to Zürich, I had absolutely no intention of going there today! I just made NJ409 to Basel SBB and ended a long day with 26145 on TER 200 to Mulhouse. Next morning naturally a TER200 to Strasbourg and a DMU to Offenburg for DB ICE to Göttingen. As I had time to spare I did a DMU over the short branch from Einbeck Salzderhelden - Einbeck BBS/PS-Speicher and back. I continued to Hannover hoping to find 147.544 but no luck. Saturday morning, I took NJ490 to Hamburg where luckily I picked up both 112.147 and 146.521 on Metronom. Less luck with a DSB Vectron to Schleswig as always a late start on the northbound train, so DMU to Kiel and then a 112 to Hamburg. Back to Hannover and next day to Amsterdam as this was last day on the InterRail. Naturally DB farce had to occur, so eighty minutes late from Münster (Westf)! Nice to have a good run with 1744 on NS and then a few Traxx moves on the way to Antwerpen. I had a return ticket to Arlon on the Monday and then the European Sleeper to Roosendaal in the evening, it’s a good idea but the stock is shabby! A few SNCB moves on my last day and the Eurostar back home
from Saturday 10 to Friday 16 June 2023
66 photos
Another few days in France and Belgium started with Ryanair from Stansted to Tours and then an excellent run with 22335 from Nantes - Saumur. Next morning, I left Saumur with Belton livery 22317 on the Ouigo Classique to Saint Pierre des Corps and a handy connection into Tours with a Sybic on train 14033 which was a healthy load twelve. After a few hours wait in Tours we took the 241.P.17 tour heading to Le Creusot. The 241 is huge but on load four it was not going to get taxed but there was good sound on a few short sections, the first-class stock was excellent, extremely comfortable! On the Monday I took a prebooked IC north to Paris with 26026 in ghost livery and then went to Nord and took 15030 to Creil. The booked 22200 forward going to St Quentin was a rammed EMU! I got delayed at Compiègne for an hour and missed the Maubeuge connection into Belgium so off at Aulnoye-Aymeries for 22241 to Lille. The EMU to Kortrijk was caped so I had to go to Tournai where my plus seventeen ended up a plus one! I had 1829 to Kortrijk for an EMU to Gent and finally IC541 to Brugge where I had four nights in the Ibis Budget. I then had four days out using the over sixty-five first class day return to anywhere which costs €16.60. I went to Bruxelles for the 10.33 down to Arlon but it was caped so I took the 11.33! I spotted 1347 coming north which I had not had much on before so bailed at Libramont. 1347 arrived on time and set off back to Bruxelles but it failed and terminated at Jemelle. It was an EMU to Bruxelles and then back to Brugge. Tuesday I took 1821 to Oostende and then to Bruxelles-Midi for 1826 to Antwerpen for 1923 to Hasselt and back via the Aarschot "avoider". Then had 1907 to Bruxelles-Nord for 1829 back to Brugge via Kortrijk. Wednesday I started with another trip to Oostende and then to Antwerpen and then 2153 to Hamont and back to Herentals for an IC to Bruxelles. Then top'n'tail 18s Gent and another forward to Brugge and then new track on last train of the day out and back to Zeebrugge-Dorp. Final day so I got an Oostende - Eupen ticket I took an EMU to Lokeren to pick up 1840 to Bruxelles via Dendermonde and Jette. I then headed for Eupen to keep cool and get value out of my ticket. Back to Bruxelles home on old Eurostar set in comfort.
from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 27 May 2023
343 photos
It was time for some InterRail travels and to start I had quality €300 power to Bruxelles which was ultra smooth compared to the €320 Siemens trash I've had for the last few years. I took the next IC from Bruxelles-Midi - Luxembourg with "only had once" 1353 on the rear. Took 3016 to Athus and back and then to Bettembourg and for 4018 to Volmerange-les-Mines and back. I took an EMU to Thionville and I stayed at the recently opened B&B Hotel right outside the station which was very convenient. EMU to Metz next morning for the Sybic turn to Strasbourg, and then another to Sélestat where I finally picked up the very elusive 22270 clearing the normal passenger sector ones. After leaving my bag in the hotel in Mulhouse I want to Basel and then to Zürich via Brugg picking up two of my last Re450s and then back to Mulhouse. Managed to book a €10 TGV reservation to Paris at short notice and then a couple of trips out of Austerlitz picking up one of the few passenger Sybics I needed. Finally, 7237 to Fontainebleau-Avon where I was staying two nights. Next day was the AJECTA rail festival at Longueville but it was a total farce with late running, cancellations and almost no info. I had three dull loco and none of the big steam I had especially wanted and to escape it was a bus from Provins to Melun. Into Paris on the Sunday for a very comfortable Ouigo Classique to Lyon and an early finish as pointless using an InterRail day. South To Marseille and then to Nice on 22200 power for an ACG to Breil-sur-Roya and a FS DMU to Ventimiglia and 464 power to Genova. Two nights there on 464 and then to Empoli and some 445 action. I moved on to Cuneo via Genova for two more nights and went to both Chieri and Rivarolo Canavese with 464 power. Sunday was a very interesting 345 hauled vintage special which did a huge selection of freight and closed lines. Starting at Cuneo then via Saluzzo via Bra, Alba Castagnole delle Lanze, Asti, Montiglio-Murisengo, Chivasso and Torino. As diesels are banned through the tunnels at Porto Susa 656.492 worked the train from Chivasso. I went to Milano for one night. 464 to Lecco and then Tirano for RhB Abe4/4 beasts which as they “separate” from the GEX so no reservation needed. I stayed a Feldkirch for two nights so another on the MGB again was always a real pleasure. Next day planned trip the Thusis didn’t happen as a mudslide caped the NJ I had panned so a trip to Lindau and the 1116 to Ulm via Friedrichshafen and then to Rosenheim via München. Managed to finally clear my 102s with a move to Ingolstadt and then a 146 to Passau. An ÖBB extra train got me to Wien in comfort and then to Győr for two nights. A day on 630s in Budapest got me three new which was made very easy by using search option on VonatDroid app. I left Győr and moved on to Břeclav and a quick out and back over the freight line to Lednice with steam and 742 top’n’tail. Then made my way to Uherského Hradiště for a night. To Praha next day for two nights and the 740 turn from Rakovnik and then next day to Plžen. Back to Uherského Hradiště again and two nights at Poprad-Tatry before flying back home from Košice
from Sunday 16 to Sunday 23 April 2023
116 photos
A week in Italy started with Ryanair from Stansted - Bari and into town for a 464 down to Brindisi and then top’n’tail 464s to Taranto for our hotels for the night. We did 464s to Metaponto and then started the 5h 43 minutes run with a 445 all the way round to Reggio di Calabria Centrale with 445.1063 on the front of load three. Then required 401.039 on IC555 for another long run this time north to Aversa via Napoli. On the Wednesday we took an IC to Formia-Gaeta and then top'n'tail 464s into Roma. After a run out on the Ancona line I did a trip to Latina as required 401.006 was on an IC and had a required 464 back. I then went to Cerveteri-Ladispoli to check in to my accommodation. I did a few runs north and south of there and picked up a few new 464s in the process. Up very early on the Thursday for the star train of the day which is R12503 from Civitavecchia as it's the only 464 of the day to take the route via Villa Bonelli into Roma. I took 464s north to Assisi and doubled back to Spello with a double score and then another top'n'tail set to Firenze SMN. I took winning 445.1138 to Empoli to check in. I took the next 445 Montelupo-Capraia and then went back with required 445.1122 to Empoli. Thankfully I had a 464 back to Firenze where as expected required 445.1144 was on the 17.10 to Siena. I took it to Poggibonsi a San Gimignano where I returned with required 445.1116 giving me four winners which was good. On the Friday I started by going out to Pontassieve to cover two 445s coming in from Borgo in the hope of getting required 445.1090 which I had on the second of the two trains I covered. I then went out to Rifredi and took an IC to Terontola-Cortona as this was a very good area for top'n'tail 464s which were on most trains. I did a few trips out to Passignano sul Trasimeno and one to both Camucia-Cortona and Castiglione del Lago. I picked up quite a few new 464 in the process. Once back in Firenze SMN I picked up required 445.1118 which had thankfully stuck to its all day turn and I took it to Castelfiorentino hoping for 1091 back but it was 1090 again instead. Next day a 445 to Firenze for the "Treno di Dante" and the stock (heritage bangers) arrived at 08.34 with 464.125 and 445.1014 on the rear. However, after a few minutes the 445 went away light engine with an unknown defect. 445.1025 was the replacement which left thirty-five minutes late which wasn't too bad going. Plenty of excellent scenery and tunnels on the journey. Once at Firenze I took a very busy Rock cart to Imola for what I hoped would be a FER 464 on to Bologna but no such luck with another Rock heap. I then did a Frecciarossa to Torino via Milano Centrale as I was paying for a reservation anyway it made sense to do the new line to Torino. Thankfully I was able to enter the codes off my Frecciarossa reservation into the Trenitalia app and then easily change them to a later train. I had the choice of trains to Genova and as 401.041 on IC519 was required then that was my move. Sunday was my last day and I took I took an IC to Voghera which went north via Busalla and Rigoroso rather than the "main line". I returned south with required 464.324 on R3060 to Arenzano via Rigoroso, Busalla and the curve at Genova Sampierdarena. The vast majority of regional trains I could cover were carts so it was Rock junk back to Brignole. There I picked up required 464.629 as hoped which I took out to Genova Pra for another 464 back to Brignole again. Another heap of Rock junk took me to Genova Sestri Ponente and the bus link to the airport. The inbound flight from Manchester was about an hour late due to the ongoing French air traffic controller’s strike. The plane was very busy but being hand luggage only there was no rush to get on.
from Thursday 23 March to Sunday 2 April 2023
251 photos
I started a ten-day trip from Luton with a very busy Wizzair flight to Bucureşti where I took the DMU direct to Bucureşti Nord and then did an out and back trip to Ploieşti Sud. Some of the blue IC coaches now have “Italian” IC interiors meaning much more comfort on IC trains! Next day was an IC to Medgidia for the slow trundle north to Tulcea Oraş in a single double deck coach with a 60, a bit of an endurance test but a nice restaurant over the lake was nice place to wait for the return. A good photo stop at Cogealac to pass the northbound train gave the chance for a good photo. I returned from Medgidia to Bucureşti Nord in an ex works comfy IC coach again. Good start next day with ex SNCF 25572from București Nord - Buftea and then a DMU all the way to Ruse. After a wait of two hours, it was then a 44 to Varna where I was staying for two nights. Next day I started with a run with 07.126 to Kardam via Dobrich and I then had three of the new Smartron locos before returning to Varna. Next morning 07.126 to Povelyanovo and then to Burgas via Provadija, Sindel Razpredelitelna and Karnobat. Once checked into the hotel I did a trip to Yambol and back with a few more Smartron in the book. A trip out to Stara Zagora next morning and then waited at Ajtos for a top’n’tail ballast train with ex DB 233s on each end, one in grey and one in green livery. Finally, back to Burgas netting two more Smartron on the way. Good start next day with 88025 (ex BR 92025) on a copper train at Dolno Ezerovo. It was then to Plovdiv via Karnobat, Yambol and Lozarevo where I saw an ÖBB Taurus on a Ruse - Kapikule freight! Next day was on the narrow gauge at Septemvri and thankfully my two required 75s were both out and had one for one at Jakoruda making it a good day. Back to Plovdiv with stops at Pazardzhik and Stamboliski. Up to Karlovo next morning and then to Stara Zagora and after lunch I did a DMU to Dimitrovgrad and grey and yellow ex DB 233s in action on a freight from Turkey. Karlovo again next day and then to Sofia and trips out to Pernik and Svoge. Simple move to Iskarsko Shose next morning for metro to airport and the €12.99 flight home!
from Monday 9 January to Thursday 2 February 2023
443 photos
Part three of my InterRail started with me flying with SAS from Manchester to Bergen via Oslo, two very quiet flights both with very modern and ultra-quiet A320 Neo aircraft. Once in Bergen I took a tram into town and the “entur” ticket office sorted out the reservations that I needed. I stayed in the Citybox hotel for my one-night stay and then a new El18 was a good start taking me to Myrdal for a very scenic run to Flåm and back with top’n’tail El18 one of which was a need. After an hour in Flåm it was back up the hill for a third winning El18 for the long run to Oslo, plenty of snow around but that’s no problem in Norway. After a night in Oslo it was a long run with an Rc6 to Stockholm and a few more Rc6 moves to and from Uppsala. A required Snälltäget Vectron took me to Malmö where I quickly checked in to the Moment Hotel before heading to København and up to Helsingør where I managed thirteen consecutive new EB in the book. I returned to DSB next morning to pick up a few more and then back to Malmö to pick up the Friday only Snälltäget ski train to do the Øresund link loco hauled and then over the Storebælt link as well before getting off at Kolding for a DMU to Flensburg for the night. A slow breakfast on EC175 to Hamburg to avoid the dreaded Muzzle with Germanys backwards ruling of masks! Various ICE took me to Basel and then Sybic power to Mulhouse for three nights. A great catch up with friends for a birthday on the Sunday at Seuzach and then some SNCF moves on the Monday and a Zürich rush hour got me four out of eight of my remaining Re450s. Quick day trip to the MGB next day and some superb little red train action. Next day I did the new GPX dual gauge train with 465.001 pulling ex Interlaken Ost and then from Zweisimmen with MOB 8002 pushing to Montreux. I then went to Annecy via Bellegarde as I had to delay my travel plans with a one-day strike in France. Thankfully I moved my TGV reservation to the next day but not on my preferred train. Next day “Leman Express” was running ok so I went to Genève and did some narrow gauge moves from Aigle and Morges. Quality 22200 power to Valence and thanks to excellent station staff at Valence TGV I managed to get on a suitable TGV to blitz me to Perpignan and then local trains to Figures for another night in the Ibis Styles. Velaro plastic to Barcelona and another to Madrid got me into position ready for the Alco tour. I did the pair of 252s to Córdoba for the other pair back getting required 252.005 in the process. The Sunday was round trips to Alcázar on pairs of 334s and then the 252 move to Córdoba again. Next the five-day PTG Costa del Alco tour which did Almería, Granada, Málaga, Algeciras and Cadiz, plenty of late running and late finishes thanks to lousy timings from Adif but great Alco music though. After the tour I had a few days mostly on the now thirty year old AVE 100s which I did to Castellon, Huesca and obviously Sevilla where I returned from a few days later
7341 photos in 26 sub-albums
from Thursday 8 December 2022 to Tuesday 3 January 2023
406 photos
Part two of my three-month InterRail started with Eurostar to Bruxelles and then on into Germany and a night in Essen. Germany was really dragging its heels with mask rules so it was always going to be a short visit. North to Hamburg and then to Berlin via Uelzen and two nights in Potsdam. The Saturday was a much-needed trip out with "howling" 232.601 on a return trip to Görlitz. It really sounded good and brought some great memories back. On the Sunday I took ICE to Nürnberg and then as Bayern was mask free on regional trains I took a 102 to München and an EC to Rosenheim for two nights. Next day to Ulm for the new IRE200 to Wendlingen and then a quick trip over the Arlberg. Then to Ljubljana netting my last two 1216.1 and a night in Villach. FUC Taurus and 464 action and a night in Trieste. Then to Ancona via a FER 464 to Rimini and the branch to Ascoli Piceno with a 464 and on to Pescara and the Teramo branch also with a 464. Over to Roma on the Saturday and south to Paola for one night. A failed attempt to do Cosena - Sibari with a 464 was annoying but put me into a 445 to Taranto and a night in Trani. North to Bologna and 465 action in the Bolzano area staying in Chiusa. Three nights in Rosenheim and various moves from there and on to Bratislava for four nights. Long flog to Ljubljana for two nights and the Avtovlak and back to Trieste for two nights and lots 464 action. Finally, I had nights in Genova and Marseille and a fast TGV to Paris and Eurostar back to London.
from Wednesday 2 November to Friday 2 December 2022
578 photos
The first part of a three-part trip started with an Iberia A350 flight to Madrid for one night. My three-month InterRail started the next day and I took the 334 to Badajoz and I then went north to Porto for two nights. I did a whole day of moves on the superb Alsthom 2600s on the Saturday. The PTG tour for the next couple of days had MLW 1557 which was in absolutely superb form. Afterwards I stayed in Viana do Castelo and then to Alacant via Vigo and Madrid. A quick trip to Murcia got one of my last three 334s and I continued north to Figueres for one night. Into France next day and after required 7306 on an IC I stayed in Avignon. Over to Chambéry next day and a trip to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Fast TGV on Sunday and on to Nice to pick up Fret hire in 26177 on the night train to Paris. I went into Italy next day for a few days staying at Bergamo and Como with a good few 464s. Then north into Switzerland for a night at Luzern and then three nights at Meienfeld and excellent travelling on the RhB. I then had a couple of nights in Mulhouse but due to a drivers strike at Strasbourg only very limited trains were running. I managed just one run from Nancy - Strasbourg with 27331 which was better than not having one at all. Next day south to Göschenen and some MGB action from Andermatt. Back to Italy with nights in Milano, Roma and Genova. After another night in Milano flew over to Greece for two nights in Athina and plenty of moves on the main line with the Hellas Sprinter electric locos. Then to Thessaloniki and another night back in Athina and then back home for a few days and prepare for part two of the trip.
from Thursday 25 August to Thursday 1 September 2022
90 photos
I started an eight-day trip with Lauda Air to Zagreb which like all my flights these days was two hours late. One night in the Hotel Central and then the main reason for the move was the new fourteen-kilometre line from Gradec - Sveti Ivan Žabano. The Osijek line is so flat as it always is so no real entertainment. A very hot two car DMU was taken to Beli Manastir with oldie M62-210 working freight at the station a MÁV DMU to Pécs for a 433 to Budapest-Keleti. The Saturday was another day on EC130 and 350.016 was the "Gorilla" power as far as Bohumín. Due to engineering work between Kúty - Hodonín the train was diverted via the EMU only line from Kúty - Holíč nad Moravou and then over the short freight only line on to Hodonín. I then took the Kraków portion to try for potential EU07 Cargo turns to Zakopane and Krynica-Zdrój. Very early start and both worked as expected. I took the Zakopane with EU07-1507 to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Lanckorona and returned on a bouncy old EMU. Next I had EU07-1511 on the Krynica-Zdrój to Stróże and back north with EU07-1510 to Brzesko Okocim where I waited to hope for EU07-1506 but no luck and I found out later it had done the Zakopane. I went to Tarnów and on to Dębica and finally EU160-024 on IC3700 to Katowice for one night in the B&B Hotel. EP07-434 took me north on a healthy load twelve on IC3806 and it was swapped at Wrocław for EU07-072 forward. I had about an hour in Poznań and then 370.009 which I'd only had only once before. The train went via Skierniewice and then terminated at Warszawa Gdańska. I did a TLK to Siedlce and back Cargo with EU07-1519 on its now favourite diagram. A real stroke of luck back at Wschodnia as the other potential Cargo turn produced and was a few minutes late, so EU07-1520 to Zachodnia. I went down to Piaseczno to pick up EU07-1520 again. Made my way Łowicz Główny to cover my last Griffin EU160-025 but it had vanished. I made my way to Kutno for the Cargo Vectron EU46-517 for the run to Poznań. I had 193.625 to Berlin and I just made the 11.46 S7 which I took to Charlottenburg as it would be an easier way of changing trains onto RE1 to Magdeburg. DB was in normal farce mode and the Goslar 218s were all late so made my way to Essen with IC, ICE and a new 147.5. To Köln next morning and a 146.0 to Aachen and did the branch to Spa-Geronstère on my way to Bruxelles. I covered a few P trains out of Schaerbeek and as hoped found 1879 getting me my last of the class. Very bouncy E320 Eurostar back to London.
from Wednesday 6 to Wednesday 20 July 2022
205 photos
I started off on a two-week trip from Luton - Warszawa with Wizzair and had one night in the city. I had three days in five-day PKP InterRail and went straight north to Gdynia to view some of Łeba and Hel diesel turns and did two SM42 on the local PR turns and two ČD 754s. I also picked up one of my few remaining EP07s in the evening. South to Poznań next day and got another of my EP07s and then to Konin to get big PKP Cargo Vectron 193.505 in. Then south to Bohumín and picked up EC131 with the book ZSSK for the diversion via Rajka and Győr into Budapest for one night. Did the return working next day but due to a freight derailment we got diverted via Székesfehérvár and Komárom scoring required (and noisy) 418.128 in the process. I went to Nové Zámky to pick up the new booked Sundays 754 turn to Bratislava under the wires. Left on the Monday with winning 186.367 and then to Kolín where I ten took 193.269 to Havlíčkův Brod and then back to Kolín for 140.079 to Nymburk. Once in Praha I had four nights there and all but one of the latest deliveries of new white Vectron’s. Picked up Loco Train 193.561 on its one day of operation on R8 from Kojetín - Přerov and then to Katowice. To Kraków next day and down to Chabówka to pick up Cargo EU07-1511 on a TLK back north. After a night in Tarnów down to Nowy Sącz and a charter over the closed line to Chabówka and then back to Katowice again. Did a dash to Győr to get StB 183.717 on Regiojet and a night in Brno. Gorilla to Kolín next day and had hoped for Arriva 140.052 but 140.079 had re appeared. Made my way to Bratislava via Púchov for my final night. Flew back to Leeds next day
from Tuesday 14 to Wednesday 22 June 2022
120 photos
I had a couple of days left on an InterRail and coupled with a bargain seven-day Trenord IVOL Lombardi ticket it gave me enough for a one-week trip. I flew with Ryanair to Bergamo where a had prebooked some weeks ago three nights in the B&B hotel quite close to the station. As I went in a heatwave the excellent air conditioning was a big relief at the end of long days. The main attraction each morning was the FER operated summer only train to Pesaro as it got one of the FER 464s and a different one each morning was an unexpected bonus. Each of the three days was around Bergamo, Milano and Brescia chasing 464s and trains with good air conditioning were always a priority. On the Friday afternoon I headed for Maccagno so as to be in good position for the Re6/6 tour from Luino – Luzern the next day. Always a pleasure to take the “Gotthard” line with the ultimate form of traction, but load three was no effort at all! After a trip to Engelberg on 101.9 narrow gauge power I made my way to Mulhouse for one night. Final day of my InterRail so after a run to Colmar and then Basel I went to Spiez and Visp for a couple of hours on the MGM towards Zermatt. Then to Lyon but SNCF cancelled my early finish train so a very busy train two hours later instead. I had “beton” 22294 on the Ouigo Classique to Paris next morning and being a Monday, the train went into Gare de Lyon instead of the more usual Bercy. I then went out to Chartres to pick up required 22317 that was running late on an inbound Ouigo from Nantes. On the Tuesday I went to St-Lazare and managed a 27300 to Vernon-Giverny giving me new track for the class. Over to Austerlitz in the afternoon and a trip to Étampes and back and sadly was unaware at the time of elusive 22218 working out of Bercy to Clermont-Ferrand! Another Étampes trip next morning and that over to Nord for a 22200 to Aulnoye for an EMU vice 22200 to Lille and Eurostar back to London
from Sunday 22 May to Tuesday 7 June 2022
234 photos
My first trip to Canada in around twenty years, so it was long overdue. The two main reasons were the forthcoming arrival on Siemens Charger train sets and them possibly to cause the withdrawal of the GE P42 Genesis locos. Secondly currently VIA offer “unlimited ride” rover tickets but changes at the end of June may affect this, so now was a good time to go. I flew with a delayed Westjet 787 from Gatwick - Toronto which was quite comfortable for a day flight. Once through very long queues at the airport I took a UP Express DMU to Toronto Union station and then a GO MP40 to Oshawa for one night. My 15 day ticket started on the Monday morning and the trip started proper with covering the two vital “J” trains which run most days from Toronto with a Montréal portion joint with a Ottawa portion as far as Brockville, with all locos powering. Train 60/50 was GE+F40 which I took to Kingston (and I made use of the time by taking my bag to the hotel where I was going to stay for four nights). J 62/52 was triple F40 so not a good start with only one Genesis in five locos. Back at Kingston ay round trip to Brockville saw me get 912 and 912 to end the day. The next four night were at Kingston on the main line and with a couple of trips up to Ottawa so doing both direct and via Ottawa routes to Montréal. The Thursday was the best day with 100% Genesis power on train 62/52, 26 and 69 on my travels via Ottawa and Montréal. Thanks to some local and very helpful railfans on one of the Canadian Railfan forums and me learning the stock diagrams I was able to predict Genesis moves quite easily as thae were by far my preferred mode of travel. Friday was a difficult day as some really strange reason a few weekday trains don't run on a Friday so it was quite a wait before I left. Thankfully the three required Genesis that I was expecting to pick up on trains 51 and 63 all worked as expected giving me thirteen out of twenty-one so far. I did a couple of trips with GO MP40s to Exhibition and then 912 to Woodstock on train 75 which was my base for the next three nights. The Saturday was the first of two days doing day trips from Kingston I did the line down to Windsor but with an F40 sadly, annoying when all the other trains were Genesis. Sunday was a big circle with F40 6401 again on train 71 south to London. I then went north to Toronto via Kitchener on train 84 with Genesis 912 and after a few GO moves in Toronto and I returned to Woodstock with 913 on train 75. Monday and Tuesday were mostly between Cobourg and Brockville as well as Ottawa and Montréal. We moved to Montreal on Wednesday and Thursday where we did some travelling on the EXO local trains on the lines to Saint-Jérôme and Mascouche. We managed to find the Renaissance train (ex “Nightstar” stock) on the Quebec - Ottawa circuit, a strange feeling riding in what should have been a Channel Tunnel project! I stayed in the wonderful city of Quebec one night and then moved on to Brockville for two nights. Monday was my best day on J train 62/52 with triple Genesis front, middle and rear, plenty of power there! A fitting end to my 15-day ticket. I did some GO travelling on the Tuesday and then the line up to Allandale Waterfront followed by a few photos at Danforth and then my very tiring flight back home!
from Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 May 2022
69 photos
It was time to use up a couple more of my InterRail days slowly heading to Köln for the 103 tour to Berlin on Saturday. I took Eurostar to Paris then to St-Quentin stopping off at Creil and Compiègne with some quality Alsthom power. I started off early from Saint-Quentin with 22278 on very comfortable double deckers to Lille and then made my way to Bruxelles via Kortrijk. My lone required 1879 has taken refuge in Schaerbeek so I kept a close eye on 186.223 on NS as I knew it was on set 16122 and spare at Eindhoven. Signal issues there affected the service so it was soon out so I intercepted it at Tilburg. I then made my way to Amsterdam and Vectron power to Arnhem on NJ421 for the night. My plan had been to take another Vectron but the usual shambolic late running on DB put pay to that idea, so EMUs to Utrecht and then Amersfoort to join IC143 with 1744 to Bad Bentheim. I studied marudor.de and amazingly four required 147.5 were out on IC2 stock and they all ran on time without any issues which nowadays on DB is a miracle! I ended up with an ICE1 to Bonn to meet Steve and return to Köln and a tram to our Ibis hotel. 03.30 alarm and tram back to Hbf for the 103.001 tour to Berlin in the luxury first class compartment stock around ten of us on the train. I did some 147 moves in Berlin and then the 103 back as far as Essen for the night. Flix to Dortmund next morning and then to Holzwickede for my flight to Stansted
from Monday 18 April to Thursday 5 May 2022
208 photos
I started an eighteen day wander around on various tickets with a Eurostar to Paris and one night in Fontainebleau-Avon. Back to Paris for hopefully Fret 26171 to Étampes but it had swapped. I waited for the pink Ouigo Classique to Nantes taking the fascinating route via Massy Palaiseau, Versailles-Chantiers, Chartres & Le Mans. I then did the train back to Saumur for the night. Back to Nantes next morning and then back via Le Mans again to Paris and this time into Bercy. I got a photo of 26171 but couldn't do it as I had bed to Nice on the overnight. Around 1,100 km later I made my way to Ventimiglia and down the coast for a night in Pisa. Next day I had good 401 power for the long run south to Formia-Gaeta and a 464 to Latina where I joined IC727 to Sicilia. Top'n'tail 464s took me on IC729 to Patti-San Piero Patti for the night. Back to Messina next morning and afternoon a trip to Taormina-Giardini I joined the new Frecciabianca train from Messina - Palermo via Caltanissetta Xirbi and Enna with top'n'tail 464s. After one night in Palermo an IC all the way back to Napoli where I just made a Frecciarossa for a 300 km/h blitz to Firenze. I then started an intense five days in Firenze using the fantastic €49 regional ticket chasing the 445 diesels and plenty of 464 action still and the only hauled train of day from Siena - Chiusi-Chianciano Terme. I found ex private TFT 464.880 next day and did the diesel line to Borgo San Lorenzo which was new track for me. I started heading north on the Saturday with a Frecciarossa sprint to Milano and then a few hours on the Torino line. Then east to Brescia picking up a couple of oldie 464s built in 2000. I said my farewell to Italy and I took Sundays only IC1482 with Re460 power from Lugano - Arth Goldau then to Basel and a quick couple of fast Sybic moves and a night in Mulhouse. After a couple Sybic moves a TGV to Paris I got hold of 26171 which took me to Tours for the night. Next day started well with info that the second hauled train out of Tours would be required passenger sector Sybic 26027, however is was swapped to Fret sector 26110 instead, fine by me. Over to Nord in Paris for 22229 to Maubeuge, up to Lille on blue 22200 power, chasing and getting 22296 which I did to Maubeuge and back. Final full day started in Roubaix and had 1861 new in Belgium by no work for 1879 which is my last one, and no sign on NS of 186.223. Finally Eurostar home next day
from Saturday 26 March to Saturday 2 April 2022
155 photos
Another trip to Israel but this time for the three day PTG special train organised with the railway museum in Haifa. Some of us flew with Wizzair and we had plenty of Covid forms to sort and another test as soon as we landed making it a long night! We stayed in Netanya the first two nights and had a late start next day as some of our results took a while to come in. No sooner had we got travelling than a signalling cable was cut at Lod causing many delays and cancellations, some of the group managed some trains south on Tel Aviv but not many. The Monday was the start of our three day special train with G26CW 604 in multiple with JT42BW 764 and three Alsthom carriages with a control trailer at the other end. The signalling issue was still causing problems so we had to amend our route to Ashdod to go via Yavne-West instead of via Lod. We went quite a way into the Port and then had a good photo stop at Zohar on the “Heletz” freight only line. Once at Be’er Sheva - North we took a bus to the hotel. The Tuesday was the highlight of the trip with the freight lines to Tzefa and Tzin (permission for Tzin only being secured just in time!). At Dimona we had a depot visit and then continued JT42CW 705 in multiple with 764 and we went first to Mamshit Junction for a photo stop. After going to Tzefa we returned to Mamshit Junction (the curve we had hoped to do was not in use) and then south in stunning scenery to Tzin. On our way back north we selected a good photo stop and got on top of a hill for some really great photos. I was then a long run back to Bnie-Brak to end our second day. Wednesday was the final day and it was north to Haifa for a depot visit, then Kishon docks and works and then the railway museum to end the tour. I did an evening trip to Binyamina and back. On Thursday most of us went to Jerusalem and the first day of trains running direct to Modi’in (but sadly all EMU) and then some time around Tel Aviv before returning north to Haifa. Friday was a quick trip round the north going from Haifa Center-HaShmona > Nahariya > Kiryat Motzkin > Karmi’el > Haifa Center-HaShmona > Beit She'an > Haifa Center-HaShmona while the trains were running and then a bus back to Tel Aviv for our last night in Israel. A quiet morning in the hotel and then to the airport for easyJet back to Luton
from Saturday 26 February to Saturday 19 March 2022
283 photos
I started another InterRail and now I was able to use Eurostar to Bruxelles so it was really nice to get all formalities over and done with before leaving London. On time in Bruxelles and I made my way to Düsseldorf via Köln for one night. I just made the trip in time to sample the TRI vice turns from Essen - Hagen so 182s on fresh air stock and then a 147.5 on the new IC2 service to Frankfurt via Siegen and an ICE to Fulda. I did the black MRCE 182s on the RE50 to Frankfurt during the day and then to Nürnberg. Scored my second last 102 out of Nürnberg and then to Wien for two nights and a productive three new 1116s was welcome. I moved on to ČD and two nights in Ostrava and four new 388.2s on R9 from Brno - Bohumín. After one night in Praha I picked up three of the “new” 1216-95x Taurus and then to Poland and one night in Wrocław and then to Gdynia via Poznań. I did the new ČD 754 hauled train from Gdynia - Płock via Laskowice Pomorskie which was a load of new track. After a night in Poznań I took IC58 back to Germany (along with hundreds of poor Ukraine refugees who were being brutally attacked by the nutcase in Moskva). DB was in fine (rubbish) form for my journey into with lots mystery stops for no reason! I stayed in Hannover and then south to Friedberg for 114s to Hanau and a couple more 182s in the book and a night in Heidelberg. A fast (227 km/h) ÖBB Railjet to Stuttgart for a slow 146.2 to Lindau Reutin and I managed a run with the Metrans 187 on the UEX from St Anton. I moved on to the SBB for the only Re460 turn through the new Ceneri tunnel and then to Genova for the night. I headed south to Firenze via Pisa and lots new 464s in my book and a night in Firenze and then more 464s and back north to Genova again for another night. It was a bland run back to Zürich on EMU and then a couple of hours chasing Re450 on the Zürich S-bahn and then to Singen for the night. North to Düsseldorf for one night and then into Belgium and a night at Leuven and I picked up two of my last four 18s. One new 186 on NS next day and then a very quiet Eurostar back to London
from Friday 28 January to Saturday 12 February 2022
310 photos
Thanks to mid winter and lack of people travelling with Covid ongoing the hotel prices in Boston and New York had dropped to a reasonable level (from their normally sky high prices) so a two week trip was booked and off we went. Lots of tiring paperwork to do but it was certainly worth it and I set off with American Airlines from Heathrow to Boston. The reason for a concentrated visit on the MBTA network was their forty unique GE (Wabtec) V12 GEVO engined HSP46 monsters! I was instantly impressed (hooked!) on these throaty and lethal acceleration monsters! Sadly they have a bit of silencing but still a very addictive loco in my book! We had booked the “Porter Square Hotel” as it was on MBTA from North Station and red line T network. I used two excellent value MBTA $10 weekend tickets and the new “5-day Flex Pass” allowing for the first time unlimited weekday travel for any five days in a thirty day period. I had done almost all the MBTA network some years ago so I just enjoyed the travelling and happily kept warm getting as many HSP as possible (I had all but six of them). After nine nights we moved on with Amtrak “Lake Shore Limited” to Springfield and then to Hartford for one night. We did both CTrail and Shore Line East and was very please to pick up two of the original 800 series Genesis. Our final part of trip was in New York in the “DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South” which was a few minutes from Penn station and twenty minute walk from Grand Central. We bought a NT transit weekly ticket from bay Head - Pert Jervis via Secaucus at $148.25 as this also allowed travel on Metro North Hudson line to Breakneck Ridge. I sent most of my time out on the Hudson with Genesis power and the lovely little towns of Tarrytown and Peekskill (both having great coffee shops in the station buildings). Also did some NJT travelling to Long Branch and High Bridge and some taking photos on nice sunny mornings. Flew back from Newark on a BA 777 to Heathrow and the end of the trip
from Thursday 23 December 2021 to Thursday 6 January 2022
218 photos
Final trip of the year as it was essential to escape Brexit Island as crucial as it was to get well away from another home alone one like last year. I flew with Ryanair from Leeds / Bradford to Faro, nice quiet plane and fairly quick escape from the airport. I had a night in Faro and then 56 power to Lisboa and then north to Porto for ten nights. My main interest again was the great return to traffic of the classic Alsthom 2600 electrics. I did a few runs on the EE 1400s on the lovely Douro Valley like although 1551 or 1931 would certainly improve the appeal of the line to me. During my days in Porto I did a couple trips to Braga, one to Guimarães, once to Lisboa and a good photo trip to Alfarelos. I then had three nights in Viana do Castelo before moving on to Vigo and to Madrid via Pontevedra and Ourense and a 112 Duck at 300 km/h on the just opened Galicia high speed line. I left Madrid-Chamartín with a pair of 334s Linares-Baeza then EMUs to Jaen and to Cordoba. I took the Algeciras Talgo to Ronda so getting the pair of 252s to Antequera Santa Ana and a 334 to Ronda where I stayed for two nights. I did the (what's open of it) new line from Antequera Santa Ana - Granada on a very comfortable S114 EMU and and then made my way back to Cordoba and the Talgo again back to Ronda. Final day was a nasty S104 EMU to Málaga and after a walk around the town a Cercanias EMU to Fuengirola and back to the airport and my busy flight to Birmingham.
from Saturday 6 to Wednesday 17 November 2021
166 photos
I set off with a flight from Birmingham - Alicante with a Ryanair flight and then a Talgo to Murcia for the night. I took another Talgo back to Alicante next morning and then a pair of "Duck" AVE sets for a nice 300 km/h run to Madrid. Monday was the start of the PTG Alco tour which first went to Soria and then back via Torralba to Casetas and then to Zaragoza where we stayed for three nights. The first day of the tour was to Huesca where we reversed before starting the climb to Canfranc via a photo stop in Jaca. The weather was excellent and the huge hotel in Canfranc looked amazing. We returned to Zaragoza in the afternoon. Next day was the FGC branch from Lleida with 316.003 taking the lead on the branch to La Pobla de Segur and working its first passenger train for around forty years. Back at Lleida 321.059 had traction motor problems and participants the AVE fast option back to Zaragoza. Next day we headed for Bilbao via Castejón, Miranda and the Bilbao avoiding curve to and to the local Cercanías station at Santurtzi. It was then back to the superb Bilbao Abando station. The final day of the tour saw us return to Miranda and on via Venta de Baños for a short visit to the depot. On via Medina del Campo to Avila where 333.107 was added to the Alco power on the front of the train and the end of the tour. I went north to A Coruña next day via the bits of the new line that were open. A DMU took me to Vigo and then another to Valença. I started a chase of returned to service 2600s on the Sunday by covering three turns and then went to Figueira da Foz for the night. I left on the booked 2600 turn up to Barcelos and went back to Porto São Bento and later did a trip to Guimarães on the IC turn and back to Espinho for a 56 back to Porto. The Tuesday was doing blue EE 1400s on the excellent Pocinho line in open window stock and finally on the Wednesday did a couple 26 moves and then took a metro to the airport and Ryanair back to Stansted
from Wednesday 29 September to Saturday 30 October 2021
298 photos
I started another month of travelling with a flight to Gdánsk with Ryanair and then the DMU into town, I had two days left on a Polish InterRail ticket. I made my way over to Olsztyn where I managed an EP08 vice EMU turn and then an out and back SU160 move to Korsze and back to Gdánsk. Next day the long trek to Szczecin via a quick divert to Goleniów and an out and back to Gryfino to end the day. A DMU took me to Pasewalk next morning and then a 112 to Berlin and after a 147 to the Flughafen BER Terminal 1-2 to Halle and into Leipzig. I did two trips to Köthen in the afternoon and to Leipzig for one night. I did a DMU to Gera on the Sunday morning and then the 232 special to Nürnberg which much to out delight was “no heat” 232.293 which was sounding quite good. I had two new 102s and a 146.2 in the afternoon and evening in Nürnberg, and next day got another 146.2 and then did an IC2 to Erfurt via Gemünden so a long way round! Then a fast ICE to Berlin with a new Flix 182 in the evening with another new next morning and then into Poland with a long EU160 run from Kostrzyn - Warszawa. After a full day on KM power then some EU160 moves for a couple of days and a night in Poznań. Down to Wrocław next day and a couple of old M30s on a heritage tour to Oława. After an EU160 to Jelenia Góra another dose of 754.026 to Zabrze for a night. Into ČD land for a one week “One Ticket” with two night based at Olomouc highlight being 163.245 in Cargo livery and I also picked up 193.830. We moved on to České Budějovice via Praha and did the Lipno and Bechyně branches during our time there, ÖBB have me two new 1116 as well. Next was three nights in Praha scoring the Litvínov branch on my journey from Cheb. Back to Přerov on the Saturday for 751.232 on a special to Tovačov and Kroměříž and Sunday we did the 714 from Slaný and the 721 from Čerčany. Left Praha on the Monday to Hannover via Berlin and my second last DB 146 on the way and a night in Hannover. On to Hamburg for two nights with some Metronom action and then a trip to Westerland and then to DSB and my farewell to the superb ME class which I travelled with for almost forty years. I returned to DB and went south to Frankfurt and my final DB 146 on the way and two nights in Karlsruhe and a day around Singen. Into France and to Luxembourg for the elusive 3010 and then back to Nancy for the Sybic to Paris next morning but I ended up on a TGV as Sybic cancelled. I went to Lille but many cancellations so back to Paris after a few wasted hours and after a trip to Orléans I returned to Austerlitz and a couchette on the Port Bou overnight. Very please with 7264 from Toulouse and also 22332 during the day. Back north next day and to Lille and got 22246 over ne track to Hirson and a night in Maubeuge. Final full day on various PNDC turns via Amiens, Lille, Cambrai and St Quentin and a great sunset to end the trip with a Eurostar home next morning.
from Saturday 21 August to Sunday 19 September 2021
352 photos
My first "mainland" EU trip after 316 very long days was with Eurostar to Paris where I had booked three nights’ accommodation. I did quite well with locos I was looking for and then a one day hire with Fret 26127 with a quick walk from Austerlitz to Bercy for big Infra 22399! It was then to Metz for a night and on to Strasbourg for the freight curve diversions. I went through Germany next day with a quick sample of 102 power at Nürnberg and one night in Plžen. I moved on to Praha where I had three nights and did 749 to Mikulášovice and the Rumburk - Děčín bike train. I also did the Vectron’s on the Luhačovice circuit. On the Sunday I did a 754 from Čerčany - Zruč nad Sázavou and then to Kutná Hora. Early Monday I had VUZ Vectron 193.902 then on to Olomouc for two nights. A day at Brno finally got me 242.240 and also the newly electrified branch to Hustopeče u Brna. Next day an attack of the new 388.2 power on R9 with Přerov - Kojetín as an easy section to do the locos on. I moved on to Wien for one night and picked up 1116.257 on a Railjet vice. Next morning 1116.271 in the tunnel and then EC151 all the way to Ljubljana. One of the Sž Vectrons to Jesenice and to Bohinjska Bistrica for the night via one trip with 664.113 on the Avtovlak. A round trip with 664.107 next morning and then to Ljubljana for the second Vectron. After a night at Rakek I took Citadella to Hungary for two nights in Budapest. I had six new 630s which were easy pickings thanks to the mapper. After a night in Győr I went to Wien to the launderette and on to Kraków for one night. Did the new ČD 754 turn on the TLK to Jelenia Góra which gave me quite a bit of new track and took the Polregio EP07P to Wrocław for a night. After a trip to Opole on to Poznań and then Griffin power to Kostrzyn and back. To Warszawa next morning and managed KM EU47s in and out of Warszawa Główna station. This was followed by going to Wschodnia for a Łódź IC with an EP09 on load fourteen that went via Warszawa Gdánska. Did another new TLK next day with diesel from Siedlce north via Białystok to Giżycko and then back to Białystok for the night. Left on a vice turn to Wrocław next morning with top Griffin power on the front. I just made EC57 to have a 370 to Kraków on a busy train but I managed a seat thankfully. I returned to Katowice and then to Zabrze for two nights. I then made my way to Ostrava-Svinov for the Regiojet 162 to Košice. I did required 757.003 to Trebišov in the evening. Took the new ZSSK 362 turn to Miskolc and into Budapest on a 630 and on to Bratislava for my last four nights picking up Cargo 240.034 in the afternoon. After an early trip to Brno and three Regiojet winners back to Bratislava for an ÖBB 2016 to Komárno and a 736 to Šurany and back to Bratislava. I went to Považská Bystrica for my Covid antigen test at €14.60 so a good price. My last full day and an event was on at Trenčianska Teplá. We had steam from Piešťany and later had 555.3008 to Horní Lideč which was a new border crossing for me and then returned via Púchov back to Trenčianska Teplá which was sounding excellent. We took R610 back to Bratislava with 350.004 which was a good finish with a dining car. To airport next morning and back home!
from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 August 2021
35 photos
Another quick trip to Ireland which was booked before some more of Europe started to open up more and I flew on a very comfortable BA Embraer 190 from Leeds / Bradford to Belfast City. Once in Belfast I checked in Etap hotel and then did an “Enterprise” out and back to Portadown and then another to Dundalk later, the station there is very old classic design and well worth checking out. Next morning I took “Enterprise” to Dublin and found my second last 201 on the first Cork train I covered so 229 out and back all the way. Next day was a trip to Thurles in the morning and then a trip to Newry in the afternoon. Once back in Dublin I did a trip down the coast to Bray. On my final day I took a hauled train to Mallow and then a DMU to Farranfore and the twenty minute walk to the airport for my Ryanair flight back too Manchester
from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 July 2021
24 photos
After an agonising 285 days of being stuck in England, Scotland and Wales due to Covid it was certainly time to get on a plane again. With Ireland opening with only paperwork and no testing needed to get in I booked a couple of very cheap flights. I flew out with Ryanair from Birmingham - Dublin for £4.99 and stayed in Dublin for two nights. There were two loco hauled diagrams to Belfast and six on the Dublin - Cork route so enough to do some travelling with. The first day I did a trip to Drogheda and then to Thurles. The second day I viewed a few turns in Dublin and then did an out and back run to Cork. I found winning 225 on the 19.00 to Cork so I took this to Portlaoise for 223 back to Dublin. My final day meant a long DMU run to Claremorris when I took a bus to Knock for some lunch and another on to Knock airport and my cheap Ryanair flight back to Liverpool.
from Friday 25 September to Friday 9 October 2020
130 photos
A final (?) trip away before almost all countries close down again with Covid levels rising quickly again! I flew to Košice and had a night there before meeting others for the invite only 131 tour from Spišská Nová Ves to Východná with “heritage” livery 131.001 & 131.002. After the outward run it was time (very sadly) to leave Slovakia with Covid restrictions coming in for us and go into Poland for at least one week. We took the Žilina - Zwardoń - Katowice - Gdynia train which was currently getting a new PKP Griffin from Zwardoń due to driver training duties. I stayed in Zabrze for one night and then moved on to Wrocław for the next two nights. This is still a very good area for elderly EU/EP07 power and over my time there I got five winners and also finally found EP09-020 to clear the class. I took EP08-001 to Zielona Góra on the Tuesday night. Early start next morning to do the diesel hauled TLK via Żary and Żagań as far as Legnica and then made my way to Poznań via Rzepin and Kostrzyn without any winners. I started with the orange beast again for a good run to Kutno and then finally got 370-005 in the book and after a long wait at Konin then did required EU160-001 back to Poznań via Franowo yards. I took a DMU to Wolsztyn for Pt47-65 to Zbąszynek and new EU160-024 back to Poznań. As Poland was now on the UK banned list I had to move on into Germany for a week, but first a run with required EP07-1013 to Moglino and then back to Poznań and EIC246 with 193.622 to Berlin. I filled in to Südkreuz with a new ICE1 and then another to Halle to cover the 143 action picking up one new but not low numbered 143.012 sadly. I stayed in Leipzig for four nights as it was convenient as I was now on local regional tickets. Over the days there I did new branches to Tangermünde, Pößneck unt Bf and Querfurt. I then moved up to Hamburg for two night and finally got all my Metronom 146s and made a start on the 246s which took me back onto the old 220 stamping grounds of the trips made between 1982-84 with many trips on the line to Cuxhaven. New track was done between Buxtehude and Hesedorf (one stop before Bremervörde) as in 1984 the DB service ran from Bremerhaven - Stade. I dated a DB freebie ticket on the Thursday to have a day on the Westerland line but bad weather and farces only saw me get as far as Husum before pulling out and I went to Hannover for the last night of the trip. We did an IC to Berlin the next morning and a few moves in the Berlin area before our flight back to East Midlands
from Friday 21 August to Wednesday 16 September 2020
286 photos
It was time for another Covid escape to where we were able to travel around and I managed to get the last few days of the Czech Summer ticket as well. I flew from EMA to Łódź and took a train to Warszawa for one night. I bought a Weekend Max ticket. Made my way to Poznań next day and had some of the new Griffin power coming into service and one night at Gniezno. I went south to Zabrze via Wrocław next day and then into Czech Republic via unusual route on the Monday morning. I picked up two Vectron winners and the “new” 1216.9 before making my way to Praha for two nights. A failed attempt to get 363.050 at České Budějovice but I got one new 210 at Rybník. Next day I had a 111 and two new 754’s at Hradec Králové and then two nights at Olomouc. After a new 750.07 at Zabreh na Moravě I then had a 754 to Uherský Brod and then another from Brno later. Into ZSSK next day and time to make good use of my free travel as over 62 and so to Kosice tor two nights. Next two days were the hauled “summer” trains to Slavošovce and Muráň, the first was winning 754.004. On the Sunday I took a bus from Muráň to Tisovec and back to Zvolen for a night. Then moved on to Bratislava for four nights and did stuff from there for few days. The Saturday was the last of the three “summer” branches from Košice but we found a DMU at Dobšiná, not a good result! Next day into Poland via the weekend train from Plaveč - Muszyna and I finished off with an eight day PKP InterRail in the Poznań and then Gdynia areas. Then to Berlin and Flix to the Ruhr for one night and then finally south to Stuttgart for my final night and flight back home from Baden-Baden
from Wednesday 15 to Monday 27 July 2020
116 photos
After 154 days in England thanks to the dreaded Covid-19 virus I was most certainly due for a trip away. I had a free seven day first class InterRail to use up so was raring to go! Eurostar took me to Paris and I had two winners 22200 to chase at Paris-Nord, one was had easily enough but the other failed to appear. I went to Nevers on new 22326 next morning but a typical SNCF “panne” led to me missing ultra rare 22345 back to Paris, consolation prize was “Infra” 22379 back north. I crossed over to St-Lazare where thankfully 26217 was on the next Cherbourg and taken to Bayeux for 15025 back. Another Infra loco was now also out and this time a winner so I went Châteauroux for it to find a Sybic, so returned to Paris. Found out it was coming up later so gave chase and had it in from Vierzon thankfully, big load fourteen and a healthy loco so finally I managed by first ever “broken nose” electric at 200 km/h so most happy with the day’s results! I then did my first overnight of the year as the Rodez overnight still runs through to Albi on a Friday night, the bed was only €21 extra so a good deal. The four berth couchette was good and I did manage some sleep. A pair of 67/4 forward from Brive-la-Gaillarde and I was able to see the run round at Rodez. A DMU to Toulouse and then new 7265 to Montauban for new 7254 to Marseille being very rewarding! I did two trips out from Marseille next day with Carcassonne first and Nîmes the second with surprise winner 7266 taking me back to Marseille. Up to Lyon next for two nights and did a 22 to Genève and a cart to Annamesse and the Annecy for a couple of 22s back to Lyon. Back to Genève again next day and to Visp and the MGB to Zermatt but no further as poor views of the Matterhorn. I went back on SBB to Basel and a Sybic to Mulhouse for one night and then DB to Stuttgart next day and a night in Ludwigsburg. Up to Hannover and after a night there into Benelux and three nights at Antwerpen but staying mostly on NS metals. Managed two of my last six 18s in Belgium before my Eurostar back home
from Friday 24 January to Wednesday 12 February 2020
172 photos
The final part of my two month InterRail started off with an Iberia Express flight from Birmingham to Madrid for the PTG Alco tour. The first night was in Madrid and then two nights in Zafra and then back to Madrid we had some great scenery and good Alco music. I resumed my own travelling with an Alvia to Albacete and then 334 power to Murcia and then same loco on to Alacant and a 252 to Valencia. I filled in time with a trip to Sagunt and then back to the Ibis Budget near the airport. Early Talgo next day to Barcelona via the new Vandellós deviation, I then returned south to Vilanova i la Geltrú and went round the museum outside the station. Once back in Barcelona I took a TGV to Narbonne and a couple of 7200 on the IC trains and one night in Béziers. I then made my way to Marseille, Thello to Milano and then a 1285 km with 401.021 all the way to Villa San Giovanni and after the boat 464 power all the way to Palermo Centrale. My main reason for coming to Palermo was to try and get a 464 to Agrigento, after a fair bit of hanging around (very poor service on a Sunday) but I did manage it so well truly pleased at doing it. I made my way back to the mainland next day and went as far north as Napoli for one night. Further north next day after a few trips to Aversa and then to Roma and took a train to Viterbo via Orte. Had one night in very comfy B&B and then back to Roma via Bracciano and a few bonus winners on the rush hour turns. I then took one of the Frecciarossa 1000 sets to Bologna but the interior was plastic seats which is a pet hate of mine, but it got me there quickly. I covered a few FER 464 turns but no luck so went to Ferrara and got photos of ex DB 220.074 which as usual was covered in graffiti. I did the diesel lines out of Padova and stayed at a nice hotel in Bassano del Grappa. Next morning to Verona and EC to Innsbruck and Railjet to Wien but lost about two hours with damage to the overhead wires in the Jenbach area. So a short night in Wien and then straight up into CD and on to Warszawa for one night and to cover three of the Łódź Fabryczna commuter turns, getting two new Cargo EU07 in the process, I had a quick look around the amazing three year old station and then back to Warszawa. I was hoping for a PKP Cargo Vectron next morning but no luck but thankfully it was still a winner with MRCE 193.622 which I took all the way to Berlin. I was going to have an hour there but luckily saw the train I was planning to get was going to be a half an ICE2! So a long flog all the way to Duisburg and then a night in Düsseldorf. Into Belgium next day and managed my last 19 and then to Maubeuge via Namur and I just got there in time with a storm causing chaos! Took a while to get to Paris but I did have time to get to Châteauroux for Fret biggie 26199 on short term hire back to Paris. Three long term Fret hire Sybics were on paper as available, first 26134 ex Austerlitz and then over to St Lazare for 26061, but 26234 had turned into 15019 which I didn’t mind at all really! Once back I Paris I returned to St Quentin and went back to the Ibis Budget again. I had some new hauled track ext morning with 22241 to Lille via Somain and then to Amiens via Arras. No impressed with a cart vice 22200 to Paris, I’m hoped to then get 26234 out of St Lazare. It worked but on a Cherbourg which I couldn’t touch! So a 15000 to Mantes-la-Jolie and then over to Nord and Eurostar plastic back home
from Tuesday 14 to Monday 20 January 2020
36 photos
I did another few days away to make use of my two month InterRail a bit more. I took Eurostar to Bruxelles and stayed in Blankenberge for the night. Next morning I returned to Bruxelles and then up to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. 1700 power to Bad Bentheim and one night in Osnabrück. On to Hannover next morning and then south to Göttingen and picked up the Metropolitan with a 101 to Frankfurt. Covered a few 143s and 146.2 and then down to Stuttgart for the night. I had a day around Stuttgart and then to Karlsruhe ending with a 120. I had two nights in Karlsruhe and picked up two new 146.2 and an elderly Re4/4 from Singen - Zürich. Then back north from Basel - Karlsruhe. I took an ICE and TGV to Strasbourg then a Sybic to Nancy and on to Luxembourg. After a run to Kleinbettingen with 3006 I went north to Bruxelles and one night in Leuven. Into Bruxelles early for Eurostar back to London
from Thursday 12 December 2019 to Monday 6 January 2020
256 photos
My first ever two month InterRail and to start it off I flew from Manchester - Katowice. I forgot how far it was from the city, never again! I went to Zabrze and based myself there for the next five nights. First full day was around Wrocław and surprisingly Cargo EU07-114 was out but not gettable! I managed a few new EP/EU07 during the day thankfully next day I did get EU07-114. The Sunday was the first day of the new timetable so I did a trip to Kraków which involved the Oświęcim avoider in the afternoon. Next day did first run of the new "Rozewie" overnight via Zwardoń finally getting me all the line in hauled. A few trips on Regiojet new R8 got me four new Vectrons. Then north to Gdánsk for two nights and found a couple of Cargo EU07 while in the area. My journey back south was EP08 for Cargo EU07 at Poznań! One night at Kraków and found EU07-127 which I grabbed, but it failed and lost me a few hours! I then moved on Ostrava. Next day back to Poland to chase oldie EU07-19E which replaced a failure! On the Sunday did Sp1638 which dies Ostrava hl.n to Frýdek-Místek via Ostrava-Svinov the got MRCE 193.628 on RJ1012. Finished with a Vectron to Brno for a busy EC to Bratislava with quality 350 power. I'd planned to go to Opava for the 714 to Hlucíň but the EC to Brno was well late so a day around Wien. Picked up three new 1116 and 1144.103 which was my last one, so class cleared! Then to Tišnov for a new ZSSK 362 turn to Břeclav, but it was a ČD one. Regiojet took me back to Bratislava. Managed to get to Opava východ next day but as half expected Hlucíň was a DMU. Christmas day was a 242 down the new line to Židlochovice and then to Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště for the diesels. Then on to Linz and a day in ČD doing the branch to Bechyně and from Rybník. Further west then for two nights in Basel and a trip on MOB and then BLS to La Chaux-de-Fonds. I then moved on to Germany with a night in Ludwigsburg and then Leipzig. Did Flix over the new Halle - Erfurt line at 200 km/h. Flix Leipzig - Berlin next day and then back to Poland for one night. Then Hannover, Ruhr and into Belgium for Eurostar back home
from Thursday 28 November to Thursday 5 December 2019
71 photos
A week mostly in Italy using a couple of the excellent value regional promo tickets. I flew from Stansted to Genova and stayed the night there. Friday was a strike day but thankfully the vast majority of trains ran as normal. I went up to Milano and covered quite a few 464s before heading up the Domodossola line and then back to Luino for the night. The Saturday was the highlight of the trip with massive Re6/6 power on the "Verbano Express" special train to Einsiedeln. The classic ex SBB coaches with opening windows were the best way to head north over the stunning Gotthard line. Our loco ran round at Arth Goldau allowing it to easily pull our train up the fantastic climb from there. A few hours in Einsiedeln and back over the Gotthard again with some super "power of Re6/6“ bits on the way. I stayed at Maccagno and then made my way to Parma going via Brescia, Verona and Bologna. I stayed there for two nights with the Monday as a chase the FER 464 day at Bologna and Suzarra. I only found a few working and suspect EMUs appear at random also. I left Parma on the Tuesday and went to Modena for one of the few hauled turns to Mantova and then to Milano. After doing a 464 to Saronno on a cross city service I made my way to Varese on the only 464 of the day and stayed there. I took an EMU up to Porto Ceresio to do the track. Made my way to Torino next day and then 464 power to Limone which is a lovely town where snow had arrived. Back to Torino and a run out to Susa with elderly 464.016 in charge. I stayed in an ok hotel in Torino and took bus eleven to Torino Dora and the private GTT railway to the airport for my flight home
from Monday 11 to Saturday 16 November 2019
35 photos
A short six day trip to France was planning using Eurostar and advance TER tickets to Dijon. Eurostar ran on time but 374 junk each way doesn’t make it an enjoyable journey any more. We took RER D from Dare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon and then the TER bound for Laroche-Migennes as far as Sens and then our booked fast TER forward to Dijon. I had hassle buying the TER weekly season ticket I wanted but got it ok next morning thankfully. We found an excellent restaurant in the centre f town for our first night. Sound towards Lyon next morning jumping on an off a bit and sampling some 22200 Alsthom power as we went. We ended up at Chambéry and checked in our hotel for the next three nights and went to Grenoble for a meal in the evening. Next day was on mostly on the main line north of Dijon with the classic Alsthom power and we at near our hotels in the evening. It was similar activity the next day ending up with a trip to Annecy in the late afternoon and then back to Chambéry. We left Chambéry on the Friday morning and made our way to Dijon again for one more night there and another meal in the same restaurant. Back to Paris next day and then a bouncy 374 back to London
from Thursday 3 to Tuesday 15 October 2019
103 photos
Another EU wander as I had an InterRail in my pocket to finish off and also a free DB ticket. I flew from Manchester - Eindhoven (bargain fare) and then a NS web ticket to Antwerpen. As I was hopeful winner 186.003 was not far away I waited and indeed had it into Belgium. After one night there I started the InterRail again and made my way to Lille and Paris and over to Austerlitz looking for three new freight Sybics. I got a new passenger one straight away and the used my usual hotel on bus route 24 near Bercy. Next day a long overdue trip on the narrow gauge from Salbris - Valençay, easy to get into it loco hauled, but a pain to get out of, even more annoying when I find spot hire 26104 in Paris just ahead of my return train from Tours. I then went over to Bercy and down to Vichy to pick up 26204 which I took to Nevers for an expensive night in the Ibis. Back to Paris next morning and down to Limoges to pick up 26205 which I had back to Paris, getting me two out of three of the latest hire batch. Monday saw me heading to Caen for one of my few remaining passenger Sybics, secured ok with 26006. I then did a 300 km/h dash to Strasbourg to have 22259 and get into position to head into Germany next day. Surprisingly all my DB connections worked ok and I had 193.803 at Nürnberg to get the set of the first six and then ICE4 plastic tat to Leipzig and an early finish. Did the ČD Vectron turn that’s finishing in December and armed with a ČD day ticket over to Hodonín and the very short border crossing to Holíč nad Moravou which had temporarily reopened for a few months. Early start to Wien next morning and plenty of standard red Taurus on Railjet turns and one of my last 1216s out also. I stayed at Wiener Neustadt and got up crack of dawn for the 2016 turn to Gutenstein and then to Wien to get two of my last three 1144s which were both out all day. After a few more red 1116 I went to Bratislava for a two night stay. ZSSK Cargo 240.082 had been out all week on Kúty - Trnava so that was my first target, then back to Zohor and the last weekend of a DMU on the freight only line to Plavecké Podhradie. After this I picked up IC45 which was diverted via Marchegg with a public stop at Devínska Nová Ves. I went to Malacky to pick up 240.092 as my last ZSSK passenger electric but it had turned into a 263, so another time then. Up to Ružomberok next morning as 193.743 was on RJ1012 so easy to get hold of it, after that down to Banská Bystrica for a new 757. Then to Poprad-Tatry to check in to the hotel and straight back out with a 350 Liptovský Mikuláš for 162.001 back t Poprad-Tatry. The last full day mainly around Žilina and the branch to Rajec which was new track. Next day was end of the trip with a REX to Kosice for the bouncy bus to the airport and flight home
from Thursday 12 to Monday 23 September 2019
186 photos
I started a mainly Moldova trip from Luton with first a flight to Cluj-Napoca where we stayed one night. Next day was a long daytime run to Iaşi with some good scenery in the middle section. Next day was the start of the PTG Moldova tour and to get the ball rolling a broad gauge CFM DMU from the terminus platform at Socola to take us the short distance to Ungheni. From there we started to main part of the tour with a ChME3 on two carriages one of with was a comfortable restaurant car, our first journey was to head north to Bălți-Slobozia where we stayed for two nights. It was a day trip out next day and over the “border” to Rîbnița in Transdinistria, a good way to collect passport stamps and see their fascinating plastic coins in local currency. Next day it was north to Ocnița and Moghiliov-Podolski in Ukraine via the branch from Rediul Mare to Bratuseni. Thankfully we had decent Kharkhov “ten” power for the cross border section. It was then an incredibly slow (401 km in four hours!) for the bus to take us to Chernivtsi. Next morning we travelled on the regular UZ service train to Sokyriany with M62-1260 in a very attractive blue and yellow livery. Numerous passport stamps and then once back in our bus a further two hours to do the two road border crossings. We then rejoined our special for the long run back to Chișinău. Next a free day s “ten” power out to Berești for the walk to Ungheni and back to Chișinău, both on Moskva trains. Finally the long trip to Cahul, out via Bender 2, Basarabeasca and Reni and then back the next day via Prut-2, Basarabeasca depot and Bălțaț. Service train DMU took us to Odessa next morning and time to recover from some horrible food poisoning! I then flew to Krakow and a TLK to Warszawa for one night. Finally Wizz back to Luton and back home
from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 September 2019
39 photos
A short trip to Italy and Slovenia, mainly for a visit to Jesenice steelworks. We flew from Stansted to Trieste with Ryanair. We walked over the new footbridge to the new airport station. One 464 to Monfalcone and then another to Gorizia and then the bus to Nova Gorica. Next day we took Avtovlak and very pleased with 664.106 on the front. Even more so when 664.101 went on the, this was due to trackwork at Podbrdo. I then went to Jesenice for the steelworks visit and then the EC to Villach for one night. Got the elusive 190.302 to Udine next day, it should have gone to Trieste but didn't for some reason. I had a few 464s and a couple of 401s. Ended up at Ferrara where I got my first FER 464 on a stopper to Bologna. I stayed in Padova for one night. A local strike was on for Sunday so I just bought tickets, I went to Venezia SL and was going to do a few trips to Mestre but short notice cancellations put me off that idea and head straight to Treviso instead for my Ryanair back home
from Friday 9 to Tuesday 27 August 2019
167 photos
Another couple of weeks wandering around EU on a combination of tickets, first move was Eurostar to Paris and then web tickets to Le Havre for one night. The next two days were on one of the bargain Normandie ticket and we did very well with good 15000 action to Trouville-Deauville and on the Sunday to Cherbourg also. Back to Paris on the Monday morning and I made my way to Belgium and the start of a Global InterRail staying in Antwerpen one night. I easily got my last NS 186.0 as I passed through NS and did a couple of 1700 moves at Zwolle as the outbound Berlin IC trains were stopping there at this time. I ended up in Düsseldorf for one night. After a quick Flix Vectron move and 145.088 I took EC9 all the way to Basel and then on to Dijon with TER200 to Mulhouse and Lyria TGV. Once checked in at Dijon Ibis I did 7244 to Chalon-sur-Saône for 22392 back in. Nice long leap to Lyon next morning and finally got hold of stubborn 7239 which was my last one on this circuit. As required Fret “load” loco 26215 was down to work in the Paris next day I positioned myself in Dormans for a night. Got my target ok and then went up the coast getting two winner 67400 in the process. I then checked into the usual Ibis Budget at Parc de Bercy. Two days out on weekend ECO tickets next, the Saturday was a round trip to Le Croisic and the Sunday to La Rochelle. I returned to Belgium and NS on the Monday and picked up two NS hired in Traxx loco which were both on very easy to get diagrams. I stayed in Osnabrück and managed my last 101 next morning and then straight to Berlin and on to PKP staying in Gniezno for one night. After getting the MRCE Vectron on EC41 I went to Zbąszynek and then to Gorzów Wielkopolski for the long diesel run north east to Tczew where I stayed to nights. After a morning trip to Hel and back I then went to Skowarcz for a couple of hours taking photos. Up to Gdynia next morning for the Taurus back to Poznan and then a quick trip to Zielona Góra and then finally one of my last two 370s before heading to Berlin. A dash over to Zwolle next morning for a very rare chance of a NS 1700 to Groningen but incredible bad luck say only the first train of an all day diagram work, a disaster day! Ended up in Hannover and then to Hamburg Hbf and the 218 via Ferhman-Burg to Puttgarden. Bad late running in the evening meant a lot of hanging around, but did make it to Kiel with the CD Vectron turn. Same loco out next morning, 218 power to Husum and back and the another DB farce and loads late running and ending up in Düsseldorf for my final night. Into Belgium again and none of my 1800s around so a long day and the nice 373 run back to London and home
from Wednesday 17 to Wednesday 31 July 2019
150 photos
Yet another PTG Tours visit to Alaska started with an Air Canada Dreamliner (787-9) flight to Vancouver for one night in town. We took Amtrak to Seattle next morning with Genesis power for few hours and an evening flight north to Fairbanks. We had a tourist day in the far north with a visit to the Fountainhead Car museum and then Pioneer Park. Next day we took "Denali Star" for our long luxurious ride south to Anchorage via Denali and Talkeetna. The next day we went to Spencer Glacier, the second day was an organised shed visit in Anchorage and then Seward with a cruise. On the Wednesday we flew to Juneau where we stopped off at the Salmon Hatchery as this is an excellent place to see Bald Eagles. Next morning we had to revert to catamaran power again as the AMRS went on strike! We stopped off in Haines for a few hours and then did the fast Ferry over to Skagway. We had four nights in this incredible magical town, rail activities included 73 on Fraser Loop excursion, an all day round trip to Carcross and a Summit Excursion with via the new Divide loop! The final day was train 23 to Fraser and then bus to Whitehorse for one night and then a flight Vancouver for one night. Final day and I went into town and took the Seabus over to Lonsdale Quay and then did all the Skytrain system. Finally the usual exhausting flight back over the Atlantic and a big dose of jet lag!
from Monday 1 to Tuesday 9 July 2019
88 photos
Another eight day trip wandering round Europe on some cheap tickets and some bargain summer tickets, I went to St Pancras for Eurostar to Bruxelles. I was delighted to finally catch up with “spare” Eurostar power car 3999 on my train. The refurbished train was extremely comfortable and a vastly smoother ride that the awful Siemens rubbish. I skip stopped my way across Belgium and managed one of my remaining 1800s in the process. I had one night in Aachen and then used IC2222 to get me to Hannover. It did a few bits of unit only line but very little freight track. I broke my journey along the way at Hannover, Braunschweig, Magdeburg and Leipzig before arriving in Dresden and then an EC with a Vectron to Praha for one night. Next morning I started the long slog all the way to Warszawa with the intention of getting EIC40 with 193.626 while it was working. I was therefore unimpressed when an EP09 rolled in. I followed it to Kutno as I knew EP08-001 was coming in and I’d never had a good long run with it. I was going to try next morning for the Vectron again but had info it wasn’t out so I went straight to Kraków, a dud Cargo one was on the Zakopane so I just did moves east of Kraków before staying at Przemysl for the night. Early summer only DMU south to Medzilaborce and then Humenné and on to Košice for a couple of hours. I returned to Humenné for my hotel for the next three nights. I returned to Kosice and then along main line to Spišské Vlachy and did the summer only branch to Spišské Podhradie on a private “wheely bin”. Then on to Spišská Nová Ves and trains were running just for this one weekend for the pilgrimage at Levoča. Once that was done I then went to Štrba for an hour, then back to Košice and to Humenné. Early start on the Monday morning as there is now a booked hauled turn to Stakčín which looks to be a regular turn, so very please to get it done whilst in the area. Once in Košice I did a run out on the main line to Spišská Nová Ves and back. The a 757 to Bánovce nad Ondavou to do the recently re-opened line to Veľké Kapušany. My final night in Humenné and back to Kosice next morning and after a trip to Kysak a nice cheap (€0.60) ride to the airport
from Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 June 2019
47 photos
A short five day trip to use up the last few days of my global InterRail and so I flew from Southend - København where we landed nice and early. Took an EMU to København H for an ME forward to Nørreport where I was staying for one night. I had three ME that were quite low on the kms so they were my target. A couple of hours down the Kalundborg line got me two of them and then back to Valby. Next was down to Næstved to return via the new line via Køge Nord, nice to get a brand new diesel line with classic diesels! After a few more ME moves I took an X2000 over the Øresund bridge to Malmö. One night there and then the Snälltäget Vectron turn for the 613km run to Stockholm on nice ex DB stock but needs looking after better. There were some sections of 200 km/h running also. Did some Rc6 chasing in Stockholm and then to Eskilstuna for two nights. Another day on Rc6 power and then back south next on Vectron power and stopped off at Alvesta to do the Kalmar line. Another night in Malmö and then EMU to Kastrup for my SAS flight back to Stansted
from Tuesday 14 to Friday 31 May 2019
225 photos
Part two of my 15 in two month InterRail, I started off in Hungary as the PTG tour had some tasty power involved and some unusual lines. Over the few days we had 232.453, M62-001, M61-001, 233.289 (648.001), 2143.067, 751.201, 610.100 and MY 1156. As I was in the area I did the diversion of IC74 with a big CFR 477 into Budapest-Nyugati. I then had a couple of ČD web tickets to Dresden and then a free DB Bahn Bonus ticket which I used next day picking up a couple of 143s at Dresden and Halle. Early start from Dresden to Nürnberg next morning as my DB ticket was valid until 10.00 and then a nice cheap Ryanair flight to Palermo to “fast track” my travels. This gave me a couple of days on Sicily and I managed to pull three more 656s into my net. Long run all the way to Roma once back on the mainland. Next day new I did new track over to Ancona and then a long run south to Bari for one night. Thankfully next morning 444.007 on ICN765 to Leece via Taranto and Brindisi and then again another long run back north and I had one night at Fidenza. Left Italy next morning via Milano and Domodossola and then Bern, Bâle SNCF and Strasbourg for 67519 on the hauled turn to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges and on to Nancy for one night. Fret 26233 into Paris-Est next morning and then straight over to Nord for some action on the main line to Amiens while it’s still hauled. To finish the trip I left via Belgium for two nights in Essen topped up with another free Bahn Bonus ticket and then flight back home from Weeze
from Friday 19 April to Saturday 4 May 2019
225 photos
I started a 15 day in two month InterRail with a flight to Bratislava and a night there and then to Wien and a few days enjoying comfortable travelling on ÖBB, due to the holidays it was a much reduced local service on all routes. I stayed in Linz a few stops on the tram in the Ibis Styles. Picked up a few new 1116 and then headed to Zürich and a “Lion” up to Koblenz and then via Basel and on to Strasbourg for one night. Main target were four “Fret” Sybics that are with GrandEst until end of the year. I got one on the first night and two more next day but had to suffer DB ICE to Paris, would much rather have had a TGV. But it did the job and I got two more of the target locos. Took 15063 into Paris next morning and over to Bercy where another “Fret” Sybic was out, but only short term and I managed a couple of normal Sybic winners also and then back to Paris. Fast TGV to Bordeaux next morning and picked up 22343 on the Marseille circuit and then a leap on the Bayonne circuit. It went wrong at Tarbes as I missed last train back to Toulouse so bag and I had separate hotels. Cart back to Toulouse next morning and then thankfully required 7282 was on the correct turn which I did all the way to Bayonne and then TGV to Hendaye. I then started using pre booked web tickets getting some good deals in Spain as the “Tarjeda Dorada” (over 60) gets me good deals. I took the “Lucy” to Vitoria for one night. Next day I did the IC (Arco) all the way to A Coruña with excellent thrash off 334.010 from Ourense - A Coruña. I had another run with it next day and then went to Vigo-Guixar and back to A Coruña from Vigo Urzaiz. Took 334.007 on the Tren Hotel to Monforte de Lemos but really load A/C on the Talgo 7 stock s I heard almost nothing despite being right at front. Big 333.406 to Redondela next morning and then 252 to Guillarei and DMU to Porto and then I picked up two of my four 5600s and went to Braga for my one night stay. IC direct to Lisboa next day, load eight from Braga, plus three more from Contumil making an excellent load eleven. The Faro IC connection was held and winner 5611 was taken, but as no ticket I bailed off at Entrecampos where I bought a three day local CP ticket. Took 5610 to Évora for my two night stay in the Ibis quite a hard walk to hotel with cobbled pavements the whole way! Found easier way back next morning. Took 5618 up to Coimbra-B and choice of two IC back, picked the later one which I got bang on with 5605 and 5616 which was my last passenger sector one! I managed to do the earlier train back to the hotel. 5610 to Lisboa again next day and after 5619 to Pragal I did EMU to Lisboa Rossio and then Sintra and finally an IC all the way south to Faro. One night there and then Ryanair back to Birmingham
from Friday 22 March to Monday 8 April 2019
249 photos
Another trip to Spain for a 310 tour and then over to Italy with a few days in Sardinia on the way. I flew to Barcelona and then an AVE to Zaragoza. The 310 tour was over the superb diesel line to Teruel and I continued on to Valencia for a couple of nights. I did the Xàtiva branch and a few 252 moves and then up the coast to Barcelona and a blitz to Lleida for one night. I picked up the Tren Hotel from Galicia back to Barcelona with the as hoped for winning pair of 252s. Plenty of almost 200 km/h running on twenty-four Talgo carriages was a great way to start the day. I then made my way north to Maçanet-Massanes and on to Girona for my Ryanair flight to Cagliari on Sardinia. I had four nights on the island. I managed to hit was must have been a diesel shortage as numerous trains were DMU vice 445s. I did some other bits of track and then flew to Roma on the Saturday morning. I did some new track and enjoyed some comfortable IC journey over a few days. I then based myself at Paola for some travelling in that area and the south to Villa San Giovanni and over on the train ferry for a long overdue visit to Sicily and especially good to sample the big Bo-Bo-Bo 656 electrics while they were still in charge of the IC work on the island. Flew back home from Palermo after a few days
from Saturday 23 February to Friday 1 March 2019
87 photos
My fourth trip to Israel for some winter sunshine and Prima power on the fantastic railways and as always some new track had been opened since our last visit two years ago! We flew with easyJet from Luton, perfectly timed flight as arrival is just when trains start running on the Saturday evening. This time we had to endure bus into town due to engineering works but it only took twenty minutes so not too bad. We loaded our tickets on the Rav card found our apartment and got ready for usual early starts. First objective on the Sunday morning was to head north to Binyamina to pick up Sundays only train 1017 which does freight lines on its way around Tel Aviv and we got off at Lod. I then repeated some of the rack with class leader 731 to Ra’anana - West and then I went to Ben Gurion Airport to do the new electrified line to Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon, two round trips to cover the three diagrams. As two of the three turns to Beit Shemish were hauled I had a run there as I’d only done once in the dark a couple of years ago on the one minute connection on my last visit. The next few days were riding around and taking photos until the rain arrived mid week. On the Friday there were two other interesting trains bypassing the main Tel Aviv city line allowing four freight curves to be done before we had to head to the airport and flight back home
from Friday 8 to Sunday 17 February 2019
109 photos
Another trip starting in Germany and then east to Slovakia. I flew to Bremen as it was £9.99. I took a tram into town and Ibis for one night. I dated one of my Bahn Bonus tickets and decided to cover some 146 turns looking for 146.101, it was on the first turn I covered! I then took EC9 to Düsseldorf to hopefully get five of my six last 101s as gen received they were out. 101.140 had turned into 146.555 but all the others worked as booked making it a fruitful day! I stayed in Bochum and next morning to get the tour to Wernigerode, it was 220.033 & 215.028 (now with TB11 engine). It would have been 216.002 but that failed and then 221.122 (ex OSE A-420) but that also failed. I continued with carts to Magdeburg for a 182 to Berlin and then three more carts while I tried but failed to find 112.148. Fast 101 to Dresden and one night in the massive Ibis Budget. A 143 to Flughafen and the Vectron to Praha and a trip up to Rtyně v Podkrkonoší picking up two 754s in the process. Then to Ostrava for one night in a hard bed in room 510, don’t want that one again. Straight over Žilina next morning and east to Štrba and a nice climb on the rack line to Štrbské Pleso. Once back down the hill I then successfully got 162.007 and then 383.108 which were required. Had a meal in the restaurant on Galanta platform and as I set off for the hotel Cargo 240.019 was on late running R814 heading in to Bratislava but it would have meant a really late finish so I flagged and as expected never saw it again! I walked to the hotel for one night stay. Next day I set about covering all Bratislava 240 turns, I did get 240.142 at the end of the day but no Cargo work. I was then in Mercure for the next five nights so that was easy. I went down to Nové Zámky intending to cover as many 240s as possible. After three duds and no sign of any Cargo ones I ended up heading to Zvolen with the intention of viewing a few turns but required 750.183 was taken on R946 to Žilina so was taken instead. Then to Trenčín and then did the DMU only line to Chynorany and covered the 757 turns getting one new. A day around Bratislava mostly and took heritage blue 362.011 from Kúty -- Trnava and then to Zohor and the branch to Záhorská Ves and back. Then to Břeclav to meet Andreas for a pizza and back on required 386.203 which I think I got for free! EN477 to Štúrovo next morning to cover some DMU lines. First to Čata where I changed for a second one to Šahy and then the line north from Šahy to Zvolen which had re-opened in January. Up to Vrútky and some nice sunny photos and a new 757 and then back to Bratislava. I went down the Prievidza line as 736.101 was on the excel sheets as on train Os from Topoľčany - Nové Zámky. In reality it was (not surprisingly) a cart, so I stayed on to Partizánske and got another new 757. Then a circular trip from Bratislava picking up winner 754.036 over the hills and then back to Bratislava and flight home next day
from Friday 25 to Tuesday 29 January 2019
98 photos
A few days in Spain for the PTG "20th Anniversary Tour" which was run with ALSA in Madrid with their vintage stock and a heritage class 321 Alco loco. I started with an Iberia Express flight from Birmingham - Madrid for something different and then made my way into town. A couple of new 334s were around so I picked them up while I had some time. The next day we started the tour, 321.059 (masquerading as 321.048) was our power and we set off up the old main line towards Barcelona. We had a break at Arcos de Jalón then we continued to Casetas to take on fuel and water and have a look around their museum collection which contained Vulcan 277.002 and 340.026. We then skirted round Zaragoza and headed towards Teruel and had a good photo stop at Encinacorba. Teruel was as good as I remember it and it was very popular with everyone. Next day on to Cuenca via Valencia with a few more photo stops on the way. The climb up towards Cuenca being very scenic and news of our train had got around with lots of locals coming out to meet us, even TV crews! One night in Cuenca and then more lovely scenery and locals waving at us and then on the main line at Aranjuez and into Madrid. ALSA then did an extra trip for us with the very impressive 310.022 sounding excellent on the big climb us to Segovia, I didn’t expect to get new track on this trip and even better on a proper train. My final day was in Madrid in the morning and then a trip to Albacete and two new 334s on the way back into Madrid. Then Ryanair back home next morning
from Saturday 22 December 2018 to Saturday 12 January 2019
282 photos
I returned to Germany to resume my Global InterRail, I had intended to fly to Berlin but the flight was well late so went to Hannover instead for the night. IC to Berlin and then EC to Poznań and TLK to Warszawa. I had pre-booked five nights at the Ibis Budget Reduta at an incredible €9 a night! So lots travelling radiating from Warszawa first few days quite a few runs with the excellent EP08 class. I made my way south via Radom and Stalowa Wola, slow but new track. I managed an EP08 from Przemyśl - Kraków! Next day moved on to Slovakia to be position for the annual top'n'tail 749s from Vrútky - Trstená and then to Ostrava for one night. Next more ZSSK travels and two nights at Pezinok. Some ÖBB travelling and a relief train from Wien - Innsbruck did the new freight line avoiding St Pölten which I used as my way into Italy and one night on Bologna. Then south to Trani and a chase of the elderly 444 “Turtle” power, sadly the weather was foul and not nice at all. I returned north to Milano for a night and the into France via Modane which is possible via loco hauled trains on winter weekends. I had one night in Chambéry and then via SBB to Basel and Strasbourg and the new TER with Sybic power and then a 15000 to St-Dizier and onto Paris for three nights and some good luck in chasing required Sybics. Finally a night in Dôle ready for my flight home next day
from Friday 30 November to Friday 14 December 2018
170 photos
A pre Christmas trip started using a big combination of various tickets. I flew with Ryanair to Leipzig/Halle to get in a new airport and stayed in Halle one night. I used a DB free ticket the next day mainly travelling around on 146.5 and then ICE to Erfurt for two nights. The Sunday was the now annual trip to Goslar via Seesen with regular 132.334 which sounded better this time. I returned to Wernigerode and did the steam down to Nordhausen and the Ludmilla back to Erfurt. I then had a ČD web ticket which I used as far as Kolín and then one night in Praha. On to Plzeň the next day and some rare (silent) 754 track from Cheb - Karlovy Vary. Did some new track direct to Mariánské Lázně and back to Plzeň. Another ČD web ticket next day to Neuenburg (Baden), shame I had to suffer awful 612 junk to Nürnberg. At least 120 power was good to Stuttgart and to Karlsruhe. Got two new 146.2 easily next morning and then to Mulhouse and two of the Strasbourg diesels. Did the third the next morning and after some Sybics I took 15005 on the IC ÉCO to Paris, however it terminated Nancy due to derailment so a staggering TGV instead. Local Paris moves and a trip to Abbeville next day and then overnight to La Tour de Carol and on to Barcelona for one night. Left on the Tuesday via classic AVE 100 to Montpellier and then IC to Marseille for three nights. Started a one month global InterRail on the Wednesday so down to Nice and picked up two new Thello 36000s. On the Thursday a day on the Bordeaux IC trains and an out and back to Toulouse with winners each way and a new 22RC later also. The Friday was simply a case of heading to Nice (another winner airport) for flight back home
from Monday 5 to Sunday 18 November 2018
228 photos
Another trip to France, this time with an absolutely bargain seven day zone 1-5 (all Paris) region Navigo ticket which costs €22.80! I flew with FlyBe from Doncaster - Paris CDG and then purchased the ticket at the airport for an RER EMU into town. The first target was to try and finally get 7605 out of Montparnasse and after many attempts I got it, it was stabled on stock outside the station so until it looked ready to do something I did quick tips to Versailles-Chantiers and back. Once I had it I did a few more moves then walked to the Ibis Budget near La Verriere for my one night stay. Next morning I had another run with 7605 and then took a bus over to Gare de Lyon and started doing runs on the TER trains heading towards Laroche-Migennes, first time to Melun and then to Bercy to cover the fist of the two PM trains to Nevers that stop at Nemours Saint-Pierre giving me a new Sybic was a good start. Once back in Paris I went straight to Fontainebleau-Avon to check into the hotel then a trip to Melun to end up on winner 7246. The next couple of days were similar and I ended up doing a winning Sybic from Bercy three nights running. On the Friday morning I went to Trilport and thanks to late running on the first inbound from Le Ferté-Milon I managed to cover both diesels and got two winners! I then went to St-Lazare and picked two new 17000s so had a good day. After two rounds trips to Fontainebleau-Avon I went to Nord for a round trip to Boulogne on a pre-booked web ticket at €15 each way. It ended up being my worst ever SNCF farce, ninety late start, all change Amiens, DMU to Abbeville, southbound train caped, DMU back to Amiens and a bus to Paris arriving 00.30! Next day went better a round trip similar ticket to St-Quentin with 15000s and thankfully no carts or buses! Monday was an ECÓ ticket with a new Sybic to Bordeaux and then a 22000 to Montpellier for one night. Fast TGV to Lyon next morning and I bought a one week season ticket to enjoy the Dijon 7200 and Chambéry 22000 turns. I did plenty of travelling around locally on the many loco hauled turns in this excellent area. On the Thursday it was full sunshine so I had a couple of hours at Quincieux which was nice and busy with southbound freights. Due to digging north of Lyon at the weekend lots extra freights diverted via Ambérieu so I had a few hours there but no sunshine sadly. I returned home on the Sunday, ching tram to the airport and FlyBe back to Stansted
from Friday 26 to Monday 29 October 2018
31 photos
A three day trip to France to use one of the excellent value €20 weekend Normandie tickets. We took Eurostar (new plastic set) to Paris-Nord and then went over to St-Lazare where we had €15 advance web tickets to Le Havre for one night there. We left the hotel early to cover the first Paris which we were expecting a 15000 on but it was a pair of carts! Thankfully there was another move available which was one of the few trains a day all the way down the branch to Rolleville. Pitch dark of course but worth doing and enough light to get an atmospheric photo at the end of the line. The next Paris was OK and taken to Rouen-Rive-Droite for an hour and then an ACG forward to Bernay for our travels on the main line towards Caen. First we took 15021 to Lisieux and dropped back there for the next IC to Trouville-Deauville. However a pair of double deck carts was most certainly not what we wanted but with no other move available we took it anyway. The rest of the day was spent between Caen and Évreux Normandie with four Sybics and a couple 15000s being sampled. The next day we did two trips to Cherbourg all with Sybic power, sunny but very strong winds! We returned to Paris on Monday morning and had one day Mobilis tickets chasing the 7600s out of Montparnasse and then to Est for 67515 to Meaux on the first La Ferte-Milon, back on an EMU for Eurostar back home. The allocated comfortable old set was replaced with a new plastic one, backward facing seats against a large plastic panel!
from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 October 2018
14 photos
A short weekend trip to Ireland for another 071 tour. I took a late afternoon flight (full of the usual idiots!) from Manchester - Dublin and then into town and down to the Bed and Breakfast which I had booked for two nights. The Saturday was the tour (in the pouring rain) which ran from Connolly station and down the main line to Cork. The section to Cobh got cancelled due to late running and the importance of doing the vital West Coast section from Limerick - Athenry via Ennis. An excellent storming run back into Dublin sitting in the front coach was very good. I went out to Drogheda on the Sunday and covered two inbound Enterprise turns, and had a wander around the town on a nice sunny morning. Back to the airport and a delayed Flybe flight to Southend
from Saturday 29 September to Tuesday 9 October 2018
162 photos
A week long visit to Bulgaria for the "Balkan Circular" tour, which maybe should have been renamed a mystery tour. Four sets of stock were used, a 36 hour blockade in Serbia, a bridge closure in FYROM and two loco failures, but it did everything (apart from the dodgy bridge!). The route was Sofia - Niš - Bitola - Kočani - Veles - Thessaloniki - Alexandroupoulis - Svilengrad - Podkova - Sofia. Locos had over the trip were 07.001, 666.001, 441.710, 661.410, 661.234, A-506, A-451, 120.027, 07.077, 43.514 & 43.533. Apart from the excellent MLW traction another highlight was former BDZ 07.077 now in very distinctive blue PIMK Rail livery. After the tour I flew to Charleroi and two nights at Antwerpen having one day in Belgium and then one in Netherlands and a Flybe flight to Doncaster making it an easy journey home
from Thursday 6 to Monday 17 September 2018
144 photos
A twelve day trip concentrating on France started with a nice cheap £9.99 flight to Tours where I bought a global ten day InterRail ticket. Friday was concentrating on the locos in and out of Austerlitz and I managed to pick up three Sybics during the day. I stayed in Paris and then the IC eco to Strasbourg and then onto best TER service in France with the Sybics on 200 km/h stock. I did a few 146s around Freiburg and then a couple of Re4/4 before returning to Mulhouse where I was staying for two nights. An early Sybic into Bâle SNCF and then back with quite a few others to get a hired bus to Volgelsheim and a special train with vintage Baldwin diesel 62029 for the run to Embarcadere de Sans-Soucis and back. A combination of buses got us back to Bad Krozingen and then to Spiez to pick up very old BLS 205 on the heritage train to Bern via Belp. I then made my way back to Mulhouse via Colmar. Up to Strasbourg next morning and picked up three new 25000s and then I headed to the RhB and their Nostalgia train with baby Crok 415 on the front, giving me four of the class now. An early start to head back to Zürich and I found the ex SBB 450.070 out which I took to Langnau-Gattikon and back, I then did the other line to Uetliberg. The flirt EMUs looking very off with their offset pantographs. I then went east to Montreux for some lunch then to Genève and winning 22364 to Lyon, for another winner back to Culoz and then to Chambery for one night. It was a busy day next day starting with 22400 to Lyon and a partial west bank diversion via the two crossings at St-Rambert-d'Albon - Peyraud and La Voulte sur-Rhône - Loriol. Once in Marseille I took the fast Bordeaux bound IC which was one of the few trains that took the new line via Montpellier Sud de France, I was expecting a good 160 km/h run on this section, no chance a 137 km/h trundle. Bang on time in Bordeaux for one night stay. Next day to Toulouse and covering the four 7200 turns on the Bayonne IC trains and staying in Lourdes. I returned to Toulouse next morning and covered a few IC turns picking up three new 22000 in the process and then a night in Avignon. I want down to Marseille next day for some travels and then north to Lyon. Into Switzerland next morning, and a profitable trip on BLS and then to Bern and a Re465 to La Chaux de Fonds, and a DMU to Besançon Viotte, EMU to Besançon Franche-Comté TGV, TGV to Mulhouse and a Sybic to Bâle for my last night. Straight to airport next ad and flight home
from Friday 20 to Monday 30 July 2018
126 photos
I started the trip with a flight with Avios points from Heathrow - Stuttgart and then an advance DB ticket to Erfurt. This trip to Germany was booked months in advance after a tour with a Ludmilla was announced taking one of the class to Blankenstein, a required branch so certainly appealing! However shortly before it ran news came through it was now a 229 and terminating at Wurzbach! What a waste of time that was! I did the outward to Saalfeld as I could then do the 120 turn north to Leipzig. I spent a few hours in the area and one night there. North to Stendal next day then to Berlin, Dresden and Praha and the start of the ČD summer ticket with a seven day first class upgrade add on. Next day I made my way to Plzeň which was my base for the next four nights. I made various trips out from Plzeň each day to Cheb, Klatovy, Praha, Ústí nad Labem and other locations. The temperatures were very high so keeping cool was the priority! I then moved to Praha for the last three nights the Saturday was all fresh air stock as some tasty track could be done, fine early in the day but later it wasn't nice in the searing heat! But the track bits were accomplished going to Jičín via one route, a 742 to Turnov and then a half decent sounding 754 back to Praha. Early trip to Pardubice on the Sunday for 193.215 which somehow appeared on Regiojet the previous day, then to Rakovník for the 740 on the old DMU trailers. I then had 749.121 back to Praha. Final day was to Brno via Hranice na Moravě and Břeclav and an over three hour late flight back home!
from Sunday 1 to Saturday 14 July 2018
211 photos
Yet another PTG Tours visit to Alaska started with a BA A380 flight to Vancouver for one short night in town. We took Amtrak to Seattle next morning for a one night and then an evening flight north to Fairbanks. A tourist day in the far north with a visit to the Fountainhead Car museum and then Pioneer Park where Porter #1 steam loco was in operation as it was 4 July. Next day we took "Denali Star" for our long luxurious ride south to Anchorage via Denali and Talkeetna. The next two days were days trips to Whittier / Spencer Glacier / Grandview and then Seward, with cruises available each day. The Sunday saw us fly to Juneau where we stopped off at the Salmon Hatchery as this is an excellent place to see Bald Eagles. Next morning we had to revert to catamaran power as the "Columbia" was out of service after a small engine room fire to get us to Skagway. We had four nights in this incredible magical town, rail activities included a short run into Ore Dock, an all day round trip to Carcross and a Summit Excursion with triple Alco power, a real highlight for the diesel fans! Thankfully a nice close up view of a young bear with quite a few getting a photo in the process! The final day was train 23 to Fraser and then bus to Whitehorse for one night and then flights home via Vancouver, a few of us had a few hours there so went into town and took the Seabus over to Lonsdale Quay for some lunch. The usual exhausting flight back over the Atlantic and a big dose of jet lag!
from Friday 8 to Sunday 24 June 2018
212 photos
Another couple of weeks wandering around Europe started with a flight to Stuttgart to get into position for the V200. 033 tour in the Schwarzwald area. I then went to Zürich and then overnight to Graz to join the Sž tour with 644.016 to Mürzzuschlag and then back to Ljubljana. As fully expected excellent sounds from the Spanka during the day. I then had a four nights in Pivka and chasing 363s and (naturally) avoiding 342s. I then moved to České Budějovice via Austria for a couple of nights using the excellent value regional tickets. Then to Praha for one night and a brand new Regiojet Traxx to Bratislava where I bought an excellent value one week "Summer ticket" for €29 for seven days. I stayed in Trnava for three nights. I then moved on to Poland for two nights at Zabrze so as usual I concentrated on the Wrocław and Opole area as this section gives nice fast runs. I did a long run north on the Saturday as a TLK was booked to do both Rzepin and Szczecin avoiding lines. After one night in Szczecin it was Ryanair back to Liverpool to end the trip
from Wednesday 16 to Tuesday 29 May 2018
186 photos
Another wander around Eastern Europe started with a flight from Stansted - Budapest and two nights staying there. I had a European East Pass five day ticket so spent a few days going to and from Austria getting my value out of the ticket. First day I cleared my final two Railjet 1116s, got three 2016s (when bored and nothing else to do!) and one of my last 1144s. The next four days were on the PTG Hungary tour with some unusual lines and locos, of which two nights were based in Pécs, highlight being noisy 2062.038 for 300 km of GM sounds. I then moved hotels to Győr and had another couple of days with some 1116s and another new 1144 taking me down to now needing five locos. I then moved north to České Budějovice for one night and then with a good value ČD web ticket went further north to Warszawa for two nights and then a good value "Weekend Max" ticket. I managed one of two Griffin Newag locos on hire to PKP and did a nice diversion north of Kraków while it was on. The Sunday morning I took EP08 power to Poznań via Inowrocław Rąbinek and also due to a derailment at Łowicz we went via Łowicz Przedmieście where a reversal was needed. I then made my way south to Zabrze for one night. Next day was final day of my EEP ticket and I made my way to Vrútky via Bratislava and some Gorilla action. On my final day I did a trip to Kosiče and back before going to Poprad-Tatry for Wizzair back to Luton, a delayed flight getting home at 02.00!
from Monday 16 to Wednesday 25 April 2018
259 photos
Another visit to Slovakia using a senior ZSSK InterRail purchased while the sale was on making it €101 for eight days. I started off with Wizzair from Luton - Budapest and stayed one night there. Next day was an ideal opportunity to do the booked 350 "Gorilla" turn out of Nyugati station which worked fine with heritage livery 350.005. I took this to Bratislava and then used a single ticket to get me up to Poprad-Tatry. This was my base for the next eight nights and it was nice to walk around with only my small rucksack each day. Each day was a mix of travelling around and taking photos where and when the sun was out. I finally got round to getting to the classic curve shot at Štrba. Other nice photos were taken very close to the stations at Gánovce, Letanovce and Spišské Tomášovce. At the end of the trip I returned to Bratislava and the flight back home
from Friday 6 to Monday 9 April 2018
40 photos
A short trip to Ireland for the RPSI "The Branch Line Wanderer" special train, I flew from Liverpool - Dublin and back. I just (by seconds!) managed to make to 16.00 from Heuston giving me new 219 to Thurles for new 226 back in which was a good start. The tour on that Saturday produced 071, 074 and 086 with some excellent running on lovely old Cravens stock with opening windows. On the Sunday I went south to Limerick Junction and then on the direct DMU to Galway which finally got me in required track from Ennis - Athenry, it seemed sensible to do it as rumours of it closing again are floating around. Mondays target was 233 which was working out of Connolly, it took some getting after it started late from Belfast and I had assumed it to be cancelled but it wasn't, anyway it kept me on the move!
from Monday 12 to Tuesday 27 March 2018
156 photos
Another wander around Europe, this time armed with four bargain ČD on line tickets between Praha - Germany and two €9 ÖBB - Sž tickets. I flew with BA to Praha and started the day with a local rover to do a few 362 moves. I then set off with an EC to Dresden and worked my way slowly north to Bad Zwischenahn where I was staying for two nights. I had a Niedersachsen ticket the next day to cover my travels. I returned back to Praha next day doing various moves on my way. Same again for my second wander north into DB again stopping off on the way as before for one night at Hannover. Another Niedersachsen ticket the next day and then ending up in Hamburg in the evening for one night. Back to Praha again next day via Berlin this time as Leipzig was in shutdown mode! A Regiojet single to Wien and then a local city ticket to pick up a couple of winners. Next day my bargain ÖBB ticket to Koper via Villach and Ljubljana. Found some 363 action to Sežana which was perfect to get me to Pivka for my one night there. I managed more good 363 moves next day and then to Poljčane for the next four nights. Most days I found some 363 action and over the six days twenty locos worked passenger turns! A visit to Maribor works on the Friday got us up to date on the diesel fleet. I did "Pohorje" to Koper two days running as 363 each day and very limited other moves available. On the Monday afternoon I returned to Wien and as EC210 was well late that meant I could use "Emona" with preferred 363 and 1144 power! Regiojet back to Praha next day and Flybe to Southend as a nice quiet way back home!
from Saturday 24 February to Sunday 4 March 2018
81 photos
A return to Morocco started with a flight from Ryaniar to Rabat, and then an attempt to buy the elusive RailPass to make travelling nice and easy, being a Saturday evening no one was prepared to help so tickets it was! We made our way up to Fès early on the Sunday morning to start our DH travelling. We had booked to Ibis hotel which is right outside the station and always a good price. We did a couple of out and back trips, the first to Matmata and the second to Chebatat which gave me three new DH which was a very successful start. Next day we did a few trips to Taza and managed two more new DH and then a main line trip out to Sabaâ Aïoun netted me a couple of new Prima so another fruitful day! A longer run out the next day to Taourirt and then stepped back at Taza to pick up another DH taking me to six new in three days. After a morning trip out to Meknes we settled for a diesel run to Taza and back, that was until we passed DF-119 (ex SNCF 72020) at Ain Sbit which caused us to hastily return to Fès as these rarely do passenger work these days! Little did we know the train we were going to Taza for was freight biggie DH-357 which only worked that one train! On the Thursday we made our way to Tanger in awful weather which included a long delay at Sidi Kacem. I went to Tanger Med next morning, although advertised as running my sailing to Algeciras was cancelled but thankfully a taxi over the hills to Ceuta let me just make the 11.30 sailing and therefore making my booked Altaria to Madrid. The Saturday was the 321 Alco turn from Madrid Príncipe Pío - El Escorial which was excellent and nice to see this superb town. Next day it was Ryanair back to Birmingham and end of a good trip
from Wednesday 31 January to Tuesday 13 February 2018
142 photos
Another wander around Germany and Eastern Europe, started off with a Ryanair flight to Frankfurt/M and then to Darmstadt for one night. I covered a few 143 turns the next morning and then to Erfurt and a DMU to Sömmerda for the EBS "Ludmilla" turn to Buttstädt and then a bus and, EMU and ICE to Fulda for one night. I made my way to Frankfurt/M knowing one of my last 114s might be out and I actually managed my last three in successive runs! Then a ICE to Köln and the 120.2 to Siegen to keep warm and then to Duisburg and a couple of new 146s on my way to Münster (Westf) for two nights. 216.002 tour to Willingen next day with some excellent Maybach music entertainment on the way. We filled in time with a DMU down the little branch to Brilon Stadt and then the long run back stack at the back of the train. Made my way to Praha next morning via stops in Hannover and Dresden picked up a couple of 143s and my last 146 based there. Three nights in Praha mostly on local tickets, and then started a six day Slovakian InterRail with three nights in Bratislava and the three in Poprad-Tatry. I spent most of my time just enjoying the locos in this nice cheap part of the world. Wizzair back to Luton to finish the trip
from Friday 22 December 2017 to Tuesday 9 January 2018
183 photos
The second part of my InterRail with various other tickets added on in Poland and Czech Republic to keep me going until well after the New Year. I flew to Köln/Bonn and slowly made my way to Hannover for one night. On to Berlin next morning and then into Poland and three nights at Warszawa with a couple of days around the Lublin area while some freight line diversions we taking place. I went south on 26th with a Zakopane train via Chabówka and then the very slow crawl to Pszczyna. I then made my way to Cieszyn which was base for the next three nights. A local area ticket next day and so tackled some of the branches in the area on the first day. Next day was mainly in the Brno area and then I was on early train to Praha and then via "Alex" to Regensburg and then to München and three nights in Augsburg making full use of the last few days of my InterRail ticket. Up to Nürnberg next day to view the 143s and then do the Railpool Vectron turns to Sonneberg and pic up the last straggler and then down to München to hope for the 103 to Ulm but no luck, but no objections to taking a 120. A quick run up hill to Geislingen with 218.427 and then back to Augsburg. Next day was a trip to Füssen and then I had planned to go to Lindau but the line was closed beyond Hergatz so back to München for a new 146 to Landshut and then back to Augsburg. Next two days were in Stuttgart and Innsbruck area and then a 401 ICE to Halle via the new lines to Erfurt and on to Halle and then via Leipzig, Dresden and Praha to Plzen for three nights. An all CD ticket was then followed by a Plzen region ticket and then to Praha and flight back home
from Thursday 7 to Monday 18 December 2017
128 photos
Part one of a Christmas and New Year global InterRail started off with a flight to Stuttgart and one night there. Early on the Friday morning I started the ticket and went north to Düsseldorf for the main attraction of the day with (thankfully) 120 power on Fridays only IC1959 which was booked via Altenbeken and Leinefelde on its slow journey to Berlin. I had one night there and then had a day covering the Magdeburg 146 diagrams, this included a trip to Stendal which always brings back memories of taking photos there in 1983 on my first ever visit to the DDR. I picked up the two locos I wanted and also had vintage 143.002 on S7 running to Halle-Nietleben. The direct ICE from Halle - Erfurt had gone so I had to trundle via Naumburg and horrible cart. Next day was the Ludmilla tour from Erfurt - Goslar via Herzberg giving some tasty new Ludmilla track. Six hours in Goslar and then heavy snow just before departure time for nice atmosphere. ICE to Coburg via the new line next morning and them covered the new Railpool top'n'tail Vectron turns to and from Nürnberg. Thankfully I got a 120 over to Stuttgart and the as booked an ÖBB 1116 to Singen and then a few new Re450 and a Lion set to Winterthur. I stayed at Seuzach next few nights with days out on BLS, RhB, SNCF and chasing the Freiburg 146s and the Neuenburg border crossing. The Saturday I planned to do the 218 to Neustadt but it was a filthy 611 unit, bonus prize with steam 01-519 a few minutes behind it. On the Sunday I did a Re460 to Lugano and back to get the new Gotthard tunnel in, not exciting but done it now. Vastly more interesting was the top'n'tail Re446 on the Voralpen Express to St Gallen and passing all six Re456 on the other services. Then the undoubtable highlight of the day was quality Re6/6 power on the return run of the St Gallen - Luino special train on classic ex SBB stock with huge full opening windows! A real bonus occurred at Zürich as we went via the new "durchmesserlinie" and the huge climb onto existing tracks outside Zürich HB. As always fantastic to do the Gotthard again with superb traction! I had one night in Luino and then made my way to Bergamo and flight back home
from Monday 6 to Tuesday 21 November 2017
298 photos
Another two week wander Europe started with a Ryanair flight to Plovdiv for one night. A day on the excellent narrow gauge from Septemvri next day and then an overnight from Sofia on the Dobrich portion. A bit of extra diesel next morning after out electric packed up at Sindel. Good 07 sounds and smoke to Dobrich where we found another 07 vice DMU to Kardam, so a lucky day. Once in Varna along to Razgrad for a very short night. Up to Silistra next morning and a walk through town and tug and pontoon to Călărași in the rain! Up to Ciulniţa then to Slobozia Veche and GM vice unit into Bucureşti. After a day in Bucureşti up to Braşov using the Regiotrans ex SNCF 25500 and Rio sets and then to Sibiu for two nights. After one day then on to Arad (what a superb modern station) for one night. North to Oradea next day and then on to Győr via Budapest for two nights. The rest of the trip was then chasing GySEVs new Vectron power and travelling around Wien where I stayed for four nights on various ÖBB power. Flew home from Bratislava to Manchester
from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 October 2017
46 photos
Another short trip to Ireland for an 071 tour, but this time a pair! I took the opportunity to get a couple of new airports in as well. I flew from Stansted to Kerry and stayed in Tralee for one night. The next day a few of us sampled some 201s on the Heuston - Cork services and I managed to pick up three winners which was a good result and occupied the day. The Saturday was the day of the "Munster Double" tour with 071+073 in almost original livery and their first ever passenger train in multiple. The train was load nine and there was no short of entertainment especially when the locos were on the north end as we were in coach A. First we went to Cork, then Tralee and back north to Dublin. A most enjoyable day. I flew home from Knock, so a rail replacement bus down to Kildare and then a DMU to Claremorris. I had plenty of time there for some lunch and then the number 64 bus to Knock Airport for flight back to Liverpool to finish the trip
from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 October 2017
57 photos
A five day trip to Montenegro for what should have been three days of solid diesel action until the chiefs decided not to allow 644s on passenger trains! We flew from Stansted to Podgorica which was our base for the trip. Once in hotels it was then an afternoon run down to Bar and then back up to Sutomore and a pizza beside the sea before returning to Podgorica. The Thursday was depot visit and control tower visits at Podgorica and then another trip down to Bar for a visit to our regular café before returning to Podgorica. Friday was by now our regular loco with 461.039 to Nikšić vice EMU and then down to Bar for a depot visit and back to Podgorica. Saturday was up the mountains to Bijelo Polje with fresh snow and then into Serbia as far as Priboj and then back to Podgorica again. Final day was a taxi to Tivat airport and then easyJet back home
from Thursday 14 to Tuesday 19 September 2017
70 photos
A five day trip to the Czech Republic started off with a flight to Pardubice as a recently available airport with flights from England. I did some moves around Česká Třebová and then made my way to Brno and on to Tišnov where I was staying for five nights. Next day I went Brno - Jihlava - Havlíčkův Brod and then back to Brno in a circle before returning to Tišnov. The Saturday saw the usual extra trains running to Mošnov, Ostrava Airport, I took the 362 from Brno all the way to the airport and in the evening a short run with the ÖBB 1216 on the Praha train and then back to Tišnov. On the Sunday I did the weekend 754 turn which does the otherwise DMU only route from Tišnov - Žďár nad Sázavou (line 251) and the on to Praha and back via Nymburk and Pardubice to Brno and Tišnov. After an early trip to Bílovice nad Svitavou for the 210 turn I went to Nymburk and Kolín and then back to Brno and Tišnov. The last day was on a more local area ticket so thd the DMU branches from Šakvice - Hustopeče u Brna and from Zaječí - Hodonín. A run out to Vyškov na Moravě got me a new 362 before taking to bus to the airport and the flight back home
from Friday 25 August to Thursday 7 September 2017
233 photos
The final weekend I was valid in NS on their summer August weekend ticket, so I did the Manchester - Eindhoven flight again and made my way Gilze-Rijen where I was staying for two nights. I did a full day on Traxx power on the Saturday picking up three winners in the process. Next day one more and then I covered a few 1700 turns before making my way to Osnabrück for my hotel. A local Niedersachsen ticket the next day covering the Bremen 146 turns and went to Emden Außenhafen and Norddeich Mole on the new IC2 double deck sets. On the Tuesday I dated a free DB ticket and joined Clive for a chase of 218s on the Westerland line. Another Niedersachsen ticket the next day again mainly covering Bremen 146 and Metronom also, ending the day with a hotel in Hamburg. The Thursday was the final day of IRE4273 getting dragged by a pair of 218s to Berlin Ostbahnhof and an excellent run on time all the way. I then sampled the re-introduced "Locomore" train all the way from Berlin Lichtenberg - Stuttgart for a bargain €9.90! A web ticket to Bonn next day and then a one day NRW ticket and I kept very busy with twelve new 146 during the day! Next day was the EFW tour with V200-033 to Cuxhaven via Bremerhaven, almost impossible to believe it was thirty-three years since I was last at Cuxhaven, it felt like no more than ten years, so it certainly brought back some memories! I bailed off the return at Holzwickede and walked to the Ibis Budget for my one night stay. Wizz to Sofia next morning, €9 for me, €11 for my bag! I waited for Kev and we took the metro into town. The Monday was the dreaded crawl to Niš, good start with plenty of power with new 46211 and then very pleased with "Tito" 666.001 forward. Much more noise than I was expecting and a very enjoyable run. Had hoped for 666.003 on the return but it did an Optima and we got ultra dull 661.112 for a totter back to Dimitrovgrad and about average two hours late back in Sofia. Next day we set off down the narrow gauge, plenty of carriages now have full opening widows and very comfortable seats making it a very enjoyable journey nowadays. I did extra short run to Bansko in the evening as winning 75004 was following us down the line. Next day we went north to Velingrad for lunch and the back to the summit at Avramovo and then back to Sofia. Back home the next day after a morning in Sofia.
from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 August 2017
39 photos
A short weekend in the Netherlands to make use of the NS OV-Chipkaart that I eventually managed to buy with the €39 August weekend deal, I (eventually) flew to Eindhoven after a three hour delay with Ryanair! Bus into town and a quick trip to Tilburg and back, but netted two new 186s. Next day was a full day getting value out of my ticket, so up and out on the first hauled train, thanks to Treinradar I was able to line up three more 186 on my way up to Amsterdam, they were all following each other and gave me a nice connection into 1780 on an IC to Enkhuizen. I had about an hour there enjoying this lovely location and then returned on 1731 back to Amsterdam. After a quick fill in to Schiphol and a Berlin bound IC to Amersfoort and then a proper look at the 17s on the Utrecht - Baarn service, being a weekend there were only two sets out rather than three on weekdays. Soest offered to best remote location set in a lovely village. Once back at Baarn the plan of returning via Amersfoort on the next IC from Berlin was scuppered when it was shown as an hour late, so EMU instead. I got a salad and the ICD to Rotterdam - at least that was the plan until we stopped about fifteen kilometres short near the village of Moerkapelle and returned to Schiphol! Apparently there was a fire in a tunnel so the line was closed. There was lots of digging going on so the only alternative route was to Rotterdam via Utrecht! So a very late finish! Up to Rotterdam next morning and I found 2805 on the next Bruxelles IC, so took it to Dordrecht and then slowly made my way to Eindhoven for flight home, only one hour late this time!
from Monday 31 July to Monday 14 August 2017
235 photos
Another two week wander around Eastern Europe and this time with absolutely bargain summer tickets. Two weeks on ČD €45 and one week ZSSK €39! I flew to Nürnberg to get started, it was hot so I had to get used to it. I picked up a few new 143 on S2. Next day I went into ČD and three nights based in Plzeň, mainly covering 242s with plenty of turns to cover. I went to do the hauled "Ex" turn to Nové Údolí but late running meant a DMU on the final but from Černý Kříž, at least I did the track, but not hauled. I then moved on via Praha and the booked division in Brno via Dolní dolní nádraží and Ostrava to Žilina where I stayed few nights. First day I did the excellent rack line from Štrba - Štrbské Pleso and then I enjoyed the main line. Next day I did R train diversions via the direct secondary route from Horná Štubňa - Zvolen as it was on for a few days. A day round Bratislava the next day and I managed one of two Cargo 240s that were out. Next day down to Zvolen to see what 240s I could find, I got a couple. An R train to Košice via Fiľakovo was my way of heading east for three nights there; it was hot so air con only moves were in force. My first morning there was photting at Kostoľany nad Hornádom as there was a shady spot to hide in. I then did a trip to Humenné, but got bowled with a cart back, but it was cool. The late afternoon was the lovely comfy stoppers to Poprad-Tatry and back, top power in lovely stock, most relaxing. Similar moves next day and then the next one was long zigzag to get to Zabrze. I went via Vrútky (with a diesel fill in) then Ostrava and EC115 to Kraków, this time via Plasov and then to Zabrze in a stinking hot train. A full day around Wrocław followed and then a circular trip via Bielsko-Biała Główna and Opole twice! Final morning went very well indeed with an EP07 on an EP09 turn, so out and back to Bohumín via different routes. A good finish to an excellent trip!
from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 22 July 2017
90 photos
Start of another trip to France, taking advantage of some great price weekend tickets and other summer offers. I flew to Toulouse as it was a bargain fare, and a good web ticket up to Paris next morning on a classic load fourteen IC, the way to travel! I then made my way to Caen and start of our €20 Normandie weekend ticket for two people! On the bank Holiday Friday we did Trouville-Deauville and then to Cherbourg, and on the Saturday we went to Le Havre and a couple of short diesel branches, and back to Paris on bargain web ticket in the evening. On the Sunday we left early on the Eco IC to Strasbourg with classic 15000 power on the front, just had enough time at Nancy to get to the coffee machine in as we pulled in to platform one! Once in Strasbourg we got a group Alsa Group ticket for the rest of the day and then one solo one for the Monday also. It's very much Sybic only action in the summer holidays, no 67400 work and only two 25500 turns, but the TER200s and fantastic and I love travelling on them, one of Europe's best classic 200 km/h trains! On the Tuesday morning I set off to Belfort and a two day two day Franche-Comté ticket basing myself in Montbéliard for two nights. It was pretty much a fixed bash on the Dijon 22200 turns, and sadly their stock is nowhere near as well maintained as Alsace, no water on the whole train being a sample! The Ibis at Montbéliard wasn't the best and a bus journey, but it was a good price! Managed one new 22200 next day, but in revenge SNCF then cancelled the next turn! I eventually got moving again. Back to the Belfort-Montbéliard TGV station next day to take me back to Mulhouse and Strasbourg for my last two nights. Finishing off with a Baden-Württemberg ticket for some 146 moves from Offenburg and then gleaming new 147 power to Stuttgart and my flight back home.
from Friday 12 to Tuesday 30 May 2017
303 photos
Another wander around Europe started with a flight to Carcassonne and four nights staying in Avignon. First object of the trip was a tour from Avignon - Sète with immaculate 6570 looking fantastic. The other days were chasing 22200 in the Lyon and Marseille areas and Chambéry locos do some interesting track nowadays. After Avignon I moved on to Toulouse for a couple of nights and did a few runs of the IC trains running to and from Bayonne which included a long overdue return to Lourdes and Pau area. I left Toulouse with a long run to Arles and then north to Lyon and to Chambéry via Annecy. Next day was down to Valence for some new 22200 track and then to Aix-les-Bains and a run to Genève, back to Lyon and to Besançon for one night. The Saturday was north to Belfort and then to Mulhouse for a few runs on the excelled TER200 Sybic action, and then to Nancy with the booked Saturday 26000 turn, then to Thionville for three nights. I did two days trips to Luxembourg and then on to Antwerpen for one night. The next day was on the 186s around Rotterdam and then via some 1700 action at Apeldoorn and a night at Enschede. Into DB next morning and up to Bremen for some 146 action and then to Berlin via Hannover for a night and then into Poland (after getting MEG 608 ex 143.020) on RB14. Once in Warszawa I did the KM turn to Radom temporarily via the CMK and line 331. Back to Warszawa next day and down to Wrocław for the evening and to Opole for two nights. Found Cargo EU07-108E out on PR services next day and after that some time in Poznań and then back to Opole. Early start next day with IC6300 to Kraków Płaszów via Główny avoider and then to Bohumín via the new EC114, but with a CD 163 and not a EU07 as expected. Final hotel of the trip was at Olomouc and few back home next day from Ostrava
from Thursday 20 April to Tuesday 2 May 2017
301 photos
Another trip started with a Ryanair flight to Trieste where I stayed one night. Next day I took a bus to Villa Opicina next morning as the tram not running (again) and then a slow EMU to Ljubljana. I went to Laze for a few of taking photos, it was quite busy and some nice results, quite a few 363 and far too many 342! I then went to Poljčane and stayed there for four nights. The next day I went to Laško and then back to Celje and then steam to Imeno and then Ljubljana and back to Poljčane. Sunday was better as a few extra trains run taking people back to Ljubljana, I was delighted with an all stations run with 363.029 from Maribor - Murska Sobota and then back from Hodoš. Monday was also good as I found out about a 664 vice in good time, so a very noisy run to Murska Sobota and back to Maribor. Citadella to Budapest next day and thankfully a 363 took me to Hodoš then slow run to Budapest. After a day on MAV the PTG tour started and we did various branches and sidings east of Budapest and in to Ukraine and then my flight back home
from Wednesday 15 to Friday 31 March 2017
251 photos
Another InterRail started off with a flight to Košice for a two night stay. Local travels there the first day and the start slow journey westbound via Vrútky and Žilina to Olomouc for two nights. A trip to Jeseník and then travels around the Česká Třebová area on the Saturday and then to Brno next day new track next day between Tišnov and Kolín and then travels in Nymburk and Lysá nad Labem area before into Praha for two nights. More next day around Nymburk and then I moved on to Plzeň for two nights. Finally managed to do the track into Železná Ruda-Alžbětín, around thirty years after I managed to reach Bayerish Eisenstein on the DB side on the border. Next it was via Dresden and Leipzig and after night in Osnabrück to Baarn for new 1700 track to Utrecht and on to Maubeuge via Den Haag CS, Bruxelles and Lille for one night. Big freight track on the train to Paris next morning with booked diversion via Longueil Ste Marie - Ormoy-Villers, with a very short spell in Paris I did it in each direction and then to Lille and new 22000 track to Dunkerque and two nights in Lille. 22000 chasing next day and a IC 22000 from Cambrai as well. More new 22000 track with Valenciennes via Douai and then to Calias. Finally moving on the Caen for final two nights and just enjoying the comfort of the Normandie IC trains before they go over to cart in a couple of years. Made my way home via the tunnel with the harsh riding new Siemens rubbish back to St Pancras
from Saturday 25 February to Friday 3 March 2017
206 photos
Another one week visit to Israel using the very well timed flight on a Saturday from Luton with easyJet. We stayed in Tel Aviv and bought an area 150 seven day ticket covering a large area from Binyamina - Ashdod to allow for plenty of travelling in this area, a bargain at 162.50 ILS (£35), one-day tickets for north and south were 37.50 ILS (£8) so a bargain! The first day was in the north with a visit to the rail museum at Haifa and also a pre-arranged visit to the depot just north of there, plenty of interesting EMD power. We then did the new "Valley Line" from Haifa - Beit She'an, as we had a Euro 3200 on our train we waited at the end of the line for the next train back and were rewarded with a blue Prima on the blue Alsthom cars! Next day I went south to Be'er Sheva - North / University to cover the Dimona branch as has been loco hauled recently, I was therefore very disappointed to find an IC3 DMU on the line! I continued to Be'er Sheva - Center and returned north via the new line to Ashkelon via Netivot. I finished with a trip up to Natanya for some photos and chasing Prima action. Next morning an early start to go to Beit Shemesh for the only loco hauled train of the day on this section of train, thankfully the "one minute" transfer between arriving and departing was just enough time to dash from one train to another! I then made my way to Ashkelon for a long day on the road bridge north of the station, nice and busy with passenger trains but not much freight action. Next morning I returned to Ashkelon with some sunshine and then north to Binyamina for some late sunshine and a few sunny side-on photos of blue northbound trains. On the final day one last attempt to cover the Dimona, but DMU again! So back to Tel Aviv and after a trip to Hod HaSharon - Sokolov it was back to the airport and a long slow flight home to grotty Luton!
from Friday 27 January to Monday 6 February 2017
92 photos
A short trip to Germany for another V200 trip which was followed by a week in Poland. I flew with Ryanair (as did quite a few others) from Stansted - Dortmund. After a false start we then found some 143 action and then up to Münster for one night. Plenty of British on the Maybach music to Wernigerode next day and an out and back to Drei Annen Hohne before returning to Wernigerode and back to Osnabrück on the special train. I went east next morning with an IC to Berlin, a Regio 182 to Frankfurt/O, Taurus to Poznań and then a wedged Sunday night TLK with premier EP08 power to Warszawa. Four nights in the Ibis Reduta near Zachodnia was my base. Monday was successful with an EP08 on the EIC to Jelenia Góra and back to Warszawa. After picking up some flu bug it was then short days and keep warm, so a trip to Kraków and back on the Tuesday. Another trip to Poznań on the Wednesday as I knew another EP08 was out on the main line, so more 140 km/h running. I had a play on KM Traxx locos out of Zachodnia and then took a TLK south to Kraków via the CMK and four nights in the Ibis near the station. My Friday move was decided when the PKP site advised that a hauled set was out vice EMU on an IC from Kraków - Szczecin via Kielce, quite a bit of EMU only track involved. I took it to Opoczno Południe and returned to Kraków with a winning EU07. The Saturday was always down for a long trip out to Krynica-Zdrój which was easy to do with a through train from Warszawa at this time of year. On the Sunday it was a round trip to Wrocław and back with an extra trip to Brzeg to fill out the day. I left Kraków on the Monday morning, really annoying was watching am EP08 on the next EIC to Warszawa which I couldn't touch as I had to head to Opole and then Katowice. A pre booked mini bus shuttle took me to the airport and my Wizzair flight back home
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