...might be a suitable title for the following set of images which I took on a spin in the country northwest of Frankfurt earlier today .

Here I was stopping over at Friedrichsdorf, which is served by the S5 suburban line as well as stopping services on the branch line between here and Friedberg. The train seen here is a Stadler GTW 2/6 type DMU owned by Hessische Landesbahn, who work the Friedberg-Friedrichsdorf line. The unit is standing by to work the HLB24562 service back to Friedberg, which will be a trip of 19 minutes.

This type is known as class 646 in the German numbering system, though HLB chose to put on proprietary running numbers, as many private TOCs do – making this unit 509 108 in the HLB system, and 646 408 in the national system.

Actually, the 646 consists of three modules – two passenger/cab modules designated as class 946, and a propulsion module which is numbered as class 646. The bogies below the passenger modules are unpowered, giving the

complete unit a 2'Bo'2' wheel arrangement.

The small trapezoid panels above the cab side windows are fold-out TV cameras intended as a monitoring device for passenger boarding. As you may remember, rear view mirrors are not permitted for use on German motive power while the train is in motion. Meanwhile, the oval orange light above the inner wheelset is intended as a brake check indicator.

And this would be the diesel-electric propulsion module. There is a gangway through the centre of the module, connecting the passenger modules.

Looking over the inscriptions, 646 408/509 108 is described as being certified for Germany only, allocated to the Butzbach depot, having 120 seats and a maximum service weight of 73 tonnes. The brakes are a Mannesmann-Rexroth type with computerized control, being laid out as an ECP brake, and having the "R" setting only, as well as automatic load-dependent force adjustment plus magnetic rail brakes. It had its last revision completed on 25 July 2007.

A few minutes later, suburban EMU 423 303 arrived on the S5 line, reversing in order to next work the 35543 service back to Frankfurt Southern Station. As you can see, there was a time when Friedrichsdorf Station had a lot more tracks.

And a little impression of how nature and technology may blend in, if allowed to do so .

I then headed up to Rosbach in order to capture a service on the Friedrichsdorf-Friedberg line. This here was 646 408 again, returning on its next round from Friedberg on the non-electrified line.

Thanks for looking!