16-Feb-2010

After several days of light but persistent snowfall the sun decided to pop out for a few hours. Luckily the weather people were right on it so I was able to plan for an early leave from work and get a few pictures of what will probably be the last of the dustings for this season. It's certainly been a long winter again this year.

You've seen a number of pictures from Eschweiler if you've looked at the Far-West Germany gallery on this site, but this one is different in that it was taken from the platform looking towards the large S curve leading into the station from Cologne. My usual perch is near the concrete shanty in the right background or up on the noise barrier to the right.

There are a number of angles possible here and I look forward to come back in spring to try them out as the evening light comes around more towards the west.

Crossrail's 185s are kept busy with a number of pan-European trains. This one used to haul only gray Ewals containers but over the past year has seen more boxes by other freight forwarders adding some color to the mix.

Crossrail 185 593 brings the Ewals-train 40162 (Novara/I - Genk-Zeehaven/B) westbound through Eschweiler Hbf.

12-Feb-2010

Night photography and snow go together well. The huge floodlights in Montzen yard create an eerie scene reminiscent of a Star Wars landscape as DE 6301 quenches her thirst at Crossrail's "portable gas station".

Tonight trains were detouring through the yard while MoW people were busy clearing the switches on the main with leaf blowers.

Crossrail/DLC DE 6301 in Montzen. HDR image composed of 4 shots.

10-Feb-2010

We've had a nice winter so far, with several good deposits of snow. Our fourth helping arrived today, bringing with it the usual chaos on the roads. While a nationwide ban on driving trucks was trying to dissolve the gridlock on the highways, the railroads operated relatively normally.

Here 2819 has delivered the loaded Oberhausen limestone train to Aachen West and returns with the empty counterpart in fine style. The entourage has just passed idled Block 16 on the east throat of Montzen yard.

2819 races empty limestone train 48566 (Oberhausen/D - Hermalle s/Huy) through Montzen past Block 16.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.