Regional Rail Express - 22: Maestral II (50 p.)

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ronik24

Proud Earthling
Hi,



To the previous part of the series:
Regional Rail Express South of the Alps - 21/14: Maestral I (50 p.)




Videos for this part:

July 2008:


April 2008:


July 2006:


May 2019:





April 23 2008

My usual accommodation at Varaždin was Sobe Jurinjak. Nothing fancy, but the rooms look out onto the rail yard. 2043-005 switched its InterCity train.
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May 2 2019

Last year, I stayed overnight in the same corner of the city - only a little further from the tracks - at restaurant B&B Garestin. On this cool morning I strolled outside before the break of dawn and was surprised by 2044-028 hauling Pu 3090 Konjščina - Kotoriba.
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7122-002 in new HŽPP livery departed as Pu 3500 to Golubovec at 5:27 a.m.
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B 991 towards Zagreb consisted of a "Macosa" up to Zabok, due to construction work on the further line to Zaprešić only DMUs operated these services. Time exposure from April 23 2008.
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If you compare images from May 2 2019, you notice solar panels added to the semaphore signals.
No more InterCity but brzi vlak (= express train): B 771 departed at 5:31 via Koprivnica to Zagreb. Hauled by express engine 2044-017 - you will see soon, why I call it that...
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I returned to the spot later in warming sunlight as Pu 3503 arrived punctually at 6:42 a.m. from Golubovec.
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Same time of day on April 24 2008.
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Departure of Pu 3502 to Golubovec on May 2 2019.
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Walking through the historic city center.
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Back on July 24 2006.
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Switcher 2132-003 (ex JŽ 732-105, Đuro Đaković #803 / built in 1969) on April 23 2008.
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View towards the engine shed including omnipresent 2044-004.
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An original GM in InterCity service: 2043-005 approached with IC 590 from Zagreb via Koprivnica at 6:12 p.m.
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Pu 3515 from Golubovec arrived.
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To the Croatian Highlands! 2044-007 pulling Pu 3007 Kotoriba - Zagreb took us to Podrute on July 24 2006 in the morning. The station is actually located a few yards further, but the train briefly stopped at a grade crossing and we mistakenly jumped out - oh well, so we got this additional picture for it.
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First regional rail express of the day: B 791 Kotoriba - Zagreb passed by without stopping.
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View from the grade crossing in the photo before: Pu 3019 Kotoriba - Zabok/Zagreb on May 2 2019. An elderly lady worked in the garden of the house.
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Voilà: B 205 "Maestral" Zagreb - Budapest including Ukrainian through car to Kiev at the rear on July 24 2006 hauled by - 2044-017, of course. Second behind the loco was a MÁV sleeping car from Split.
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Church Kraljice Mira ("of the Queen of Peace").
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Nowadays with large concrete structure supporting the cut and Pu 3012 Zagreb/Zabok - Varaždin. Tractors can always be encountered in this region.
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B/W featuring 2044-006 from the year 2-006.
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Classic vehicle in front of a classic restroom - out of order but with new roof.
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Overgrown view at Podrute halt featuring Pu 3004 from Zagreb.
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The view onto the tracks was less obstructed on May 2 2019, but the vehicles in worse condition, only 7122-001 clear of graffiti. Pu 3014 Zagreb/Zabok - Varaždin departed Podrute punctually despite of rail replacement service at 6:52 p.m. The following putnički vlak took me back to the city.
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The morning excursion on April 24 2008 started at Mađarevo (Hungarian "Magyarlaka"), we follow the stations from Podrute back towards Varaždin. B 791 to Zagreb came by first.
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B 205 "Maestral" Zagreb - Budapest, of course hauled by 2044-017. However, shorter outside the summer season, but at least featuring a colorful mix...
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I urgently awaited the following Macosa due to a toilet situation, but it all went well to Sveti Ilja. ;-)
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Novi Marof, the next larger station.
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7023-001 also operated on the "mountain line" in May 2019, more of these Končar-built DMUs followed soon. A maintenance facility for the new trains has been erected at Varaždin.
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I arrived at Krušljevec in the afternoon of warm summer day July 2 2008.
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Commuter trains from the capital towards Varaždin dieseled by with a lot of bass, see video. First, ubrzani vlak ("accelerated" = semi-fast train) 992.
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Then, B 790 passed by the rural life.
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"I am also a little mad".
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Sunbathing or driving an engine? - Both possible! I boarded Pu 3010.
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Next spot before noon on April 24 2008: Sveti Ilja church behind Pu 3011 to Zagreb.

Sound accompanying the scene:

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Clash of (former) local products on May 2 2019 with Pu 3006 Zagreb/Zabok - Varaždin.
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One of the regionally typical corn-drying-racks on the bottom left.
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Time to examine a tractor close-up: A foundry founded in Belgrade in 1947 became company ITM in 1954 (Industrija Traktora i Mašina), renamed to IMT (Industrija Mašina i Traktora) in 1965. IMT 533 (deluxe, please) are license built Massey Ferguson 35 produced 1959-88.
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The well-known photo-S-curve was quite grown over with trees, also it featured a 20 kph speed limit. Pu 3013 towards Zagreb.
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Deutz tractor in action on April 24 2008.
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Comparison of the same spot from May 2 2019 with Pu 3015.
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I only stayed shortly at the vineyard for Pu 3010 from Zagreb as poison was just being sprayed. Sveti Ilja halt to the left in the background.
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Arrived at the halt for the evening session on July 2 2008. Ub 995 to Zagreb dieseled up the grade without stopping, the vineyard from the picture before in the background.
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During the following train gap, I wandered down the line to the straight towards Turčin. Exactly in the curve before reaching it, 2062-014 thundered past hauling freight.

Another freight caught me at Sveti Ilja in April 2008, of course when I was already waiting at the station. I barely could react and pull out the video camera as 2043-002 came up the grade:

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I chose the contre-jour view for the evening, Pu 3019 to Zagreb passed by at 7:15 p.m.
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Lacking train traffic: a track-biker.
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My reason to come here: B 204 "Maestral" Budapest - Zagreb could be captured during daylight only around the summer solstice, conveying a MÁV sleeping car to Split. The same morning I had arrived with such from Perković at Varaždin - including sleep in a single compartment until 9 a.m., a luxury on photo tours. You can hardly travel in more style.
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As nice conclusion of the day, 2044-007 hauling Pu 3014 took me back to the accommodation at Varaždin.
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The 2044 class look like big locomotives. But I read the specifications and they are perfect for the passenger trains. 2300 hp with 12 cylinder engine and light axle loading with the A-1-A trucks. Beautiful images as usual. Thanks Roni.
 




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