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...)
19-Aug-2009
I returned to the Netherlands for a mid-week show of freight traffic around Sittard and Lutterade this week. There's a surprising amount of traffic in the area to fill a day with if you plan your moves carefully (and take a good look at the schedules so graciously provided by Rolandrail).
There's still just barely enough light for the northbound limestone train this time of year. In about two more weeks the shadows will swallow it for the next 8 months - assuming it keeps operating...
7775 7772 yarding the limestone train 48555 (Yves-Gomezee/B - Millingen/D) in Sittard.
I returned to the Netherlands for a mid-week show of freight traffic around Sittard and Lutterade this week. There's a surprising amount of traffic in the area to fill a day with if you plan your moves carefully (and take a good look at the schedules so graciously provided by Rolandrail).
There's still just barely enough light for the northbound limestone train this time of year. In about two more weeks the shadows will swallow it for the next 8 months - assuming it keeps operating...
7775 7772 yarding the limestone train 48555 (Yves-Gomezee/B - Millingen/D) in Sittard.
16-Aug-2009
I have not paid many visits to the L24 this year. Truth be told, there are nicer ways to bore myself than with an endless parade of Traxxes, all looking alike.
Today I only had a little time on my hands so a quick hop to my ex-favorite haunt was in order. Infrabel was kind enough to cut down the forest for 30m either side of the tracks, providing nice open views. Obviously the omnipresent poles don't help, but what are you really gonna do...
Here's the last and final Traxx, 2843, still nice and clean in a fresh coat of paint from the manufacturer. A number of the locomotives have been rented out and assigned to passenger train service as train count and freight volume for B-Cargo is still about 45% down year over year.
2843 leading the 44532 (Gremberg - Antwerpen-Noord) southbound (timetable west) near the Rue d'Aix.
I have not paid many visits to the L24 this year. Truth be told, there are nicer ways to bore myself than with an endless parade of Traxxes, all looking alike.
Today I only had a little time on my hands so a quick hop to my ex-favorite haunt was in order. Infrabel was kind enough to cut down the forest for 30m either side of the tracks, providing nice open views. Obviously the omnipresent poles don't help, but what are you really gonna do...
Here's the last and final Traxx, 2843, still nice and clean in a fresh coat of paint from the manufacturer. A number of the locomotives have been rented out and assigned to passenger train service as train count and freight volume for B-Cargo is still about 45% down year over year.
2843 leading the 44532 (Gremberg - Antwerpen-Noord) southbound (timetable west) near the Rue d'Aix.
27-Jul-2009
A quick after-work-foam took me to Bunde in the Netherlands. This is a small village just north of Maastricht on the line through Sittard towards Roermond and the north of Holland. The line is an extension of the Belgian Meuse Valley line, the L40.
Being in the tri-country area, here's a truly international train. It carries limestone from a quarry in Yves-Gomezee near Charleroi, Belgium to the blast furnaces in Millingen, Germany. The cars are German, power is Belgian, and this photo was taken in the Netherlands.
This is not a bad train by European standards, 30 cars or around 2400 tons. The 77s sound great with a decent load. Being a northbound, light is best in mid-summer.
B-Cargo 7774 and 7773 haul the loaded limestone train 48555 (Yves-Gomezee - Millingen) through Bunde.
A quick after-work-foam took me to Bunde in the Netherlands. This is a small village just north of Maastricht on the line through Sittard towards Roermond and the north of Holland. The line is an extension of the Belgian Meuse Valley line, the L40.
Being in the tri-country area, here's a truly international train. It carries limestone from a quarry in Yves-Gomezee near Charleroi, Belgium to the blast furnaces in Millingen, Germany. The cars are German, power is Belgian, and this photo was taken in the Netherlands.
This is not a bad train by European standards, 30 cars or around 2400 tons. The 77s sound great with a decent load. Being a northbound, light is best in mid-summer.
B-Cargo 7774 and 7773 haul the loaded limestone train 48555 (Yves-Gomezee - Millingen) through Bunde.
24-Jul-2009
The diverted freights are unusual enough to warrant another outing. Friday's weather ran the gamut from torrential rains to bright sunshine and blue skies and back within 10 minutes.
Shortly after a downpour this Traxx brings a steel train down the steep incline from Kohlscheid into Herzogenrath. The catenary is still dripping wet as the pantograph creates a nice misty swirl.
Even bad weather has its advantages, it doesn't always have to be sun-over-your-shoulder. A platform shed that keeps you nice and dry is an asset, though...
Cobra 2837 on the FE 44565 (Kinkempois - Gremberg) approaches Herzogenrath northbound.
The diverted freights are unusual enough to warrant another outing. Friday's weather ran the gamut from torrential rains to bright sunshine and blue skies and back within 10 minutes.
Shortly after a downpour this Traxx brings a steel train down the steep incline from Kohlscheid into Herzogenrath. The catenary is still dripping wet as the pantograph creates a nice misty swirl.
Even bad weather has its advantages, it doesn't always have to be sun-over-your-shoulder. A platform shed that keeps you nice and dry is an asset, though...
Cobra 2837 on the FE 44565 (Kinkempois - Gremberg) approaches Herzogenrath northbound.
23-Jul-2009
This week freight traffic is diverted from the main traffic artery between Aachen and Cologne due to construction curfews. The trains continue north through Cologne, west to Grevenbroich between Cologne and Düsseldorf, and then head due south along the 485 to Aachen.
This is a rare opportunity to photograph more than the usual trickle of freight traffic on this line. Here one of the signature trains, the Ambrogio intermodal to Muizen/B, passes the abandoned tower Ln in Lindern, about 30 km north of Aachen. This station was converted from manual block with semaphores only last year, 2008.
145 080 leads the Ambrogio intermodal TEC 40098 (Gallarate - Muizen) through Lindern.
This week freight traffic is diverted from the main traffic artery between Aachen and Cologne due to construction curfews. The trains continue north through Cologne, west to Grevenbroich between Cologne and Düsseldorf, and then head due south along the 485 to Aachen.
This is a rare opportunity to photograph more than the usual trickle of freight traffic on this line. Here one of the signature trains, the Ambrogio intermodal to Muizen/B, passes the abandoned tower Ln in Lindern, about 30 km north of Aachen. This station was converted from manual block with semaphores only last year, 2008.
145 080 leads the Ambrogio intermodal TEC 40098 (Gallarate - Muizen) through Lindern.
16-Jul-2009
A beautiful, hot summer day and a few hours on hand resulted in another chase of the ACTS trash train from Haanrade to Bunde via Beatrixhaven near Maastricht. Here the train is running through the beautiful Heuvelland region in Dutch Limburg.
ACTS G2000 1001457 with 50094 near Schijn op Geul.
A beautiful, hot summer day and a few hours on hand resulted in another chase of the ACTS trash train from Haanrade to Bunde via Beatrixhaven near Maastricht. Here the train is running through the beautiful Heuvelland region in Dutch Limburg.
ACTS G2000 1001457 with 50094 near Schijn op Geul.
28-Jun-2009
Just returned from a short week in Budapest, Hungary. It was my first trip down there and I had a chance to sample the great trolley network they are running throughout the city. Pictures and movies have been added to the trolley gallery. Here's a teaser.
For more information about the Budapest tram network, check out the fantastically detailed Tram-Hiker's Guide to Budapest .
Ganz CSMG2 runs southbound on line 2 above the flooded river Danube.
Just returned from a short week in Budapest, Hungary. It was my first trip down there and I had a chance to sample the great trolley network they are running throughout the city. Pictures and movies have been added to the trolley gallery. Here's a teaser.
For more information about the Budapest tram network, check out the fantastically detailed Tram-Hiker's Guide to Budapest .
Ganz CSMG2 runs southbound on line 2 above the flooded river Danube.
19-Jun-2009
Home for a change. As we approach midsummer, the sun sets far enough north for the sunset to light up the skies behind the Moresnet Viaduct. An eastbound tank car train is led by one of the now-ubiquitous class 28 electrics.
Class 28 with tank car train at sunset.
Home for a change. As we approach midsummer, the sun sets far enough north for the sunset to light up the skies behind the Moresnet Viaduct. An eastbound tank car train is led by one of the now-ubiquitous class 28 electrics.
Class 28 with tank car train at sunset.
8-Jun-2009
From the freezing north to the sweltering south within a week. The camera came along and I had a fun day of photographing the unique streetcar system of Milano, Italy.
About 150 of these "Peter Witt" trolleys, built starting in 1928 and surviving virtually unmodified to this day, continue to ply the city's rails in 2009! Here two of them converge on the "grand union" at Piazza della Repubblica. The comparatively modern-looking Breda articulated car behind is a mere 50 years old...
If you have ever been to San Francisco you have probably seen one or several of their Peter Witts. This is the real deal, the place where those came from.
Head on over to the trolley gallery for more shots plus 4 movies from Milano.
Trolleys at Piazza della Repubblica, Milano
From the freezing north to the sweltering south within a week. The camera came along and I had a fun day of photographing the unique streetcar system of Milano, Italy.
About 150 of these "Peter Witt" trolleys, built starting in 1928 and surviving virtually unmodified to this day, continue to ply the city's rails in 2009! Here two of them converge on the "grand union" at Piazza della Repubblica. The comparatively modern-looking Breda articulated car behind is a mere 50 years old...
If you have ever been to San Francisco you have probably seen one or several of their Peter Witts. This is the real deal, the place where those came from.
Head on over to the trolley gallery for more shots plus 4 movies from Milano.
Trolleys at Piazza della Repubblica, Milano
5-Jun-2009
A business trip to Stockholm, Sweden netted a couple of hours for photography, albeit in the rain. Here's the granddaddy of Scandinavian highspeed service, the X2000, running through Arstaberg station on the south side of Stockholm on its way towards Linkoping.
X2000 in Arstaberg.
A business trip to Stockholm, Sweden netted a couple of hours for photography, albeit in the rain. Here's the granddaddy of Scandinavian highspeed service, the X2000, running through Arstaberg station on the south side of Stockholm on its way towards Linkoping.
X2000 in Arstaberg.
The Sorcerers of Smug are adding new magic right now, so we're in window shopping mode. We'll provide more updates here on our Status Blog.
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