This section contains photos taken recently with some comments, a blog. These pictures also appear in their respective categories if there is an album yet.
Use the "Map This" button at the top right to see a map with the photo locations pointed out on it.
If you need help in finding places, or if you are visiting the area and would like some more input on places to go, drop me a line at pix [at] mtnsub [dot] org. (you know what to do with the 'at' and 'dot' thingies...)
Use the "Map This" button at the top right to see a map with the photo locations pointed out on it.
If you need help in finding places, or if you are visiting the area and would like some more input on places to go, drop me a line at pix [at] mtnsub [dot] org. (you know what to do with the 'at' and 'dot' thingies...)
4-Jan-2010
Happy New Year everybody!
2010 seems to start very nicely. The expected traffic lull has been much less pronounced than last year, probably a sign of the economy being better. Additionally, we have had snow on the ground since New Year's eve. Undisturbed by wind it also decorates the trees in a very picturesque way. Add sun to that and the enterprising foamer just has to get out and take photos.
Here's a colorful scene as an Euregiobahn Talent running between Heerlen/NL and Dueren/D approaches Haanrade in the Netherlands. In just 2 km it will cross the border into Germany for the remainder of its trip.
Euregiobahn RB20 in Haanrade.
Happy New Year everybody!
2010 seems to start very nicely. The expected traffic lull has been much less pronounced than last year, probably a sign of the economy being better. Additionally, we have had snow on the ground since New Year's eve. Undisturbed by wind it also decorates the trees in a very picturesque way. Add sun to that and the enterprising foamer just has to get out and take photos.
Here's a colorful scene as an Euregiobahn Talent running between Heerlen/NL and Dueren/D approaches Haanrade in the Netherlands. In just 2 km it will cross the border into Germany for the remainder of its trip.
Euregiobahn RB20 in Haanrade.
30-Dec-2009
So long, 2009!
Have a great, healthy, and happy 2010 and may your wishes come true, whatever they may be.
2813 with the 44522 (Gremberg/D - Antwerpen-Noord) heads into the East Belgian mist as it passes Block 15 in Montzen.
So long, 2009!
Have a great, healthy, and happy 2010 and may your wishes come true, whatever they may be.
2813 with the 44522 (Gremberg/D - Antwerpen-Noord) heads into the East Belgian mist as it passes Block 15 in Montzen.
30-Dec-2009
The time between Christmas and New Year's has been exceptionally busy for the railroads this year. Quite unlike 2008, they were running the wheels off the equipment. That and a few days off prompted a couple of unscheduled (though of course still enjoyable) outings.
The westbound ore empties usually run Mo/We/Fr mornings, and today I caught them at Remersdaal, crossing over from 'B' to 'A' track. 'A' is still blocked - and in fact completely out in major parts - all the way between here and Montzen due to construction activities inside the tunnel and within the Hindel interlocking.
Temperatures have been on a real roller coaster lately. Freezing yesterday morning, double digits and heavy rain today, and frost and snow forecast for New Year's eve.
RTB/TSP MRCE 653-05 with the empty ore train 48510 (Stolberg/D-Lillo) in Remersdaal.
The time between Christmas and New Year's has been exceptionally busy for the railroads this year. Quite unlike 2008, they were running the wheels off the equipment. That and a few days off prompted a couple of unscheduled (though of course still enjoyable) outings.
The westbound ore empties usually run Mo/We/Fr mornings, and today I caught them at Remersdaal, crossing over from 'B' to 'A' track. 'A' is still blocked - and in fact completely out in major parts - all the way between here and Montzen due to construction activities inside the tunnel and within the Hindel interlocking.
Temperatures have been on a real roller coaster lately. Freezing yesterday morning, double digits and heavy rain today, and frost and snow forecast for New Year's eve.
RTB/TSP MRCE 653-05 with the empty ore train 48510 (Stolberg/D-Lillo) in Remersdaal.
29-Dec-2009
Three of Crossrail's Class 66 units - PB12, PB13, and PB19 - lost their old beat-up DLC decals in Montzen today. A poor soul from RailServiceNet equipped with a hot-air gun powered by a portable generator scraped away at them relentlessly in the sub-zero temps.
Whether they will be replaced with Crossrail decals, or whether the engines remain gray (or indeed are being returned to CBRail) is anybody's guess right now. Time will tell.
Postscript: they were returned to the lessor.
Three of Crossrail's Class 66 units - PB12, PB13, and PB19 - lost their old beat-up DLC decals in Montzen today. A poor soul from RailServiceNet equipped with a hot-air gun powered by a portable generator scraped away at them relentlessly in the sub-zero temps.
Whether they will be replaced with Crossrail decals, or whether the engines remain gray (or indeed are being returned to CBRail) is anybody's guess right now. Time will tell.
Postscript: they were returned to the lessor.
23-Dec-2009
The year draws to a close in a hurry. Starting tomorrow freight traffic will die down to a trickle into the new year. All the more reason to make use of the nice weather for which will probably be the last outing for 2009.
The Wednesdays-only gas tank car train from Dormagen to Lutterade/NL and back was scheduled inconveniently, but by a sheer stroke of luck it was delayed over 3 hours and I coincidentally caught it while hanging around Aachen Hbf. Here it accelerates out of the station after a new engineer stepped on board. The train was featured previously here - in much warmer weather! - on 26th of August.
The tower on the building in the right distance is a meteorological column, one of the few remaining operative ones in Europe. A German description can be found here.
Merry Christmas, everybody - may the holiday season be kind to you.
R4C/Veolia EU06 drags the heavily delayed 47712 (Dormagen - Lutterade/NL) through Aachen Hbf en route to the Netherlands.
The year draws to a close in a hurry. Starting tomorrow freight traffic will die down to a trickle into the new year. All the more reason to make use of the nice weather for which will probably be the last outing for 2009.
The Wednesdays-only gas tank car train from Dormagen to Lutterade/NL and back was scheduled inconveniently, but by a sheer stroke of luck it was delayed over 3 hours and I coincidentally caught it while hanging around Aachen Hbf. Here it accelerates out of the station after a new engineer stepped on board. The train was featured previously here - in much warmer weather! - on 26th of August.
The tower on the building in the right distance is a meteorological column, one of the few remaining operative ones in Europe. A German description can be found here.
Merry Christmas, everybody - may the holiday season be kind to you.
R4C/Veolia EU06 drags the heavily delayed 47712 (Dormagen - Lutterade/NL) through Aachen Hbf en route to the Netherlands.
19-Dec-2009
2373 and 2370 are in charge of a gas tank car extra to Montzen at Remersdaal. The train is headed for short-term storage in Montzen due to capacity restraints elsewhere on the system.
In late 2009 these moves, though unscheduled, are a regular assignment for the old electrics which thus make their (temporary) comeback to the L24. It seems like Montzen yard can still be useful after all.
2373 and 2370 are in charge of a gas tank car extra to Montzen at Remersdaal. The train is headed for short-term storage in Montzen due to capacity restraints elsewhere on the system.
In late 2009 these moves, though unscheduled, are a regular assignment for the old electrics which thus make their (temporary) comeback to the L24. It seems like Montzen yard can still be useful after all.
15-Dec-2009
Just a quick mention to let you know the Settle & Carlisle in November and Peak District galleries are now up and ready for your viewing pleasure in the Great Britain section.
EWS 66150 shunting at night in Peak Forest South.
Just a quick mention to let you know the Settle & Carlisle in November and Peak District galleries are now up and ready for your viewing pleasure in the Great Britain section.
EWS 66150 shunting at night in Peak Forest South.
1-Dec-2009
The dark winter months are a bit of a challenge for photography. Once you look past the "sun over your shoulder" paradigm, though, I think the subdued light and moody colors actually offer a lot to the enterprising photographer.
Here's Traxx 2822 with a chemical train bound for Antwerp from Germany. The move has crossed over onto the normal (left) running track at Block 16 in the background and skirts Montzen yard westbound as it continues its journey. Much of the cross-border chemical traffic moves in tank cars, but some also travels in containers as evidenced by the mixed consist seen here.
2822 with chemical train 41548 Ludwigshafen/D - Antwerp-BASF) passing Block 16 in Montzen westbound.
The dark winter months are a bit of a challenge for photography. Once you look past the "sun over your shoulder" paradigm, though, I think the subdued light and moody colors actually offer a lot to the enterprising photographer.
Here's Traxx 2822 with a chemical train bound for Antwerp from Germany. The move has crossed over onto the normal (left) running track at Block 16 in the background and skirts Montzen yard westbound as it continues its journey. Much of the cross-border chemical traffic moves in tank cars, but some also travels in containers as evidenced by the mixed consist seen here.
2822 with chemical train 41548 Ludwigshafen/D - Antwerp-BASF) passing Block 16 in Montzen westbound.
21-Nov-2009
Montzen yard continues to see some activity 11 months after B-Cargo pulled out. The private guys still make use of track capacity to store trains, as evidenced here by Trainsport (Rurtalbahn) with a Ford train with their blue G2000 V203 for power.
TSP seems to always have a few engines around, their class 66 and another G2000 with a sugar train were present as well. They usually congregate around tower 15 in the middle of the complex, while DLC parks their 66s near their "gas station" on the south side near the customs shed.
Rurtalbahn/Trainsport G2000 V203 with Ford autotrain in Montzen.
Montzen yard continues to see some activity 11 months after B-Cargo pulled out. The private guys still make use of track capacity to store trains, as evidenced here by Trainsport (Rurtalbahn) with a Ford train with their blue G2000 V203 for power.
TSP seems to always have a few engines around, their class 66 and another G2000 with a sugar train were present as well. They usually congregate around tower 15 in the middle of the complex, while DLC parks their 66s near their "gas station" on the south side near the customs shed.
Rurtalbahn/Trainsport G2000 V203 with Ford autotrain in Montzen.
15-Nov-2009
Just returned from a gorgeous week of railfanning in absolutely abysmal November weather along the Settle & Carlisle railway in Yorkshire and in the Peak District of Derbyshire.
November rain and darkness - challenging; insipring; different. The pictures are now available in two galleries in the Great Britain section.
Garsdale in the blue hour - station and signal box, looking north.
Just returned from a gorgeous week of railfanning in absolutely abysmal November weather along the Settle & Carlisle railway in Yorkshire and in the Peak District of Derbyshire.
November rain and darkness - challenging; insipring; different. The pictures are now available in two galleries in the Great Britain section.
Garsdale in the blue hour - station and signal box, looking north.
in this box:
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