Holland March 1998
Thanks to “TC” for the memories
After collecting tokens from the daily newspapers for cheap ferry tickets in 1994 and 1995, I was rather withered when the offer was not repeated in 1996. My interest was diverted towards Ireland initially with a railtour at the end of March 1996. Holland took a back seat until sometime late 1997 when I was reading the latest edition of “Today’s Railways” in the WH Smith library at work. I noticed some gen relating to diagrams for the Dutch 1100/1200/1300 electrics and news that they were soon to be scrapped.
After some thought, a plan came together involving flying from Luton to Schipol with Easyjet and hopefully a few hours sleep in a cheap hotel very close to Rotterdam CS station. I had the address but no phone number, hopfully there would be somebody in when I rang the door, and that their English was better than my Dutch as I wanted an early start the next morning to cover the overnight from Paris which was also listed in the diagrams for an old electric.
The day of the trip dawned and after an on time flight, I had a few hours to kill before the Schipol – Berlin train so did a couple of fill in moves. I was happy when 1215 rolled in with the Berlin train, which it would work as far as Bad Bentheim, on the Dutch / German border. My move was just to Amersfoort for the +40 or so for the Berlin – Schipol which was also on the diagrams for an old electric and dropped 1136. Back at Amsterdam CS I was admiring 1136 when I noted 1302 pull in over the far side of the station on a train I had expected to be either a 16 or 1700. 1302 had around 10 minutes standing time so when it left I was comfortably in the front coach and making myself at home for the run to Eindhoven. Disaster struck on the outstkirts of Den Bosch as we hit a car on a level crossing, no one injured although 1302 had minor damage and the car was a write off. After some delay we limped forward to s’Hertogenbosch where the train was terminated.
I caught the following train into Eindhoven before heading back to Rotterdam CS via Tilburg. The hotel was located and the owner spoke perfect English. For my early start I was offered some continental takeaway breakfast which was very welcome.
Tuesday 10th March 1998
1191 (SNCB) 09.30 Amsterdam CS – Brussells Midi Schipol – Den Haag HS 42km
1187 (SNCB) xx.xx Brussells Midi – Amsterdam CS Den Haag HS – Amsterdam CS 59km
(10.20 ex Den Haag HS)
1647 xx.xx Maastricht – Haarlem Amsterdam CS – Amsterdam Sloterdijk 4km
(12.03 ex Amsterdam CS, 20 late)
1754 11.20 Dordrecht – Amsterdam CS Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam CS 4km
1215 xx.xx Schipol – Berlin Amsterdam CS – Amersfoort 44km
(13.14 ex Amsterdam CS)
1136 xx.xx Berlin – Schipol Amersfoort – Amsterdam CS 44km
(14.14 ex Amersfoort)
1302 14.42 Haarlem – Eindhoven Amsterdam CS – s’Hertogenbosch 87km
(Cancelled, running 40 late, after hitting
a car on a level crossing)
1641 15.12 Haarlem – Maastricht s’Hertogenbosch – Eindhoven 32km
1773 15.57 Heerlen – Den Haag CS Eindhoven – Rotterdam CS 107km
1775 16.57 Heerlen – Den Haag CS Rotterdam CS – Den Haag HS 22km
1720 19.11 Amsterdam CS – Dordrecht Den Haag HS – Rotterdam CS 22km
1606 17.57 Heerlen – Den Haag CS Rotterdam CS – Den Haag HS 22km
1722 20.11 Amsterdam CS – Dordrecht Den Haag HS – Rotterdam CS 22km
An early start to Day 2, but very happy when 1142 rolled in and the train was fairly empty as well so I was soon stretched out in a compo for the run up to Amsterdam CS. The plan for today was a trip down to Venlo, the Today’s Railways diagrams listed a freight or two booked for the older electrics. I also thought 1215 and 1136 would probably stick on the Schipol – Berlin’s.
Venlo is on the Dutch / German border and their was a fairly busy yard behind the station. This is where the railway changed voltages as well from the Dutch to the German system. 1210 and 1310 were in the yard and both parked nicely for pictures.
A few hours back in Amsterdam produced 1309 on the Berlin – Schipol which had been 1136 the day before. After a couple of trips out to Haarlem before another Berlin – Schipol train took me back to the airport and my flight home.
Wednesday 11th March 1998
1142 23.16 (PN) Paris Noord – Amsterdam CS Rotterdam CS – Amsterdam CS 82km
(Via Schipol)
1186 (SNCB) 08.30 Amsterdam CS – Brussells Midi Amsterdam CS – Roosendaal 139km
8214 (EMU) Not recorded Roosendaal – Breda 23km
1773 09.50 Den Haag CS – Heerlen Breda – Eindhoven 58km
1631 11.33 Eindhoven – Koln Hbf Eindhoven – Venlo 51km
(110151 worked forward)
1631 11.17 Koln Hbf – Eindhoven Venlo – Eindhoven 51km
(110247 worked from Koln Hbf)
1624 13.07 Eindhoven – Haarlem Eindhoven – Amsterdam CS 119km
1309 xx.xx Berlin – Schipol Amsterdam CS – Schipol 17km
(14.55 ex Amsterdam CS)
1748 Not recorded Schipol – Amsterdam CS 17km
(15.28 ex Schipol)
1647 xx.xx Maastricht – Haarlem Amsterdam CS – Haarlem 18km
(16.03 ex Amsterdam CS)
1625 16.42 Haarlem – Eindhoven Haarlem – Amsterdam CS 18km
1641 16.07 Eindhoven – Haarlem Amsterdam CS – Haarlem 18km
1635 18.12 Haarlem – Maastricht Haarlem – Amsterdam CS 18km
1144 11.50 Berlin Zoo – Schipol Amsterdam CS – Schipol 17km
A few photos from the trip are here:
Thanks again to “TC” for the write up and phots
End
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