Welcome to "Phil's Loco Photos"

A hastily planned trip to the Netherlands with news that three DB class 234 locos (from Berlin Wustermark depot) were going to be working diverted International trains on the Berlin - Amsterdam route from Bad Bentheim - Amsterdam CS via the Hengelo - Nijmegen (via Zutphen) line. This was a DMU only route so the chance to do it loco hauled and enjoy regular 197 km runs with 234s on mail line trains in NS was just incredible! I few to Schiphol and went straight to Hannover and then to Lehrte to pick up IC2340 the last Friday evening train which was also diverted. The DB "shunter" uncoupled the 234 at Hannover, we told him, leave it on to Amsterdam, he just ignored us! The red cap arrived and said "leave it on it's going to Amsterdam" the weekend of fun commenced, sadly a 112 "Super Trabbi" dragged the diesel ticking over only to Bad Bentheim! Here again the shunter uncoupled the 234, instructions got it coupled up again! The star loco without a doubt was 234.180 which was howling extremely well and the passengers were totally baffled by the huge amount of interest in these trains along with many photographers along the route, and it was all on service trains! Over the two days we made quite a few trips between Bad Bentheim and Amsterdam enjoying the Ludmilla music. Next day I flew back home, but only for a few days…