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...)
13-Dec-2008
Later the same day another festivity celebrated a meet of two trains powered by class 28s. The grain extra on the right salutes the incoming DGS 40242 (Oleggio - Oorderen). The intermodal ran across a number of torpedoes on the track and through a sea of red fusees.
Later the same day another festivity celebrated a meet of two trains powered by class 28s. The grain extra on the right salutes the incoming DGS 40242 (Oleggio - Oorderen). The intermodal ran across a number of torpedoes on the track and through a sea of red fusees.
13-Dec-2008
So - it's official. On saturday a small impromptu festivity was held in Montzen yard to commemorate the end of most operations there.
A number of the engineers, switchmen, and tower personnel were on hand to pose in front of some of the engines that (used to) run there. Left to right a new class 28 Traxx, 40 of which are taking over most of the trains into Germany. Then a class 20 and class 23 3kV DC electrics which are the losers because of their BeNeLux-only equipment. Then a "passenger" and freight class 55 (the blue paint scheme denotes head-end power equipment instead of the original heating boiler). And on the far right an ex-GDR class 241.8 "super Ludmilla", reengined with a 4000 hp russian Kolomna diesel. The 55s will continue to operate about one third of the trains, while the 241.8s will be reassigned to southern Germany.
There are black flags on the 28 and 241.8, and the sign on the 23 reads: "DC Montzen - GMN - Derniers Trains 13-12-2008". Farewell, Montzen yard!
So - it's official. On saturday a small impromptu festivity was held in Montzen yard to commemorate the end of most operations there.
A number of the engineers, switchmen, and tower personnel were on hand to pose in front of some of the engines that (used to) run there. Left to right a new class 28 Traxx, 40 of which are taking over most of the trains into Germany. Then a class 20 and class 23 3kV DC electrics which are the losers because of their BeNeLux-only equipment. Then a "passenger" and freight class 55 (the blue paint scheme denotes head-end power equipment instead of the original heating boiler). And on the far right an ex-GDR class 241.8 "super Ludmilla", reengined with a 4000 hp russian Kolomna diesel. The 55s will continue to operate about one third of the trains, while the 241.8s will be reassigned to southern Germany.
There are black flags on the 28 and 241.8, and the sign on the 23 reads: "DC Montzen - GMN - Derniers Trains 13-12-2008". Farewell, Montzen yard!
13-Dec-2008
A full moon on a clear, cold night made me go out and experiment a little. As luck would have it the last 225-hauled train into Belgium showed up at the right time. Here it is silhouetted against the largest full moon of the year.
A full moon on a clear, cold night made me go out and experiment a little. As luck would have it the last 225-hauled train into Belgium showed up at the right time. Here it is silhouetted against the largest full moon of the year.
29-Nov-2008
Bit of a change of pace here... I was in Basel, Switzerland and took the opportunity (and total lack of decent freight train traffic) to look at the remarkable trolley system they run down there.
Among other things they run a spit-and-polish fleet of older articulated cars, including a good number of Duewag products from Germany. These are well sought-after by fans and enjoy almost a religious following among tram enthusiasts.
Here in a virtually timeless view two 36 year old Duewag 6-axle cars form a service on line number 2. They are just crossing onto the Wettsteinbrücke running towards the SBB railway station.
Bit of a change of pace here... I was in Basel, Switzerland and took the opportunity (and total lack of decent freight train traffic) to look at the remarkable trolley system they run down there.
Among other things they run a spit-and-polish fleet of older articulated cars, including a good number of Duewag products from Germany. These are well sought-after by fans and enjoy almost a religious following among tram enthusiasts.
Here in a virtually timeless view two 36 year old Duewag 6-axle cars form a service on line number 2. They are just crossing onto the Wettsteinbrücke running towards the SBB railway station.
5-Dec-2008
Winter time - night shot time. The short days almost leave no choice.
I keep trekking over to Montzen yard - there's usually always something going on there, and the place will be all but shuttered come December 14th. So one is well advised to get the shots soon.
Here's 241 803 with a UK-bound train composed of ferry wagons in Montzen near tower 14. In the pouring rain. These units will be transferred to southern Germany when the new schedule takes effect.
I don't like catenary at all, the masts always get in the way. But the maze of supports, beams, and wires almost takes on a magical quality when the flood lights come on at night...
Winter time - night shot time. The short days almost leave no choice.
I keep trekking over to Montzen yard - there's usually always something going on there, and the place will be all but shuttered come December 14th. So one is well advised to get the shots soon.
Here's 241 803 with a UK-bound train composed of ferry wagons in Montzen near tower 14. In the pouring rain. These units will be transferred to southern Germany when the new schedule takes effect.
I don't like catenary at all, the masts always get in the way. But the maze of supports, beams, and wires almost takes on a magical quality when the flood lights come on at night...
24-Nov-2008
We don't usually get much snow around here; truth be told our winters are quite pathetic. This weekend the first snow moved in, and it snowed two days (but never stayed cold enough for the snow to linger).
Still, falling snow is good for pictures so an effort had to be made to capture some of it. Here's DLC's DE 6303 with the DGS 41531 (Terneuzen - Ludwigshafen BASF chemicals) in drifting snow in Remersdaal.
I bet the canadian-built unit feels right at home...
DLC DE 6303 with the DGS 41531 (Terneuzen - Ludwigshafen BASF) in Remersdaal.
We don't usually get much snow around here; truth be told our winters are quite pathetic. This weekend the first snow moved in, and it snowed two days (but never stayed cold enough for the snow to linger).
Still, falling snow is good for pictures so an effort had to be made to capture some of it. Here's DLC's DE 6303 with the DGS 41531 (Terneuzen - Ludwigshafen BASF chemicals) in drifting snow in Remersdaal.
I bet the canadian-built unit feels right at home...
DLC DE 6303 with the DGS 41531 (Terneuzen - Ludwigshafen BASF) in Remersdaal.
24-Nov-2008
Montzen yard is facing retirement very soon indeed. In fact, barely two weeks remain until the new Traxxes are supposed to run through with freights into Germany.
Whether or not the deadline will hold and just how well the new kids will perform is anybody's guess at this point as they still haven't made a trip up the hill yet.
In this view 2326 and 2632 take a rest at dusk as the returning empty coal move CS 48562 (Mannheim - Zandvliet) is led across the hump and into the yard by trusty 55s 5537 and 5505.
CS 48562 (Mannheim - Zandvliet) empty coal train in Montzen.
Montzen yard is facing retirement very soon indeed. In fact, barely two weeks remain until the new Traxxes are supposed to run through with freights into Germany.
Whether or not the deadline will hold and just how well the new kids will perform is anybody's guess at this point as they still haven't made a trip up the hill yet.
In this view 2326 and 2632 take a rest at dusk as the returning empty coal move CS 48562 (Mannheim - Zandvliet) is led across the hump and into the yard by trusty 55s 5537 and 5505.
CS 48562 (Mannheim - Zandvliet) empty coal train in Montzen.
31-Oct-2008
I've been posting a few pictures from my trip to Britain below. This is the final one I'm going to post here, go to the Great Britain gallery to see the rest.
With the low winter light upon us, these kinds of shots sort of sweeten the fact that days are mighty short now. At least one can do that and easily be home for the evening news...
Southwest Trains 159/1 inbound passes a 450 outbound in Basingstoke at sunset.
I've been posting a few pictures from my trip to Britain below. This is the final one I'm going to post here, go to the Great Britain gallery to see the rest.
With the low winter light upon us, these kinds of shots sort of sweeten the fact that days are mighty short now. At least one can do that and easily be home for the evening news...
Southwest Trains 159/1 inbound passes a 450 outbound in Basingstoke at sunset.
26-Oct-2008
Tiptoeing through Hatton South Junction a 165/0 comes up the branch from Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare. Hatton retains a lot of character despite the changes to modern infrastructure like the LED signals.
Chiltern Railways 165 037 in Hatton.
Tiptoeing through Hatton South Junction a 165/0 comes up the branch from Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare. Hatton retains a lot of character despite the changes to modern infrastructure like the LED signals.
Chiltern Railways 165 037 in Hatton.
26-Oct-2008
A trip to Coventry in the British Midlands netted a few hours of railfanning. Being a Sunday window trains were all I got, but it was still fun.
In this signature shot at Hatton North Junction a 168/0 storms northbound around the sweeping curve just past Hatton Station. This is a great place to hang out for a while and my thanks go to Peter Tandy for disclosing it to me.
Chiltern Railways DMU class 168/0 northbound at Hatton North Junction.
A trip to Coventry in the British Midlands netted a few hours of railfanning. Being a Sunday window trains were all I got, but it was still fun.
In this signature shot at Hatton North Junction a 168/0 storms northbound around the sweeping curve just past Hatton Station. This is a great place to hang out for a while and my thanks go to Peter Tandy for disclosing it to me.
Chiltern Railways DMU class 168/0 northbound at Hatton North Junction.
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