Short formation loco haulage 2021

[eastwestdivide]

REX1826 from Trento (Italy) to Innsbruck is a loco +3 over the Brenner Pass
(https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/vlak.php?zeme=OeBB&kategorie=REX&cislo=1826&nazev=&rok=2021).
Presumably with a return working at some point. And the return working https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/vlak.php?zeme=OeBB&cislo=1829&nazev=&rok=2021
When I caught it at Brixen in 2018, it was an ÖBB Taurus with 3 ex-ÖBB coaches branded SAD (Servizio Autobus Dolomiti), the local transport operator

 

[JonasB]

Vy (NSB) run a daily roundtrip from Luleå in north-eastern Sweden, via Boden and Kiruna, to Narvik in Norway. Even pre-COVID, when it was operated by SJ, the off-season service was a single Rc6 locomotive pulling two carriages, one open second class and one hybrid open second class with a bistro counter.

I can’t embed the images here, but I took these photographs of it during the scheduled stop in Gällivare in September 2019:

https://twitter.com/jbenedictbrown/status/1177541188213194755

https://twitter.com/jbenedictbrown/status/1177543387479719941

https://twitter.com/jbenedictbrown/status/1177544973568348160

2-3 carriages seems to be the standard formation in low season.

A few other photos:

Bild 31394 – Rc6 1389

Intercitytåg 96 från Luleå mot Björkliden kommer fram till bangården i Harrträsk närmast söder om Gällivare.

jvgfoto.se

Bild 26516 – Rc6 1332

Tåg 96 mot Narvik rullar in i Boden på förmiddagen.

jvgfoto.se

https://www.postvagnen.com/sjk-foru...Tidig-ankomst-och-flyttad-förbigång-12-bilder (scroll down a bit)

 

[Iskra]

Pre covid this was the shortest IC service in Europe I believe and also the only diesel loco hauled service in Italy (apart from when the shunter shunts the train onto the ferry over the straits of Messina).

It was twice daily from Reggio di Calabria Centrali to Taranto and vice versa.

 

[DanielB]

Currently it's not running due to COVID, but the DinnerTrain in The Netherlands has several planned trips later in 2021 and usually runs with 4 loco-hauled carriages (in push-pull configuration, so with loco on both ends).

There have even been services with just two carriages (see image) but I'm not sure if those services will be offered later this year, as DinnerTrain changed owners after a bankrupcy in 2019.

 

[43096]

REX1826 from Trento (Italy) to Innsbruck is a loco +3 over the Brenner Pass
(https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/vlak.php?zeme=OeBB&kategorie=REX&cislo=1826&nazev=&rok=2021).
Presumably with a return working at some point. And the return working https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/vlak.php?zeme=OeBB&cislo=1829&nazev=&rok=2021
When I caught it at Brixen in 2018, it was an ÖBB Taurus with 3 ex-ÖBB coaches branded SAD (Servizio Autobus Dolomiti), the local transport operator

There's also the twice daily return trips Villach-Udine that use up to 5 ÖBB coaches, but has been three when I've done it in the past, and one of them was a van. Haulage is by one of Ferrovie Udine-Cividale's (there's an unfortunate acronym) two E190 electric locos, which is the Italian designation for Siemens ES64U4 locos (i.e. same as ÖBB's 1216s).

 

[Richard Scott]

View attachment 90357Pre covid this was the shortest IC service in Europe I believe and also the only diesel loco hauled service in Italy (apart from when the shunter shunts the train onto the ferry over the straits of Messina).

It was twice daily from Reggio di Calabria Centrali to Taranto and vice versa.

There are lots of diesel hauled trains out of Firenze SMN station on the Siena route throughout the day and also Borgo SL in the peak.

 

[raetiamann]

The ultimate short loco hauled trains were the DBAG BR171 (ex DR 251) electric locomotives, which often ran with a single coach. The coach ould be either a conventional 2nd class coach or a double deck coach. At 18.64 metres long, it looked strange to see electric traction hauling a coach that didn't seem too much longer than its haulage. I have to say I don't know the maximum line speed but when I visited it the trains crawled along.

 

[Iskra]

There are lots of diesel hauled trains out of Firenze SMN station on the Siena route throughout the day and also Borgo SL in the peak.

Sorry, I think I meant Intercity service? Good to know though!

 

[Richard Scott]

Sorry, I think I meant Intercity service? Good to know though!

Yes, that would be the only IC service.

 

[JonasB]

There are lots of short trains where the loco stays coupled and pushes or pulls as required. Are there still many services where locos run round?

Yes, on most loco hauled trains in Sweden the loco runs around.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Yes, on most loco hauled trains in Sweden the loco runs around.

SJ built at least one type of cab-control car, the AFM7, but it was not very reliable. Today, as @JonasB says locomotives will usually run around trains where there is a change of direction. This happens at Kiruna, on trips between Luleå and Narvik, for example.

 

[JonasB]

SJ built at least one type of cab-control car, the AFM7, but it was not very reliable. Today, as @JonasB says locomotives will usually run around trains where there is a change of direction. This happens at Kiruna, on trips between Luleå and Narvik, for example.

Actually the reliability wasn't that bad. The problem was that there where only three of them so it required a bit of planning to make sure that there was enough drivers trained on them. They where built for the Stockholm-Uppsala trains and worked pretty well there. Then, around 15 years ago or so, SJ moved them to Scania and used a 2nd loco in the Uppsala trains instead. Which was a good idea since the length of the trains (around 10 carriages) meant they could use a bit of extra power.

A few years later they returned to the Mälaren area and where used in all kinds of trains. That was a problem as it was hard to make sure there was enough drivers that could drive them and that those drivers actually drove them enough. And with only three made, maintenance and spare parts could be an issue. Even if they where built using "off the shelf"-parts (a standard 1st class carriage and an Rc5 cab). So since 2016 they are used as standard carriages.

 

[Segedunum]

Here's a bizarre recorded formation today-

R946 "Fatran" in Slovakia was a loco hauling a 2-car DMU...

vagonWEB » Historické řazení vlaků » 2021 » ZSSK R » R 946 Fatran

www.vagonweb.cz

 

[peteb]

Ha ha looks like a UK crompton class 33 hauling a pacer DMU!!

Thats a great site, pity theres no French trains on it.

 

[Segedunum]

The 813 is essentially a rebuilt pair of Class 810s built by Vagonka Studenka in the 70s/80s. They're single carriage Pacer-esque things with abysmal ride quality so you aren't far off!

 

[43096]

The 813 is essentially a rebuilt pair of Class 810s built by Vagonka Studenka in the 70s/80s. They're single carriage Pacer-esque things with abysmal ride quality so you aren't far off!

Of course there are also still random turns that will drop a loco on DMU trailers when they're short, like this Czech example last summer.

 

[Tester]

View attachment 90357Pre covid this was the shortest IC service in Europe I believe and also the only diesel loco hauled service in Italy (apart from when the shunter shunts the train onto the ferry over the straits of Messina).

It was twice daily from Reggio di Calabria Centrali to Taranto and vice versa.

What luxury! Albeit not loco hauled I can offer a shorter Italian IC train on the same route.

I travelled from Taranto to Reggio on 26 March 2018 by IC566 at 13:07.

Arriving in good time and finding the Italian equivalent of a Class 153 at the platform, I promptly sat down to wait for the 'proper' train. Near to departure time a staff member asked me where I was going - on my reply of Reggio, he suggested I board. To be fair it was a more pleasant journey than I expected, but I think that will be hard to beat!

 

[Iskra]

What luxury! Albeit not loco hauled I can offer a shorter Italian IC train on the same route.

I travelled from Taranto to Reggio on 26 March 2018 by IC566 at 13:07.

Arriving in good time and finding the Italian equivalent of a Class 153 at the platform, I promptly sat down to wait for the 'proper' train. Near to departure time a staff member asked me where I was going - on my reply of Reggio, he suggested I board. To be fair it was a more pleasant journey than I expected, but I think that will be hard to beat!

One of these? They are the staple traction on the route and sometimes sub for the loco sets if they fail. Yes they are solidly built units and fairly comfortable, only the lack of air con and sometimes capacity can be an issue.

I’ve done a few long journeys on that line on them, but never the full length. I’m not sure I’d fancy it on the DMU, I always try and get the loco services when travelling for obvious reasons. Sadly that lines’ sleeper service was withdrawn before I could use it, around 10 years ago I think. It’s a nice line though, like the Italian Cumbrian Coast.

 

[Tester]

One of these? They are the staple traction on the route and sometimes sub for the loco sets if they fail. Yes they are solidly built units and fairly comfortable, only the lack of air con and sometimes capacity can be an issue.

I’ve done a few long journeys on that line on them, but never the full length. I’m not sure I’d fancy it on the DMU, I always try and get the loco services when travelling for obvious reasons. Sadly that lines’ sleeper service was withdrawn before I could use it, around 10 years ago I think. It’s a nice line though, like the Italian Cumbrian Coast.View attachment 90450

That looks like the culprit!

I'm relieved to hear that it was just a substitution rather than a permanent downgrade. I did the overnight equivalent in the 70s, and the loco hauled day trains a few times.

I also did Paola-Cosenza in steam rack days - two coaches pushed up the hill. One was basically a short guards van with a packed few benches, the other was a virtually empty corridor first through from Roma - I excessed for the equivalent of 25p!

And then the three phase - three locos and two coaches from Alessandria for one station to the traction boundary. (But veering off topic...)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2021 ==



Edited to remove double posting

 

[30907]

Here's a bizarre recorded formation today-

R946 "Fatran" in Slovakia was a loco hauling a 2-car DMU...

vagonWEB » Historické řazení vlaků » 2021 » ZSSK R » R 946 Fatran

www.vagonweb.cz

Surprised they bothered with the loco
Mind you, the unit might have been a failure on top of a missing LH set... this is SK where they are good at improvisation.

 

[Segedunum]

Surprised they bothered with the loco
Mind you, the unit might have been a failure on top of a missing LH set... this is SK where they are good at improvisation.

It looks like the preceding working was the 813 on its own.

In itself, one of those sets on a "Rychlik" category train is surprising- though pre-covid they were the rostered traction on the Košice-Čierna nad Tisou-Mukachevo route!

 

[rf_ioliver]

Quite a few of the Helsinki-Turku trains are loco + 4 carriages, for example, the Sunday InterCity 945 Helsinki-Turki is an Sr2/Sr3 locomotive + 4 double deck carriages.

I think there's still a few Dv12 + 2 or 3 carriages on the Seinäjoki-Jyväskylä line too

 

[52290]

That looks like the culprit!

I'm relieved to hear that it was just a substitution rather than a permanent downgrade. I did the overnight equivalent in the 70s, and the loco hauled day trains a few times.

I also did Paola-Cosenza in steam rack days - two coaches pushed up the hill. One was basically a short guards van with a packed few benches, the other was a virtually empty corridor first through from Roma - I excessed for the equivalent of 25p!

And then the three phase - three locos and two coaches from Alessandria for one station to the traction boundary. (But veering off topic...)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2021 ==



Edited to remove double posting

I did the Paola - Cosenza line in 1972 but I was too stingy to pay the 25p supplement for the first class so I traveled with the old ladies in the very basic 2nd class. For some reason they objected to me opening the window and sticking my head out. The photo shows 981.006 having a well earned drink after it had pushed the train up the mountain and run round to the front end for the final few miles into Cosenza.

 

[Iskra]

That looks like the culprit!

I'm relieved to hear that it was just a substitution rather than a permanent downgrade. I did the overnight equivalent in the 70s, and the loco hauled day trains a few times.

I also did Paola-Cosenza in steam rack days - two coaches pushed up the hill. One was basically a short guards van with a packed few benches, the other was a virtually empty corridor first through from Roma - I excessed for the equivalent of 25p!

And then the three phase - three locos and two coaches from Alessandria for one station to the traction boundary. (But veering off topic...)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2021 ==



Edited to remove double posting

Yes, just a sub. There are one or two fancy new units that appear on that line branded 'swing' I think, but I've only had one once.

Sadly, I only started visiting the area in around 2007 although I've been every year since then (2020 excepted) and always try cover some new track. I wish I'd have been able to sample the steam railways down there, there is one that operates as a tourist attraction still but it's quite a drive from where I'm based on the South Coast, so maybe I will get there one day. There are quite a few relics of narrow gauge railways still around where they used to meet the mainline on the Reggio-Salerno section, which is a stunning line in its own right. There's not much online about these railways so I appreciate @52290 sharing that photo and his account, the old ladies were probably fearful of catching a cold, the Italians are ever fearful of that. I hope to get to Cosenza by rail soon. One interesting recent development in that area is that they actually opened a new line between Lamezia Terme and Catanzaro Lido in the 2000's.

 

[D6130]

I also did Paola-Cosenza in steam rack days - two coaches pushed up the hill. One was basically a short guards van with a packed few benches, the other was a virtually empty corridor first through from Roma - I excessed for the equivalent of 25p!

I did the Paola-Cosenza rack line in April 1986, shortly before it was replaced by the new Galleria San Marco tunnel, but travelled in one of the 1954-vintage diesel railcars. I had travelled down from Rome on the mid-day "Rapido" (now "InterCity") for Sicily, behind an un-rebuilt "Tartaruga" ("Tortoise" - class E444 electric). Any hopes of bunking the depot were dashed by the kindly, but firm, railway policeman on duty at the station, but he helpfully suggested taking a walk along the beach - which is right alongside the line - and I was able to get a few photos from there. Dusk was falling by the time we set off up the hill and hit the rack with an enormous crunch. I had the company of an elderly retired high school teacher, who told me a great deal about the history of the line and the surrounding area. As we slowly climbed higher and darkness closed in, we were treated to an impressive fireworks display from the distant volcanic island of Stromboli, which was erupting at the time. At least six of the original ten 1922-vintage rack tank locomotives have been preserved in various parts of Italy, including 981 004, which is plinthed outside the "Dopolavoro Ferroviaro" (Railway staff social club and canteen) at Paola and 981 006, which is stored inside the depot at Cosenza - hopefully for eventual use on the small section of the rack line between Rende and San Fili which local associations are hoping to preserve. However, Italian bureaucracy being what it is, especially when combined with a greater or lesser degree of corruption in the beautiful South, it may or may not happen. There's been very little movement, both literally and metaphorically, in the 35 years since the line closed.

 

[JKF]

The Douro line out of Porto up to Regua/Pocinho has regular loco hauled turns these days, typically 3 or 4 coaches with a 1400 loco (English Electric powered) on the front. There’s loco hauled services starting on the Minho line soon too since it‘s now fully wired, refurbished old electric locos replacing DMUs that were hired in from Spain. Likely to be a fairly small load on those.

 

[Jamesrob637]

A Taurus with 3 cars near Budapest at the very start of COVID in early March 2020. Not sure whether the train was shorter than usual due to the impending pandemic.

 

[Segedunum]

A Taurus with 3 cars near Budapest at the very start of COVID in early March 2020. Not sure whether the train was shorter than usual due to the impending pandemic.

Substitute "Gyors" category trains running from Budapest to Hegyeshalom in place of railJet services are commonly being operated by a 470 (Hungarian Taurus) and three carriages.

vagonWEB » Historické řazení vlaků » 2021 » START Gy » Gy 60

www.vagonweb.cz

 

[Jamesrob637]

Substitute "Gyors" category trains running from Budapest to Hegyeshalom in place of railJet services are commonly being operated by a 470 (Hungarian Taurus) and three carriages.

vagonWEB » Historické řazení vlaků » 2021 » START Gy » Gy 60

www.vagonweb.cz

No it was green and white - a private operator?

 

[Segedunum]

No it was green and white - a private operator?

That'll be GySEV/Raaberbahn.

They own the line from Ebenfurth (Austria) to Györ through Sopron and Csorna and operate services on a number of other lines throughout Western Hungary.

However their carriages and locomotives are used on Intercity services from these destinations into Budapest too (which are shown as jointly operated between MÁV/GySEV) and sometimes their Taurus locomotives are used interchangably with the MÁV ones on routes heading west from Budapest.