Shred's Europe and Asia trips.

[shredder1]

Central, Eastern and Western, Europe, (Day 10). Saturday 4th November 2017.

I was again up early at the Wroclaw hostel and it wasn’t long before I was sat in the early morning bright sunshine on Glowny railway station. Rob joined me on the platforms and we took a short train journey out to Wroclaw locomotive Depot, located at Brochów, one of the first stations out, another large Polish sheds. We tracked down the depot foreman who gave us permission to go around the outside of the depot, but not to photograph anything inside, fair enough. Quite a variety of traction on shed and we had a great visit with added sunshine this time.

We returned to Brochów railway station and took a train back to Wroclaw Glowny; we were leaving Poland at this point and travelling into Dresden Germany. A German unit arrived into Wroclaw and we were taken directly into Dresden. My fourth visit to Germany this year and nice to be back.

Dresden Railway station is amazing, based on two levels with bay platforms located at a lower level in between the elevated through lines. We had lashed out for a change and were staying in a posh hotel not too far away from the railway station. We took tea in a local café, I had a traditional German fare of a giant Bratwurst with Sauerkraut washed down with some local German ale, and it was yummy to say the least.

The temperatures had dropped however and we later retired to our luxurious hotel for the night, with another big Polish shed in the bag, and a first for me, I slept contented that night.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...11978246316.1073742923.100001125840218&type=3

 

[Techniquest]

Sauerkraut just sounds revolting to me! The bratwurst though, sounds excellent!

 

[shredder1]

Sauerkraut just sounds revolting to me! The bratwurst though, sounds excellent!

Haha, its definitely an acquired taste Tech, I must say I wasnt a great fan when I first started eating it, but its sort of grown on me now

 

[shredder1]

Central, Eastern and Western, Europe, (Day 11). Sunday 5th November 2017.

The last day of my holiday, very sad. I left Rob in the hotel and made my way to Dresden station to catch some early morning action, not that there was much on a Sunday morning. So breakfast was taken, after which I was due to travel back to the Czech Republic, Prague as I was flying out from there that evening.

I later met Rob on Dresden railway station, although he had decided to stay in Germany, so I said my goodbyes, (lots of tears), and caught a direct service from Dresden to Prague, it was a lovely sunny day and the Czech 361 provided a good cross border run and it wasn’t long before I was stepping on Prague hl n platforms again. I spent the afternoon just photting around the station, in fact I also found a small bar at the end of the platform near the tunnel portals, I`d not noticed this bar before and it was great for photography while sat out in the sun having a few Czech beers and I spent most of the afternoon there.

All too soon however, it was time to make my way to the airport and I took the bus from just outside the main station entrance. My flight was good old Ryanair and it departed on time at 18.50, getting me into Liverpool John Lennon airport for 20.00 hours UK time. The landing was superb, it was the 5th November and you could see all the bonfires and fireworks going off all over Merseyside as we dropped in altitude.

A bus took me from outside the airport to South Parkway station and it wasn’t long before I was on a train and back into Manchester. It had been a fantastic trip out, lots of shed bashing, 4 countries and one rail tour, can`t wait to get back, many thanks for reading and I hope you`ve enjoyed the photographs.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...35994850581.1073742924.100001125840218&type=3

 

[Techniquest]

It was clearly a monster of a trip, my Alicante trip next month will be most tame in comparison!

 

[shredder1]

It was clearly a monster of a trip, my Alicante trip next month will be most tame in comparison!

Yes we try to get as much in as possible, Alicante`s not bad though, love FEVE and RENFE stuff.

 

[Cowley]

Well Shred (from one Nick to another), as always I find myself contemplating how to achieve a life like yours...
Excellent stuff and thanks for sharing it all.

 

[Techniquest]

Yes we try to get as much in as possible, Alicante`s not bad though, love FEVE and RENFE stuff.

I shall look forward to potentially positive feedback then! I looked at a spin to Madrid, not sure where else I can realistically do on Renfe yet, but that was insanely expensive and at awful times. I suspect I'll clear the tram lines in the area, but I'll see what happens. I fully expect to have a few Spanish brews while over there, even if it's only Estrella as I love that stuff!

 

[shredder1]

Well Shred (from one Nick to another), as always I find myself contemplating how to achieve a life like yours...
Excellent stuff and thanks for sharing it all.

Thank you very much Mr Cowley, life`s not always be this good, 2 divorces and once widowed, love being single now though and have lots of freedoms and 7 wonderful Grandchildren.

 

[shredder1]

I shall look forward to potentially positive feedback then! I looked at a spin to Madrid, not sure where else I can realistically do on Renfe yet, but that was insanely expensive and at awful times. I suspect I'll clear the tram lines in the area, but I'll see what happens. I fully expect to have a few Spanish brews while over there, even if it's only Estrella as I love that stuff!

I could really do with a good week on the Spanish Railways, maybe longer, need to catch up its been a while since I`ve been there. Look forward to your report Tech.

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 1). Sunday 4th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to finish off the depots I`d not been too and to revisit ones I`d been to a number of times, in addition I still have many branch lines to complete, but generally I love the country and its railways and people.

I`d not been to the Czech Republic since November last year, and 3 months away had certainly made the heart grow stronger. I`d booked a late afternoon flight from Liverpool, so it was only a short train journey from Manchester and I was flying good old Ryanair and at a good price too. It took only two hours to fly into Prague and after checking in my usual Rosemary Hostel, I was out on the platforms of Prague Hlavni Nadrazi, before a traditional Czech Goulash and a few pints of Kozel Dark in a local bar, it was so good to be back.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...16899575823.1073742959.100001125840218&type=3

 

[AnthonyRail]

Brilliant shot of easy jet plane.

 

[shredder1]

Brilliant shot of easy jet plane.

Thanks Anthony, a lucky one I think. I`d prefer planes a lot more if they ran on railway lines

 

[AnthonyRail]

Thanks Anthony, a lucky one I think. I`d prefer planes a lot more if they ran on railway lines

 

[shredder1]

View attachment 42792

Yep, that would work for me

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 2). Monday 5th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too and also revisit ones I`d visited a number of times previously, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and the beer.

The first full day of my trip and as you can imagine I was up very early and down to Hlavni Nadrazi station for breakfast. After my failed attempt to visit the depot at Ceska Budejovice in November 2017, and the bus replacement fiasco, I caught an early train to get me back down there.

It was a dull morning but brightened up by the time I`d walked through the goods yard to the depot, I searched out the depot foreman and asked permission, what a lovely chap, he said no problem, such a privileged that these people should allow us to go around their work place, so trusting and you have to respect that, they are proud of their railways, and rightly so, and also understand our enthusiasm.

My visit was amazing, Ceska Budejovice was one of 3 Czech depots I hadn’t visited before, and I`d never seen so many Grumpy`s in one place, albeit many were sadly in the scrap lines. I walked back to the station and took a train up to Jindnchuv Hradec as I wanted to travel on the southern section of the Jindřichohradec Railway, a 760 mm narrow-gauge railway, which runs from Jindrichuv Hradec to Nové Bystřice. I took a trip over to Nova Bystrice and back, an amazing little railway that operates steam in the summer months.

I later returned to Veseli Nad Luznici before catching a direct service to Prague Hlavni Nadrazi , I took tea in one of the station cafes and supplemented this with a few Kozel beers before returning to the Hostel Rosemary, it had been a great first day.

The Jindřichohradec Railway

http://www.czechtourism.com/c/jindrichuv-hradec-narrow-gauge-trains/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...02159437297.1073742962.100001125840218&type=3

 

[30907]

Czech Republic, (Day 2). Monday 5th February 2018.

I walked back to the station and took a train up to Jindnchuv Hradec as I wanted to travel on the southern section of the Jindřichohradec Railway, a 760 mm narrow-gauge railway, which runs from Jindrichuv Hradec to Nové Bystřice. I took a trip over to Nova Bystrice and back, an amazing little railway that operates steam in the summer months.

Lovely line (as is the northern arm).
Tip for anyone visiting when there's time for sightseeing: come back from Nova B by bus as JH town is well worth a visit. The bus takes 1/3 of the time and drops you in the town centre.

 

[shredder1]

Lovely line (as is the northern arm).
Tip for anyone visiting when there's time for sightseeing: come back from Nova B by bus as JH town is well worth a visit. The bus takes 1/3 of the time and drops you in the town centre.

Thank you, must try that and I will revisit, ideally in the summer for steam and the northern line, I was most impressed.

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 3). Tuesday 6th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too and to revisit ones I`d been too a number of times previously, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and the beer.

The second day and I was on the platforms at Prague hl n by 05.30, breakfast on the station, continental style with meats and cheeses, a revival coffee and I was off on a train just turned 06.00 heading for Cheb on the German border. Unusually the service travelled first north to Usti nad Labem and then on to Most, and Karlovy Vary, a journey of around 4 hours, I also got a view of one of the evasive Mining locos, the Class 127`s, a magnificent green liveried Bo-Bo-Bo Crocodile, as we crossed the transfer sidings just south of Most, I really must get back there and track those beasts down.

I arrived in Cheb just after 09.30 and took a second breakfast in the station café, an hour or so in Cheb and I was boarding another train to take me into Plzen. I was quite impressed with the main station at Plzen, it is quite large and was busy on arrival, and the station was also undergoing major refurbishment work.

I however wanted to get out to the locomotive depot and stupidly didn’t do my homework before leaving home, plus I don`t have a smart phone either, so couldn’t check on google Earth or anything. I set off walking in the direction I thought the depot was in, but after about 2 miles I gave up and instead spent a few hours on the railway station, it was a lovely sunny afternoon and I took full advantage of it.

My next move was a train back into Prague hl n and then another train out to Kolin to see what was around the yards, but the light was going by this time. I returned to Pecky and took a branch train down to Kourim, returning to Prague Masarykovo, and completing the day with a hot dog supper on the station and the obligatory Kozel darks before returning to the hostel, it had been a long day, but another very satisfying one.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...1073742964.100001125840218&type=3&pnref=story

 

[Cowley]

Looks brilliant Shred. Looking forward to seeing more

 

[shredder1]

Looks brilliant Shred. Looking forward to seeing more

Thank you very much mate, its enjoyable revisiting these as I PS them and put them in albums.

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 4). Wednesday 7th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too previously and also to revisit ones I`d been too numerous times, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch and cross country lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and its beer.

A strange thing had happened the night before, I was woken up by a Russian lad, maybe in his twenties or thirties, he woke me up because he said I was snoring and on top of that went on to say I was snoring like an animal. It was a bit out of character me for but he caught me off guard, I jumped out of bed and went a bit crazy at him, pushed him over the opposite bed and he banged his head on the lockers, I told him to get up and follow me outside, but he backed down, took his stuff and left, he wasn’t seen again, I soon got back to sleep though.

I was up showered and on the platforms at Prague Hlavni Nadrazi by 05.00, breakfast on the station again and an early train out, an international to Poland, over to the east of the country, and alighting at Olomouc, to visit a depot I hadn’t done before.

I took the museum route across the station, but the museum was closed, permission was granted however to go around the depot, the round house was closed but I was allowed inside and most of the locos where there, so I had a great visit.

I returned to Olomouc railway station and next caught a train over to Ostrava Hlavni Nadrazi and again was given permission to tour the depot, Ostrava is one of the large cargo depots in the Czech Republic, and this third visit didn’t disappoint.

Ostrava is also the country`s main freight region and a very busy area indeed so I spent the rest of the day around the station environs and was treated to plenty of snow later in the afternoon.

I took a cross country trip out to Vratimov, but the line was closed beyond there with a bus replacement service taking passengers to their various destinations, so I returned from Vratimov to Ostrava Hlavni Nadrazi, before catching a train down to Brno for the night and staying in an hostel I`d stayed on previous visits to the city. It had been a good shed bashing day and the snow added to my enjoyment.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...17485822431.1073742967.100001125840218&type=3

 

[Cowley]

I’m not going to complain if ever hear you snoring .
Brilliant.

 

[shredder1]

I’m not going to complain if ever hear you snoring .
Brilliant.

Hahahaha, I`m sure I don`t snore that loudly

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 5). Thursday 8th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too previously and also to revisit ones I`d been too numerous times, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch and cross country lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and its beer.

Another early start with a quick dash across town to Brno hl n and a CD class 380 bound for Prague, I wanted to catch up on a little more sleep however so rode through to Pardubice, before returning to Ceska Trebova and making my way through the yards and down to the locomotive depot.

I called in the main depot office and was entertained by an absolutely lovely young lady who was telling me all about her new hobby swimming in winter in the river when the snows are down and how good it’s been for her, she phoned the main man who advised me that I would have to pay 200 kd`s and sign an health and safety form before being escorted around the depot, absolutely no problem and I had a fantastic visit and was taken everywhere However, it would seem like health and safety is rearing its ugly head now over there and I suspect our shed visits could be more restrictive in the years to come.

The snow was thick on the ground and after my visit I made my way back to the railway station and caught a train to Olomouc for a change for Prerov, which is used more as a small workshop these days, we visited the depot a few years ago, but not much is on shed these days and it appears to have lost its status as a depot, it can still be a very busy station though and is always worth a visit.

From Prerov I caught one of the older emus out to Strelna on the Slovakian border, via Hranice na Morave, Valasske Mezirici and Vsetin, returning as far as Hranice na Morave, which is ideally located for freight photography and I planned on returning the next day.

Returning to Ostrava hl n from Hranice na Morave I was just in time for a few evening photographs as the light faded before having an evening meal in a local restaurant and later returning to my Penzion room for the night, an excellent room just a short tram ride from the station, with all the comforts of home, a hot shower a few Kozel beers and the television on for a few hours and I had a very restful night, a nice break from the hostels.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...59805608199.1073742975.100001125840218&type=1

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 6). Friday 9th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too previously and also to revisit ones I`d been too numerous times, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch and cross country lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and its beer.

After a very restful night in the Penzion at Ostrava, I was up before first light and found it only a 15 minute walk to the railway station, a light breakfast and out on the platforms. This days plan was to sample a few more branch and cross country lines and also do some freight photting.

The first train took me down to Suchdol nad Odrou, a busy station on the main freight route, I decided to take a train down the branch to Fulnek, only a short branch, but I regret not checking my timetable beforehand, a single car 810 railbus took me on the 15 minute or so journey down the branch and after I alighted, the driver pulled the unit into a sidings, and presumably got his head down, and that was it for over an hour, I wouldn’t have minded so much but apart from the station, there is nothing to see or do at Fulnek and it strives to become one horse town someday.

Eventually returning to Suchdol nad Odrou I caught a Russian built Class 460 down the line to Hranice na Morave and just photted the passing freight for a few hours, an excellent and very busy location that lends itself to rail freight photography.

My next move was a Slovakian Class 361 bound for Zilina, I alighted at Valasske Mezirici and from there caught a branch train Class 842 to Frenstat pod Radhostem were I changed for a CD Goggle which took me along the line I`d tried earlier in the week, but was operating a bus service beyond Vratimov and south, this time however the line had reopened and took me back to Ostrava, although I alighted at Ostrava Kuncice, before returning to Ostrava hl n for the evening.

I took tea in an Italian restaurant and later a few ales in the city, before returning by tram to the Penzion for my last night in the east of the country. It had been an enjoyable day and a change from shed bashing.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...1073742979.100001125840218&type=3&pnref=story

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 7). Saturday 10th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too previously and also to revisit ones I`d been too numerous times, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch and cross country lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and its beer.

It was a very early start from Ostrava and my last night in the lovely Penzion which was a shame really because I needed to set the alarm for 02.30 in order that I could catch the first train out to Prague. I was practically racing from one end of the country to the other end, as I wanted to try and find Plzen locomotive depot again.

I slept most of the way from Ostrava to Prague and daylight had already broken as I arrived into the City. I left the train and headed down the underpass to grab something to eat for the train out to Plzen, but when I got to a shop, I realised I had left my wallet on the train, heart in mouth I raced back along the underpass and up the stairs, I thought the train had left, but then realised it was on another platform, so down the stairs and up another set, in the coach and there was my wallet on the seat, I thought I was going to have an heart attack and had to rest to get some air, somebody must be watching over me, fortunately I do carry a spare debit card somewhere else, so if the worst had have come to the worst I could still get cash and again keep my passport and boarding passes separate also. Lesson learned however.

I made an early train out to Plzen after a breakfast on the train, and arrived back in the City for the second time in the week, this time determined to find the depot. I must have walked about 3 miles trying to locate it, I followed a river for 1 mile and eventually came to another series of overbridges, I climbed one of them and saw the depot at the back of a marshalling yard, not in an obvious place.
I noticed the security office on the way in so put my Hi-Viz on and headed right into the yard and accosted one of the lads shunting, he couldn’t speak any English but was friendly enough and it gave the impression that I knew him as I waved goodbye and headed for the depot. I arrived at the shed foreman`s office and he gladly gave me permission, a lovely chap, so I had a fantastic visit, and the old roundhouse even had a few steam locos being restored which was great to see.

I returned to the main road, and found a McDonalds on retail park opposite, after something to eat, it appeared that the railway station was just around the corner, so the actually walking time from station to depot was probably around 15 minutes, but at least I know where it is now.

Returning to the station smugly, having visited every depot in the Czech Republic, I decided to travel the direct line from Plzen to Ceske Budejovice, an interesting line with much to see. Arriving back into Ceske Budejovice, I spent an hour in the company of a Dutch spotter who was on his way to Austria. I caught the next train back up to Prague, had my tea in the station, the usual few Kozels and back to the Hostel Rosemary for the last two nights. No sign of the Russian I`d clobbered a few nights ago, I was showered and in the bunk in no time, I slept well that night, not sure if everyone else did with my snoring though, but at least no one woke me up this time.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...91018728411.1073742981.100001125840218&type=3

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 8). Sunday 11th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too previously and also to revisit ones I`d been to numerous times, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch and cross country lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and its beer.

I was up and showered at a more leisurely time, took breakfast on Prague Hlavni Nadrazi station and caught a train up to Usti nad Labem, a town I`ve stayed in quite a few times and one that holds Czech`s largest locomotive depot. I caught a bus out to the depot, the shed foreman was a lovely guy, he broke away from his breakfast to find me a couple of drivers to show me around, what absolutely lovely people the Czechs are, I had a fantastic visit and was taken everywhere even inside loco cabs, I really can`t thank these people enough, so welcoming and helpful. The depot was full with it being a Sunday morning, but there were still freight operating on the main line, a very busy railway network even at weekends.

I returned by trolley bus to the main railway station, had a quick snack in a café opposite and caught the next train up to Decin, a much smaller locomotive depot and one I`ve also been round a few times previously. A nice surprise awaited me on arrival, a former Belgium 1200 series electric locomotive parked up near the station, I think they have around 10 of these operating in Czech now and I saw another one just north of Prerov earlier in the week, but only as I passed it on the train and I was unable to get a photograph of it, so this one was a bonus to be sure.

I returned to Prague hl n and took a branch train down to Dobris via Skochovice and Mnisek pod Brdy and was fortunate in that I shared my journey with an absolutely lovely train guard, Lucie, who gave me lots of information on Prague, the lines and the places to visit, and indeed she`s now a facebook friend.

I return from Dobris to Prague, tea and a few local ales in one of the station café`s and I returned to the Hostel Rosemary for my last night, it’s amazing how fast time goes while you are away, but I still had a full morning left and wanted to make the most of it, I slept well that night.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...06588446854.1073742988.100001125840218&type=3

 

[shredder1]

Czech Republic, (Day 9). Monday 12th February 2018.

A nine day break in the Czech Republic, mainly to visit the depots I`d not been too previously and also to revisit ones I`d been too numerous times, in addition I also wanted to chip away at a few more branch and cross country lines, but generally I love the country and its railways, the people and its beer.

The last day in the Czech Republic and I purchased a Prague regional rover ticket all zones for 160 kd about a fiver, which was very cheap for the area it covered. I set about getting a few more lines marked off and returned down the line to Skochovice, but this time along the route to Cercany, where I changed for a train back into Prague, alighting at Vrsovice to visit the locomotive depot.

I was given permission to go around the depot by a foreman who had previously given me permission on other trips, a really nice guy, who always laughs when I enter the office, gives me the impression that he thinks I`m a mad English trainspotter, which I probably am.

An excellent visit with a few more CD Vectrons now in evidence. After my visit I made my way back to Prague Vrsovice station and took a train through the tunnels into Prague hl n. I still some had time left as my flight back to the UK was later in the afternoon, so I took another line from Prague down to Beroun via Zadni Treban, before returning to Prague on the direct line.

All too sadly, my time had diminished and I had to take the Express bus to the Airport, the rail link was supposed to be open for 2013, so I`m not sure what’s happened to that, but the bus is regular and fine.

I flew back into Liverpool and the train to Manchester, tram and bus home; it took me 4 hours allowing for the time difference, which is not bad going from Prague to my house. It had been a fantastic trip, but back to reality for a while now, many thanks for reading.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melli...24834891696.1073742990.100001125840218&type=3

 

[Segedunum]

Sounds like quite the trip.

The depot in Usti nad Labem intrigues me as i'm going to the Czech Republic in June (ironically on a Sunday) and will have a few hours to kill. The route I take goes through there.

Even as a 19 year old pasty looking teenager, do you think they'd invite me in for a look around?