For completeness, I will now disclose the thrilling information you've all be on tenterhooks waiting for (!)

14. Bischofsplatz (Dresden S-Bahn line S1)

 

Yes, 3 is Amersfoort Centraal. 14 will prove more tricky - it's a suburban station near where we stayed, so not an interchange...

 

Ah, Amersfoort, Bad Bentheim and Utrecht....all names that conjure up memories of annual trips on the now non existent Holland-Scandinavian Express between Hoek Van Holland and Hamburg right up to my early teens.  So long ago now that nothing clicked with me.

 
I thought no. 3 should be amenable to a bit of deduction, based on the pictures being sequential. It's a German train and a Dutch locomotive, so presumably it's where you go from Utrecht to catch a train to Berlin via Bad Bentheim. That suggests a limited number of places, but the closest is Amersfoort - which looked quite likely. But none of the images I could find looked like that platform, until subjected to minute examination. But Amersfoort it is.

That's borderline embarrassing, since I've been there not only to change trains but to attend a two-day meeting in the building that forms the northern side of the station! We were even in a room overlooking the station (though obviously busy doing something serious, not watching the trains). But I would not reckon to remember visually a place from over ten years ago, and this station doesn't show a lot of stylistic unity.

As for no. 14 ... by the same logic, it's where you change trains on the way from Schönefeld to Dresden - but as there are several direct trains per day, I've no idea.

 

They are, in fact, 18. But they don't drink alcohol, and apparently have no interest in doing so!

 

It is. Thanks to the fire, we only made it as far as Drei Annen Hohne, a bit further up the hill, but nonetheless we had a good morning out. Maybe we'll go back one day, when things are a bit less incendiary.

 

One assumes that, looking at the picture, the person for whom the stein is for is not in a position to pick it off the truck (there appears to be a barrier in the way) and is also probably not wishing to multi-task (take a picture as well as taking delivery) 

 

Hmm. 

Is the recipient of what appears to be a litre stein of Guinness old enough to take receipt of it? 

Not a criticism - I'm very impressed at the delivery method. 

 
17. is Basel SBB - and yes, German is the (more) official language. In fact the only Swiss city that is bilingual (both languages have equal status) is Biel/Bienne, as I found out when attending a meeting there.

 
8. Steinerne Renne station.

That has a somewhat dark history.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinerne_Renne 

 
To clear out two easy wins (because each is shown by signs in the pictures!) - 12 is Berlin East (or Ostbahnhof) and 13 is Berlin Airport (Flughafen) - just shows how useful my 52-year old German O level has been!

 
8 is a station on the Harz system, heading out from Wernigerode

 

I don't think it's a browser issue, as I can see them on my iPad and also on Firefox and Chrome...

 

It is indeed.

 

Does that mean you need subtitles? 15. is Dresden Hbf, if that helps ...

 
Not able to view. At the site either Tim must be that the Hamster in my IPad needs charging!..

 
I can't see the images either, although all others elsewhere are good.

Perhaps its because I am using Safari. When I've got time I'll change to Chrome and see if its better.

 

I don’t know why you can’t see them, WP! They’re hosted at https://bristolrailcampaign.org.uk/

Can you see other images hosted there?

 
Is it just me that can't see the images?..

 

Correct

 
1. is Utrecht Centraal, an example of the showy architecture that has become de rigueur for stations these days in parts of Europe (certainly in the Netherlands).

 

Yes it is. Good beer, delivered in the most sensible way imaginable.

 
Is 7 Wernigerode

 
7: 'Watch out for the train'! A pretty cool beer delivery system. Like

 

Yup - pretty impressive place, so worth a second photo I thought!

 

Hmm, not sure what happened there...

 
Were all the vulgaris beating up the carolinesis on that trip too ?

 

Yup

 

Well done Chris!

 

Correct

 
Must of been quite misty where you were as I can't see any pictures.

 
11. Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

 
9. Nowhere in particular?

 
2- Netherlands National Rail Museum, Utrecht

 
18. Montpelier. With one 'L', so England.

 
18. Melksham.

No, I'm just being rather mischievous now. 

 
Alright, then. 

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Bentheim

 
10. Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

 
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!