|
|
|
Day 1:Our train will be hauled by Elvetia, a gorgeously chunky 0-8-0 built by the Romanian communist steel mill in Reşiţa in 1954 |
|
|
|
There are quite a few steam locos in the yard hopefully awaiting better days |
|
|
|
The same loco - note the outside Stephenson's value gear |
|
|
|
The all-conquering, but not always-reliable diesel hydraulics |
|
|
|
Old and more-old technologies |
|
|
|
Near Valea Scradei with the church in the background |
|
|
|
And climb we did, after crossing that bouncy swing bridge |
|
|
|
Runpast after we'd rolled down the hill |
|
|
|
Water stop. The boiler must be filled with moss and fish. |
|
|
|
This regular water stop is known as the fish farm |
|
|
|
The bridge near the Novat triangle |
|
|
|
And once more for good measure |
|
|
|
Thomas from Switzerland gains the necessary elevation |
|
|
|
I'm not sure if this guy was really the driver or merely an actor, as he always seemed to be striking photogenic world-weary poses |
|
|
|
Michael from Germany and I get our feet wet in search of a different shot |
|
|
|
And as we were a bit late getting back to the train, he (having been here many times before) suggested we continue the trip from the back of the train riding the log wagons - pictures can't do this experience justice |
|
|
|
Banging along the rough track |
|
|
|
Wheee! Rollercoasters have nothing on this |
|
|
|
Not sure why we stopped here. Michael taking a shot of the rails with pants in 'drying out after wading through the river' configuration |
|
|
|
Any old iron - rails dating from 1883 |
|
|
|
It could be South America... |
|
|
|
Our brakeman is an up and coming hat model for all the major knock-off hat makers. Here he poses for another photoshoot. And that's a wrap baby. There are no air brakes of course, so slowing down requires a guy (or several guys on the loaded trains) with a brakewheel. |
|
|
|
Stopping for more water and a load of wood. Given that both items are available for free in large quantities, one wonders why they use diesels... |
|
|
|
I think this is Paltin, where the tourist trains terminate |
|
|
|
It's all too much for some |
|
|
|
Through the remote stop of Bardau |
|
|
|
Near Suligu with our driver looking the part as usual |
|
|
|
Logs at Suligu |
|
|
|
Coupling slack - maybe that's why we're getting bounced around back here... |
|
|
|
Making the most of being evicted from my perfect reflection spot (don't you hate it when you get to the best spot first, but then all the other trainspotters quietly line up behind you and then by sheer weight of numbers get you to move on? Bah to democracy. This would never have happened in Ceausescu's time) |
|
|
|
Reflecting |
|
|
|
Rattling up the valley as the shadows lengthen |
|
|
|
Near Gura Stevioara I guess in the last shot of the day. And what weather we had. |
|
|
|
We're spending the night up the line at Valea Babii, which I'm hoping translates to 'Valley of the Babes'. |
|
|
|
I'm out early to get some night shots before the masses arrive |
|
|
|
The bonfire brings out the punters. The river was damn cold, but the wading was worth it. |
|
|
|
Bernd's fire reflection shot, as stolen by me with a little fill flash |
|
|
|
Day 2: Next day its chilly. Luckily we have a feuergott or two in charge of the stove |
|
|
|
Michael reveals the all-important contents of his camera bag. I came similarly equipped, but we were all surprised, despite warnings to the contrary, to find new sleeping quarters awaiting us, complete with bathrooms and even hot and cold running electricity from a generator. We quietly sniggered when Michael walked into the railway yard on the first day carrying some fluffy white seat padding (unusual equipment for the trainspotter), but after a few hours banging around on rough track and hard wooden seats we were not laughing as much. He's been coming here for many many years. |
|
|
|
Bursting out of the trees |
|
|
|
Bursting into the trees |
|
|
|
Took way too many pics of these runbys, but I almost liked the drivers arm in this one enough to keep it in |
|
|
|
These few pictures represent one of the few times I've been able to successfully chase a train on foot... |
|
|
|
We're just a few Km from the Ukrainian border now, and hopefully we won't get lost and cross the border while wandering in the hills. Because we're going to steal a tree |
|
|
|
Tim-beeeeerrrr! |
|
|
|
The horses arrive to retrieve the prize |
|
|
|
Down comes the log, toward the bog - quite a feet, as the hill was steep |
|
|
|
Through the river, the horses don't quiver! Should I end the rhyming now? |
|
|
|
The log bogies will be split apart by gravity and then brakes used to position them. But first, the all important Romanian custom of having a chat. Here discussing the finalists on American Idol. |
|
|
|
Rolling a log onto the trucks |
|
|
|
Pause for effect |
|
|
|
These guys could model for mail-order knitwear catalogues |
|
|
|
Almost done |
|
|
|
The cab of the Reşiţa loco, with the fireman acting as my lightstand |
|
|
|
And now a shot of him, with me doing my own flash-holding |
|
|
|
I waited for ages to get a nice pan of the guys rolling back to Valea Babii with the load of logs but then they cruised past at 2 mph to make things difficult. Must have been an OSH safety inspector sighted |
|
|
|
Polecam deployed |
|
|
|
Leaning polecam deployed laterally |
|
|
|
The crew at rest at Faina where we wait for a diesel powered work train |
|
|
|
Faina Crossing |
|
|
|
Workers on the train. What? No seatbelts?! |
 |
| A little later... Houston, we have a problem. A wheel has dropped off inside the rail. |
 |
| Out with the bottle jack |
 |
| And were airbourne |
 |
| Flying high |
 |
| A little shove from the other side, and the errant wheels are encouraged back on the track |
 |
| Between tunnels 2 and 1, another wheel drops inside the track and on this side, the flange starts to ride up on the rail |
|
|
|
Tunnel #1 after the second re-railing was effected |
|
|
|
About to leave Paltin in the late sun |
