Slovenia Holiday 2008

Alan Jul 28, 2008

  1. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Had a wonderful two weeks in the country, with a side trip into Austria. Rode trains most days, so saw plenty of rail action. We wanted to see all areas of the country to decide our favourite places to look for a holiday cottage. We travelled all the main lines plus some branches. [​IMG]

    Our starting point each day:
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  2. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    We arrived in Ljubljana about lunch time on friday, so took a walk down to the Ljubljanica River to find a cafe for a beer, and re-acquaint oursleves with the city.

    Later went to the station to buy our Interrail passes, only to be told we could only get them from outside the country! I know they are only for non-locals but understood that by showing our passports we could get them. On the SZ website it clearly staes a number of stations within the country where they can be obtained. Had I known, I would have purchased in England before travelling. The lady on the international desk said that one year ago we could have bought them there. [​IMG]

    However, this gave us an excuse on monday to ride EC212 to Villach, Austria to buy the tickets. We rode in Croatian air-conditioned coaches. Soon after arrival at the very efficient ticket office in Villach we had our tickets, so took a walk around the city to find a cafe for lunch (and beer) by the river. Then back to LJ to plan the trips with the 8-day passes.

    A few pictures from Villach.
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  3. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Station shunter
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    One of the hundreds of Siemens "Taurus" electrics
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    and a diesel version, called "Hercules"
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  4. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Luckily, one of the older class 1044 electrics arrived
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    This Slovenian "Taurus" was waiting to take our return Eurocity Express back to Ljubljana
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  5. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    For the first trip with our Interrail passes on tuesday, we rode to Dobova on the Croatian border. We passed a section of line where the overhead was being repaired on the adjacent track.
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    The modern station at Dobova also houses the police and customs offices.
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    Here I saw my first two Croation (HZ) locos. The first one took over our train.
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  6. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Almost all the electric railcars are now of the Siemens Desiro type.
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    The interior of our Siemens Desiro back to Zidani Most.
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    The driver invited me into the cab to take pictures of the control desk.
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    And continued to explain all the controls and show me the computer displays, which include all sorts of diagnostics.
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  7. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Next day we took IC503 'Pohorje Express' to Divaca, to visit the Scocjan Caves. Divaca is a big station as it is a major junction between the main lines to Sezanna/Trieste and the line to Koper and the port. Many heavy freights pass through here and many stop for a crew change. Due to severe gradients, freights to Koper have a loco on the reae to assist with traction or braking.
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  8. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    [​IMG]

    Some of the graffitti on railcars is quite artistic!
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    On the way back I set my DSLR to 'continuous' and took lots of photos of the ballast loaders at Verd as we passed. The one on my layout is to be based on this.
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  9. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    More to come........ ;)
     
  10. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool:​
     
  11. Peirce

    Peirce Passed away April 3, 2009 In Memoriam

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    Very interesting series. I have always like the looks of the modern European rail equipment.



    :bear-biggrin:
     
  12. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Pierce. I love the european railways because of the variety. Many freight and passenger vehicles from neighbouring countries pass through Slovenia making freight trains very interesting.

    We rode in passenger cars from Slovenia, Croatia and Czech Republic during our two week stay! Some locomotives also cross borders if they are multi-voltage types, like the Taurus electrics. Austrian ones are regularly seen deep into the country. Italian electric locos occasionally venture to Ljubljana, but we did not see one during our visit.
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Neat. After seeing the Milwaukee Road versions, I've always wondered about other trolley troubleshooter cars.

    Boxcab E50
     
  14. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Interesting vehicles, Ken. here is a newer one, on the same section of track
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    Cable drum wagon
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    another of the older ones
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    These are known as Tezka Motorno Dresina (TMD) :)
     
  15. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Next day, Ljubljana, a 40-year-old diesel railcar, looking like new!
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    We were taking a ride to Metlika on the south western border with Croatia. At Grosuplje was one of the many plinthed steam locos on the system, class 51 2-6-2T
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    ....and a 2-6-0 at Trebnje
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  16. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Metlika
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  17. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Next place we visited was the second city, Maribor. (More like a large town by our standards!). A very pleasant place we instantly liked.

    A 362 "Bellows" made an appearance, light engine, to take over an Austria-bound intermodal train brought in by a diesel. The 362's are a bit thin on the ground these days, so it was good to see one running.
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    It took over the intermodal.
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    A 342 "Moped" arrives.
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    is uncoupled
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  18. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    which provides work for the busy class 643 station pilot
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  19. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice stuff. I love seeing European equipment, especially in places like Slovenia where lots of locos and consists cross from other countries.
     
  20. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah, that is exactly what I like about Slovenia. Having borders with Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, a lot of different passenger and freight stock enters or passes through the country.

    Most lines are electrified and bordering countries mostly have different voltages so locos change at the borders, which makes the border stations interesting. :)

    Although Austrian 'Taurus' locomotives are multi-voltage and are regularly seen deep into Slovenia, and SZ Taurus also run into Austria.

    There is one (irregular) turn by an Italian locomotive which runs through to Ljubljana Zalog yard with a freight.
     

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