photography

Rastatt Part 2; German freight hotspot.

3 Comments

Several lines come together at Rastatt, Germany, which is an historic city south of Karlsruhe.

Since most through traffic is focused on to a short double track section immediately south of Rastatt , the station serves as a holding area for southward trains queued up to pass through this bottleneck.

In addition to DB’s trains, freight is run by a of variety open-access and private operators. Freights share tracks with passenger trains including high-speed TGV and ICE services and the famous Karlsruhe tram-trains.

I made this selection of images on 19 April 2016 using my FujiFilm X-T1.

A container train passes Rastatt on the morning of 19 April 2016.
A Crossrail container train passes Rastatt on the morning of 19 April 2016.
A DB electric leads at train of swap-bodies at Rastatt.
A DB electric leads at train of swap-bodies at Rastatt.
An SBB Cargo electric waits for a signal to proceed south.
An SBB Cargo electric waits for a signal to proceed south.
The driver of a Crossrail electric cleans his windscreen while waiting for traffic to pass at Rastatt.
The driver of a Crossrail electric cleans his windscreen while waiting for traffic to pass at Rastatt.
A northward BLS freight crosses the double track bridge as it approaches the Restate station.
A northward BLS freight crosses the double track bridge as it approaches the Rastatt station.
Lines at Rastatt host a mix of freight and passenger trains including Regional Expresses.
Lines at Rastatt host a mix of freight and passenger trains including Regional Expresses.
An electric hauled chemical train glides into Rastatt in the evening.
An electric hauled chemical train glides into Rastatt in the evening.
Open access operators are plentiful in Germany.
Open access operators are plentiful in Germany.
Four trains at Rastatt station.
Four trains at Rastatt station, including a stopping Tram Train from Karlsruhe.
Catching antique SBB Re 4/4s at work was a prize.
Catching antique SBB Re 4/4s at work was a prize.
SBB Re 4/4 electrics up close.
SBB Re 4/4 electrics up close.
A diesel leads a local freight from a nearby automotive factory.
A diesel leads a local freight from a nearby automotive factory.
A northward SBB freight glides through Rastatt.
A northward SBB freight glides through Rastatt.
Trailing view of the same train.
Trailing view of the same train.
A regional passenger train passes a freight.
A regional passenger train passes a freight.
Once common, old DB class 151 electrics are now relatively rare on through freights.
Once common, old DB class 151 electrics are now relatively rare on through freights.

Tracking the Light posts daily.

3 comments on “Rastatt Part 2; German freight hotspot.”

  1. Michael Walsh on said:

    Until 1939, a narrow gauge line also reached Rastatt DR Station. Services, including passengers, continued however to Rastatt MEG (Mittelbadishce Eisenbahn) until 1970, 1.8 km south from the mainline station.

  2. Brian Jennison on said:

    Awesome variety!

  3. John O'Connor on said:

    Super set of photographs there Brian.
    Brings back memories of the inter-rail holiday I took back in 1982.

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