Rolling blog. The OLE challenge (and challenge to get home)…

08 Thursday Oct 2026

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06;00.

My body clocks stubborn setting of 06:00 has stood me in good stead here in Swindon as we prepare to get ready for today’s OLE challenge at the Network Rail training school here. Today’s weather is a great improvement on yesterday’s were everyone got a soaking, so I’m confident of getting some good pictures without drowning the camera. But first, there’s the important matter of breakfast…

08:25.

We’re at the training centre and changing into PPE before the first session

14:45.

It’s been a busy morning with various hands on tasks or other learning.

A general view of the training centre’s outdoor facilities.

17:00.

The course finished just before 16:00 with a presentation of certificates to the participants by Garry Keenor, author of *the* book on OLE. After which it was time for me to pack my PPE and hotfoot it to Swindon in order to start getting back North. A caught a short-formed GWR service to Bristol Parkway (but at least I got a seat).Now I’m crammed into another vestibule of a 5 car Cross-Country Voyager all the way to Leeds. Will I manage to get a seat on the way? Who knows?

At least I can people watch, and what I’ve noticed is that all three young women in the vestibile have cut themselves off aurally through the use of earbuds (in the case of one) or headphones by the others. Rendering on-train announcements about anything trivial or important entirely redundent.

17:20.

Upon leaving Cheltenham we swapped one gaggle of headphone wearing women for an even greater number. It’s almost like Dr Who’s ‘cybermen’ have taken a feminine, human form – only with more fluidity – even if the deadpan expressions are the same. Maybe I’m noticing these things more after my tour of Europe.

Having called at Worcestershire Parkway we have breathing space in the vestibule – even if the saloon is still standing room only! I’ve revised my suspicions about one of the women. She’s sat on the floor doing her makeup. Very un-cybermen like behaviour!

18:30.

I finally managed to get a seat after the Birmingham New St melee, where we simply swapped one load of packed people for another, with the added fun of folks trying to cram on before everyone had got off! The same was true of our Tamwoth call when I thought the train just might start to empty out a bit. Truth is, Cross-Country are an intercity service in name only. For much of the day and on much of their core routes they’re little more than a glorified regional commuter service with small trains.

19:35.

We’re now North of rainy Sheffield. Whilst this Voyager is still packed it’s no longer full and standing. It’s also an ex-Avanti hand me down unit which means it still has a ‘proper’ buffet counter in coach D which I can now access to buy some muscle relaxant!

20:50.

Deep joy (part 4372). I was in Leeds in plenty of time to catch my 20:27 connection. Apart from the fact it was late due to a passenger  being taken ill. Then the time kept slipping. Then we were told it would be terminating short at Bradford Interchange – just as it was too late to leg it over to another platform to get a Leeds – Manchester Victoria train that was going all the way! Grrr…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Home again, off again…

07 Wednesday Oct 2026

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12:00

My time at home was brief. Just one night for now as today I travel to Swindon to join the annual Railway Engineering Institute (formerly the Permanent Way Institute) OLE challenge so my trusty suitcase has swapped its holiday contents for railway standard PPE.

Right now I’m on train number 1. A crowded Northern Class 195 is carrying me to Leeds where I’ll pick up a Cross-Country Voyager for the long journey down to Bristol Parkway. I can’t say that the idea of spending so much time on a cramped Voyager is felling me with glee. It’s rather a comedown from 1st class in a high-speed German ICE!

12:57.

Ho hum. My Cross-country train fron Leeds to Bristol Parkway is running 19 minutes late and it hasn’t even made it to York yet – much less Leeds. So that’s my 8 minute connection at Bristol out of the window then…

13:46.

Deep fcuking joy! We’ve just left Leeds 32 minutes late on an utterly inadequate 5-car Voyager which is completely rammed. There are 12 people stood with me in the vestibule by the disabled toilet in the rear car and every other vestibule is the same. God, how I hate Cross-Country.

But it shouldn’t have been like this. We should have had a modern, high-speed intercity line with plenty of capacity between Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham in the shape of HS2 – until the Tories cancelled it. Now this is all the North and Midlands have to look forward to and put up with.

16:00.

We’ve finally reached and left Birmingham  New St 42 minutes late.Fortunately, enough people left that I could finally get a seat. To be fair to my fellow vestibule inmates, the atmosphere was rather ‘wartime spirit’ with a lot of laughing and joking, despite the conditions. Apparently, part of the problem had been caused by an earlier fatality at Northallerton, which resulted in several preceding services being cancelled. Events completely out of Cross-Country’s control. But throwing out a 5-car on a long-distance Edinburgh-Plymouth service really isn’t good enough.

22:00.

Time to bring this blog to a close. Having made it to Bristol Parkway I transferred to an on time GWR service which got me to Swindon, albeit an hour later than planned. I was just in time to have a quick drink and chat with colleagues in the REI reception before we swung into the sit-down meal and presentations, which kept me busy taking photographs. Now we’ve wound down for the evening. I’m back in my hotel room editing pictures and prepping all my kit for tomorrow. The day’s been so rushed that I’ve hardly taken any pictures other than official ones. The only shot I managed on the journey was this one back in Leeds when a Colas rail class 70 passed through on a cement train.

maybe I’ll have chance to do better tomorrow when I’m on my way home, although it’ll probably be a late one…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 29. Back in the UK.

06 Tuesday Oct 2026

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Only slightly later than planned…

That’s because I missed my scheduled ferry from Calais this morning! A combination of factors meant I had difficulty finding the P and O check in desk so by the time I get their it was closed, even though my ferry wasn’t sailing for well over an hour. I now know that their operation when it comes to foot passengers is very much a one man and his dog operation. Or, in this case, one woman! most ferry companies seem to have given up on carrying foot passengers, leaving P and O the only one – and the next ferry wasn’t until 15;00, five hours later.

Still, I had a very nice hall to myself, a couple of staff and a pair of recreated Bleriot aeroplanes.

The newish Calais passenger hall. The ferry counters are tucked away right at the back.  The entrance to the hall is hidden away at the side. There’s no entrance at the front. It’s fair to say this three storey building is underutilised.
A closer look at the planes. The closest one is a replica of the one Bleriot flew across the channel in 1909.

However, there was wifi and plug sockets, so I managed to get some work done and the time passed quickly. When it came time to get on the bus to get onto the ferry (you’re not allowed to walk on and off anymore) there were just four of us. Me, another chap and his two children. So I can kind of see why all the other ferry companies had shut their counters down completely. It seems the days of foot passengers pitching up to catch ferries across the channel to the UK are almost over. We’re a dying breed…

In truth the whole ferry was quiet. it seemed packed on the way in with an endless stream of HGVs leaving its bowels, but when I went for a look around once we’d left port there were few passengers in the duty free of cafe and one of the cafe’s wasn’t even opened. ah well, at least Dawn’s happy with my duty free shopping – a large bottle of Chanel No5!

Now I’m back in the UK, aboard a train that seems really tiny after all the ones I’ve been aboard recently. A SET Javelin is carrying me to London.

It’s now 19:06 and I’m speeding North in another Hitachi product, this time it’s an LNER ‘Azuma’ which will carry me to York. Compared to German ICEs these things feel very rough riding, even at the lower speed of 125mph. I nearly spilled my gin and tonic! On the positive side, LNERs 1st Class offering does include free food and drink at this time of day.

Baked potato and chilli hit the spot.

22:45.

Today was nearly a day for missing things.  My LNER train was late into York, meaning I only made my Northern connection with a minute to spare.

Now I’m back home and relaxing for the evening. But I’ll be back on the rails again tomorrow as I need to be in Swindon for a commission on Thursday. It’s only on Friday that I’ll be train free for a while. I’m looking forward to being camera rucsac free for a while too…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 28. Aachen to Calais.

05 Monday Oct 2026

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Today I’m homeward bound and heading for the coast to get a ferry back to the UK, but not without exploring some very different styles of architecture. I left Aachen aboard one of DB’s fleet of ICE trains, which are without doubt the best trains I’ve used on this trip. The levels of comfort in 1st Class are hard to beat, plus the fact they can nip along at up to 250kph. In just over 20 minutes I was across the border and at my first stop, Leige’s Guillemins station, which is a stunning piece of modern architecture. I was there in ideal conditions too as it was another beautifully sunny day, which really showed off the station’s roof to best effect.

Having spent a couple of hours admiring and photographing the place I moved on by local Belgian trains which left a bit to be desired – even in 1st Class. Whilst the double deck coach I travelled in had plug sockets, there was no wifi. Plus, there was a problem with the sockets if you’re using UK plugs with an adaptor. You have to use the plug upside down, but there’s so little room between the socket and the seat cushion that they don’t fit – which is why this blog’s a day late!

Still, the train was comfortable and uncrowded and I got to Brussels on time to catch my next connection to Tournai. This was a station I passed through on my first day. I didn’t have time to stop and explore then but I was fascinated by the sheer size of the station building. This time I decided to tarry and I’m glad that I did as it’s a classic – both inside and out.

Moving on again I changed trains ay Lille – where there’s desks with plug sockets on the concourse for anyone to use – before arriving in Calais, another place I didn’t have time to explore on my inward trip. This time I did. What a contrast to Dover, its counterpoint across the channel, which is a bit of a shithole. Calais has life and vibrancy, some attractive restaurants and cafes – and this…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 27. A slight diversion…

04 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by in Community rail, Germany, Photography, Railways, The Grand Tour, The Netherlands, Travel

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After making contact with some Dutch commmunity rail colleagues I ended up making a little diversion – and visiting the 12th country of this trip. I realised that Aachen was only a couple of hours by rail from an award winning station which I’ve had the pleasure to judge in the community rail awards but never been able to visit. Stationspark Deurne.

So, this morning I put that right by crossing the border on a two hour long trip via Eindhoven. I’ve not travelled on Dutch mational rail operator NS (Nederlands Spoorwegen) for several years and certainly not in 1st Class. I must admit, it was a little underwhelming and also rather dated. Most of my trips were on their double-deck EMUs, where the upper deck is split 60/40 with standard class. The biggest difference is that in 1st you get 2+1 seating and a bit more legroom. Power sockets are provided but there’s only one between a pair of seats. If you’re in a solo seat you’re stuffed!

First class on a Dutch double-deck EMU is a bit Spartan.

Still, the sun was shining, it was an easy 2 hour journey via Eindhoven and the reception I got at stationspark Deurne from Michel Lintermans and his wife Frieda was worth the trip! As well as a tour of their community station garden and artwork – I also got fed some regional delicacies!

Sitting with Michel outside the community garden
Apple and Plum tart. Extremely tempting as it was – I was good and only had small slice of each. It’s a regional delicacy known as Vlaai.

Whilst this was my 12th country since leaving the UK it was the first where I’ve encounterd ticket barriers like these at Eindhoven Centraal.

Oh, another observation about Dutch railways. Toilets.

I went for a pee on the train but found both toilets were out of use. Annoying, but We were only a few minutes away from Heerlen where I was changing trains. Only both station toilets were knackered too. Bugger! As I wasn’t going to risk being caught short again if the bogs were screwed on the next train I ended up having a pee off the end of one of the platforms. That’s fine for me as a bloke, but what about women?

19:45.

I’m now back in my (new) hotel in Aachen and relaxing in the hotel whilst downloading today’s pictures from the camera. Toilet problems aside, I have to admire Dutch social infrastructure. The amount of car-free space puts the UK to shame, but to be fair that’s true of just about every country that I’ve visited on this trip. travelling around Europe makes you realise just how backward the UK is when it comes to our love of the motor car and motorists attitude to anything that they see as being ‘anti motorist’ rather than what it really is. Pro people.

Tomorrow I make my way back through Belgium and France to Calais, where I’ll be spending the night before catching a ferry the next morning to deposit me in Dover and return to the septic Isle. Part of me is looking forward to it, another part isn’t. But hey – I still have tomorrow…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 26. Zurich to Aachen.

03 Saturday Oct 2026

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08;30.

I’d planned to have a lie-in this morning and get a later train but my body clock seems to be permanently set at 06:00 so as I was awake I thought ‘bugger it’, had a shower, packed and made my way across a very quiet Zurich to the station. The only people who were out that morning were joggers of all nationalities and a handful of people on their way to work. Some cafes were already open, catering for early birds like me.

I arrived at the station in plenty of time to catch the 08:37 to Stuttgart Hbf, a loco-hauled Intercity service make up of double-deck coaches and operated by DB, so I have wifi and plug sockets up here in 1st Class. One thing I found puzzling about Swiss trains was their lack of on-board wifi. Still, now I can recharge my laptop and blog en-route.

09:13.

We’re currently crawling along at about 15mph and have been for the past 10 or more minutes, but our reduced speed was rather useful when we passed through Rheinfall as it gave plenty of time to admire the magnificent waterfall and surrounding historic building. This has now been added to my list of places to see on a future visit.

I’ll add some picture later today when I’ve sorted out some other things.

09:45.

Having seamlessly crossed the border from Switzerland and Germany, my train reversed (with an engine change) at a town called Singen. It’s a busy railway junction and freight artery judging by the amount of locomotives parked up ready to take over trains. The trees that line the route in this part of Southern Germany are signalling the arrival of autumn through the complex palette of colours their leaves are displaying.

10:30.

We’ve just left Rottweil, a name that may be known by some dog owners! Beside the canine interest there’s what appears to be a working rail museum here judging by the variety of old steam and diesel engines plus sundy other vehicles that are present.

10:53.

I’m now at Horb, another junction for local services the also possesses a small railway works that appears to refurbish old coaches, wagons and locomotives. The once extensive freight yard has shrunk but there’s still traffic. All the old signalboxes are disused but still extant. A tall one that used to guard the station is swathed in scaffolding and appears to being restored.

In true DB fashion due to all the slow running thanks to engineering work we’re now running 10 minutes late. Horb looks like a lovely little town, spread across a river valley with pretty houses and whitewashed churches. If only I had more time to explore…

13:30.

I’ve changed trains in Stuggart HbF which is undergoing a major transformation since I was last here in 2009. The station concourse has been demolished to make space to build the new Stuttgart 21 project. Essentially (in Stuttgart anyway), they’re replacing a terminus with a through station that’s being built underground. It was a controversial project that attracted protests – just like HS2 in the UK. Just like in the UK, those protests failed to stop the project. Here’s the view from atop the visitors centre.

The old station building’s to the left, Stuttgart 21 in the middle and the existing platforms and trainshed to the right.

With the fact the station platforms are cut off from a concourse and circulating space is at a minimum, the station was chaos. Especially today as people arrived for a gay pride event, whilst dozens of others wandered around in traditional Lederhosen and Dirndl on their way to Oktoberfest events. I had little time to grab pictures (but there will be some later) before catching the 12;49 ICE bound for Berlin. It was a busy train – even in 1st class, but I managed to find a seat. Mind you, I was only going 30 mins down the road to Mannheim, so it would have been no big deal, although I did enjoy bowling aling through the countryside at 249kph!

At Mannheim I had a seamless cross-platform interchange with another ICE bound for Hamburg, but this one is virtually empty. I’m on it as for as Köln (or Cologne as it’s known in English).

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 25.Tirano (Italy) to Zurich (Switzerland)

02 Friday Oct 2026

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09:00.

So, it’s ciao Italy. I’m heading back to Switzerland on regional express trains, changing several times en-route. They’re far less busy than the Bernina express – and the windows open, making them great for photography. 

Today’s weather is looking promising and  I’m in no great rush to get to Zurich, so let’s see how the day goes. Here’s my 1st class coach.

Travelling in style.

Haveing done the most scenic part of the route a few times yesterday I’ve made sure that I’m in a good seat on the train.

Not bad views today…

15:00.

Well, what can I say? I couldn’t have asked for better weather. Every glacier was clear of cloud and there was ample time to lean out of windows and take photos. I’ve been so engrossed in doing that despite changing trains several times that it’s only now that I’m on a German ICE from Chur towards Zurich that I’ve time to plug the laptop in and start to download pictures. This really is a superb way of seeing the Alps at their finest. I’ll certainly be back as  the walking/hiking opportunities look fantastic. Dawn would love it. Well, maybe not spending quite so much time focussed on trains!

I’ll update this blog with a selection of camera pictures later.

22;00.

Well, that was the plan, but a couple of things have gone awry. I’d forgotten that Switzerland likes to be different, so not only does it have its own currency it also has its own style of power point plug socket. because of this I ended up staying on a German ICE from to Chur to Basel rather then getting off at Zurich as it allowed me to download the camera into my laptop whilst trying to keep everything else charged. Foolishly, when I got to my accommodation – I thought there might be a range of sockets on offer. Bad move. Oh, where I’m staying in central Zurich (kerching!) is an interesting one too. Like so many hotels now, there’s no staff and everything’s done over the internet. Only this place has taken it one step further. when you book you have to download an app to your phone. Click on the app and it gives you access to the hotel – and then your room! I think I much prefer the old-style hotel I stayed in last night, which had real, live people on reception. Any problem? Ask a human.

So, tonight’s picture update is postponed. Right now the most important thing is letting my phone charge off my power bank as the phone holds my Interrail ticket – and bookings.

I’ll be up at sparrowfart tomorrow as i need to be on an early train from Zurich in order to get to my next port of call. Aachen. As I’ll be spending most of my day on German trains I’ll be able to upload pictures.

UPDATE.

As promised, here’s a tiny selection of the pictures I took yesterday.

When I was here at Alp Grum the day before you couldn’t see more than a couple of hundred feet. This view was obscured completely.
A closer view of the glacier.
Our train shirts the lake before arriving at Ospizio Bernina.
Another glacier where the clouds cleared for me.
Having changed trains at Pontresina and lost a considerable amount of height the landscape became more traditional.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 24. Bumbling around the Bernina.

01 Thursday Oct 2026

Posted by in Food and drink, Italy, Photography, Railways, Switzerland, The Grand Tour, Travel

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The law of Sod came into effect today. Having spent the first few hours of the morning swapping hotels to save a few bob, the plan was to spend a day exploring the Bernina railway right up to the summit of the line at Ospizio Bernina, which is 7403 feet (or 2256 m if you prefer) above sea level. It’s where one of the pictures from my previous blog was taken.

The day started well. I caught the local train from Tirano and shared a carriage with a lovely group which consisted of three retired couples from the Philippines. Then we were unexpectedly joined by a face who was rather familiar – in the shape of a retired railwayman from the UK. What are the chances? Well, on this railway they’re probably pretty good!

Sharing a window view with a friend from the UK who just happened to get on the same coach on the same train.

The only problem was the weather. I now realise just how lucky I was to be able to get the pictures I took on the way the other day, as the higher we got, the thicker the cloud became. Close to the summit we literally couldn’t see a thing as we were in cloud level. Whilst my Philipino friends departed at Alp Grum, where there *should* be fantastic views (and a lovely restaurant in the station building). I stayed on for one more stop to Ospizio Bernina. It’s a bit of a desolate place, but with a wild beauty. Like Grum, there’s a small restaurant in the station building, but be warned – it doesn’t accept credit cards – only cash. I hung around hoping the clouds would lift, but it didn’t look like it would be anytime soon so I grabbed a few pictures and caught the next train back to Grum, where I joined my new friends for a very chatty and convivial lunch. Afterwards, they headed up to St Moritz whilst I headed back down to Poschiavo which is a lovely old town but also a depot for the railway.

The more we dropped down towards Tirano the better the weather became which allowed me to get a half-decent shot of the spiral and viaduct at Bruscio. Having got back to Tirano I did make one more brief foray up the railway, but this time to get pictures from the very back of the train. By this time, most of the local trains were pretty empty, giving you a choice of seats and windows to lean out of. But by now, the sun had disappeared behind the Alps, so I gave up and came home. Depending on how the weather performs tomorrow, I may have one more crack at pictures at the summit on my way to Zurich, even though I’ll have a suitcase with me so won’t be able to go far. We’ll see.

In the meantime, here’s a few pictures from today.

Looking across the lake from Ospizio Bernina station. There’s a glacier behind there somewhere…
A regional train bound for Tirano arrives at Ospizio Bernina.
one of the lines old ‘steeple cab’ electric locomotives on the depot at Poschiavo
No, it’s not a model railway – this is real!
You can get an impression of the gradients on the railway when you look back from the end of the train and it looks like the line’s dropped off the edge of the world.

Back in town – and as it’s my last night in Italy, I treated myself to another pizza. God, now I’m stuffed! It’s back to eating salads from supermarkets for the rest of the week, just to make up for it! Cracking pizza tho’….

Burp!…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 23. Taking time out in Tirano.

30 Wednesday Sep 2026

Posted by in Italy, Photography, Railways, The Grand Tour, Travel

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After yesterday’s rather epic journey from Berlin, through Switzerland to Italy I was knackered by the time I arrived in the lovely Alpine town of Tirano. I was in bed not long after 20;00 as I desperately needed sleep. When I woke up this morning I decided to take stock, take some time out and revisit my plans. I was determined to make it to Italy and originally had the idea of pressing on to Milan and maybe Turin. Today I decided otherwise and stay in Tirano for a couple more nights. Today’s been a day for leaving the camera bag at home and giving my body a rest. Instead I’ve carried the camera around with just a couple of lenses, which has certainly given My back and shoulders a break. I’ve ambled rather than route marched, and even I’ve eaten in restaurants rather then out of supermarkets. It’s been a refreshing break from the hectic pace of the last three weeks. Even so, I’ve still clocked up over 11 miles and 21,000 steps.

Part of taking time out was so that I could have chance to work out how I’m going to get back the the UK. I’d a number of scenarios in mind, which included getting an overnight ferry from the hook of Holland back to Harwich, but as I’m staying here in Tirano my plans of changed. Now I’ll be heading back to Zurich for a night, then making my way to Aachen in Germany, another town I’ve not visited before. After that I’ll be making my way back through Belgium and France to Calais for a the night before getting the ferry back the way I came – Dover. I’ve an Interrail day in the bank with not having travelled anywhere today, so I’m going to spend it travelling back from Kent to Halifax a day later than planned, but I’ll still be home in time for tea – and to prepare to head off to Swindon the next day on a commission!

Tomorrow I’ll be having a day out exploring the route of the Bernina express – but by the same local trains that I arrived on. They’re much more fun as you can lean out of the open windows, so they’re far better for photography. I managed to get some good pictures yesterday, but the line’s so scenic one trip isn’t enough.

Anyways, here’s some pictures from yesterday, and today…

Views from the train…
Santa Perpetua is perched above Tirano.
The Bernina express running through the streets on the entrance to Tirano.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

The grand tour. Day 22. Maybe I’ll go to Amsterdam…

29 Tuesday Sep 2026

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Switzerland, The Grand Tour, Travel

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03:15.

Fans of Joni Mitchell will get the reference here. Although I have to admit to being sorely tempted…

I’m currently kicking my heels in the vast and rather magnificent Frankfurt Haubtbahnhof where a simple change of trains has proved to be rather more complex as the curse of DB strikes again. I’m here to transfer from the train from Berlin (which was lovely) to the train to Zurich. I’ve no idea if that’s going to be lovely or not as it’s running 90 minutes late! Just as well I hadn’t booked any onward connections in Zurich then, although I do have a hotel room waiting for me in Tirano – if I can get there. DB have an interesting excuse for late running. The Brits would blame other operators or freight trains. In Germany long distance trains are late “due to delays abroad”.

Frankfurt station at 03:30 is still a busy place. Several foodstalls remain open to cater for the international travellers who seem to make up the majority of those here right now. Well, us and the handful of vagrants who make the place their sanctuary. The Amsterdam reference? That’s due to the OBB Nightjet service that’s pulled into the platform next to mine and left on time.

On the bright side, although the seasons change is reflected in the colours in the autumn leaves it’s still remarkably mild.  Temperatures hit the mid 20s in Berlin today and I’m still wearing shorts now. Hopefully the weather in Switzerland and Italy will be the same.

Damn. That train direct from Frankfurt to Amsterdam is giving me ideas…

04:30.

We’re off! Some smart work saw a swift locomotive change (Frankfurt is a terminus). On this train it was just as well I reserved a seat as it’s packed. There’s only one first class coach but virtually every seat’s taken. I’ve a single seat which in which a young Japanese girl was stretched out across. Of course she apologised and moved as soon as I arrived. Looking around the coach is like seeing the flags of the united nations. So many different nationalities are represented here. The one thing that jars with me? I’m probably the oldest person in the coach…

08:00.

I managed to get some sleep on the train and now I’ve wojen up in a new country.  Good morning Switzerland! Our first stop has been Basel, where 99% of the occupants of my coach decamped, leaving just 5 of us for the rest of the trip to Zurich.

My first impressions of Switzerland? The amount of railfreight is massive. But then so is their rail infrastructure. The other thing? Graffiti. For such a supposedly law-abiding country, it’s endemic. I have to say – if there’s one thing the UK does well compared to Europe it’s cleaning up grafitti.

11:30.

We eventually arrived into Zurich 55 late, which wasn’t too bad. I was in no rush anyway so I made the most of my time by taking pictures around the vast station and  surrounds. Now I’m on the train to Chur and enjoying views like this.