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...)
26-Oct-2008
The clocks were adjusted to winter time this Sunday so darkness came early. I really wish we'd just stick with summer time all year, but what are you really going to do...
The last rays of the setting sun glint off a 168/0 as it hustles underneath the road bridge and through Hatton station.
Chiltern Railways 168 004 in Hatton.
The clocks were adjusted to winter time this Sunday so darkness came early. I really wish we'd just stick with summer time all year, but what are you really going to do...
The last rays of the setting sun glint off a 168/0 as it hustles underneath the road bridge and through Hatton station.
Chiltern Railways 168 004 in Hatton.
26-Oct-2008
This view looks north at Hatton North Junction as a London Marylebone-bound DMU comes flying through. The signal on the other track still displays "advance approach" from a northbound that passed before.
If you plan to come to this place do make sure you are equipped with adequate footwear. The fields can be rather wet and muddy.
Chiltern Railways DMU class 168/2 southbound at Hatton North Junction.
This view looks north at Hatton North Junction as a London Marylebone-bound DMU comes flying through. The signal on the other track still displays "advance approach" from a northbound that passed before.
If you plan to come to this place do make sure you are equipped with adequate footwear. The fields can be rather wet and muddy.
Chiltern Railways DMU class 168/2 southbound at Hatton North Junction.
22-Oct-2008
Another shot from the same location, but with some elevation gained by putting the sound barrier to good use. The Thalys high speed train is a variant of the French TGV, running between Cologne and Paris-Nord by way of Brussels.
Westbound Thalys in Eschweiler.
Another shot from the same location, but with some elevation gained by putting the sound barrier to good use. The Thalys high speed train is a variant of the French TGV, running between Cologne and Paris-Nord by way of Brussels.
Westbound Thalys in Eschweiler.
22-Oct-2008
The German line KBS480 between Aachen and Cologne (Köln) provides an interesting variety of traffic. The town of Eschweiler used to be a hotbed of coal mining and other industrial activity in times gone by, but almost nothing remains. What does remain, though, is the last set of manned crossing gates on this line, the operation of which is controlled by the operator in Ehf tower.
Here a westbound intermodal train operated by the newly-formed consortium of Belgian operator DLC and Swiss/German operator Crossrail passes the tower and swings around the curve leading up to Eschweiler Hbf train station.
This spot is an excellent day-round location for both east- as well as westbound trains.
Crossrail 185 578 with the Ewals train DGS 40162 (Novara - Genk) in Eschweiler.
The German line KBS480 between Aachen and Cologne (Köln) provides an interesting variety of traffic. The town of Eschweiler used to be a hotbed of coal mining and other industrial activity in times gone by, but almost nothing remains. What does remain, though, is the last set of manned crossing gates on this line, the operation of which is controlled by the operator in Ehf tower.
Here a westbound intermodal train operated by the newly-formed consortium of Belgian operator DLC and Swiss/German operator Crossrail passes the tower and swings around the curve leading up to Eschweiler Hbf train station.
This spot is an excellent day-round location for both east- as well as westbound trains.
Crossrail 185 578 with the Ewals train DGS 40162 (Novara - Genk) in Eschweiler.
28-Sep-2008
In search of some autumnal color an early quit from the office enabled me to go and hang out at the Eilendorf train station on the Aachen-Cologne line for a few hours. I'm not a big fan of platform photography, but this location is quite nice in that it provides an interesting backdrop with the dual tunnels.
At least for westbounds. It is a total loss for eastbounds, so one has to be prepared for a few cases of gnashing the teeth whenever something interesting appears that way.
This Railion (or DB Schenker as they are now called after the umpteenth name change) class 145 brings her Belgium-bound junk freight west in glorious late afternoon sunshine.
145 074 with FE 44532 (Gremberg - Antwerpen-Noord) in Eilendorf.
In search of some autumnal color an early quit from the office enabled me to go and hang out at the Eilendorf train station on the Aachen-Cologne line for a few hours. I'm not a big fan of platform photography, but this location is quite nice in that it provides an interesting backdrop with the dual tunnels.
At least for westbounds. It is a total loss for eastbounds, so one has to be prepared for a few cases of gnashing the teeth whenever something interesting appears that way.
This Railion (or DB Schenker as they are now called after the umpteenth name change) class 145 brings her Belgium-bound junk freight west in glorious late afternoon sunshine.
145 074 with FE 44532 (Gremberg - Antwerpen-Noord) in Eilendorf.
19-Oct-2008
Just a short walk up the hillside from where I live, a usually quiet sunday afternoon provided this view. With abundant traffic on the L24 between Aachen West and Montzen, the weather usually is more of a concern to take a good photo. On this sunday, everything came together.
Ambrogio train TEC 40084 (Gallarate - Muizen) crossing the viaduc de Moresnet.
Just a short walk up the hillside from where I live, a usually quiet sunday afternoon provided this view. With abundant traffic on the L24 between Aachen West and Montzen, the weather usually is more of a concern to take a good photo. On this sunday, everything came together.
Ambrogio train TEC 40084 (Gallarate - Muizen) crossing the viaduc de Moresnet.
26-Sept-2008
This shot is a harbinger of things to come. Most obviously, the almost brand-new 2800-class electric engine (known as a class 186 in most of Europe and a Bombardier Traxx F140MS to the rest of the industry) have been arriving in numbers into Belgium from Kassel, Germany. Eventually a full 40 of these locomotives will put most old Belgian electrics and a good number of the class 55 diesels out of work.
Less obviously, the small yard here at Vise Bas is slated for abandonment and redevelopment. The tank cars are for the local serving the CBR cement plant in Lixhe on the other side of the river Meuse. With the yard gone it is yet unknown how the local will work. A straight run up from its base at Liege Kinkempois seems most likely.
2803 with DGS 48266 (Wanne-Eickel - Aulnoye) in Vise Bas.
This shot is a harbinger of things to come. Most obviously, the almost brand-new 2800-class electric engine (known as a class 186 in most of Europe and a Bombardier Traxx F140MS to the rest of the industry) have been arriving in numbers into Belgium from Kassel, Germany. Eventually a full 40 of these locomotives will put most old Belgian electrics and a good number of the class 55 diesels out of work.
Less obviously, the small yard here at Vise Bas is slated for abandonment and redevelopment. The tank cars are for the local serving the CBR cement plant in Lixhe on the other side of the river Meuse. With the yard gone it is yet unknown how the local will work. A straight run up from its base at Liege Kinkempois seems most likely.
2803 with DGS 48266 (Wanne-Eickel - Aulnoye) in Vise Bas.
in this box:
New comment: Requires approval