{"id":1866,"date":"2013-03-30T06:37:20","date_gmt":"2013-03-30T10:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=1866"},"modified":"2013-03-30T11:30:33","modified_gmt":"2013-03-30T15:30:33","slug":"belgian-rail-freight-march-22-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/belgian-rail-freight-march-22-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgian Rail Freight\u2014 March 22, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Making the most of a Belgian Rail-Freight Hotspot.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mid-Morning on Friday March 22, 2013, I took a SNCB (Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 National des Chemins de fer Belges\u2014Belgian National Railways<\/a>) \u00a0local train from Antwerpen Centraal to a suburban station at Antwerpen Noorderdokken. This is an important junction north of central Antwerp, where routes toward Amsterdam diverge from the principal\u00a0freight line to Antwerp Port.<\/p>\n

\"Belgian<\/a>
An SNCB InterCity train led by a Class 18 Electric (built by Siemens) passes the station at Antwerpen Noorderdokken on March 22, 2013. While something less than a garden-spot, this busy junction is a great place to watch and photograph trains. Canon EOS 7D.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Railway<\/a>
SNCB diesels working light-engine pass Antwerpen Noorderdokken on the morning of March 22, 2013. In the foreground is the link to the new Antwerp-Amsterdam high-speed line. Lumix LX3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was following the recommendation of a friend who had previously explored this junction. As one of Europe\u2019s busiest ports, Antwerp is a large source of rail freight, and this route is famous for both its volume and variety of traffic.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An SNCF Fret (French National Railways Freight) diesel leads a grain train toward Antwerp port. Canon EOS 7D.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Crossrail_freight_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2604<\/a> \"Crossrail_freight_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2609<\/a> \"SNCB-banking_into_curve_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2730<\/a><\/p>\n

\"SNCB_freight_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2647<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition to SNCB\u2019s freights, open access arrangements allow for a variety of private rail operators and other national railways to serve customers. In a little more than 4 hours, I witnessed nearly 35 freight moves (including light engines) under partly sunny skies. In addition I also photographed a dozen or so passenger trains.<\/p>\n

\"SNCB<\/a>
An SNCB Class 18 electric with double-deck push-pull train races through Antwerpen Noorderdokken. Canon EOS 7D with 28-135mm lens set at 120mm, 1\/60 second at f25.0. ISO 200. Hand-held pan with image-stabilizer disabled.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My preferred locations were in a field about a 15 minute walk from the Antwerpen Noorderdokken station. Here, the freight line makes a sweeping \u2018S-bend\u2019 that allows for a variety of angles favoring the light.<\/p>\n

After 4 hours of intense photography, I was cold and hungry, so I retraced my steps and headed back toward Brussels. In addition to digital images exposed with my Canon EOS 7D and Lumix LX3, I also made a number of color slides with my Canon EOS-3.<\/p>\n

\"CFL_freight_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2591\"<\/a>
A pair of CFL (Luxembourg National Railways) electrics lead a train carrying structural steel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Class66_w_containers_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2679<\/a> \"Class66_w_mineral_train_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2555<\/a> \"Container_train_Antwerpen_Noorderdokken_IMG_2563<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"SNCB<\/a>
SNCB Vossloh diesels work a mixed freight toward Antwerp port.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"SNCB<\/a>
SNCB local glides towards its station stop at Antwerpen Noorderdokken.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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