The ČD Brejlovec 754 075-0 seen between Újezdec u Luhačovic and Polichno Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 07:29:50 Tags: Polichno Újezdec u Luhačovic 454 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

Strange Spring in Moravia - it may not sound appropriate to publish a spring travelogue in the middle of winter, but you will see, that these photos taken in April two years ago will have a very strong winter atmosphere! We departed from Budapest very early, just a little after midnight, to arrive here through small roads along the Váh river for sunrise. We are near Uhersky Brod, in the White Carpathian Mountains, at the South-East part of the Czech Republic. Though there are no big cities nearby some trains running here are locomotive hauled and look pretty nice, that's why we started the trip here. If you follow my website you may be familiar with a travelogue about 2017s Holiday Train with the Slovakian Albatros steam locomotive - that traveled very close to this place but traversed the White Carpathians back towards Nové Mesto nad Váhom in Slovakia.

The ČD Brejlovec 754 075-0 seen between Biskupice u Luhačovic and Polichno Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 08:26:41 Tags: Biskupice u Luhačovic Polichno 454 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

The historical main line ran from Brno to Vlarsky Prusmik, but there now only the RegioNova trains and some occasional bigger railcars go. The locomotive-hauled trains diverge at Újezdec u Luhačovic towards Luhačovice, on a short, dead-end branch line, and the Brejlovec locos are needed because these trains, a few every day, switch to an electric locomotive at Staré Mesto to get as far as Olomouc or Praha. The RegioNova and class 810 railcars on the former main line travel as far as Bylnice where trains from the Horní Lideč to Vlarsky Prusmik line offer connection. Horní Lideč is at the main Prague to Košice railway line so no surprise not many people try to get to Slovakia through Vlarsky Prusmik - most trains run only to Bylnice on that line as well. The Slovakian ŽSSK offers a pitiful service with only two trains a day over the border.

The station building at Uhersky Brod railway station Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 08:51:17 Tags: Uhersky Brod 451 454 Misc Csehország nemmozdony

The historical main line ran from Brno to Vlarsky Prusmik, but there now only the RegioNova trains and some occasional bigger railcars go. The locomotive-hauled trains diverge at Újezdec u Luhačovic towards Luhačovice, on a short, dead-end branch line, and the Brejlovec locos are needed because these trains, a few every day, switch to an electric locomotive at Staré Mesto to get as far as Olomouc or Praha. The RegioNova and class 810 railcars on the former main line travel as far as Bylnice where trains from the Horní Lideč to Vlarsky Prusmik line offer connection. Horní Lideč is at the main Prague to Košice railway line so no surprise not many people try to get to Slovakia through Vlarsky Prusmik - most trains run only to Bylnice on that line as well. The Slovakian ŽSSK offers a pitiful service with only two trains a day over the border.

The ČD 842 002-8 seen at Uhersky Brod Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 08:56:02 Tags: Uhersky Brod 451 454 CD 842 Csehország Kvatro/Rakev motorvonat homlokátjáró

As opposed to Hungary, and before the introduction of the class 861 , Slovakia, the Czech Republic offers bigger railcars with four axles on lines requiring a higher capacity or speed than the ones the class 810 and derivatives could offer. OK, in Hungary we have the 415 Putin and the 425 Desiro classes, but they are used without any kind of system, one year here, the next year there.

The ČD 842 001-0 seen between Havřice and Hradčovice Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 09:09:44 Tags: Havřice Hradčovice 451 454 CD 842 Csehország Kvatro/Rakev motorvonat homlokátjáró

I have never before taken a picture of a class 842 and immediately I managed to capture the prototype number 001 in this low light, panned photograph.

The ČD 750 711-4 seen between Hradčovice and Havřice Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 09:22:38 Tags: Havřice Hradčovice 451 454 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

Many people prefer summer for railway photography but this site would not work in the summer (probably wouldn't work this winter anymore). On this line the tracks mostly run adjacent to the road so there are few places where you can fit a train nicely in. Unfortunately, according to vagonweb.cz , these trains now run with high comfort InterCity coaches.

The ŽSSK 361 103-5 seen between Lysa pod Makytou and Strelenka Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 10:47:59 Tags: Lysa pod Makytou Strelenka 456 363 (ZSSK) 361 103 borult ZSSK Blonski festésű mozdony ZSSK Blonski kocsik nyílt vonal táj falu legjobb határon túl ragadt vasútvonal

Even though the Puchov - Horní Lideč is the shortest connection from Košice to Prague currently no trains come this way on that connection. However there are many Žilina-Praha trains every day with Slovakian 361s or Czech 380s on this direct route to Olomouc. The trains from Košice travel with a detour through Čadca and Ostrava.

The ČD 162 035-0 seen between Strelenka and Lysa pod Makytou Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 11:50:11 Tags: Lysa pod Makytou Strelenka 456 163 (Česke Dráhy) Csehország

The classical green-cream painted Pershing shows that two years ago it was still possible to traverse Puchov station with DC electric locomotives.

An unidentified ČD 362 seen between Lidečko and Lužná u Vsetína on the viaduct Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 12:52:22 Tags: viaduktu v Lužné u Vsetína Lidečko Lužná u Vsetína 456 ČD Ász Csehország

We went back to the Czech Republic and followed the mainline into the heart of the country. This little viaduct is really difficult to photograph.

The ČD 842 011-9 seen between Frenstát pod Radhoštìm and Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 16:35:10 Tags: Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem Frenstát pod Radhoštěm 457 CD 842 Csehország Kvatro/Rakev motorvonat homlokátjáró

What a landscape for a train to run into! I understand the dramatic rocks of Switzerland can be more appealing, but I utterly enjoyed this trip among these mountains.

Příbor Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:01 18:41:38 Tags: Misc

For the first night I chose a place at the medieval main square of Príbor which happened to be the cheapest in the area. Great place.

The ČD 810 678-3 seen between Příbor and Skotnice Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 07:18:04 Tags: Příbor Skotnice 458 809-810 Csehország Bézé motorkocsi mellékvonal

ČD is providing very different service to those people living next to the Studénka - Verovice line, where very old class 80 railcars are the best pick and the travellers of the Ostrava Airport, who have a branch line turning away from this route and having electric RegioPanther trainsets even though there are very few planes each day and almost no passegers taking the train. No problem there, it is a development - I just want to show that the few good things railfans in Hungary tend to point out about the Czech railway system come with problems too.

The ČD 380 011-7 seen between Lipnik nad Desnou and Drahotuse at Jezernickí Viadukt Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 08:21:52 Tags: Jezernicky viadukt Drahotuse Lipnik nad Becvou 453 ČD 380 Csehország

The second longest railway viaduct in the Czech Republic (the first being the Negrelli-viaduct in Prague) welcomed us with a very cloudy morning, but we hoped it will get better as the day progresses.

The ČD 810 371-5 seen between Svatoňovice and Čermná v Sležsku Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 09:53:31 Tags: Svatoňovice čermná v Sležsku 459 809-810 Csehország Bézé motorkocsi mellékvonal

We have moved North, to another secondary line which has nothing else to offer than original condition class 810 railcars, but at least in a nice scenery. In case you could not follow, here is a map of our trip:

A kelet-cseh kör útvonala

The classic class 810s are still used a lot around the Czech Republic, and even though they are at a lot lowe technologial level than the Hungarian counterpart most Hungarian railfans tend to believe the Czech Railways are far superior to the Hungarians.

The ČD Brejlovec 750 718-9 seen between Lipová Lázne zastávka and Lipová Lázne Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 12:59:05 Tags: Lipová Lázne zastávka Lipová Lázne 463 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

Our treat on this trip was definitely the Šumperk - Krnov line through mountainous and heavily industrialized Silesia. The line has a short section through poland around Glucholazy where the train has to change directions (getting off was forbidden until 2006). This train in the picture has just departed from Jeseník a few kilometres away and heads to Zábreh na Morave on the Ostrava - Olomouc - Praha main line, from where an electric locomotive will take the train to Brno. The regional center Šumperk is evaded as the line connects to the Šumperk line a little South from the city with a triangle, but these fast trains connect to slow railcars at Hanušovice that go to Šumperk instead through the other edge of the triangle. Šumperk is home to Pars Nova, where the RegioNova refurbished railcars were made and the TDK semiconductor factory, while Hanušovice has a bearings factory and also houses the Pivovar Holba brewery.

Holba beer

The ČD 750 715-5 seen between Lipová Lázne and Lipová Lázne zastávka Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 13:05:12 Tags: Lipová Lázne zastávka Lipová Lázne 463 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

Soon the other train will reach Jeseník, its terminus, from where a class 843 railcar will travel on to Krnov. Railcars are better suited for the change of direction needed at Glucholazy. From Krnov you can reach Olomouc or Ostrava after a change, no wonder they kept up the péage traffic all along the years of socialism, but obviously with heavy military control. The neighbouring states were friends and allies after all.

The ČD 750 715-5 seen between Ostružná and Branná Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 13:30:24 Tags: Ostružná Branná 463 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

There is a two-hour gap periodic timetable so as we drove South three stations' distance this photo was taken about two hours later than the previous one it show how much snow this sudden, April's Fool blizzard could create.

The ČD 749 265-5 seen between Branná and Nové Losiny Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 14:43:07 Tags: Ostružná Branná 463 CD 749 Csehország Bardotka dízelmozdony

I didn't have luck with the freight but then we did have luck with the next passenger train being hauled by a Bardotka instead of a Brejlovec! Probably because the original locomotive broke down... Class 749 is not used regularly for any diagram now in the Czech Republic except the retro trains around Prague.

The ČD 810 508-2 seen between Nové Losiny and Branná Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 15:17:49 Tags: Branná Nové Losiny 463 809-810 Csehország Bézé motorkocsi

I really like these tiny railcars that run in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, even though probably I like those remote lines they run on more than the vehicle itself. Nevertheless I was happy I could take a photo like this especially considering my previous luck with Czech specimens of the kind:

The ČD 750 715-5 seen between Branná and Nové Losiny Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 15:38:46 Tags: Branná Nové Losiny 463 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

A few hours before I failed to take a decent photo of a beautiful freight train at almost the same location so we decided to reproduce the atmosphere of the snowy forest with a more traditional subject, a Brejlovec with a simple passenger train. It passed by the Bardotka at Lipová Lázne so we had to wait another two hours for its return but we decided it would be worth it, especially since in the meantime we expected another freight train as well. The only thing we had to give up of our plan was some photographing of RegioNovas in the Desná valley which was not a big deal since we suspected that in the valley that was located a lot lower than this, parallel valley, there was less snow to be found. As our accomodation was at a small, family-ran penzión at Petrov nad Desnou later in the evening we could confirm that the landscape didn't look as splendid as up here.

The ČD Cargo 753 766-5 seen hauling a freight train between Nové Losiny and Branná Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 16:07:43 Tags: Ostružná Branná 463 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

We took our second photo of this empty goods train at almost the same place we photographed the Bardotka, but this time a little to the South from that straight section, where instead of the hilly landscape the snow-covered trees could give the background to the marvellous train. I really enjoy taking photos of snow-covered trees, they always raise the Christmas spirit in me, even if it is not Christmas and I have a considerable collection of such photos that luckily I could extend by a lot in the recent years.

The ČD 750 718-9 seen between Branná and Ostružná Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:02 16:36:36 Tags: Ostružná Branná 463 Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

The ŽSSK and the ŽSSK Cargo both did their respective refurbishment programme of the class 750 ending up with class 757 and class 756 . These Czech Brejlovec locomotives are of the original design despite the increased cooling area, the same kind the Slovakians only have in retro trains left.

The ČD /ÖBB 1216 234 railjet seen between Semanín and Opatov Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:03 10:32:46 Tags: Semanín Opatov 370 Misc Csehország railjet nemmozdony ÈD railjet

This is the main line to Brno South from Česká Třebová.

The ČD 810 325-1 seen between Svitavy Lány and Hradec nad Svitavou Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:03 11:32:34 Tags: Svitavy Lány Hradec nad Svitavou 370 809-810 Csehország Bézé motorkocsi

The break-of-voltage in the former Czechoslovakia had always been an interesting topic. The first such place was Kutná Hora, where the ČSD solved he issue in a rather traditional way by having some of the station's tracks switchable between the 25 kV 50 Hz AC (Hungarian Kandó system) and the older 3 kV DC. There, between Havličkuv Brod and Kolín the slow trains are scheduled to run with a class 363 locomotives and two really interesting cars . Here, just South of Svitavy, there us another break-of-voltage and I expected another similar consist with a dual voltage electric locomotive. Instead, a solo class 810 railcar came, and ever since I have to accept that it was my fault we have waited here for 30 minutes for a dual voltage class 810 .

The ČD 854 223-5 seen between Tetčice and Omice Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:04 08:06:35 Tags: Hidra motorvonat Csehország

In the last part of our trip we visited the diesel lines South-West from Brno. First we photographed the trains on the Brno to Jihlava route where even the slow trains are Hydra large multiple units so here there should be loads of passengers.

The ČD 750 713-0 seen between Tetčice and Omice Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2015:04:04 08:20:35 Tags: Búvár Csehország dízelmozdony Búvár

The fast trains to Jihlava are rostered to class 750 Brejlovec locomotives so this was both the landscape and the vehicles are really railfan-friendly.

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