European Railway 78, Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, Czech Republic

* Belgium – a study of trains and traction on the busy 4-track route linking Antwerpen with Brussels. We call in to two locations at Duffel and Kontich around 10 km south of Antwerp. Classes AM08, AM82, 13, 18, 21, 27, 55, 77, 186, 6400 and TGV all appear.
* GERMANY – the busy Oberhausen West Yard is difficult to access, but thanks to a tolerated viewing area we were able to get up close to the trains. Classes 261, 77, 151, 185, 152, 189, ME26, 1272 & BB37000 all appear.
* SLOVENIA – rural line action with class 713 DMUs on the non-electrified line that links Ljubljana with Novo Mesto. A class 664 diesel is also witnessed. Lovely country views and stations.
* Switzerland – we call in on the Berner Oberland Bahn narrow-gauge line at the junction at Zweil tschinen, to view the line’s new rolling stock the class ABDeh 8/8-3 Stadler railcars. These have replaced class ABeh 4/4 railcars dating from 1965 – one of which we see in service – in its last few weeks in traffic. We also visit Wilderswil.
* CZECH REPUBLIC – we visit the industrialised & scenic northern part of the country between Usti nad Labem and Most. This area has some great rural line action, which also sees large quantities of freight and local passenger traffic. Classes 111, 121, 122, 123, 162, 163, 186, 362, 363, 383, 400, 741, 742, 753, 814 all appear on various workings.