The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Mad Doug Biker]

They are a common sight in Stuttgart and I've seen them occasionally in Karlsruhe. National railways are becoming increasingly blurry with Karlsruhe hosting locos and high speed trains from France, Switzerland, Austria and even Italy.

A few countries have their own examples - Yet more homogenisation of the railways sadly, much as I like those Taureans.

 

[Andy in Germany]

A few countries have their own examples - Yet more homogenisation of the railways sadly, much as I like those Taureans.

I recall that DB Bought some for use in Austria, as despite being theoretically the same inside as the other TRAXX units (like the French CL 185 above) for some reason the Taurus locos don't interfere with the Austrian signalling but the German TRAXX locos do.

I understand about the homogenity, but I like the fact it reflects how the countries are working together: it wasn't that long ago that French authorities insisted German trains should be built bigger so they couldn't be used in France in an invasion, or that Spain planned lines from France to be easily destroyed for the same reason.

 

[Andy in Germany]

On that subject:

TGV Duplex in Karlsruhe. Announcements are in German and French for the TGV's. I couldn't hear if the Italian trains were greeted by an Italian announcement.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I recall that DB Bought some for use in Austria, as despite being theoretically the same inside as the other TRAXX units (like the French CL 185 above) for some reason the Taurus locos don't interfere with the Austrian signalling but the German TRAXX locos do.

I understand about the homogenity, but I like the fact it reflects how the countries are working together: it wasn't that long ago that French authorities insisted German trains should be built bigger so they couldn't be used in France in an invasion, or that Spain insistedc lines from France should be made to be easily destroyed for the same reason.

DB class 182, yes, I have a model somewhere, albeit a cheap Piko one.

It is good that they are working together and it's been several years/decades in the making. I see Austria and Germany do a lot in Hungary, Romania and in the Balkans too. Hungary even have their own Taurus Loks too (MAV and Gysev), as do several other countries, like Slovenia (I think).

And yet, somehow, I still hark back to the days when everything was different, depending on where you were and of this thing called variety.
Variety is of only limited use though.

 

[rogerzilla]

None of that FOREIGN stuff will run on good old BRITISH railways*.

Not because we thought about invasion, but because the Victorians cheaped out and gave us the smallest loading gauge there is.

*except HS1 and what's left of the Great Central Railway

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

None of that FOREIGN stuff will run on good old BRITISH railways*.

Not because we thought about invasion, but because the Victorians cheaped out and gave us the smallest loading gauge there is.

*except HS1 and what's left of the Great Central Railway

... And the SNCF class 22s'.

Seriously though, yes, it's a bit silly what we have here now, isn't it? I mean even Broad Gauge would have improved things one way or another. 🙄

 

[Andy in Germany]

... And the SNCF class 22s'.

Seriously though, yes, it's a bit silly what we have here now, isn't it? I mean even Broad Gauge would have improved things one way or another. 🙄

It does of course mean that trains from the UK can go anywhere in Europe as long as they fit on the track.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I am led to believe that the freightliner '86s' that have been sat at Crewe for yonks are meant to be going over to Bulgaria.

I may be wrong about that though.

If I had the money, I'd definitely buy some, such as the former E3102 (86609?/86610?) and 86628, which was E3159.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If I had the money, I'd definitely buy some, such as the former E3102 (86609?, 86610?) and 86628, which was E3159.

By the way, 86628, or E3159 is actually the youngest one in existence.

You see, they were built in 3 batches by Elglish Electric (2) and Doncaster (1), but had numbers already allocated, so although E3102 (mentioned earlier) may have been the second built, it was one of the batch that were E3101 - 3140. At the same time, another batch numbered E3161 - 3200 were built.
It is why if you look at entry to service, E3101 will be working next to, say, E3172 and so on.

There was, however, another batch, the last 20, i.e. the second English Electric lot. E3141 - 3160 built at the end.

This means that 86628 or 3159, is in fact, the youngest surviving example!

 

[Andy in Germany]

This year the overnight car/sleeper service from Hamburg to Lörrach is being run by a private company using an ex-DB class 101. It's all blue; last year coaching stock was a riot of different colours and companies.

It passes about 08:45 every day. I wonder if my boss would mind me taking a couple of minutes to photograph it?

 

[Spartak]

On that subject:

View attachment 697773

TGV Duplex in Karlsruhe. Announcements are in German and French for the TGV's. I couldn't hear if the Italian trains were greeted by an Italian announcement.

I travelled on one of those from Lille to Avignon last October, very nice journey... 🇫🇷 👍

If anyone looking for a location for a short break then Avignon is very nice with lots to see & lots of bars and restaurants to enjoy.
I was there for work... 🙄

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Some of those prices are getting a bit daft already and the auction is less than a day old.

This is Arlington Fleet Services selling the latest lot off of scrapped class 313s' and '317s':

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?i..._wog-GB9-FDuI-r1pgabbYpNm_Eqp9SRZ2pX4jQEAWzLI

 

[Jameshow]

Some of those prices are getting a bit daft already and the auction is less than a day old.

This is Arlington Fleet Services selling the latest lot off of scrapped class 313s' and '317s':

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?i..._wog-GB9-FDuI-r1pgabbYpNm_Eqp9SRZ2pX4jQEAWzLI

Why?!!!🤣🤣🤣

 

[Andy in Germany]

Some of those prices are getting a bit daft already and the auction is less than a day old.

This is Arlington Fleet Services selling the latest lot off of scrapped class 313s' and '317s':

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?i..._wog-GB9-FDuI-r1pgabbYpNm_Eqp9SRZ2pX4jQEAWzLI

I'd rather make a replica to be honest: interesting project and cheaper.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Why?!!!🤣🤣🤣

The 'veg' element. Seriously though, even units have a lot of following these days and there are a lot of 'London People' interested in these ones, hence the faintly wacky prices.

I'd rather make a replica to be honest: interesting project and cheaper.

Personally I'd rather have the real thing, with all the provenance (otherwise what's the point?), but just not for the prices emerging in the auction.

That said, I nearly bought a flamecut cabside number from 86239, the loco written off in the Stafford Mail Train crash about 20 odd years ago, but I missed out Damn! It was 2 or 3 hundred at the time.