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12/25/2024
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Viewing Album:  Dad in Europe
 
By:Tom Beckett
Dates:1/1/1960 - 12/31/2011
Album Info:Dad liked to go to Europe once or twice every year. He had been stationed in Germany when he was in the Army in the mid 50's, and still spoke passable German. He also had an affinity for the British Isles, and would go there as well. My knowledge of European rail operations is near zero. If anyone seeing these has information on the photos or locations, or corrections, please comment.
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German station
Title:  German station
Description:  Dad was in the Army from 1954-1956, most of which he spent in Germany. He took advantage of the assignment to Europe to travel, which in those days, was almost entirely by train. The slides are not noted with exact dates and locations, so those are rough guesses. The slides were processed by a lab in Darmstadt, so thats as good a place as any to start.
Photo Date:  8/20/1955  Upload Date: 5/4/2016 3:15:14 AM
Location:  Darmstadt, DE
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  RollingStock,Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  78   Comments: 0
DB station
Title:  DB station
Description:  Dad got a view of the station scene at Mainz while waiting for a train there.
Photo Date:  8/20/1955  Upload Date: 5/4/2016 3:19:16 AM
Location:  Mainz , DE
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  RollingStock,Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  140   Comments: 0
DB station
Title:  DB station
Description:  Dad was stationed in Germany for about 18 months with the Army, and travelled as much as he could, thus spent a lot of time in train stations. Here hes in Cologne, waiting for a train. Look how well dressed everyone is.
Photo Date:  10/22/1955  Upload Date: 5/13/2016 4:57:00 AM
Location:  Cologne, DE
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  85   Comments: 0
All aboard!!
Title:  All aboard!!
Description:  A group of passengers crowd around a third class car on an adjacent track at Frankfurt. Third class was six passengers to a compartment, and the least expensive option, somewhat less than second class, and quite a bit lower than first, which had only two to a compartment. The difference in fare was enough that it was said only millionaires and Americans rode first class. Of note, this train is led by a steam engine. The back of the tender is to the right of the passenger car. In 1955, steam was still prevalent in much of the world, though in serious decline in the US.
Photo Date:  10/22/1955  Upload Date: 5/13/2016 5:02:18 AM
Location:  Frankfurt, DE
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  95   Comments: 0
Welcome!!
Title:  Welcome!!
Description:  The sign in the entance to the station says "Welcome to Mainz" at that citys modern station.
Photo Date:  10/22/1955  Upload Date: 5/13/2016 5:06:02 AM
Location:  Mainz , DE
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  42   Comments: 0
Station from the train
Title:  Station from the train
Description:  Dad went to Switzerland in the spring of 1986, and shot some of the action on the trains he rode, as well as some of the facilities. This is the station at Bergun.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:28:01 AM
Location:  bergun, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  63   Comments: 0
COFC
Title:  COFC
Description:  But not the kind youre thinking of-this is more like Car On Flat Car. Among the more unusual(to Americans) things they do in Europe is to put highway vehicles on the train for the trip through the Alps. There are several rail tunnels, including some of the longest in the world, through the mountains. Roads, not so much. Im not sure if the steeple cab is road power, or a station switcher.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:37:01 AM
Location:  Samedan, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Action
Locomotives:  RB 214(Steeple Cab)
Views:  672   Comments: 0
Rhatische Bahn
Title:  Rhatische Bahn
Description:  An RB train is at the Samedan station. The steeple cab that has the car on flatcar train is at far right on the station track.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:39:09 AM
Location:  Samedan, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  RB 214(Steeple Cab) RB 502(Electric M.U.)
Views:  143   Comments: 0
Freight cars
Title:  Freight cars
Description:  Compared to freight equipment on American roads, these cars are like toys. Except for some TOFC flats from the 80s, Ive never seen a four wheel car in the US. They were still pretty common in European rails at this time.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:45:18 AM
Location:  anderschmitt, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,RollingStock,Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  71   Comments: 0
RB train arriving
Title:  RB train arriving
Description:  A Rhatische Bahn locomotive hauled train arrives at Samedan. Note the narrow gauge, which is common in some of the steeper parts of the Alps.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:40:03 AM
Location:  Samedan, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  RB 633(Bo-Bo Type Electric)
Views:  77   Comments: 0
Look at that grade
Title:  Look at that grade
Description:  Swiss Railways goes a lot of places that have some really serious grades-the Alps are some hard railroading. To surmount the gradient, the steepest portions have a rack between the rails. It is engaged by a gear that drives the train upward.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:50:12 AM
Location:  Montreux, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  51   Comments: 0
Filisur station
Title:  Filisur station
Description:  Another station dad got from the train, this one at Filisur.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:54:05 AM
Location:  Filisur, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  49   Comments: 0
Into the tunnel
Title:  Into the tunnel
Description:  A train going the opposite direction enters a tunnel near Montreux.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 5:02:51 AM
Location:  Montreux, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Tunnel,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  55   Comments: 0
On the mountain
Title:  On the mountain
Description:  A train rolls along a shelf cut into the mountainside on the line to Zermatt
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 2:42:29 AM
Location:  Zermatt, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  78   Comments: 0
Station action
Title:  Station action
Description:  A passenger train makes a stop as a steeple cab pulls out the end of the platform track.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 2:53:08 AM
Location:  Samedan, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  RB 214(Steeple Cab)
Views:  107   Comments: 0
Tunnel and station
Title:  Tunnel and station
Description:  A train enters the tunnel near the St Moritz station
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:00:16 AM
Location:  saint moritz, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Tunnel,Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  89   Comments: 0
Down to the station
Title:  Down to the station
Description:  Dad took this on the train approaching Zermatt. The train in the track on the right appears to be snowbound. This is high in the Alps, and it looks like winter still has a firm grip at this elevation.
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:04:11 AM
Location:  Gornergrat, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Winter,Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  93   Comments: 1
Tram
Title:  Tram
Description:  These trams were used for local travel at Lucerne
Photo Date:  5/27/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:27:22 AM
Location:  Lucerne, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Transit,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  64   Comments: 0
Mixed
Title:  Mixed
Description:  This looks like a mixed train, with a passenger car coupled to some freight wagons. I think there were still some such trains in service on some lines then.
Photo Date:  5/31/1986  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:58:21 AM
Location:  saint moritz, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  50   Comments: 0
Passenger cars
Title:  Passenger cars
Description:  Some second class cars at the station
Photo Date:  5/31/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:23:20 AM
Location:  saint moritz, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  57   Comments: 0
Electric power
Title:  Electric power
Description:  An electric locomotive power this train at St Moritz. Dont know if dads photos are representative of the traffic mix, but there seem to be a lot of MU trains, and relatively few locomotive hauled trains on these lines.
Photo Date:  5/31/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:21:41 AM
Location:  saint moritz, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  RB 622(Bo-Bo Type Electric)
Views:  109   Comments: 0
Overhead view
Title:  Overhead view
Description:  A view from above the St Moritz station shows a lot of activity. There were numerous connections to see at some of the larger stations, and you could go a lot of places, as this bears out.
Photo Date:  5/31/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:25:04 AM
Location:  saint moritz, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Scenic,Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  63   Comments: 0
More MUs
Title:  More MUs
Description:  Another set of MU cars waits at St Moritz
Photo Date:  5/31/1986  Upload Date: 3/30/2016 3:26:24 AM
Location:  saint moritz, CH
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  58   Comments: 0
Scottish station
Title:  Scottish station
Description:  Dad got a shot of the station sign here at Pitlochry, where he also got some pretty good action.
Photo Date:  6/12/1992  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:20:46 AM
Location:  pitlochry, UK
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  49   Comments: 0
Local and express
Title:  Local and express
Description:  A local train is making its stop here as an express blows past on the adjacent track. Note the consecutive numbers on the cars.
Photo Date:  6/12/1992  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:23:37 AM
Location:  pitlochry, UK
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  SR 58743(Electric M.U.) SR 58744(Electric M.U.)
Views:  114   Comments: 0
Just arrived
Title:  Just arrived
Description:  A local Scot Rail train makes its stop at Pitlochry.
Photo Date:  6/12/1992  Upload Date: 3/28/2016 4:24:59 AM
Location:  pitlochry, UK
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  SR 58744(Electric M.U.)
Views:  67   Comments: 0

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