Roni
Member
Hi,
To the previous part of the series:
Regional Rail Express - 59: Transilvania II (50 p.)
railroadforums.com
The new video for this part:
April 29 2023
We already had taken Railjet Xpress 67 to Budapest-Keleti Friday evening. Our Intercity-Hotel was conveniently situated, as shown here.
IC/IR 367 "Hargita"/"Harghita" ready for departure to Brașov.
We had a complete first class compartment for us the whole trip.
One of the daytime trains with the longest travel time in Europe:
The line Püspökladány - Biharkeresztes had received complete overhead wires, stations have been renewed. East of Biharkeresztes there were no signs of modernization. Only Transferoviar Călători featured a construction timetable, otherwise everything seemed to run as normal on the Oradea - Cluj line. Over the following years, electrification of this mainline is supposed to commence.
We reached Bratca (say: "Brahtkah") in Crișana region almost punctually at 2:35 p.m. - 9 miles west of Ciucea and Poieni which we had visited in the previous trip report.
Temperatures were lower here, spring in an earlier phase.
A first/second class through car from Cluj to Târgu Mureș by IR 1748 at the rear.
Daring window cleaning.
Bratca was not our destination, so we used RE 3009 Cluj - Oradea for the short ride back into the other direction.
We reached the proper place after only eight minutes, Șuncuiuș (say: "Shoonkooyoosh"). We crossed InterRegional Călători R 10656.1 Oradea - Cluj.
Enjoy the vehicle as it was the only former DB class 628 we saw repainted for IRC. Wait for the others...
We did not have far to walk to our B&B "Tarina" where we were welcomed by our hosts, retired teachers. The room was located in an extra wooden house - no luxury, but friendly.
Farm animals near our accommodation. Many people seem to have holiday homes here, we immediately met a bunch of tourists performing various outdoor activities.
River panorama of Crișul Repede (Hungarian: Sebes-Körös) with IR 366 "Harghita" Brașov - Budapest at the station. Two electric cables have been removed.
We marched past a huge abandoned factory into the valley towards Cluj. R 3645 Piatra Craiului - Oradea and my first Romanian lineside photo in almost four years... panoramic image with a loop of Crișul Repede.
Well-known from previous visits: Long-distance-IR 1833 Iași - Timișoara Nord managed to beat the spotlight drama.
The rolling stock had changed.
Three trains came by within few minutes - not possible to change spots. R 3078 Oradea - Cluj completed the set - don't get fooled by the headlights at the rear.
Fifteen minutes later, another old acquaintance: IRN 1972 from Oradea - this time just the off-season version to Constanța.
Including one meagerly couchette car.
View from "Şuncuiuș beach" further along the river, recently renamed "Promenada Gradia" after the restaurant next to it. You can also find many caves in the surroundings.
We sat down at Restaurant Gradia and ordered dinner.
I took a quick look at the tunnel around seven o'clock for R 3075 Cluj - Oradea.
The restaurant to the right, I ate an excellent trout in polenta breading.
A clean Desiro DMU.
A motorized paraglider - at the former railroad gatekeeper's cabin someone was also warming dinner.
The next Desastro, RE 3011 Cluj - Oradea at half past seven.
Something you have to get used to: IRC R 10658.1 Oradea - Cluj as 628 548 still in original second hand condition.
This DMU operated until 2019 around Lake Constance, see:
Regional Rail Express - 19: Voralpen-Express II (50 p.)
railroadforums.com
"Die letzten Fahrten - the final services" – nope, but some fresh paint would be nice...
Walking back past the factory, the smoke originated from just one heap of burning grass.
The typical concrete platform of Şuncuiuș station.
IRC R 10659.1 Cluj – Oradea approached at 8:12 p.m. We will take a closer look at the fascinating track maintenance train in the foreground later in sunlight.
The simplest way to take over a second-hand-vehicle: just cross out the old railway company logo.
"Şuncuiuș" nicely stylized – in accordance with our hosts the name is derived from the word for ham.
The path into town was not quite accessible. The track one signal changed to clear...
... for overnight express IRN 1742 Satu Mare - București Nord rushing past.
Meeting of former German DB sleeping car and DMU.
"Chiemgauer Lokalbahn" departed...
... towards Crișul Repede gorge which we are about to explore in the following report part.
Ironically, the railroad track maintenance vehicle had been adorned with protest stickers for more freeways in Romania.
Our star train IR 143 "Transilvania" Vienna - Cluj was awaited punctually at 8:42 p.m. by the station master.
This express stopped here, others did not. All trains stopped at Bratca. I could not detect any logic in this pattern.
"Transilvania" disappeared into the night with the driver sounding the horn a lot (see video). It got cold quickly, I was happy to have my wooden house to return to.
More from the gorge next time!
To the previous part of the series:
Regional Rail Express - 59: Transilvania II (50 p.)
Regional Rail Express - 59: Transilvania II (50 p.)
Hi, To the previous part of the series: Regional Rail Express - 58: Balaton V/Istria VI (50 p.) https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/regional-rail-express-58-balaton-v-istria-vi-50-p.21390/ Video for this part: January 7 2023 The most photographed train of the past months...
The new video for this part:
April 29 2023
We already had taken Railjet Xpress 67 to Budapest-Keleti Friday evening. Our Intercity-Hotel was conveniently situated, as shown here.
IC/IR 367 "Hargita"/"Harghita" ready for departure to Brașov.
We had a complete first class compartment for us the whole trip.
One of the daytime trains with the longest travel time in Europe:
The line Püspökladány - Biharkeresztes had received complete overhead wires, stations have been renewed. East of Biharkeresztes there were no signs of modernization. Only Transferoviar Călători featured a construction timetable, otherwise everything seemed to run as normal on the Oradea - Cluj line. Over the following years, electrification of this mainline is supposed to commence.
We reached Bratca (say: "Brahtkah") in Crișana region almost punctually at 2:35 p.m. - 9 miles west of Ciucea and Poieni which we had visited in the previous trip report.
Temperatures were lower here, spring in an earlier phase.
A first/second class through car from Cluj to Târgu Mureș by IR 1748 at the rear.
Daring window cleaning.
Bratca was not our destination, so we used RE 3009 Cluj - Oradea for the short ride back into the other direction.
We reached the proper place after only eight minutes, Șuncuiuș (say: "Shoonkooyoosh"). We crossed InterRegional Călători R 10656.1 Oradea - Cluj.
Enjoy the vehicle as it was the only former DB class 628 we saw repainted for IRC. Wait for the others...
We did not have far to walk to our B&B "Tarina" where we were welcomed by our hosts, retired teachers. The room was located in an extra wooden house - no luxury, but friendly.
Farm animals near our accommodation. Many people seem to have holiday homes here, we immediately met a bunch of tourists performing various outdoor activities.
River panorama of Crișul Repede (Hungarian: Sebes-Körös) with IR 366 "Harghita" Brașov - Budapest at the station. Two electric cables have been removed.
We marched past a huge abandoned factory into the valley towards Cluj. R 3645 Piatra Craiului - Oradea and my first Romanian lineside photo in almost four years... panoramic image with a loop of Crișul Repede.
Well-known from previous visits: Long-distance-IR 1833 Iași - Timișoara Nord managed to beat the spotlight drama.
The rolling stock had changed.
Three trains came by within few minutes - not possible to change spots. R 3078 Oradea - Cluj completed the set - don't get fooled by the headlights at the rear.
Fifteen minutes later, another old acquaintance: IRN 1972 from Oradea - this time just the off-season version to Constanța.
Including one meagerly couchette car.
View from "Şuncuiuș beach" further along the river, recently renamed "Promenada Gradia" after the restaurant next to it. You can also find many caves in the surroundings.
We sat down at Restaurant Gradia and ordered dinner.
I took a quick look at the tunnel around seven o'clock for R 3075 Cluj - Oradea.
The restaurant to the right, I ate an excellent trout in polenta breading.
A clean Desiro DMU.
A motorized paraglider - at the former railroad gatekeeper's cabin someone was also warming dinner.
The next Desastro, RE 3011 Cluj - Oradea at half past seven.
Something you have to get used to: IRC R 10658.1 Oradea - Cluj as 628 548 still in original second hand condition.
This DMU operated until 2019 around Lake Constance, see:
Regional Rail Express - 19: Voralpen-Express II (50 p.)
Regional Rail Express - 58: Balaton V/Istria VI (50 p.)
Hi, To the previous part of the series: Regional Rail Express - 57: Lake Balaton IV (50 p.) https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/regional-rail-express-57-lake-balaton-iv-50-p.20992 Video for this part: July 11 2021 We return to Tapolca, M61 006 was stabled in front of the...
"Die letzten Fahrten - the final services" – nope, but some fresh paint would be nice...
Walking back past the factory, the smoke originated from just one heap of burning grass.
The typical concrete platform of Şuncuiuș station.
IRC R 10659.1 Cluj – Oradea approached at 8:12 p.m. We will take a closer look at the fascinating track maintenance train in the foreground later in sunlight.
The simplest way to take over a second-hand-vehicle: just cross out the old railway company logo.
"Şuncuiuș" nicely stylized – in accordance with our hosts the name is derived from the word for ham.
The path into town was not quite accessible. The track one signal changed to clear...
... for overnight express IRN 1742 Satu Mare - București Nord rushing past.
Meeting of former German DB sleeping car and DMU.
"Chiemgauer Lokalbahn" departed...
... towards Crișul Repede gorge which we are about to explore in the following report part.
Ironically, the railroad track maintenance vehicle had been adorned with protest stickers for more freeways in Romania.
Our star train IR 143 "Transilvania" Vienna - Cluj was awaited punctually at 8:42 p.m. by the station master.
This express stopped here, others did not. All trains stopped at Bratca. I could not detect any logic in this pattern.
"Transilvania" disappeared into the night with the driver sounding the horn a lot (see video). It got cold quickly, I was happy to have my wooden house to return to.
More from the gorge next time!