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Grantham - the Streamliner years


LNER4479
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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, here's something you might not be expecting in these strange times (and which partly explains last ten days radio silence) - a train adventure travelogue. Some of you seem to like them?

 

I appreciate opinions are divided but, for me, if we're going to have to get used to some new kind of 'normal', then might as well try out the new 'normal' and see how bad / different it really is. Myself and a like-minded travel buddy (just retired) decided to do just that.

 

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So here we are at Eurostar check-in St Pancras last Wednesday (10th). As you can see, VERY quiet, no excessive queues, only the Covid Vaccination 'passport' asked for additionally. The French 'declaration sur l'honeur' thingy a waste of time, nobody asked to see it (but we had them filled in anyway). Didn't take any longer to get through the whole process than it normally does.

 

20211110_135116_resized.jpg.3b890fc58c10084533d4a50900e54ff7.jpg

Arrival at Gare du Nord. Only additional thing here was to hand to the guy at the exit (dead centre) a little slip of paper that the French passport control wallah had given us at St Pancras. Couldn't really see the purpose of this but there you go. Mask wearing compulsory on Eurostar but that's to be expected.

 

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Quick walk across to Gare de l'Est - in the sunshine(!) No additional checks here at all, just boarded the (late) TGV as normal for onward journey to Strasbourg.

 

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Strasbourg by night. Absolutely dead (no one around), although it is close season to be fair - will be Xmas markets in a week or so's time.

 

20211110_185703.jpg.154a9df1277af80f44f37c9910864a6c.jpg

Meal at our long-standing favourite Strasbourg restaurant, open as usual, with no apparent ill effects. Just the Covid 'passport' asked for; we were invited to remove our masks once sat down.

 

So far, so good. Where we're going next, I wonder?

 

 

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Day 2

 

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Change at Mannheim for Munich. Now on German soil but only passing through for now.

 

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Now that's what I call a proper train! Five hours on train EC119 to Salzburg and a good ol' fashioned compartment to boot.

Before anyone points it out, I'm SUPPOSED to be wearing a FFP2 mask (DB rule) AND it should be covering my schnoz (must have slipped in the excitement). My mate had brought some FFP3 masks with him, thinking they were superior to FFP2 masks. They were in a sense but really meant for chemical hazardous areas and not really suitable for continuous wear. We bought some FFP2 masks when we got to Salzburg - which was interesting as the chemist we bought them from had a notice on the door saying FFP2 masks must be worn when entering the shop!

Anyhow ...

 

20211111_125136_resized.jpg.a0025934c729c84a2a564c7b3d383b83.jpg

Dinner in the diner. Always a good menu on Euro-City trains like this so definitely one to try out. Covid 'passport' asked for here as well.

 

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We found the sunshine again as the train steadily made its way east, with some sub-alpine scenery visible in places looking south.

 

20211111_140000-WA0004.jpg.bcfcd7b49e3fcea341e371bc207b198d.jpg

Now here's an interesting sight, on the approach to Munich station! It is what you think it is - note the old GB running number (bottom left) as part of the 12 digit UIC number: 43480. They've not all gone to the scrapyard just yet ...

 

Arrival in Salzburg was in the mist at approx 4pm. Smashing hotel, again showed our Covid 'passports' as part of check-in but were otherwise told no need to wear masks in the hotel as double-jabbed guests.

 

Stayed for three nights, so two day trips out to contemplate. Where shall we go?

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17 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

Day 2

 

20211111_112514_resized.jpg.9c23c942278962b6ce46acf03397f7cb.jpg

Change at Mannheim for Munich. Now on German soil but only passing through for now.

 

20211111_120710_resized.jpg.88d12d49b07252eb09dbb631817e9754.jpg

Now that's what I call a proper train! Five hours on train EC119 to Salzburg and a good ol' fashioned compartment to boot.

Before anyone points it out, I'm SUPPOSED to be wearing a FFP2 mask (DB rule) AND it should be covering my schnoz (must have slipped in the excitement). My mate had brought some FFP3 masks with him, thinking they were superior to FFP2 masks. They were in a sense but really meant for chemical hazardous areas and not really suitable for continuous wear. We bought some FFP2 masks when we got to Salzburg - which was interesting as the chemist we bought them from had a notice on the door saying FFP2 masks must be worn when entering the shop!

Anyhow ...

 

20211111_125136_resized.jpg.a0025934c729c84a2a564c7b3d383b83.jpg

Dinner in the diner. Always a good menu on Euro-City trains like this so definitely one to try out. Covid 'passport' asked for here as well.

 

20211111_131005_resized.jpg.e80df90c23df643cfcbcab2075c1c55f.jpg

We found the sunshine again as the train steadily made its way east, with some sub-alpine scenery visible in places looking south.

 

20211111_140000-WA0004.jpg.bcfcd7b49e3fcea341e371bc207b198d.jpg

Now here's an interesting sight, on the approach to Munich station! It is what you think it is - note the old GB running number (bottom left) as part of the 12 digit UIC number: 43480. They've not all gone to the scrapyard just yet ...

 

Arrival in Salzburg was in the mist at approx 4pm. Smashing hotel, again showed our Covid 'passports' as part of check-in but were otherwise told no need to wear masks in the hotel as double-jabbed guests.

 

Stayed for three nights, so two day trips out to contemplate. Where shall we go?

May I post a word of caution regarding the jabs? Despite being double jabbed, a good friend and I have both caught the dreaded Covid. Fortunately, the effects are much reduced and though we both felt dreadful last week we are both nearly over it now. I dread to think how we would have been without the jabs ( I had it earlier this year and it was many times worse than this bout).

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Well a trip to the Von Trap summer house is a favourite. The one they used as the residence of the family in the Sound of Music. Of course they really lived in the castle in Salzburg, they only used the one by the lake in the film as a summer house. There's the Mozart museum just off the square in Salzburg which is quite a good place to visit as well if you're into classical music and there are a number of very nice restaurants around the square as well. I like Salzburg, the castle towering over everything is spectacular it doesn't seem to loom like some other castles, I find Vienna a little over powering but then I'm not very good with crowds. 

Regards Lez.

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1 hour ago, LNER4479 said:

Day 2

 

 

Change at Mannheim for Munich. Now on German soil but only passing through for now.

 

 

Now that's what I call a proper train! Five hours on train EC119 to Salzburg and a good ol' fashioned compartment to boot.

Before anyone points it out, I'm SUPPOSED to be wearing a FFP2 mask (DB rule) AND it should be covering my schnoz (must have slipped in the excitement). My mate had brought some FFP3 masks with him, thinking they were superior to FFP2 masks. They were in a sense but really meant for chemical hazardous areas and not really suitable for continuous wear. We bought some FFP2 masks when we got to Salzburg - which was interesting as the chemist we bought them from had a notice on the door saying FFP2 masks must be worn when entering the shop!

Anyhow ...

 

 

Dinner in the diner. Always a good menu on Euro-City trains like this so definitely one to try out. Covid 'passport' asked for here as well.

 

 

We found the sunshine again as the train steadily made its way east, with some sub-alpine scenery visible in places looking south.

 

 

Now here's an interesting sight, on the approach to Munich station! It is what you think it is - note the old GB running number (bottom left) as part of the 12 digit UIC number: 43480. They've not all gone to the scrapyard just yet ...

 

Arrival in Salzburg was in the mist at approx 4pm. Smashing hotel, again showed our Covid 'passports' as part of check-in but were otherwise told no need to wear masks in the hotel as double-jabbed guests.

 

Stayed for three nights, so two day trips out to contemplate. Where shall we go?

 

Not at all jealous (much)!

 

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Interesting, I was at St P on the same Wednesday at around 4.30pm and the Eurostar area was absolutely jammed!

 

Now then - never mind the class 43, was that an E 03 next to it?  Tell me you photted that!

 

Also - by 'eck, British trains are cr4p compared to Europeans ones.  Compartments?  Windows?  Lunch?  

 

I had a first class seat on an EMR meridian... no window, no room, no food, smelt of toilets, and no one wearing masks.

Edited by Dr Gerbil-Fritters
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8 hours ago, lezz01 said:

Well a trip to the Von Trap summer house is a favourite. The one they used as the residence of the family in the Sound of Music. Of course they really lived in the castle in Salzburg, they only used the one by the lake in the film as a summer house. There's the Mozart museum just off the square in Salzburg which is quite a good place to visit as well if you're into classical music and there are a number of very nice restaurants around the square as well. I like Salzburg, the castle towering over everything is spectacular it doesn't seem to loom like some other castles, I find Vienna a little over powering but then I'm not very good with crowds. 

Regards Lez.

The half-day Sound of Music tour is great fun. They take you to most of the film locations and in between the guide on the bus gets you to sing the songs...

 

Hope I haven't spoiled your next instalment Graham!

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Thanks for comments / interest so far.

 

Re Salzburg - been three times before. It is a lovely place - mind you, I like Vienna too, both great cities. I HAVE done the SoM half day tour previously (with No.1 daughter). It IS indeed great fun ... but not really my travel buddy's 'thing'. Same applies to Wolfgang's gaff.

 

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He was however quite taken with the Mirabell gardens (only a short walk from our hotel)

 

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Even entering into the spirit (sort of) on the Do-ray-mi steps.

 

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The morning mist meant that the city centre itself wasn't really at it's best though, the castle hidden from view. We cut our losses therefore and brought forward our planned afternoon trip. Boy, were we glad we did.

 

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Jumping on a train, within a few miles the mist had gone and we had some spectacular views heading south through the gorge towards Schwarzach St Veit. But better was to come.

 

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Courtesy of a 3 minute cross-platform connection at Schwarzach (they do things like that quite routinely out there), we arrived here, another of my fave Austrian locations.

 

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But I've never seen it before in QUITE such near perfect lighting conditions.

 

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Simply stunning.

 

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A slice of Apfelstrudel and a mug of Gluhwein set the seal of a wonderful couple of hours (once we'd showed our Covid 'passports' at the cafe)

 

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Where to next?

Edited by LNER4479
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Apfelstrudel and Gluhwein all that's missing is a big plate of Jager schnitzel or currywurst mitt fritten, Oh how I miss Germany. Yes I know you're in Austria but...Oh God I miss Germany....:blush:

Regards Lez.   

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Day 4 (Sat 13th) and the weather (as forecast) reverted to cloud and occasional rain.

 

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Have been here before (twice), but never actually been round the place (not really the thing for a nine year old daughter, as she was at the time). Unfortunately, the rail journey option wasn't available as the line was closed for four weeks engineering block. We hailed an Uber taxi who took us direct from our hotel in a little over 30 mins, in truth far quicker than rail or replacement bus alternative. Amusingly, as we crossed the Austrian / Germany border, the driver donned his FFP2 mask!

 

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In case you're not familiar with where we are, this is the hillside overlooking Berchtesgaden in the very south east tip of Bavaria and we're at the site of the former Nazi encampment. The Dokumentation centre here is now a place of learning and reflection (can't really call it a 'museum' as such), very much in the spirit of 'lest we should ever forget'. Covid 'passport' asked for once again, together with mask wearing. 

 

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It pulls no punches but I'll spare you the more graphic pictures (which you just look at anyway, rather than photograph).

 

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Part of the former underground bunkers system is also available to walk round.

 

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Back outside for a welcome breath of fresh air, the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) can be seen atop the nearby mountain. I HAVE been up there before but not open this time of year. It was hidden in cloud for part of the time so wouldn't have been up to much on this occasion.

 

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Down in the valley, the town itself can be enjoyed for what it is -

 

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An attractive Bavarian ... town!

 

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After showing our Covid 'passports' once again, this time it's goulash soup. Yum!

 

Tomorrow - time to move on again.

 

Edited by LNER4479
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I make that, goulash soup I mean, goulash as well. I also cook Schnitzel and currywurst and even though it's quite good, according to our German friends, it isn't quite the same.

Regards Lez. 

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7 hours ago, lezz01 said:

I make that, goulash soup I mean, goulash as well. I also cook Schnitzel and currywurst and even though it's quite good, according to our German friends, it isn't quite the same.

Regards Lez. 

Lovely stuff, isn't it? If you're out and about in cold central Europe climes, you can't go far wrong with a steaming bowl of goulash (soup). Hungarian in origin, I believe?

I love the German cuisine in general - wild boar or venison with dumplings and stewed red cabbage, there's a plateful to savour. Enjoyed a dish along those lines in the (excellent) hotel restaurant in Salzburg after the trip out to Berchtesgaden. I'll pass on the currywurst though ...

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8 hours ago, manna said:

G'Day Folks

 

HST's in Germany !!!! How, Why. Please.

 

With all that water about in the lakes, no paddling !!

 

manna

 

Railadventure have bought 4 buffer-fitted HST power cars to be used as back-to-back pairs hauling stock around the UK and possibly around Europe.  Did you photograph the class 103?  The published pic of them in Germany (Todays Railways Europe) has Railadventure's Taurus pulling them and a class 111 also in the rake.

 

Les

 

I might be wrong about the buffers- it may be that Railadventure are fitting buffers to one or two of the four they bought.

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1 hour ago, Les1952 said:

 

Railadventure have bought 4 buffer-fitted HST power cars to be used as back-to-back pairs hauling stock around the UK and possibly around Europe.  Did you photograph the class 103?  The published pic of them in Germany (Todays Railways Europe) has Railadventure's Taurus pulling them and a class 111 also in the rake.

 

Les

 

I might be wrong about the buffers- it may be that Railadventure are fitting buffers to one or two of the four they bought.

 

Eight units, six initially formed into three back-to-back pairs as Tractors, two additional units initially for spares.

 

43480

43484

 

43423

43465

 

43467

43468

 

43296

43308

 

source: railway Magazine

 

The class 43s are turning out to be among BRs most successful, useful and long lived diesel locomotives ever.  Well done BREL...

 

Edited by Dr Gerbil-Fritters
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Yes you're quite right the food is what I miss most about Germany. I did some very enjoyable things whilst I was posted there. Not least of all skiing, I've been skiing in Berchtesgaden 3 times, Operation "Snow Queen". It was dressed up as adventure training but it was just a "jolly" for the troops stationed out there. Anyone could go on it, the only caveat was that you couldn't go two years in a row. Basically a two week p**s up down at Hitler's old gaff with a bit of free skiing thrown in. Happy, happy days! Lots of scoff and lots of Gluhwein not to mention the beer and Asbach!  HAPPY DAYS!!!

I really must take wifey! 

Regards Lez.

 

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And so, to complete our little travelogue (which sounds like we did it just in time!), here's Part 3, starting with Day 5 (Sun 14th)

 

20211114_084140_resized.jpg.792ad0483a7d9e74625810fc799a3290.jpg

A 0900 departure ...

 

20211114_085413_resized.jpg.6d18220e6bc6889a184f83cfbb746c4d.jpg

... by RailJet ...

 

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... to Munich.

 

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Gleiss 11 model shop closed, it being a Sunday. Mind you. couldn't have afforded to buy anything from there!

 

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And on from there to the fascinating / historic city of Nuremberg, our base for the final two nights. Now we were staying for real on German soil. Germany being Germany, there's an additional Digital Entry Registration form to fill out ... sounds quite officious but relatively straightforward. Having done so, no-one was interested in it - still just wanted to see the Covid 'passport'!

 

20211114_135046_resized.jpg.f500402416948ad9de77fb4ebdf02fbf.jpg

Of course, no visit to Nuremberg is complete without a visit to the DB Museum! Their equivalent of our NRM.

 

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Which claims to be the oldest railway museum in the world, having first been established here in the 1880s.

 

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It's significance is that, from here, ran Germany's 'first' train, roughly their equivalent of our Liverpool-Manchester, in 1835, the first loco being designed and built by the Stephensons. On the right is a 1952 replica of said loco - Der Adler.

 

20211114_154214_resized_1.jpg.f40131381422eea159b4ef4a52450f76.jpg

Two of the really interesting exhibits are in the adjacent yard area, in fact inside a semi-temporary building, erected following the disastrous fire here in 2005. Here's the first of two related exhibits with links to Grantham / LNER 1930s. 4-6-4 No. 05 001 is sister loco to 05 002 which held the world steam record until exceeded (just!) by Mallard in 1938. Unbelievably(?) the record holder itself was scrapped so it's this loco that survives to tell the tale.

Before anybody chimes in, mask wearing WAS compulsory and I did wear it at all other times. But there was no-one around at this point so I removed it for 10 seconds for this photo - I'm clutching it in my left hand!

 

20211114_154500_resized.jpg.82a5bdecc781f62c1f3d478f35d747db.jpg

More or less alongside is one half of one car of a 'Flying Hamburger' (Fliegender Hamburger), the high-speed diesel service that Gresley sampled for himself in 1934 ... before deciding that he could do much better with steam (sensible chap!) and hence the streamliners that we depict on the layout. Nevertheless, an historic train taken in the context of world rail history. There's a very interesting display inside the main museum showing how the high-speed diesel network was being developed, a foretaste of today's ICE network. I've also previously visited Leipzig Gleiss 24 where a complete unit is displayed (might even be operational, I'm not sure)?

 

20211114_155046_resized.jpg.1ad845f6c9c20384411252c5d2bd5dde.jpg

Outside, some ... er ... other locos are displayed. No doubt a wire-scraper fan will enlighten us.

 

Day 6 travelogue to follow shortly ...

 

Edited by LNER4479
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44 minutes ago, LNER4479 said:

And so, to complete our little travelogue (which sounds like we did it just in time!), here's Part 3, starting with Day 5 (Sun 14th)

 

20211114_084140_resized.jpg.792ad0483a7d9e74625810fc799a3290.jpg

A 0900 departure ...

 

20211114_085413_resized.jpg.6d18220e6bc6889a184f83cfbb746c4d.jpg

... by RailJet ...

 

20211114_111249_resized.jpg.789668ac24db3d832ff53bd653488e4b.jpg

... to Munich.

 

20211114_105833_resized.jpg.e135d225d62455bd65ff5cc805a972ba.jpg

Gleiss 11 model shop closed, it being a Sunday. Mind you. couldn't have afforded to buy anything from there!

 

20211114_131121_resized_1.jpg.1c0222295ec3ab610349b369a05fc551.jpg

And on from there to the fascinating / historic city of Nuremberg, our base for the final two nights. Now we were staying for real on German soil. Germany being Germany, there's an additional Digital Entry Registration form to fill out ... sounds quite officious but relatively straightforward. Having done so, no-one was interested in it - still just wanted to see the Covid 'passport'!

 

20211114_135046_resized.jpg.f500402416948ad9de77fb4ebdf02fbf.jpg

Of course, no visit to Nuremberg is complete without a visit to the DB Museum! Their equivalent of our NRM.

 

20211114_141719_resized.jpg.d1ffb32189ac9e5c7116ccf8eb2387bf.jpg

Which claims to be the oldest railway museum in the world, having first been established here in the 1880s.

 

20211114_151415_resized.jpg.126144de918101c19db1903300892a87.jpg

It's significance is that, from here, ran Germany's 'first' train, roughly their equivalent of our Liverpool-Manchester, in 1835, the first loco being designed and built by the Stephensons. On the right is a 1952 replica of said loco - Der Adler.

 

20211114_154214_resized_1.jpg.f40131381422eea159b4ef4a52450f76.jpg

Two of the really interesting exhibits are in the adjacent yard area, in fact inside a semi-temporary building, erected following the disastrous fire here in 2005. Here's the first of two related exhibits with links to Grantham / LNER 1930s. 4-6-4 No. 05 001 is sister loco to 05 002 which held the world steam record until exceeded (just!) by Mallard in 1938. Unbelievably(?) the record holder itself was scrapped so it's this loco that survives to tell the tale.

Before anybody chimes in, mask wearing WAS compulsory and I did wear it at all other times. But there was no-one around at this point so I removed it for 10 seconds for this photo - I'm clutching it in my left hand!

 

20211114_154500_resized.jpg.82a5bdecc781f62c1f3d478f35d747db.jpg

More or less alongside is one half of one car of a 'Flying Hamburger' (Fliegender Hamburger), the high-speed diesel service that Gresley sampled for himself in 1934 ... before deciding that he could do much better with steam (sensible chap!) and hence the streamliners that we depict on the layout. Nevertheless, an historic train taken in the context of world rail history. There's a very interesting disply inside the main museum showing how the high-speed diesel network was being developed, a foretaste of today's ICE network. I've also previously visited Leipzig Gleiss 24 where a complete unit is displayed (might even be operational, I'm not sure)?

 

20211114_155046_resized.jpg.1ad845f6c9c20384411252c5d2bd5dde.jpg

Outside, some ... er ... other locos are displayed. No doubt a wire-scraper fan will enlighten us.

 

Day 6 travelogue to follow shortly ...

 

 

211001 was the first of the standard postwar series of electrics in East Germany, built I think in the old AEG works in Berlin - VEB Hans Beimler(?).

 

103220 was part of the series of West German E03/103 electrics dating from the mid '60's, mainstay of the main IC services throughout the 70's and 80's, and a cool 12,000 hp. The colour scheme here is a one-off, in their prime they looked  as below.

 

141248 was one of the West German standard general purpose classes, a 4 axle job for passenger and freight with variants I think in gearing. This one is in a dedicated livery for S-Bahn services in the Ruhr in the 80's.

 

103215 as they were in their prime, Hamburg Harburg  January 1985 -

 

A279005 copyweb.jpg

 

John, scrapeing happily in the 20th century!

Edited by John Tomlinson
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So Day 6. No trains today, as we were local in Nuremberg.

 

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We did, however, find ourselves a form of wheeled transport - e-scooters! Quite the rage in certain european cities, although not without some controversy it appears. For visitors with limited time available though an ideal way to get about.

 

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Some people though just have to overdo it ... he's not with me.

 

Now then, one or two might recognise what's in the background here. Nuremberg does of course have an uncomfortable period in its history to come to terms with and we are indeed at the infamous rally grounds site. In the background is the never-completed KongressHalle, designed as a huge assembly building in the style of a Roman amphitheatre.

 

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In the middle is the Grand Strasse, big enough to land an aeroplane and aligned such that it is pointing straight at (or away from in this instance) Nuremberg's historic castle.

 

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Most chilling(?) of all, is the surviving part of the enormous rostrum struture, overlooking the Zeppelin Field where the 1930's rallies were held.

 

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You can look out across - and freely stand on - the 'fuhrer's podium' to take in the huge scale of it all. It's a weird feeling. Nowadays used for diverse things such as rock concerts and motor racing(!) it's a public park, place of remembrance. There's a Dokumentation centre here also, though I've previously been round that, so we didn't go in on this occasion.

 

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Instead we returned to the city centre ...

 

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And used the scooters to see the walls ...

 

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... Hangman's bridge(!) ...

 

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... main square (with bimmelbahn and beautiful fountain) ...

 

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and, best of all, the castle (one of europe's largest, I understand, with strong links to the Holy Roman empire).

 

The scooters were GREAT. You pick one up, ride it for a bit, park it up, have a break, find another one, use it ... all the time, the App is keeping track of how much of your daily minutes you've used so you can pace yourself. In the end, we were well inside our allocated 200 minutes ... and less than 10 euros for the day (subject to checking credit card bill when it rolls in). Last time I was here, we didn't see half of the city as it's quite a trek to do it all on foot.

 

Edited by LNER4479
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Just a few from our final day, to complete the story - home in one day from Nuremberg on Tuesday (16th), with news reports swirling of impending lockdowns (some of which have since turned out to be true).

 

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A chance item of interest, in terms of the OBB-run NightJet service. But just take a look at the monitor - this should have been through here at 0408 - photo taken shortly before 0730 - by which hour this train should have been well on its way to Vienna! Our train (shown as the next - IC2162) replatformed as a result.

 

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A quick scamper therefore over to Gleiss 14 where IC2162 was indeed waiting for us.

 

We were due to take this as far as Stuttgart ... except that it never made it that far! It came to a halt at a little wayside station called Weinstadt-Endersbach, some 12 miles or so adrift. A helpful German translated the unintelligible (to us) announcement to say that there had been an incident (he actually described it as a 'crash'!) and that we would be stuck at the place for 'an hour' - coincidentally the same time as our connection onwards in Stuttgart! I've travelled on enough trains in my time to know that 'an hour' is likely to get worse in such circumstances and with a Eurostar to catch further down the line, clearly a Plan B was required in short order. I have to say that I quite impressed myself by quickly finding a number for the Weinstadt taxi service, fortunately getting through to a good english speaker who said a taxi would be there in 20 minutes. True to her word, it was, by which time we had 28 mins to catch our onwards train. Happily, we made it to the 'entrance' to Stuttgart main station with 9 minutes to spare ... except that it turned out that Stuttgart main station is in the throes of a major rebuild(!) so it was a good 4-5 minutes trek through temporary walkways in the middle of a building site until we saw the welcome sight of our ICE to Paris!!

 

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This photo therefore is with a huge sigh of relief. Our train just arrived - 2 mins early - on the left, with our Eurostar connection comfortably secure.

 

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PHEW!!! (pavement cafe outside Gare du Nord). Eventually got home at 2200, none the worse. Day 2 test duly taken - negative - and submitted, as per UK entry requirements for vaccinated persons. The final act of current travel requirements therefore duly discharged.

 

 

In case one or two might regard such an exploit as bordering on the reckless (not least because of emerging news from the places we visited - not known about at the time of booking), let me explain. The idea for a trip was on account of my fellow travel companion having just retired after 40 years on the railway and wanting to mark the occasion - together with an element of he going 'stir crazy' at not being able to undertake any sort of travel for nearly two years.

 

More pertinently for me however is that fact - as some will know - that it's my great delight to be signed up as a Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys holiday company (any others out there?). I was registered two years ago ... just as the pandemic was about to break out so I haven't (yet) done any euro tours as a TM. I did a couple of UK-based ones in the summer but it's european tours - starting by Eurostar from St Pancras - that is GRJ's 'stock in trade'. There are tours planned for 2022 and passengers are booking on them. Subject to abiding with whatever travel restrictions are in force at the time - and barring any ban on non-essential travel in the countries concerned - they WILL run. So - for me - this was a great opportunity to try out and experience the 'new normal' in terms of foreign travel requirement. It's likely that such requirements that we experienced will be with us for some time yet (maybe years?) so at least, when I have 20-30 passengers in tow, I now stand a fighting chance of knowing what I'm doing and can advise / guide them accordingly.

 

Notwithstanding, I hope the last few day's posts have been of interest. And now, back to the modelling.

Edited by LNER4479
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1 hour ago, LNER4479 said:

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Outside, some ... er ... other locos are displayed. No doubt a wire-scraper fan will enlighten us.

 

 

Ooof!  Such irreverence!  You can go off people you know!!

 

On the left, definitive DR 15kV elok - class E11, built LEW Hennigsdorf from 1961.  This one is in the beautiful DR claret livery, but numbered as a DB unit.... out of service since 1998.

 

In the middle the definitive TEE locomotive, the magnificent E03 (you missed photting  one still in service at Munich, how very dare you!)   Original built in 1965, production units from 1970.  12,000hp of elegance, 103 003 achieved 285kph in 1985 (a record broken by a Eurosprinter at 310kph in 1993)  This one is in a very silly livery.

 

On the right, a class E41 - from the very first class of Einheits-Elektrolokomotive from 1956.  Nicknamed Knallfrosch (firecracker) because of the noise they make.  This one's preserved in a special experimental S-Bahn scheme.

 

These days I find myself more interested in the eloks than in the dampfloks.  

 

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