My wife and I paid our first visit to this beautiful country - it will not be our last! It is a small country (population around 2 million), has a good transport system, the people are very friendly, the scenery is stunning and the beer is cheap. We saw lots of trains and travelled on several. This was our 'local' station, near Lake Bled, our base.
In the direction shown in the first photo, the line leads to Jesenice on the Austrian border, about 15 minutes away on the train. We met someone I have talked to on the internet on another forum over the years, Misko Kranjec, a professional photographer with a passion for trains, and LOTS of contacts in the SZ railway system. His cellphone has the numbers of about every stationmaster, signalman and dispatcher! After Misko had gone to ask the station master if any freights were due, he took us to Jesenice. With no parking avaiable outside the station, he drove into the station area and parked next to the tracks! (He really knows his way around the railways here. First loco I photographed was this Brigitte, 363-008.
These French built locomotives are nicknamed Brigittes after the lovely Brigitte Bardot. She was sitting next to a Siemens 'Taurus', since the change in German leadership, these are now called Angela's by fans.
As Jesenice is a border station with Austria, there is a dead section of catenary on each track between the two systems. Arriving locomotives must lower pantographs before reaching this section and coast into the station. This is the 'lower pantograph' sign. and the 'raise pantograph' sign This is the catenary insulator, one each end of the dead section.
A graffitti covered DMU arrives from the Nova Gorice line. It is 814-106. The other side is largely graffitti free.
These are low res frame grabs from the large amount video footage we made. (Taken by my wife Irene). Misko and myself on the tracks, so we wore high-viz vests.
Another Brigitte rolls in through the dead section with pantographs down on another freight from Austria.
Yet another freight from Austria has an OBB 'Taurus and a 1044. Misko asks the driver what is to happen next
The 1044 is hauled off the train by the Taurus ...pulled out to the station throat.... ....then given a big push to get it past the dead section.... ....fly shunting with locomotives! My wife films the action.
A Siemens 'Desiro' arrives from Ljubljana. The name never caught on and they are just referred to as Siemens. We rode them a few times and they are very comfortable and quiet.
Another train arrives from Ljubjana behind a 'Moped' (I have no idea why they are so called!) It is uncoupled... Then collected by the Austrian 1044. This is neccessary as the moped can not run on Austrian voltage. The shunter hitches a ride on the buffers.
A diesel loco arrives with a 363. The Brigitte goes to the sidings and the diesel runs through the station towards the freight yards.
