Tag Archives: Dutch

Nederlandse Spoorwegen at Den Bosch

A Look at the the Other ‘NS.”

Fish with man-legs, scenes of torment and pleasure gardens, along with medieval apocalyptic visions were among the topics painted by Jheronimus van Aken aka Hieronymus Bosch who hailed from the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, or ‘Den Bosch.’

This is a city of narrow canals, winding cobblestone streets, traditional market squares, surrounded by post World War II ‘Lego-block’ sprawl.

Market square Den Bosch in August 2014. Lumix LX7 photo.
Market square Den Bosch in August 2014. Lumix LX7 photo.

The railway station is an unusual blend of an 1896-built iron and glass train-shed with modern facilities.

My visit to the station was brief. I explored for about half and hour, making a variety of images. I was surprised by the arrival of one of NS’s older Hondekop ‘dog face’ EMUs. I’d photographed some of these ancient units back in the 1990s and didn’t realize that any remained in traffic.

The old shed dates from 1896. Lumix LX7.
The old shed dates from 1896. Lumix LX7.
NS operates an interesting variety of distinctive equipment. There's no mistaking these Dutch trains for those in other countries. Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.
NS operates an interesting variety of distinctive equipment. There’s no mistaking these Dutch trains for those in other countries. Canon EOS 7D with 200mm lens.
I found the shed to be very photogenic. I made this study from a modern mezzanine using my Lumix LX7.
I found the shed to be very photogenic. I made this study from a modern mezzanine using my Lumix LX7.
Blast from the past! One of the older 'dog nose' electric multiple units.
Blast from the past! One of the older ‘dog nose’ electric multiple units.
Den Bosch station with a decorative lion. Exposed from an escalator using my Lumix LX7.
Den Bosch station with a decorative lion. Exposed from an escalator using my Lumix LX7.
An express train passes on a middle track with an electric locomotive shoving at the back.
An express train passes on a middle track with an electric locomotive shoving at the back.

As across most of the Netherlands, passenger trains operate on regular interval frequencies (typically every half hour) to most major points.

The station was remarkably clean, and despite the dull light, made for an interesting place to photograph.

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Netherlandse Spoorwagen Koploper near Dordrecht Zuid, September 2013

A Distinctively Dutch Train.

Koploper
A classic Netherlandse Spoorwagen (Dutch Railways) ‘Koploper’ approaches a pedestrian/cycle crossing at Dordrecht Zuid in September 2013. Appearently, the name loosely translates to ‘Head Walker’, or so I’m told. Does anyone know more about the name?

Earlier this month (September 2013), I traveled with an Irish railway photographer to the Netherlands. We spent a few sunny hours at a pedestrian/bicycle crossing near Dordrecht Zuid on a busy north-south line.

This was one of the most intensely used double-track mainlines that I’ve witnessed in any country. For two hours we photographed a constant parade of local and long distant passenger trains plus a great variety of freight. Trains passed the crossing every couple of minutes.

Bicycles at a Dutch level crossing.
Bicycles are a Dutch national transport obsession. These cyclists had waited patiently for the barriers to lift before crossing the line near Dordrecht Zuid.

For me one of the most interesting trains to photograph are the Netherlandse Spoorwagen (translated as ‘Dutch Railways) ‘Koploper’ style electric multiple unit.

These are distinctively Dutch. As European railways are rapidly moving toward standard commercial train models, it’s nice to still see nationally characteristic equipment on the mainline.

I exposed these photos with my Lumix LX-3.

Koploper
A classic Netherlandse Spoorwagen (Dutch Railways) ‘Koploper’.
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