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Berlin loco-hauled

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CC 72100

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I'm off to Germany again in a couple of months time and will be visiting Berlin this time.

I'm unlikely to spend a whole day bashing and so will be staying closer to Berlin city itself, unlike in previous German visits (Hamburg 2016, Munich 2017) but would be interested in knowing if there is any interesting/ loco-hauled rail trips possible within the Berlin A/B/C ticket area?

Thanks in advance :)
 
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Spoorslag '70

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Loco-hauled: Yes. Intresting: Maybe.
All RE1 services are Taurus/Class 182 hauled (with quite neat and modern double-deckers) and some RE3&RE5s as well (as the powered control cars are quite low in number, as far as I know), some RB14 workings (no booked diagram, but short-notice substitutions) with nice socialist 143s and old DOSTOs. There are some IC/ICEs useable with local tickets (see here), of which all ICs are loco hauled (but 2431/2432 are again some modern double-deckers).

If you are into trams, use the C in the ticket to travel to Woltersdorf (2-axle cars in regular service) and/or Schöneiche-Rüdersdorf (very nice line with - for now - some DÜWAG GT6 running around - they are going to be replaced by low-floor trams ex Helsinki quite soon). For buses I should recommend the 218 serivce (very nice and running with vintage buses - for the normal price http://www.traditionsbus.de/linie_218.htm)
 

43096

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For something a bit different, the Warsaw-Berlin services are also loco-hauled, by PKP’s Siemens ES64U4 (ÖBB 1216 “Taurus” type) locos. Strictly speaking I don’t think local tickets are valid - but if you’re wanting to view as well they add some interest.

There are also DB IC services loco-hauled (mostly 101s) and you will get ICE power cars too. Later in the year (June?) the through EC trains from Czech via Dresden go over to ČD Vectrons (leased from ELL).
 

CC 72100

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Thanks all for the suggestions so far) not strictly a rail holiday, but bus 218 and some IC/ICE that stop within the Berlin ABC ticket area sound appealing.

@43096 - I'm actually booked on an EC train midweek from Berlin to Prague, vagonweb suggests DB 101 as far as Dresden for CZ electric forward at present. Looks like I may end up with the ČD Vectron throughout then by the time of my trip (mid-July), presuming it is compatible with the Hungarian MAV Start stock that makes up my train.
 

Harbornite

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You can also see Class 120s on some IC services and the Moscow to Paris sleeper can be seen at Hbf (with a TRAXX, possibly?)
 

87015

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You can also see Class 120s on some IC services and the Moscow to Paris sleeper can be seen at Hbf (with a TRAXX, possibly?)
Unlikely to be 120s after June on a planned basis and there isn't much as it is outside of FO/SUN additionals. Vectrons should take over from 9 June.

East Germany is quickly becoming a real desert for local hauled trains... At least RE1 gives singing Taurus goodness though. Bear in mind ABC tickets are not valid on ICs and they can be angry if they see you jumping them - the locomore similarly for a Hector Taurus although I've done it twice from Zoo on the inward to cane in 182516 & 517.

I'd just get the first EC to Decin and beyond where everything is better!
 

AlexNL

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If it's about spotting loco's, there is the two-hourly IC Amsterdam - Berlin service which is hauled by a BR 101.

You can't use them in the Berlin area though, as they are pick up / set down only.
 

Matt_pool

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@43096 - I'm actually booked on an EC train midweek from Berlin to Prague, vagonweb suggests DB 101 as far as Dresden for CZ electric forward at present. Looks like I may end up with the ČD Vectron throughout then by the time of my trip (mid-July), presuming it is compatible with the Hungarian MAV Start stock that makes up my train.

You probably already know this but sit on the left hand side of the train from Berlin to Prague. You get some really nice views of the River Elbe between Dresden and Prague.

I've done that route twice but in the opposite direction. One was during the day and the other time was when I got the sleeper from Prague to Amsterdam (it was withdrawn a month or so after I went on it in 2015). It was just as good in the dark because the castles on top of the cliffs, and all of the other buildings along the valley next to the River Elbe were all lit up.
 

CC 72100

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Thanks all - I've got a reservation for the EC with it being summer, but no idea on what side of the train this will be on. Wasn't able to pick a seat on the CD website, only which coach, as this train is formed of Hungarian stock, not Czech stock.
 

Harbornite

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Unlikely to be 120s after June on a planned basis and there isn't much as it is outside of FO/SUN additionals. Vectrons should take over from 9 June.

East Germany is quickly becoming a real desert for local hauled trains... At least RE1 gives singing Taurus goodness though. Bear in mind ABC tickets are not valid on ICs and they can be angry if they see you jumping them - the locomore similarly for a Hector Taurus although I've done it twice from Zoo on the inward to cane in 182516 & 517.

I'd just get the first EC to Decin and beyond where everything is better!

Shame, I was thinking back to 2015 when I was last in Berlin and could recall seeing them passing through Schönefeld station (a location I recommend for photography).

As for your desert comment, I can see why you'd say that. Things aren't too bad in Berlin itself with its 112s, 143s and cargo 155s based to the south of the city but obviously the former 2 classes don't really have that long left. In fairness, East Germany is decent if you like Tauri!
 

Vectron

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An old loco certainly but a commercial service which has run for several years. Snälltåget is a Swedish TOC with services to Stockholm and further north.
 

CC 72100

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A word of advice for anyone travelling this route - it is only 3 euros for a reservation. They are 3 euros very wisely spent - train left full and standing, multiple people standing for 4 hours, most seemed to have normal tickets and were not interrail pass holders.

As predicted, train hauled by a ČD Vectron (leased from ELL) between Hamburg and Prague (didn't stick around long enough to see what replaced it - was already 45 late).

In Berlin I did manage to get a couple of singing 182s in the book to Potsdam and back, and also a 112 back from Oranienburg.
 
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