Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2023 - January 2024 i Locomotives International

Imagine relaxing on a sandy beach in the sunshine looking out over the clear blue sea while drinking fresh coconut milk. And all this yards from an active steam railway! What a linesiding location that would be. Well, on two occasions in the mid-1980s I did just that, on Hainan Island in China. At the time I was unaware of the history of Hainan railways so the purpose of this article is to provide some background information as well as reminiscences of my visits. Much of the information comes from Chinese documents not generally accessible to non-Chinese readers, and I am indebted to Robin Gibbons for making available translations of several key references. Hainan is a tropical island of 12,700 square miles off the south coast of China separated from…

In July 2023 I made a cruise ship stop at La Coruña in Galicia, North West Spain and as we curved round into port, I noticed a cliff railway on the headland. Upon closer inspection later in the day, this turned out to be the Elevador del Monte do San Pedro, which linked the coastal road/sea front with the Monte de San Pedro park-high above. This unusual railway’s conception was in early 2002, when the mayor’s office approved the scheme for this railway and it was given the ‘green light’ to climb the mountain. The project involved linking the old quarry at the bottom to the park by means of this ‘panoramic elevator’. After 5 years in the build, it was opened by the mayor of La Coruña in April…

INTERNATIONAL (Peru - Chile) We have not reported on the railway museum at Tacna station on the Tacna-Arica line for some years, the establishment having been closed, but it is now reported that the museum has now reopened, although at present it only accepts group visits, guided by a member of staff, so for an individual to be able to visit the museum without prior booking, it would be necessary to arrive just before a guided group with vacant places starts its tour. The exhibits appear to be unchanged, albeit tidied-up. Visitors from Chile can catch the 10.00 am railbus from Arica to get to Tacna, but since the railbus only makes one scheduled round trip, in the mornings, alternative transport would be required to get back to Arica later…

2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the last trains to run on this wonderful Irish narrow gauge railway. It is not, however, the anniversary of the end of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway (L&LSR) as it continued to operate buses over its territory up until August 2014. The three foot gauge railways, the County Donegal Railway (CDR) and the L&LSR have an enduring charm and fascination for anyone who likes to see small mixed trains running through great scenery serving a remote population faithfully for many years. The L&LSR opened on 31.12.1863 from Londonderry north to Farland Point. This was originally planned as a canal to connect two sea loughs to save ships a difficult passage round the northern point of Ireland. It gradually extended to Buncrana, and eventually…

ARMENIA AUSTRIA At the time of my visit, several lines across the country were closed for engineering work, including the whole of the AttnangPuchheim to Stainach-Irdning line. Bustitution was provided in each case. Steyrtalbahn, 27th August (fare €26 return) 298.102 worked both trains from Grünburg to Steyr and return. Its previously held name of ‘Sierning’ was absent. Enquiries revealed that both 298.104 ‘Molln’ and 298.106 ‘Klaus’ had also lost their names, but they weren’t seen. 298.53, 498.04 & 699.103 were dead in the shed at Grünburg; all were in working order, according to a driver. Jenbach Achenseebahn, 29th August (fare €36 return) Loco nos. 1 & 4 in use on a timetable now reduced since my last visit. It includes a short working from Seespitz to Eben and back. Zillertalbahn…

In early 1955 my father mentioned that he had received a letter from his old friend Dimitrios Pappas in Addis Ababa. I asked why he was there - the answer was that he was the personal physician of Emperor Haile Selassie. Never one to miss an opportunity I asked if he could send me some photos of the Addis-Djibouti Railway. My father was dubious but wrote to him anyway. A long time passed and I forgot about it. Then one day a fat envelope arrived with a typed letter under the letterhead of the Greek Embassy in Addis, enclosing 18 photos Pappas had taken for me, and hoped I would be pleased. In those days foreigners couldn't just reside in Ethiopia without good reason so I assume he had been…

České dráhy, often shortened to ČD (English: Czech Railways), is the main railway operator in the Czech Republic providing regional and long-distance services. Leo Express and Regiojet also operate a limited number of passenger trains. ČD is unique as a government train operator in that it operates every kind of train from high speed tilting “Pendolinos” to scheduled steam, of which 183 standard gauge locomotives are still in existence and about 40 operational in any one season. It operates just over 7000 passenger trains everyday over a country that is little larger than Ireland. Even more amazingly 84% run to within five minutes. It is Government owned and has 9,412 km (5,848 mi) of railway lines of which 3,210 km (1,990 mi) was electrified track and 1,906 km (1,184 mi)…

COSTA RICA Report from a “normals” trip to Costa Rica. Unfortunately, San José was on a Sunday so no movements. The 3 suburban services run M-F. At Atlantico, 59 was fenced in its garden shed and very difficult to photograph (top right). No other stock here. At Pacifico, the station and shed area were filled with coaches and units. Electric No. 3 plinthed at the station (centre right) and steam 1 and 14 outside the works (bottom right). Also seen on the works was a diesel loco (presumably one of the GEs) and a number of derelict Henschel/Siemens electrics. There was also one of the new Chinese CRRC DMUs on shed. Over on the east coast, we crossed the “banana” railway at Siquirres. A distant view of the yard showed…

My first proper tour of Europe commenced from Waterloo East on 30 March 1994, when I set off with three friends for my first proper railway adventure. I was lucky enough to receive free European rail travel from British Rail, so with the exception of a few supplements for overnight sleepers and some longer distance trains, the journey was free. Planning was undertaken by my friend Hilary who worked at Epsom Travel Centre (long since closed). Early on Thursday 31 March we arrived in Calais having travelled overnight on the Dover to Calais ferry and made our way to Calais Ville station to join a TGV to Paris Gare du Nord. We spent the day visiting the Eiffel Tower before making our way to Paris Gare de l’est for an…

Stationary Boilers, Issue 145 Harold Middleton-Nagel writes: To use a retired steam locomotive as a stationary boiler was not a common issue in Chile. The only example known was at the Loreto colliery, near Punta Arenas (above). She was a 0-4-2T Baldwin product of 1900, w/n 18510 class 6-111/3C with driving wheels 33” and cylinders 9.0” x 14.0” It started at the opening of the mine, being replaced by two slightly bigger examples. Notice the pipe from left to right pouring fresh water.” Mystery Photos, Issue 145 Eljas Pölhö writes: On page 64, the upper photo is: Vulcan Stettin B/n 1875, year 1901 Haffuferbahn Elbing - Braunsberg No. 12b Type= Prussian T3, gauge 1435mm The lower photo is: Vulcan Stettin B/n 2008, year 1902 Built for Lenz group, for Franzburger…