| I've just spent a very enjoyable weekend in Belgium with Pathfonder Tours/Mercia charters - exploring the rail network and enjoying some unusual traction and Belgian beer.
On Friday I joined a coach at Ashford (Kent) which had been organised by the people at Pathfinder, this took us across the channel (by ferry) to Ghent - our base for the next two nights. Friday night was spent exploring the bars and restaurants of this beautiful old town, before ending up in th bar of the Hotel Ancona until the wee small hours. On Saturday morning (bleary eyed) we joined the Mercia charter at Ghent St Pieters station. This was made up of four lovely old type AK coaches, hauled by Class 25.5 electric NO 2551. This loco took us as far as Antwerepen Nord where we had a photo stop plus over an hour to wander around the depot yard. For those of you who have only experienced British depot visits (and attitudes to 'safety') - this is a real eye-opener. We climbed down off the train onto the ballast and we were given just two instructions - don't wander on to the main running lines and don't go into the shed - after that we were left to get on with it! The stabling sidings contained a huge amount of loco's and the number crunchers amongst us were like kids let loose in a sweet shop (the photographers weren't exactly unhappy either). From Antwerp we swapped our electric traction for two AFB type 52 diesels, which then top and tailed us around a selection of rare freight lines and routes around the country. Our final loco was a TVM fitted Class 55 diesel, which took us from Schaerbeek back to Ghent. It was an excellent day out and a great weekend. I'd like to say thanks to all those at Pathfinder and Mercia who arranged the weekend - and recommmend the Belgian trips to any British enthusiasts who would like to try something different. The next Belgian trip will be run in April 2005. Pathfinder Tours can be contacted at: www.toursatpathfinder.freeserve.co.uk (tel: 01453 835414) Mercia Charters can be contacted at: www.merciacharters.co.uk If you would like to learn more about Belgian locomotives, have a look at this website; http://www.berail.be/nmbs/index.html |
2011 arrives at Brussels Midi. These Co-Co mixed traffic locos are amongst the most powerful in Belgium, but are only equipped for use on the 3000v network. 850x565 2011._Brussels_Midi._26.3.06._FDG03112.jpg Buy Print |
- everyones gone foraging for food (-shame the town was closed!) 794x1194 Gone_to_lunch._DG02298.jpg Buy Print |
1307 framed by the station board. 794x1196 1307._Ghent._DG02330.jpg Buy Print |
2011 in the electric loco holding sidings 850x565 2011._Antwerp._DSC_0018.jpg Buy Print |
2343 and other stock statbled in St Pieters on a Sunday morning. 850x565 2343._Ghent_St_Pieters._DG02331.jpg Buy Print |
2346 in the electric loco holding sidings 794x1239 2346_along_the_rail._DSC_0047.jpg Buy Print |
2349 stabled with some of its classmates. 850x565 2349._and_line._DSC_0032.jpg Buy Print |
2501 on the scrapline 850x565 2501._Stored._DSC_0031.jpg Buy Print |
2508, one of several of the class on the scrapline 850x565 2508_stored._DSC_0025.jpg Buy Print |
2551 after arrival at Antwerp 850x565 2551._Antwerp_yard._DSC_0016.jpg Buy Print |
2551 ready for the off at Ghent. 850x565 2551._Ghent._DSC_0006.jpg Buy Print |
2603 waiting its next turn of duty 850x565 2603._Antwerp._DSC_0033.jpg Buy Print |
2620 stabled in the yard 794x1194 2620_and_rail._DSC_0046.jpg Buy Print |
382 calls at St Pieters on the Sunday morning. 850x547 382._Ghent_St_Pieters._DG02337.jpg Buy Print |
5302 brings up the rear at Herentals. 850x565 5302._On_tour._DSC_0030.jpg Buy Print |
5302 brings up the rear on one of the freight routes. 850x545 5302._DG02305.jpg Buy Print |
5302 stabled in the yard at Antwerp 850x565 5302._Antwerp_yard._DSC_0017.jpg Buy Print |
5318 pauses at Herentals wiith the charter 850x565 5318._On_tour._DSC_0028.jpg Buy Print |
5318 waits to leave with the next leg of the charter. 850x565 5318._On_tour._Antwerp._DSC_0042.jpg Buy Print |
5501 back at Ghent St Pieters. 850x565 5501._Ghent._DG02316.jpg Buy Print |
6248 dumped after an accident at Lier. 850x565 6248._Lier._DSC_0027.jpg Buy Print |
6312 and 5507 at Antwerp 850x565 DSC_0023.jpg Buy Print |
6326 dumped at Lier and in need of the panel beaters. 850x565 6326._Dented__DSC_0026.jpg Buy Print |
7209, a stored 0-8-0 shunter - a sort of 08 on steriods.15 were built in 1956 for shunting in Antwerp. This one is 'preserved' 850x565 7208._0-8-0_shunter._DSC_0012.jpg Buy Print |
7842 and 7845 - just out of the box. 850x565 new_7842._DSC_0037.jpg Buy Print |
7845 - almost brand new 850x565 7845._Antwerp._DSC_0020.jpg Buy Print |
7845. 850x565 New_7845._DSC_0039.jpg Buy Print |
8441. Used as the depot shunter 850x565 8441._Depot_pilot._DSC_0028.jpg Buy Print |
9157, facing an uncertain future on the scrapline 850x565 9157._Stored._DSC_0026.jpg Buy Print |
A fruitful days spotting. 794x1194 A_full_notebook._DG02314.jpg Buy Print |
A participant enjoys the Belgian beers 794x1194 Simon_says_cheers._DSC_0022.jpg Buy Print |
A spotter's heaven. 794x1089 Spotter__s_heaven._DSC_0019.jpg Buy Print |
An electric line-up, headed by 2620 850x565 2620_and_electic_row._DSC_0024.jpg Buy Print |
An older generation EMU at Turnhout. 794x1194 EMU_253._DSC_0032.jpg Buy Print |
Antwerpen shed sticker on 5302. 850x565 Shed_sticker._DSC_0002.jpg Buy Print |
Bogie detail on 7719. 3008x2000 Bogie_detail._DSC_0038.jpg Buy Print |
