JAMIE'S RANDOM EUROPEAN AND REST OF THE WORLD RAILWAY PHOTOS.

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, Allegheny1600 said:

I had a few hours spotting on Luxembourg city station a few years back.

My wife and I had gone to Belgium for her to have some medical treatment and she told me to go and amuse myself trainspotting. However she didn’t expect me to jump on a train to a different country so when she rang me and wanted me to come hold her hand, she wasn’t best pleased!

 I made it back just in time to see her that day but she never lets me forget about it.

But for that few hours, I was blissfully happy and I hardly put my camera down.

Brussels Midi was good but Luxembourg was fantastic.

 

Thanks for the great pictures!

I would bet that she will never let you forget it.  I have had similar experiences, such as being rung mid afternoon with a request to take my beloved to hospital as a bed had come free. Just one problem, I was between Sheffield and Barnsley on the M1 driving a 7.5 tonner with my layout in it on the wayback from a show.  Obviously  this was my fault.

 

Such is life.

 

Jamie

[EddieB]

I'd missed the start of this thread (blame it on those video ads on an iPad), but most enjoyable to catch up.

 

The Belgian/SNCB 25.5 series (8 locos) were dual voltage and given a different livery to distinguish from the original 25 class (14 locos).

 

The steam loco at Charleroi was "de-plinthed" and is in store at Maldegem (or was in 2019 - at least it wasn't scrapped!).  I must be just about the only photographer "picked up" by bored police in Belgium - taking photos on a quiet Sunday at Charleroi Sud during the troubles in the former Yugoslavia was regarded as suspicious and I was escorted to my car to retrieve my passport to prove I wasn't from that region.  (Rather unlikely, if you've seen me).

 

That's a lovely stretch along the River Meuse (Maas) for a cab ride.  The limestone cliffs in that area of Belgium (Dinant) are famous and are why part of the Carboniferous Period (in Europe) is named from there (Dinantian, next to another part - the Namurian).

 

Keep 'em coming Jamie!

[jamie92208]

13 hours ago, EddieB said:

I'd missed the start of this thread (blame it on those video ads on an iPad), but most enjoyable to catch up.

 

The Belgian/SNCB 25.5 series (8 locos) were dual voltage and given a different livery to distinguish from the original 25 class (14 locos).

 

The steam loco at Charleroi was "de-plinthed" and is in store at Maldegem (or was in 2019 - at least it wasn't scrapped!).  I must be just about the only photographer "picked up" by bored police in Belgium - taking photos on a quiet Sunday at Charleroi Sud during the troubles in the former Yugoslavia was regarded as suspicious and I was escorted to my car to retrieve my passport to prove I wasn't from that region.  (Rather unlikely, if you've seen me).

 

That's a lovely stretch along the River Meuse (Maas) for a cab ride.  The limestone cliffs in that area of Belgium (Dinant) are famous and are why part of the Carboniferous Period (in Europe) is named from there (Dinantian, next to another part - the Namurian).

 

Keep 'em coming Jamie!

Thanks for the kind words Eddie and the update about the 0-6-0.  Also I thought it was the Meuse but wasn't sure without going searching on a map.  I do remember what a lovely view it was from the cab of the EMU. I don't have any detailed notes from the trip, just memories, which can be faulty, my entries in my Platform 5 book, some of which have locations and the photos and the order they were taken in.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a slightly warmer Charente, a whole +2 degrees C.  The tardis though is still in south western Belgium on 24th May 1995. The ride along the Maas (Meuse) was lovely and I had a good chat with the driver.  As we got near to Liege we passed the big yard and shed at Kinkempois.  The driver was very amused at my attempt to pronounce it correctly.  We went through several attempts before I got anywhere near.  I thanked him warmly when we got into Liege.  

Hear is the station at Liege with a southbound train coming down the steep grade into the station.

My train came in behind 1601.  I have memories that there used to be a banker stationed here with a special fitting on the front buffer beam that had a gauge above it in the drivers sight line.  This was to show them how hard they were pushing the train.

I think I went back to Brussels then up to Antwerp and walked to the depot at Antwerpen Dam where I ws allowed to wander around on my own.  2317 ws on the jacks.

Several freights came out of the docks whilst I was walking round.

These two were parked up.

And this shunter was on the depot. I think it was 8261 with 7502 behind it.

Jamie

 

 

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[brushman47544]

For a couple of years or so, in the late 90s I think, the 2550 locos were used on tulip special trains between Brussels and Keukenhof. The station was very close to the famous gardens but was otherwise closed.

 

There were indeed locos allocated to Kinkempois specifically to bank the heavier trains departing uphill towards Brussels. When I went, I think there were 3 modified 2200 or 2300 allocated. Sorry I can't remember the numbers, I just remember that one banked the regular train from Bonn/Cologne to Ostend so if you wanted two in the book on one day, you had to be in Lille mid afternoon when a heavy P train ran shortly before or after the train from Cologne and a second loco was needed. Your photo of 1601 is one such train, notable by the use of orange liveried Eurofina coaches.

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, brushman47544 said:

For a couple of years or so, in the late 90s I think, the 2550 locos were used on tulip special trains between Brussels and Keukenhof. The station was very close to the famous gardens but was otherwise closed.

 

There were indeed locos allocated to Kinkempois specifically to bank the heavier trains departing uphill towards Brussels. When I went, I think there were 3 modified 2200 or 2300 allocated. Sorry I can't remember the numbers, I just remember that one banked the regular train from Bonn/Cologne to Ostend so if you wanted two in the book on one day, you had to be in Lille mid afternoon when a heavy P train ran shortly before or after the train from Cologne and a second loco was needed. Your photo of 1601 is one such train, notable by the use of orange liveried Eurofina coaches.

Thanks for that. I remember seeing a photo of the strain gauge arrangement that looked a bit Heath Robinson.  It was clipped to a buffer with a length of conduit leading up to a circular gauge about 9" diameter that was in front of the windscreen rightbin the drivers field of view. I've just looked in my platform 5 book and it says that 2383 was so equipped but was later renumbered 124.001, then 2401 before reverting to 2383.  Fascinating.

 

Jamie

[31A]

Liege Guillemins looks a bit different these days, even if some of the trains in it don't (or didn't in 2019):

 

[45568]

I like the big French electric locos with the 'West Country' style names and crests. Were they actually place names and crests of that place?

Forgive my ignorance, I know very little about European continental locos.

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

[jamie92208]

26 minutes ago, 45568 said:

I like the big French electric locos with the 'West Country' style names and crests. Were they actually place names and crests of that place?

Forgive my ignorance, I know very little about European continental locos.

Cheers from Oz,

Peter C.

As far as I know they have the place name and the crest of the city and look very good.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a slightly warmer but cloudy Charente.  the tardis is still in Belgium it's still the 24th May 1995 and we are at Antwerpen Dam depot. There were a lot of older and smaller diesel locos around the depot.  This line of shunters.  I think that this is a clqss 85 in front of a rowof class 92's.

There was a good selection of electrics stabled as well.

And these small 4 wheel shunters which I think are class 91's.

Then some class 51's

And a class 62 looking very clean.

Then in a shed this preserved railcar which is 60805 that reminded me of the GWR railcars.

That's it for today folks.

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[Re6/6]

Some lovely stuff Jamie, thanks.

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, Re6/6 said:

Some lovely stuff Jamie, thanks.

Just as with my 3 other random photo threads I'm thoroughly  enjoying putting them up.  I haven't  looked seriously at this set for over 20 years and it's stirring the grey matter and bringing back some good memories. I'm glad that you're enjoying them.

 

Jamie

[PhilJ W]

Any more details on the preserved railcar?

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Any more details on the preserved railcar?

The only details that I've got are from a listvin the Platform 5 book.   Which reads

 

608.05  1A-A1 DMMU BUILT 1939 and for the location CWFM.  Ithink that the M means thatvit's a museum loco.

 

Jamie

[EddieB]

8 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I haven't  looked seriously at this set for over 20 years and it's stirring the grey matter and bringing back some good memories. I'm glad that you're enjoying them.

 

Jamie

Much appreciated, Jamie.  Certainly bringing back memories - I'd forgotten that I had photted the preserved railcar at Antwerpen Dam during a "Along Different Lines" tour in 1997.  Last time I saw it was inside the CFV3V museum at Treignes (2017),

[jamie92208]

Good morning, it's grey and damp here but it was good weather in Belgium on 24th May 1995 where the tardis still is. I'm still at Antwerpen Dam depot with another row of various diesels.

Then it was back to Antwerpen central where this AM6/AM9 snorkel unit was in the platform.

Then back to Brussels after a good day and a tram ride to my hotel. The next day I was back at Midi and caught an Amsterdam train as far as Roosendaal where I saw my first Dutch rolling stock.  Here a class 1700 sandwiched between two rakes of push pull stock

One of their distinctive Hondekop or dog nose units was around.

And a 1300 class electric was in the station.

One of the newish 6400 diesel locos was across the yard.  I didn't venture off the station as I wasn't sure if my Belgian runabout ticket was valid at the border stations.

Jamie

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[Johann Marsbar]

25 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

 I didn't venture off the station as I wasn't sure if my Belgian runabout ticket was valid at the border stations.

 

Jamie

 

 

The SNCB Rover was certainly valid to Maastricht back in 1979,  as we had a weeks holiday in Belgium that year.  The only time supplemental tickets were required, from memory, were for trips we did to Luxembourg and Aachen, where an excess fare from the border station to the destination were issued. Would have thought Roosendaal would fall into the latter category!

[brushman47544]

47 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Then back to Brussels after a good day and a tram ride to my hotel. The next day I was back at Midi and caught an Amsterdam train as far as Roosendaal where I saw my first Dutch rolling stock.  Here a class 1700 sandwiched between two rakes of push pull stock

There would have been another 1700 loco at the end of the rake on the right. At peak hours they doubled up four or five (?) car push-pull sets to increase capacity. You see much the same thing today in Belgium with 1800 or 2700 class locos on reversible M5 double-deck stock. 2700s in particular on the Antwerp - Charleroi faster service and 1800s on east-west services where two sets work the central part and split at the outer ends to different destinations.

 

The 1300 class loco in another photo was as I expect you know was based on the SNCF CC7100 class.

Edited January 30, 2022 by brushman47544

[PhilJ W]

4 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Then it was back to Antwerpen central where this AM6/AM9 snorkel unit was in the platform.

 

A Minion?

 

[Erichill16]

8 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

A Minion?

 

The Czech  railways CD 754 looked similar and were Nicknamed Goggles. 

[jamie92208]

9 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

A Minion?

 

Fortunately the Minions hadn't arrived in 95 so the snorkel stuck.

 

Jamie

[Ian Morgan]

When we first saw them on a trip through Brussells, we called them "Kenny"s (as in South Park).

 

 

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a rather grey but still and calm Charente.  The tardis is still in Roosendaal on 25th May 1995. The other 1700 at the head of the second push pull set was now visible.  I do like that styling.  They are of course based on the French 7200 class.

Two different designes of EMU were visible.

Then a Brussels service came in behind a class 25 instead of the usual class 11.

A pair of class 6400's came in on a container train.

And the dog nose post office unit was parked opposite.

Then it was time to head back to Antwerp where a class 62 diesel was sitting in the main station.

I believe that tis has all been rebuilt now with a through underground station for the Brussels to Amsterdam high speed services.

 

Jamie

Edited April 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[roundhouse]

20 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

 

Then it was time to head back to Antwerp where a class 62 diesel was sitting in the main station.

I believe that tis has all been rebuilt now with a through underground station for the Brussels to Amsterdam high speed services.

 

Jamie

 This is how it looked in 2006 with the low level platforms under construction. Since then we have used Eurostar to Rotterdam on the low level lines.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a slightly grey and cool Charente.  The tardis is in Antwerp and it's still the 25th May 1995. This was my last day in Belgium so I wanted to make the most of it.  I decided to catch a train to Ghent. I walked up the platform to take a photo of the loco, which was this class 21.

The driver saw my interest and invited me into the cab.  He was Flemish but fortunately spoke a little English. Out of courtesy I didn't try my French on him.

Quite a treat.  here's the view as we left Antwerpen Central on the viaduct.  A snorkel unit on the left.

Then a right turn and we headed down to go under the Scheldt

 

Obviously we needed a snorkel as we were under water and one came the other way.

All too soon we were in Ghent where this class 44 railcar was waiting without a trailer.  I said a big thankyou and goodbye to my host for the trip.

Jamie

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by jamie92208