Tag Archives: Stadler

Inside and Out: Photographing a Nice New Little Train.

May 3, 2017 brian solomon Leave a comment

Among the most attractive modern trains I experienced traveling in Switzerland at the end of April were Transports Publics du Chablais’s (TPC) modern narrow gauge trains on its AOMC route that connects Aigle and Champéry.

TPC’s new Stadler railcars were clean, comfortable and nicely styled. These compact articulated narrow gauge vehicles are designed to work both adhesion and rack sections of TPC’s line.

Inside they are spacious, bright, and offer magnificent views of the Alpine scenery through large windows.

The ability for passengers to look out forward and trailing windows is an excellent feature.

I especially liked the styling treatment, which embraces TPC’s bright green livery and works with the curves of Stadler’s standardized modern railcar pattern. This is a pleasant contrast to many modern Swiss trains that wear dull, garish, or otherwise visually challenged liveries.

A TPC new Stadler railcar pauses between runs at Champéry, Switzerland. Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 fitted with a Zeiss 12mm Tuoit.

Denis McCabe and I traveled the length of TPC’s AOMC route. The most impressive section is the climb from Monthey to Champéry, where long sections of the line climb sharply into the mountains.

I exposed these photos of TPC’s new trains using my FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera.

Between Aigle and Monthey TPC’s AOMC route has an interurban railway quality with some roadside running. This view was made near Monthey at the junction with the line to Champéry.

Detailed view exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 fitted with a Zeiss 12mm Tuoit lens.

Interior view exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 fitted with a Zeiss 12mm Tuoit lens.

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Stadler Railcar; Saturday’s Postcard from Switzerland.

April 16, 2016 brian solomon Leave a comment

Down low and up close.

Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 at platform level.

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Flirts along the Rhein

September 17, 2015 brian solomon Leave a comment

Flirt at Kaub, Germany. Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera from platform level using the positionable rear display.

Right Bank passenger services are largely provided by Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbahn. Trains are operated by VIAS Gmbh as Stadt-Expresses use Stadler Flirt electric multiple units and make local stops between the Koblenz Hbf (on the Left Bank) and the Frankfurt area.

Every hour all day long (with half hourly intervals at peak times) these modern Flirts glide along the supremely scenic Rhein Valley, working between the seemingly continuous parade of freights on the same line.

The cars stand out nicely against lush back drops and make for interesting photographic subjects. The tricky part is selecting the correct exposure to avoid over-exposing the lightly coloured trains.

A northward Flirt approaches Filsen. This early morning service catches the glint of the rising sun. Mist is the air makes for added atmosphere, but complicates the exposure. Here I've opted to set the exposure manually to retain highlight-detail on the side of the train. FujiFilm X-T1 photo. — A northward Flirt approaches Filsen. This early morning service catches the glint of the rising sun. Mist in the air makes for added atmosphere, but complicates the exposure. Here I’ve opted to set the exposure manually to retain highlight-detail on the side of the train. FujiFilm X-T1 photo.

A grab shot of a Flirt exposed with my Lumix south of the famous Loreley Rocks.

I was focused on the tug boat when this Flirt emerged from the tunnel at Oberwesel. FujiFilm X-T1 photo.

Another angle from Oberwesel, this view from the top of an old stone tower that was part of the city walls. FujiFilm X-T1 photo.

View from the Right Bank opposite Oberwesel. Lumix LX7 photo.

Flirt near Bingen. Exposed with my Lumix LX7.

Glinty Flirt reflects in the Rhein near Kaub. FujiFilm X-T1 photo.

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Flirt in the Glint.

February 26, 2015 brian solomon Leave a comment

On the evening of May 13, 2011, I was along the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee)at Radolfzell, Germany, where I made this evocative photograph of a Stadler Flirt electric railcar catching the soft setting sunlight as it approached the station.

Did my title sound like something else? Somehow ‘Backlit Railcar’ just didn’t cut it.

Exposed digitally using a Canon EOS 7D fitted with a 200mm lens; ISO 200 f5.6 1/500th of a second.

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Rhein River Valley Part 3

September 15, 2013 brian solomon Leave a comment

Views from the East Side of the Rhein—September 2013.

Rail Freight in Germany. — A DB freight rattles northward near Filsen on the east side of the Rhein in September 2013. Lumix LX3 photo.

For me the Right Bank (east side) of the Rhein has always been more challenging and more intriguing. This side has more freight, but the vistas are more difficult to access. Certainly getting the viewpoints that I envision take a little more work.

On this trip, with the help of maps and some advice from local photographers, I found several satisfactory spots to work from.

Where the Left Bank (west side) remains dominated by passenger traffic (with the occasional freight slotted in), the Right Bank is primarily a freight route, with the requisite hourly (half-hourly at peak times) stopping passenger train.

Since my last visit to the Right Bank in 2010, the passenger service has been upgraded with modern Stadler three and four piece Flirt-model railcars. The tide of freight ebbs and flows, but its not difficult to get four or five freights at one location in a relatively short span of time.

It seems that no sooner than one train has clattered out of sight when the next is on its way. If action on the east side ebbs too much, there are plenty of boats and barges on the Rhein as well as trains on the left side. Regardless of what happens, I find it easy to expose lots of images.