Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Grenoble ticket machine thinks it’s in Croydon

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

Grenoble tram ticket machine message

Visting the French city of Grenoble back in May 2005, I was impressed to discover that the ticket machines on the tram stops offer an English language option. As I don’t speak French, this was rather useful.

Unfortunately, after buying a ticket in English, the display says that Croydon Tramlink wishes you a good journey!

Croydon Tramlink wishes you a good journey

The the unofficial Croydon Tramlink website has oodles of information about Croydon Tramlink, and its ticketing systems - presumably Grenoble used the same software!

Today’s Railways on Bulgarian narrow gauge

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Bulgarian narrow gaige train
The May 2008 issue of Today’s Railways magazine has an interesting article on the Septemvri - Bansko - Dobrinishte line in Bulgaria; “The Rhodope Mountains route. BDZ’s last narrow gauge line” by Chris Bailey.

In summer 2006 I did the route as part of a holiday trip to Bulgaria, and subsequently wrote an article about the narrow gauge line.

Armoured train in Sarajevo

Monday, October 1st, 2007

Armoured train in Sarajevo

Lurking behind an ugly, box-like and sadly war-damaged museum building in Sarajevo is this armoured railway vehicle, and a big rail-mounted hook for ripping up tracks. They are built for narrow gauge track, presumably 2ft 6in/760 mm gauge as Yugoslavia had an extensive network to that gauge, but I don’t know anything more about them.

There is also a little tank, a big gun and a helicopter, all of which have seen better days, plus an abandoned statue of someone who has presumably fallen from favour and been hidden away behind the museum.

Museum building The distinctive historical museum buidling is fairly easy to find, close to the national museum. Trams stop nearby, and though the museum is adandoned the outdor exhibts are freely accessible round the back of the building.

Photos taken July 2007.

Armoured train Armoured train Armoured train in Sarajevo Armoured train in Sarajevo Armoured train in Sarajevo Armoured train in Sarajevo

Hook

Called a Schienenwolf in German, used for ripping up tracks.

Railway wrecking hook Railway wrecking hook

Tank

Comparing it with various other pictures of tanks online, it might be a WWII “Stuart” tank, a type which some Googling suggests the Yugoslav partisans used in the Second World War. On the other hand, it might not be.

Tank

Helicopter

Derelict helicopterThis helicopter has seen better days. According to airliners.net, it is Bosnia-Herzegovina Air Force Mil Mi-8T number VF-3801.

On the move

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

I’ve recently moved house again, in a slightly complicated way. If anyone who knows me hasn’t got my updated address, and happens to need it, they could drop me an e-mail.

Loco at Doboj station To recover from the stress of moving house, I went on holiday to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and back into the other end of Croatia. This Republika Srpska Railways electric locomotive was stood in an unbearably hot Doboj station in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Bulgarian narrow gauge trains

Friday, June 22nd, 2007

Lineside mosque I’ve finally got round to putting on-line an article I wrote for the CURC about the last surviving narrow gauge line in Bulgaria, where I went on holiday last summer. A wonderful 125 km of 2′ 6″ gauge diesel thrash through stunning scenery.

There’s also an article from 2005 on the tramway in Debrecen, Hungary.

Lack of updates

Wednesday, August 10th, 2005

Narrow gauge train at Bugac
Sorry for not replying to e-mails etc recently, I’ve been away riding narrow gauge trains and trams in Hungary.