Foreign cranking

[theblackwatch]

Back on another thread yesterday the new 'Railway Herald Worldwide' magazine was mentioned. With the number of people going abroad on railway trips increasing all the time, I wondred what people's favourite foreign countries are for railways? Mine would be, in no particular order:

Austria - Great scenery, nice variety of motive power, good food & drink.

Czech - Ridiculously cheap (a week's FC season ticket for the country has just gone up from £24ish to around £40), huge amount of loco-haulage (old diesels and electrics), great beer and food, and Prague is great to look round.

Germany - easy to get to, very interesting range of private operators, and even steam in daily service on the Isle of Rugen!

Used to enjoy Portugal but the reductionin diesel haulage means it has lost its spark for me.

Be interested in other views and opinions, even if they differ to mine!

 

[Newportmuscles]

Been eurobashing since 1993, Czech was the best but not enough loud 749s left. Croatia is very good as well, and also if steam heat is what you fancy then try Macedonia.

 

[theblackwatch]

Must admit the 749 situation is a bit of a downer - you never know whether you'll get a good one or a silenced one. Had a great trip from Ceske Bud last year with a loud one.

Not done Croatia or Macedonia, too many countries and not enough time.... What's the power in Macedonia like?

 

[gordonthemoron]

Poland is cheap and there are lots of nice places. I don't think the variety of locomotive power is that great but there are steam trains in daily service from Poznan. The state of the track is appaling

 

[87015]

Sampled a bit although mainly close to home

Ireland - Favourite, many happy trips around Cork or Limerick with small GMs, cravens and steam heat. 071s on IC stuff not a bad alternative move either, don't hold enough appeal to me to get me over there for the sparse workings, now couldn't face hours at Heuston waiting for on to drop.

Portugal - Great Algarve thrash with 1400/1800/1900 things, now all but finished AFAIK.

Norway - Scenery rather than pure bashing quality but enough loco hauled stuff to cover all the country aboard high quality stock.

Belgium/France on day trips only .

Looking to do a 'semi-cranking' interrail in the summer with a couple of mates so will be watching the thread for recommendations 8)

ps. Anyone done Bulgaria?!

 

[33056]

Fave countries at present, Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Used to enjoy Ireland, Portugal and Belgium but they have lost nearly all their interest for me these days.

Would like to get into Spain a bit more but all this compulsory reservation lark for the more interesting trains puts me off. Really ought to "get into" Czech Republic, Hungary and (to a lesser degree) Slovakia.

 

[Newportmuscles]

Must admit the 749 situation is a bit of a downer - you never know whether you'll get a good one or a silenced one. Had a great trip from Ceske Bud last year with a loud one.

Not done Croatia or Macedonia, too many countries and not enough time.... What's the power in Macedonia like?

A report on Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia on the Sixbells Junc site.

 

[Julian G]

The state of the track is appaling

Don't worry, it will better in 10 Years time , already the first part of the modernisation programme will be complete in Mid-August (Lódz-Warszawa Section to be used by 100mph 4 car ED74s* replacing loco-hauled trains on the Lódz-Warszawa Route )
*Operating Normally in a 4+4 Formation

============================
My opinion-
Poland- I had many haulages behind EU07s and an EU06
*i will be there again in April to rake in more mileages
although the EMUs are in a poor state (EN57,EW58,EW60,ED71,ED72,ED73)
thankfully they are being refurbished- some have been (domestically) rebuilt into modern units [14-WE*] *Includes the "Pope Train"

Germany- I've only done Koln, on the S13 (class 425 EMUs) from Koln Hansaring-Koln Flughafen twice, i've been on the "Im Dampfzug run um Kolle" Tour organised by Eisen Bahn Museum Dieringhausen for 10€. This was a tour that went around Koln including going through one of the Yard hauled by a Steam Train

Belgium- I've done the Yellow line of the Belgium Metro, I've used one of the metro lines to get to the "Atomium", In 2006 I had haulage behind a Class 13 from Bruxelles Midi (Zuid)-Brugge and a rubber tyre EMU on the way back. I've done Eurostar to Brussels twice (2003* & 2006)
*before CTRL1 opened

France- I've done Eurostar to Paris just once (1998) I've done the RER line to Disneyland Paris from the centre

Portugal- Only train i've been on was the Lisbon Commuter Train from Cais-de-Sodre to Estoril [LTS style] I went on the "Beach Express". Very comfortable units, good airconditioning , I've done the metro as well

 

[Techniquest]

Only ever cranked a bit in Ireland and France (the latter a few months before I got interested in trains properly). Of the two, for pure speed France rules supreme. Nothing quite like storming through France at top speed on a TGV in those luxury cream seats at the end of the train (was this First Class?) from Poitiers to Paris. The trek around Paris itself was on the same day as a protest against the war in Iraq, but the Paris Metro was cool. Sat in some brown seats on the TGV to Lille but it was still comfortable. The EMU-thing we had to Calais was dreadfully slow and boring though.

The second time I went to France was in July 2006, when I knew what I was doing. The 373 to Marne-la-Valle Chessy was excellent, same for it coming back (had The Da Vinci Code one back, looked cool). Also done more of the Metro and RER Line A from Marne-la-Valle Chessy, which was quite cool. Liked the idea of double-deck Metro trains although couldn't get on one.

In Ireland we only managed to do some of the DART and the Rosslare Europort - Connolly line on 158-like DMUs. Another trip to Ireland in 2007 resulted in getting coaches everywhere and seeing some of the stuff in Waterford but rail services were so pathetic we couldn't get a train anywhere. :-x

Still, Ireland is supposed to be in its final year of loco-hauled trains by proper locos, so I'm going there this year.

 

[37412]

Hoping to go over to Germany in August, have a spin on the 218's 8)

 

[37402]

Never tried abroad before, always been sufficient bits and pieces of interest over here.

Bulgaria beckons...anyone know if Easyjet do a season ticket?

 

[86242]

Switzerland - great scenery, decent trains and gone there at least once every year since before I can remember so its sort of like a second home in a way
Western USA - great scenery and REAL trains which beat anything in europe, where else in the world do you have 2 mile long coal trains climbing 1 in 30 grades...

 

[Snapper]

India: It can't be beaten for sights, sounds, variety or atmosphere

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/c956457.html

Sri Lanka: Is also fun, with some old British locos in the shape of the Brush built M7s

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/c978419.html

In Europe I'd say Germany, Czech Rep and Hungary, which has a very active museum scene too:

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/c305506.html

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/c696524.html

 

[Metroland]

Germany, Switizerland and Austria I'd say. The trains are decent, well built, clean and solid. I rather think DB is a better brand than SNCF.

France is good for the TGV, but some of the local train services I wouldn't say match here. Personally I dislike the Paris Metro.

Holland is quite interesting, feels more old BR, bit rough around the edges in places. Trams in Amsterdam go everywhere.

Overall I'd highly recommend Switzlerland, for its excellent main line rail services and all the smaller branch lines, most of which are private. Some are worked by small electric locos other steam. Main line services have lots of through trains from other nations, you will see French TGVs, German ICEs and Austrian and Italian trains.

If you fancy the TGV, go from Paris to Nice, the run along the seat front in the spring/summer is excellent.

There's no reason for anyone not to go these days, Paris a similar time frame to Manchester by train, and Amsterdam, the same as Edinburgh. From there you have a whole new world to explore, which is very cheap on inter rail tickets.

http://www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail/global_passes/default.asp

 

[Techniquest]

Ta for the link there Metroland. 3 days in a month to cover the tracks in Ireland for £56 is very reasonable!

*Starts planning a summer trip*

 

[theblackwatch]

Ta for the link there Metroland. 3 days in a month to cover the tracks in Ireland for £56 is very reasonable!

*Starts planning a summer trip*

If you hadn't realised before, please note this ticket covers only the Republic of Ireland - it does not cover Northern Ireland!

It's also worth remembering that in some countries it can be cheaper to buy a ticket in the country rather than an InterRail - for example in Czech, a First Class 7 day season ticket for the country costs around £40 (having gone up from £24 in the past month or two), which is less than half the price of a 6 day InterRail covering the same.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sampled a bit although mainly close to home

Ireland - Favourite, many happy trips around Cork or Limerick with small GMs, cravens and steam heat. 071s on IC stuff not a bad alternative move either, don't hold enough appeal to me to get me over there for the sparse workings, now couldn't face hours at Heuston waiting for on to drop.

Portugal - Great Algarve thrash with 1400/1800/1900 things, now all but finished AFAIK.

Southern Ireland has certainly lost its appeal a bit - think I need to do a 'last trip' this year to get in my last bits of track and also do any 'old' locos I can find.

Same with Portugal, happy memories doing both the Algarve and the Duoro. The 1931s, despite looking like 'French plastic' were excellent (as were the Alcos), plus of course the EE locos. A trip to Argentina may be on the cards in years to come!

 

[Techniquest]

There was some loco diagrams mentioned in a copy of TR:UK a few months ago in a winter timetable review. As soon as I can, I'll find out what they were and post them in this thread.

Yes, I am aware that Northern Ireland is not covered. I tend to automatically refer to the RoI as 'Ireland' anyway. No idea why, but there we are.

Will bear that in mind with regards to the season ticket, but since RoI is reasonably well developed (not dissing the Czech Republic, but the RoI seems more developed from what I've seen. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong) I doubt it is the case. It is a shame the EuroDomino ticket for the RoI is not available now, that seemed to represent good value for money.

 

[gordonthemoron]

By 'reasonably well developed' I take it you mean expensive?

 

[Techniquest]

I'm not sure what I mean by it, but I know it's not that cheap.

 

[alanjohnlew]

Whilst I love India some of my best photos have been in Cuba. Still a little steam left,

Alan

 

[Driver74]

Switzerland - great scenery, decent trains and gone there at least once every year since before I can remember so its sort of like a second home in a way

I have to 2nd your choice. But you don’t state if you travel all the way across France to get to Switzerland. There has to be a better way than by TVG boxes on the Basle Route. I mean 3 & half hours without a window view.

 

[33056]

I have to 2nd your choice. But you don’t state if you travel all the way across France to get to Switzerland. There has to be a better way than by TVG boxes on the Basle Route. I mean 3 & half hours without a window view.

Switzerland overland? Easy, catch the 0733 from Brussels (EC91) and it will take you straight to Zürich. Four different locos for haulage, including the shunter at Basel :grin:

 

[yorkie]

Take a look at these videos from the Czech Republic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmtC57pkBeM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeYZJxhETXA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQypC11Gdvc

hellfire!! sound like English Electrics!

 

[Beaker]

Real Skodas

 

[Donny Dave]

For those who want to plan a bash across Europe, I've found a few books that might be useful.

Europe By Rail.

Europe By Rail 2008.

Rail Map of Europe.

 

[Julian G]

Don't worry, it will better in 10 Years time , already the first part of the modernisation programme will be complete in Mid-August (Lódz-Warszawa Section to be used by 100mph 4 car ED74s* replacing loco-hauled trains on the Lódz-Warszawa Route )
*Operating Normally in a 4+4 Formation

============================
My opinion-
Poland- I had many haulages behind EU07s and an EU06
*i will be there again in April to rake in more mileages
although the EMUs are in a poor state (EN57,EW58,EW60,ED71,ED72,ED73)
thankfully they are being refurbished- some have been (domestically) rebuilt into modern units [14-WE*] *Includes the "Pope Train"

Germany- I've only done Koln, on the S13 (class 425 EMUs) from Koln Hansaring-Koln Flughafen twice, i've been on the "Im Dampfzug run um Kolle" Tour organised by Eisen Bahn Museum Dieringhausen for 10€. This was a tour that went around Koln including going through one of the Yard hauled by a Steam Train

Swizerland- the railway is wonderful, many wonderful views!, its quick, fast and efficent, the ICN & IC services are comfortable, the Glacier Express is hellfire, I had haulage on HGE 4/4 II, GE 4/4 II, RE 460, ICN, ETR 470,ICE2 and the Uetlibergbahn units [I feel that I should had stayed there for-ever]

 

[Beaker]

Re6/6s and all 10,600 hp

 

[Zamracene749]

Right! I'm convinced. Where do these beasts run and which services are best to catch them on?

Oh and what is the the language barrier like over there?

Take a look at these videos from the Czech Republic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmtC57pkBeM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeYZJxhETXA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQypC11Gdvc

hellfire!! sound like English Electrics!

 

[yorkie]

A few more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci6t1NVR2XI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOmzWsX0JfI

They also have their own version of pacers, and here is an example being hauled by a loco it sounds like the traction motors on that loco are louder than the engine (even more so in this video).

 

[theblackwatch]

Right! I'm convinced. Where do these beasts run and which services are best to catch them on?

Oh and what is the the language barrier like over there?

They run on a number of different lines, your best bet would be to join the Czech/Slovak Gen yahoo group which is at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/CDGEN/ - there are regular reports on there from people, and in there are also lots of diagrams in the files section available for download. There's a review of my trip from 2006 on my website, sorry I didn't get round to doing 2007! One word of warning though - some of the 749s are silenced and don't make a lot of noise.

I've not had any language problems, a lot of restaurants and bars/beer halls have menus in english as well as Czech, and all the hotels I've stayed at have spoken some english. Don't try understanding the station announcements though!