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Above:
The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways (in German, the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen
or HSB) are a 140 kilometre network of metre gauge railways in the
Harz mountains in central Germany. The locomotive is a prototype
Einheitslok (literally 'standard locomotive') which usually works
on the Selke Valley line to Quedlinburg. 20th July 2011. (Lisa Lewis)
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Above:
One of the HSB's two operational Mallet locomotives, no.
99 5902, seen at Elend. These historic engines are usually held in
reserve but work occasional specials to the Brocken, which is the
highest point on the network. During the Cold War, the Brocken branch
served a Soviet listening post at the summit and was not open to the
public. However, since then – due to the steep climb and impressive
scenery – this has become the most popular tourist route on
the newtork. Mallet locomotives are articulated with two pairs of
cylinders, as can be seen above. The design was developed by the Swiss
engineer Anatole Mallet, whose name is properly pronounced in the
French manner, i.e. 'Mallay'. Inset: The manufacturer's
plate from 1898. 19th July 2011. (Richard Lewis) |
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Above:
We're now off to Spain to sample one of the country's Vias
Verdes, literally 'green lanes', which are based on disused railway
lines. This is the first tunnel (36 metres) out of Xivares on the
former line to Perlora, which ran along the north coast of Spain east
of Santander. The modern 'via verde' is based on the so-called 'El
Carreño' of 1909, which traversed a particularly rugged area
of the coast, overhanging the cliffs at Tranqueru beaches. Click here
for a photographic collage, which includes a map of the route. 23rd
November 2011. (Richard Lewis) |
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Above:
The photographer photographed – just beyond the tunnel
seen in the picture above. Richard Lewis has contributed a good number
of images to this website over the years, so this portrait of the
man in his natural railway rambling habitat is probably well overdue.
30th November 2011. (Lisa Lewis) |
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Above:
Here's something you don't see often on a railway walk –
an avalanche shelter designed to throw rockfalls over the trackbed
and into the cove below. God help anyone on the beach at such a time!
23rd November 2011. (Richard Lewis) |
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Above:
The attractive coastline along this part of the Bay of Biscay
must have provided railway passengers with a memorable journey –
no less so the modern 'via verde' for walkers and cyclists. 23rd November
2011. (Richard Lewis) |
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Above:
This cutting towards the Perlora end of the line demonstrates
the effort and expense required to construct this railway. . As the
line passes Rador, it maintains its north-westerly bearing and cuts
through a large headland via two tunnels to reach its final destination.
27th November 2011. (Richard Lewis) |
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Above:
This is the view looking back to the east as the trail nears
Perlora. the railway can be seen clearly in the right of the picture
as a near horizontal ledge cut into the side of the cliffs. In truth,
this doesn't look like a bad place to spend an autumn holiday! 28th
November 2011. (Richard Lewis) |
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Above:
As the 'via verde' approaches Perlora and passes through
its longest tunnel (136 metres), it bursts out of the cliff to run
alongside the metre gauge light rail system that still serves the
town, this providing a service from Bilboa to Gijon via Santander.
The railway system in Spain is quite the enthusiast's delight –
it is run by a mixture of public and private operators, and runs on
no fewer than four gauges. In this last look at 'El Carreño',
the old and new routes can be seen side by side: the comparative difference
in the tunnels' sizes is partly explained by the different gradients
as the respective lines approach them. 1st December 2011. (Richard
Lewis) |