Shred's Europe and Asia trips.

Cowley said:

Looks amazing. So different over there.
When you said that there were top and tail Grumpy’s on local workings with vintage stock at Hlavni Nadrazi, was that normal or had it been laid on for you guys?

Click to expand...

The Grumpys and vintage stock (operated by KZDC) are normal throuhout the season.
On 1 June only 2 of the 3 trains operated and were uncoupled at the platform, so ran separately in passenger service,but this coming weekend they are running coupled from Prague to Vsetaty, where one of them reverses, hence top and tail.

30907 said:

The Grumpys and vintage stock (operated by KZDC) are normal throuhout the season.
On 1 June only 2 of the 3 trains operated and were uncoupled at the platform, so ran separately in passenger service,but this coming weekend they are running coupled from Prague to Vsetaty, where one of them reverses, hence top and tail.

Click to expand...

That sounds wonderful, thanks for that.
Would it be possible to have a run on these next summer do you think 30907?

Cowley said:

That sounds wonderful, thanks for that.
Would it be possible to have a run on these next summer do you think 30907?

Click to expand...

They are pretty well established. There are a number of weekend trains operated by CD also with class 749 - they seem to have 2 out of their 3 in use each weekend from April to October, but not with vintage stock.

Cowley said:

Looks amazing. So different over there.
When you said that there were top and tail Grumpy’s on local workings with vintage stock at Hlavni Nadrazi, was that normal or had it been laid on for you guys?

Click to expand...

Not so much laid on for us as more for tourists I suppose, but we are the majority of rail tourists I guess, they do seem to run a few old Grumpy`s on normal services in the summer months, In Poland on the Gdynia to Hel workings you get all sorts working on that line in the summer, I went down on a heavy shunter and came back on a Goggle.

Czech Republic and Poland, (Day 8). Thursday 11th July 2019.

I had two weeks booked for roaming around the Czech Republic and Poland, an NFP Grumpy Rail tour on the first Sunday out and then up to Poland for a 5-day Interrail.

I`d arrived at Gdynia at 21.00 on the Wednesday night and after a few hours on the station I boarded a train for Poznan, arriving at Poznan at 01.30 and grabbed a bit more sleep on the way down, this was my second night without a bed. Plenty to see on the platforms though and after a short wait my train to Szczecin arrived and I continued my sleep on the journey.

On arrival at Szczecin I saw the locomotive depot on the way in, but we then passed over the river so it appeared a little awkward to get back too. The old steam depot was at the side of the station, a half round house with a tank loco plinthed at the side, the station at Szczecin is presently being revamped.

I took a taxi out to the locomotive depot, Szczecin Port Centrainy (CS), which is actually in the Port, but it only cost me a fiver, I entered by the main entrance and met a young lad who allowed me to go around. Plenty on the scrap line and a good head on shed, so it was a great visit in very bright sunshine.

I returned to the railway station via a tram which was round the corner from the depot and this took me back to the railway station when I was just in time for a Intercity service up to Swinoujcie the furthest town north west in Poland and on the German border and I later caught a train down to the Port station, before returning to Szczecin on the same local service.

I arrived back in Szczecin in time for another local service up to Kolobrzeg which met an Intercity service to take me direct to Gdynia, so plenty of new track and I arrived at Gdynia on the last of the days light and in time for a bed for the night after two days solid travel, a nice hot shower and I slept like a baby that night, it had been good and I`d travelled from South west Poland to North West Poland over the last two days.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2329657763748396&type=3

The last of our kids turns 16 next week and we’re hoping to get a new smaller van next year.
This right up there on the list of things to do.

shredder1 said:

Not so much laid on for us as more for tourists I suppose, but we are the majority of rail tourists I guess, they do seem to run a few old Grumpy`s on normal services in the summer months

Click to expand...

Not so much tourists as locals - family weekend trips into the country seem to be very popular in CZ, for walking and cycling among other things; the destinations are typically national park areas with maybe an old castle. The trains I used were remarkably lightly loaded and hardly any obvious enthusiasts.

30907 said:

Not so much tourists as locals - family weekend trips into the country seem to be very popular in CZ, for walking and cycling among other things; the destinations are typically national park areas with maybe an old castle. The trains I used were remarkably lightly loaded and hardly any obvious enthusiasts.

Click to expand...

Sounds like bliss I must say. Last night I suggested to Mrs C that it might be a nice area to visit in the future. Just to see the scenery and culture you understand...

30907 said:

Not so much tourists as locals - family weekend trips into the country seem to be very popular in CZ, for walking and cycling among other things; the destinations are typically national park areas with maybe an old castle. The trains I used were remarkably lightly loaded and hardly any obvious enthusiasts.

Click to expand...

Thats true, I didn't see many enthusiasts now you come to mention it.

Cowley said:

Sounds like bliss I must say. Last night I suggested to Mrs C that it might be a nice area to visit in the future. Just to see the scenery and culture you understand...

Click to expand...

I`m sure she would enjoy it mate, so much culture especially around the old city in Gdansk and the shipyards of course are very historic, easy to travel around the region too on trains and trams..

Czech Republic and Poland, (Day 9). Friday 12th July 2019.

I had two weeks booked for roaming around the Czech Republic and Poland, an NFP Grumpy Rail tour on the first Sunday out and then up to Poland for a 5-day Interrail.

After a great night’s sleep in the hostel, I was round at Gdynia Glowna ready for the first train out to Hel. I had an ICCC SM 42 on the way out there and a Prewozy Regionalne 50 on the way back, so super shunter power, Goggles and Units were also working the line, always an amazing selection of motive power in the summer months.

I returned to Gdynia Glowna and took a local train out to Gdynia Grabowek and walked around to the locomotive depot and was very kindly taken around the depot, such lovely people the Polish. I returned to Gdynia Grabowek caught a train back to Gdynia Glowna and then a stopper east to Malbork for a change to Elblag as I wanted to catch a train to the Russian border at Kaliningrad as far as Braniewo, there are two lines from Elblag, one goes along the coast, but only two trains a day were advertised and it was suggested that I catch a bus, which would have defeated the object of getting the line in, so instead I carried on to Olsztyn.

I walked around the depot, or stabling point as it is now, the old roundhouse has been demolished since my last visit, but still has a few locos on site, so worth the visit. I then found a direct train to Lodz via Warsaw, so I opted for another night without a bed. Arriving at Lodz Fabryczna just before midnight.

I believe Lodz was quite a run down city in the early 2000`s, what they seem to have done here is flattened everything and started again, only in a designer fashion, the station is essentially underground, with varying levels above, a terminus station at present, but a tunnel under the city is apparently being built to continue the line beyond the present buffers. I had 4 hours to kill there, so I had a wonder around the city, it was a souless place, very antiseptic looking and quite boring really, I`m not sure if it improves any in the daylight, but wasn’t staying to find out, I had an early train back to Warsaw. I was however on the benches for another few hours.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2332143873499785&type=3

Czech Republic and Poland, (Day 10), Saturday 13th July 2019.

I had two weeks booked for roaming around the Czech Republic and Poland, an NFP Grumpy Rail tour on the first Sunday out and then up to Poland for a 5-day Interrail.

The train back into Warsaw from Lodz Fabryczna arrived on time, but surprisingly it was packed, but I`m not sure where it came from, I alighted however at the next station Lodz Widzew, another modern station with a designer look, but above ground this time and with the Stadler railcar depot at the side of the station. I next boarded an Intercity service direct to Warsaw Centralna, walked over to Warszawa Srodniescie which is the local underground station opposite Centralna and caught a train out to Warsaw Zachodia and later Warsaw Wlochy.

When I passed through Warsaw a few days previous, I got as far as Wlochy trying to find the locomotive depot at Odolany, but I couldn’t find the bus to take me out to the depot, so I decided to return and have another go, this time I found it, a short bus number 206 from the rear of Wlochy station, which takes you down a dirt road to a small roundabout, you can then walk from there until you get to another roundabout and the old depot station, go across the railway crossings and the depot is behind the buildings opposite at right angles.

I was given permission to visit the depot and it was full of locos of varying classes, including one of the new EU25`s. Quite a few locomotives in scrap condition too, it was a great visit though and many thanks to the shed foreman who gave me permission. I returned on the bus back to Wlochy and caught a local train back to Warsaw Centralna. My next train was out to Gniezno, sad to see the old locomotive depot and yard now out of use. I changed there for an Intercity service to Bydgoszcz Glowna with the Pesa locomotive works at the side of the station. They were rebuilding the station at Bydgoszcz the last time I was there and now completed they have done a fantastic job and retained much of the old buildings and character. I was treated to a beautiful liveried green goddess from Gniezno to Bydgoszcz Glowna, an immaculate EP 07 356 in two-tone green with yellow lining.

I later returned to Gdynia Glowna and booked the same hostel I was in two nights previous, a bed for the night after another night on a station bench, it felt good and I was soon asleep, this was however the last day of my Interrail pass, but it all worked out as planned more or less.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2334003043313868&type=3

Cowley said:

Sounds like bliss I must say. Last night I suggested to Mrs C that it might be a nice area to visit in the future. Just to see the scenery and culture you understand...

Click to expand...

Quite so. Seriously, my wife and I have been to CZ x3 now, though the really cranky trips I have done solo. Needs a bit of research though. Cesky Sternberk is a particularly good one from Prague, though sadly the 749/Grumpy/Bardotka diagram on that line seems to have ceased.

You will know what her and your tastes are, but feel free to ask for ideas (I know yorkie et al were in CZ recently...)

30907 said:

Quite so. Seriously, my wife and I have been to CZ x3 now, though the really cranky trips I have done solo. Needs a bit of research though. Cesky Sternberk is a particularly good one from Prague, though sadly the 749/Grumpy/Bardotka diagram on that line seems to have ceased.

You will know what her and your tastes are, but feel free to ask for ideas (I know yorkie et al were in CZ recently...)

Click to expand...

Thanks for that and I definitely will.
I’m seeing Yorkie next week so I’ll have a chat to him too.

Czech Republic and Poland, (Day 11). Sunday 14th July 2019.

I had two weeks booked for roaming around the Czech Republic and Poland, an NFP Grumpy Rail tour on the first Sunday out and then up to Poland for a 5-day Interrail.

Another restful night at the hostel and I was back out on Gdynia Glowna railway station as the sun was up. This was my last full day before flying back to the UK, so I decided to explore the local lines around Gdynia and Gdansk, I purchased a day rover ticket for the trains only and started picking out the routes.

My first journey was Platform 1 from the suburban platforms at Gdynia Glowna to the end of the suburban network at Warsaw Srodmiescle, I then returned to the other end of the suburban network, or tried to do so, but suburban trains appeared to be terminating at Wejherowo, so I caught an Intercity to Lebork which is the end of the suburban limit.

I returned from Lebork to Gdynia Glowna and then caught a train around the Airport Loop, a new line through some lovely countryside, which took me to Warsaw Wrzeszcz and from there I returned on the Airport loop but branched off down the line to Kartuzy.

I had one more suburban line to complete but decided to leave it for another day, the line down to Koscierzyna. Instead I returned to Warsaw Wrzeszcz and changed for a train to Gdansk Glowny, returning to Gdansk Stocznia, the shipyard and spent a nice hour on the overbridge photographing movements in the late afternoon sunlight, before returning to Warsaw Wrzeszcz and taking my final train to my accommodation near the airport at Matarmia and my final night in Poland.

On Monday 15th July, I boarded my last train from Matarmia to Port Lotniczy, the Airport, my flight was at 11.00am direct from Gdansk to Manchester, a smooth flight and I was back in the house before teatime, holiday over, many thanks for reading guys, until next time.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2335775599803279&type=3

While I have no idea about most of the stuff in this report, what's clear is that it was a beast of a time!

Techniquest said:

While I have no idea about most of the stuff in this report, what's clear is that it was a beast of a time!

Click to expand...

I whole-heartedly concur and really feel the need to now learn how to say "Can I look round the shed please, mister" in Polish.

Well, jel.

Techniquest said:

While I have no idea about most of the stuff in this report, what's clear is that it was a beast of a time!

Click to expand...

Oh yes fantastic Tech, I`ve just booked another week in Czech for February with a 3 day rail tour also, although I have a week Interrailing Italy before then

433N said:

I whole-heartedly concur and really feel the need to now learn how to say "Can I look round the shed please, mister" in Polish.

Well, jel.

Click to expand...

Haha, just turn up with orange hi viz and a camera and point to it saying Dobre, Prosim, (Please) sefkuchar (Chef), meister, dekuju, (thank you), the Microsoft translator app is free and works really well also

Milan Central, (Day 1). Saturday 5th October 2019.

I was out to Italy for a week, using a 5-day Italian Interrail ticket and intending to explore Milan`s rail and tram network.

I`d booked a late flight from Manchester on Friday evening and was amazed in that the flight took just under an hour and half before we were landing in Bergamo, north of the capital. I caught a bus into the central station area of Milan, an hour or so journey and was staying in the Central Station Hotel. I was checked in to the hotel and out on Milan Central station for the last hour, between 23.30 and 00.30. This was only my second visit to city; hope you enjoy the photographs.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2483002705080567&type=3

When you say hotel, was it actually a hotel or a hostel? I fell into that trap thinking it was a hotel but actually wasn't (the downside to booking a complicated trip in a rush!) which did teach me to be a little more selective when booking accommodation!

Ouch to the long run from the airport, when I did it on an airport express coach it wasn't too bad. Linate's best for Milan in my eyes though, only 25 minutes or so on the bus. Not done Milpensa yet, but it could easily feature on a forthcoming mini-break

Techniquest said:

When you say hotel, was it actually a hotel or a hostel? I fell into that trap thinking it was a hotel but actually wasn't (the downside to booking a complicated trip in a rush!) which did teach me to be a little more selective when booking accommodation!

Ouch to the long run from the airport, when I did it on an airport express coach it wasn't too bad. Linate's best for Milan in my eyes though, only 25 minutes or so on the bus. Not done Milpensa yet, but it could easily feature on a forthcoming mini-break

Click to expand...

Yes Its called an hotel, but it was actually a 3 bed dormer, but most of the time had it to myself anyway, I knew it was a dormer though when I booked, so cheap though and right next door to the station.

Italy, (Day 2). Sunday 6th October 2019

I was out to Italy for a week, using a 5-day Italian Interrail ticket and also intending to explore... Milan`s rail and tram network.

My first full day and I intended staying in Milan and exploring the area and check out stations that had been recommended to me. I bought a 24-hour day ticket which covered the regional and suburban trains, trams, buses and Metro, for zones 1 and 2, for 7 Euros, but I couldn’t work out what the zones actually were, so had to guess them. I visited Milan Central which was of course a 2 minutes’ walk away from my hotel and by far the largest station in the City. I then took the Metro to Repubblica and the Suburban railway to Milan Lambrate and later Milan Porta Garibaldi and lastly Milan Rogoredo, all busy stations with good locations for photography. My next move was to jump a train back to Milan Central, but the one I did board was going in the wrong direction and took me out to Lodi instead, however I just caught the next one back into Milan Central and spent the rest of the day there.

For the Sunday evening I had a real treat lined up, an ex-pat Salford lad, James, who had done very well for himself and married an Italian girl was living in the City and very kindly offered to meet up and take me for a meal. James picked me up at my hotel and took me to the best Pizza Restaurant in Milan and actually paid for everything. Thank you very much James for a fantastic evening, so great to meet you and your lovely lady wife, my tab next time mate.

James dropped me off back at my hotel, I was on my first day of my Interrail the next day with a 03.00 start for an early train down to Rome, I slept well for the next few hours.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2483834471664057&type=3

Italy (Day 3). Monday 7th October 2019.

I was out to Italy for a week, using a 5-day Italian Interrail ticket and also intending to explore Milan`s rail and tram network.
Rome and Naples.

I was showering at 04.00 on Monday morning as you do, I needed to catch the 05.00 high speed train down to Rome, despite having an Interrail ticket, a seat reservation cost an extra 10 Euro and the train was half empty, it’s a complete rip off really. However, I slept for most of the journey down there. I arrived into Rome just before 09.00, so that gave me a good morning to explore the railway station and environments. I didn’t actually step foot in Vatican City, I guess I should have because it would have been a new country for me and it was within walking range of Termini station, but I was so enthralled by the railway, I guess I`ll visit next time.

My next move was a local stopping service along the coast to Naples, where I spent the second half of the day, I didn’t really pass the ticket barriers as I again found plenty to keep me busy on the platforms. Towards the end of the day, I had a little hassle from security for taking pictures at the end of the platform, they said it was dangerous? I was ready to get something to eat by this time anyway so I searched out a café on the station.

I reserved another seat on a high speed train going back to Milan via Rome, but on the high speed line, so more new track, they charged me 14 Euros this time and it was however running late, so I didn’t arrive back in Milan until just after midnight, a good day though and I`ll certainly revisit Rome again.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2485961291451375&type=3

Italy (Day 4). Tuesday 8th October 2019.

I was out to Italy for a week, using a 5-day Italian Interrail ticket and also intending to explor...e Milan`s rail and tram network.

Trieste and Venice

Another early train over to Verona with a change also at Venice for Trieste, and a beautiful ride along the coast line. The depot of Trieste was just in front of the railway station for it enabled a few photographs from the train and the platform ends, not a really large depot though.

I wanted to take the tram up to Villa Opicina, but was three years too late, apparently an accident had closed the tramway in 2016, but it was due open again in 2021, such a shame for a great tourist attraction. The railway museum also closed in 2017 for renovations. I caught a number 2 bus however which followed the tram track to the depot at Villa Opicina and then walked upto the railway station to see what was in the yard. The last time I visited Villa Opicina railway station I`d come in by train from Slovenia, so it was nice to complete the line from the Italian side, albeit by bus.

The yard at Villa Opicina had11 locos stabled up, so well worth the visit. I walked back down into the village, visited the tram depot and caught a bus back into Trieste and then took a train direct into Venice St Lucio, with a visit to the City and its amazing canal network, this was only my second visit to Venice, but the first visit being a few years ago in the dark while changing trains between Milan and an overnight train to Munich, so it was nice to spend an hour or so looking around the City this time.

I returned to Verona Porta Nuova as I had booked accommodation for the night in the city, but struggled locating it. I called in at a shop to ask for directions and a lovely Pakistani lad very kindly gave me a lift in his car and dropped me off at my apartment for the night, thank you Naseem.

I slept well, the accommodation was great and even had a television with an English converter for watching films, I did however have another early start the next morning as I was heading up the Brenner Pass.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trieste–Opicina_tramway

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2488806581166846&type=3

Italy (Day 5). Wednesday 9th October 2019.

I was out to Italy for a week, using a 5-day Italian Interrail ticket and also intending to expl...ore Milan`s rail and tram network.

Verona, Brenner and Bologna

Up showered and out of the guest house for 05.00 and I walked through the town to the railway station to catch the 06.27 up the Brenner Pass, this was the first time I`d been up there from the Italian side, my previous trip to the Brenner in February this year, I went from Innsbruck on the Austrian side.

The 06.27 went as far as Bolzano Bozen, a busy junction station with a depot adjacent to the railway station. Freight for the Brenner Pass went through here and Bolzano Bozen would be a good location to phot for a while, but my time was spoken for and I caught the next train up into the Brenner Pass, nice to see it without the snow for a change, but it was dam cold and breezy, in fact I`d had a T shirt on all week, but now broke out a warmer top and Gortex walking jacket and searched out a café that sold a lovely burger and chips and hot coffee to help keep the cold out.

Back on the platforms at Brennero traffic was hectic with lots of locomotive movement and a variety of classes and liveries. Freight trains pass over the Brenner constantly, some changing locomotive and others passing right through, double heading mainly and I had a good morning there before catching the 13.08 back down the pass to Verona with a change to Bologna for new track.

Although I`d passed through Bologna a few days earlier on my way to Rome, this time it was daylight and I had chance to view the yard and depot from the train as it passed, it is quite a significant site, but I didn’t have time to get out to it. The station however was very busy and even had one of the magnificent overhead signal cabins similar to those at Milan Central.

In addition, while taking the line out of Verona, I also obtained a glance of the depot at Verona which again was quite sizable. From Bologna I took the 18.39 suburban train to Piacenza, another busy town were I took tea in a local outlet, before returning to Milan Central for just turned 22.00 and back to my Milan Station Hotel for the night to catch up on with my sleep, I had a slightly later start the next morning catching the 06.25 to Ventimiglia on the French border. However I slept well that night.

https://www.facebook.com/nick.melling.104/media_set?set=a.2491225404258297&type=3

Certainly a busy few days there! That early start to head to Rome, oh I felt sorry for you on that. Especially with such ridiculous reservation fees!

Good to know Vatican City is within easy reach on foot from Rome's main station, it's an annoying gap in my coverage of Europe on the Mark O'Travel app. Same for places like Andorra and San Marino, but they just give me an excuse to go flying again and seem easy enough to do on a mid-week mini-break. Ideas, they be formulating...

Always nice to read reports from Foreignland.

To be honest, Vatican City, in my humble and probably not very widely held opinion .... meh. If you like crowds and churches or you are catholic then you'll be like a pig in the proverbial. I'd much rather spend the time on Palatine Hill or, indeed, watching trains than shuffling behind someone to crick my neck seeing the ceiling of the (in my view, underwhelming) Sistine Chapel.

I'm trying to upskill my Italian to take an Italy jaunt next year.

433N said:

Always nice to read reports from Foreignland.

To be honest, Vatican City, in my humble and probably not very widely held opinion .... meh. If you like crowds and churches or you are catholic then you'll be like a pig in the proverbial. I'd much rather spend the time on Palatine Hill or, indeed, watching trains than shuffling behind someone to crick my neck seeing the ceiling of the (in my view, underwhelming) Sistine Chapel.

I'm trying to upskill my Italian to take an Italy jaunt next year.

Click to expand...

Yes I know what you mean mate, not my thing really, unless they had a decent guitar shop in there, I probably wouldnt visit, lol

Techniquest said:

Certainly a busy few days there! That early start to head to Rome, oh I felt sorry for you on that. Especially with such ridiculous reservation fees!

Good to know Vatican City is within easy reach on foot from Rome's main station, it's an annoying gap in my coverage of Europe on the Mark O'Travel app. Same for places like Andorra and San Marino, but they just give me an excuse to go flying again and seem easy enough to do on a mid-week mini-break. Ideas, they be formulating...

Click to expand...

Yes quite busy, but I sleep on trains quite well, I`m a good cat nipper fortunately, lol Have a good one Tech.