More than one picture this time. I haven't done anything to obscure these, so some will be pretty easy. The pictures also follow in a logical sequence around our route, which should help:
1. Utrecht Centraal - stuving
2nd Sept
2. Netherlands National Rail Museum, Utrecht - eightonedee
4th Sept
3. Amersfoort Centraal - stuving
5th Sept
4. In second class, on a German train. This photo is included just for the contrast with
UK▸ trains - plenty of legroom, and comfortable seats. It
is possible!
5. Bad Bentheim - Chris from Nailsea
5th Sept. I included this one because it inspired me to write a poem:
Yes. I remember Bad Bentheim —
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was early September.
An electric motor whirred. Someone coughed in a worryingly covidish way.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Bad Bentheim — only the name
And Audis, Volkswagens, and Mercs,
And weeds, and grass,
Which were alright I suppose
No clouds though.
And for that minute a wasp buzzed
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the sting-y things
Of Lower Saxony.
6. This one was just included to make the point that it is possible to accommodate bicycles properly on trains!
7. Wernigerode - rogerw
6th Sept - Altora Eisenbahn Themenhotel
Spent three days here, sandwiched between a wooden town and a forest fire, watching as the appliances of increasingly distant fire brigades swarmed past us in growing numbers. Not the most relaxing experience.
8. Steinerne Renne, Harzer Schmalspur Bahnen - rogerw and Chris from Nailsea
Parts of this line gave, I think, a flavour of how the Exe and Wye Valley lines must have been, with the track winding its way along the sloping side of a steep valley.
9.
There is no Number 9.
10. Berlin Hbf - Kempis
8th Sept. German stations with extensive glass canopies are great - until the temperature gets north of 30 degrees, when comfort levels start to resemble the Palm House at Kew Gardens. The platform opposite us was very crowded with passengers waiting for a heavily delayed train. Large crowds were being held back on the concourse below, so the true picture was worse than it looks in this photo!
11. Berlin Hbf (again) - stuving
8th Sept
12. Berlin Ostbahnhof - eightonedee
Reminded me of Bristol Temple Meads, what with all the scaffolding..!
13. Flughafen BER/Berlin Airport - eightonedee
I was surprised how extensively fully double-decker trains were used in Germany.
14.
15. Dresden Hbf - stuving
11 Sept
16. Upstairs in First Class. Hard to beat.
17. Basel SBB - stuving
Basel has two stations. Basel Bad for trains coming from east of the Rhine, and Basel SBB for the Swiss and French side. It's a stiff walk from one to the other, but a frequent and efficient tram service makes that less of a problem. Worth noting that Basel's population is about half that of Bristol, yet its tram system is extensive and well-patronised.
18. Montpelier (England) - JayMac
16th Sept. Home again.
Usual rules: One guess in first 24 hours, then a free-for-all. Have fun!
