The long wait once the level crossing is closed is due to a 40 km/h speed restriction 2.7 km before (Km 522.9, the level crossing being at 520.2) :
the train is slowly accelerating from there, because of the 1 in 100 gradient and its heavy load (14 coaches), and hasn't reached
its permitted speed (110 km/h) yet... One may also note the wifi antennas on the roof of most coaches (all were equipped at the end of 2019).
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 001
The speed of the train is approximately 40 km/h, and remains stable because of the speed restriction mentioned above : a bit more than
1900 kW at the rail head are needed in order to hold that speed with a load of 1,800 tons in a 1 in 100 gradient, and that comes very close
to this locomotive's maximum capability. So, speed will only increase after the summit, one km further along.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 002
An aggregates train is returning empty from Ussac, just north of Brive, to the quarry of Thédirac-Peyrilles, only 85 km to the south.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 003
A long distance aggregates train, from the quarry at Thédirac-Peyrilles, 22 km north of Cahors, to Issoire, near Clermont-Ferrand, reversing at Vierzon.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 004
A train loaded with more than 4000 sleepers for a track renewal operation about to begin between Limoges and Brive.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 005
A TER Toulouse - Brive regional train, the only one calling at Gignac-Cressensac (with an equivalent early morning service the other way).
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 006
The train loaded with sleepers (see video 05) is returning empty to Nîmes, running downhill at 100 km/h this way vs 50-60 the other way (1 in 100 gradient).
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 008
An interesting form of bi-mode traction : the diesel loco (BB 60000) now on tow will later be in charge between St-Sulpice-Laurière and Bersac.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 009
Another MILLET RAIL aggregates train, similar to the one in video 004, but a much shorter journey, only as far as Ussac.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 010
Arrival at Avignon of a 850m-long train, which will have to be divided into 3 sections before being unloaded...
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 011
The first of the 3 parts of the train is now moving into its final storage place - before it actually gets unloaded.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 012
At Miramas, the SMEA intermodal terminal is located within the huge CLESUD freight complex,
alongside the Cavaillon line.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 015
Arrival at the terminal (ctd). Unlike in Avignon, there are no gantry cranes here, only reach stackers.
Youtube link : RD RAIL FRANCE VIDEO 018
FROM JULY 1, 2021 ONWARDS, VIDEOS "FRANCE" ARE NO LONGER DIRCTLY ACCESSIBLE HERE, JUST LISTED BELOW. THEY CAN BE VIEWED
DIRECTLY ON youtube.com BY USING THE "RD RAIL FRANCE 2021" (LATER 2022 ETC...) SEARCH KEY, THIS WILL THEN LIST ALL VIDEOS AVAILABLE
FOR A GIVEN YEAR. ONE MAY ALSO INCORPORATE A FULL DATE HERE, FOR INSTANCE "RD RAIL FRANCE 2021 08 04" FOR THE FIRST VIDEO OF 2021.
AVAILABLE ON LINE TODAY (October 15, 2021), WITH EXPLANATORY TEXT :
RD RAIL FRANCE 2021 08 04 17h51 Gignac C 817904 St Jory Limoges Puy Imbert 75097+75092+22w
RD RAIL FRANCE 2021 07 29 19h53 Gignac C 424277 Limoges St Jory VFLI retard69mn 28s
RD RAIL FRANCE 2021 08 10 Ligne 912000 PK 057 TTX Eiffage vers Die 3locs+17w+1loc 2021 08 10 G1206+DE18+DE18+17w+G1206
RD RAIL FRANCE 2021 10 07 19h25 (50453 Valenton 18h38 Avignon 05h07) 26110+610m P400 SNCF+Novatrans
This train begins to move just after a GYSEV IC train bound for Budapest-Keleti has passed. The little music piece
that can be heard at the beginnng is typical of Class 182 DB / 1116 ÖBB Taurus locomotives. One may note how fast the train reaches 60 km/h.
No big surprise though, with a dry rail, a slight descent and 7000 kW avaiable (continuous rating 6400 kW)... even with a BoBo loco's
limited adhesion. Productivity : this train is not very long (552 m), but 100 % loaded.
Youtube link : RD RAIL EUROPE VIDEO 001
GERMANY 2021 : 68 VIDEOS ONLINE SINCE August 5, 2021, FOLLOWING A SHORT VISIT THERE (JULY 14-19).
THESE ARE DIRECTLY ACCESSIBLE ON www.youtube.com WITH THE "RD RAIL D 2021" SEARCH KEY. ONE MAY ALSO
INCORPORATE THE NUMBER OF A GIVEN VIDEO IN THE SEARCH KEY, FOR INSTANCE "RD RAIL D 2021 51" FOR THE FIRST ONE ON FREIGHT.
The ones numbered 01-22 are about passenger trains or (nr. 11 only) signalling, 51-96 are about freight.
Here are a few suggestions for the most significant videos, depending on what topics you are most interested in
(reached by directly entering their number after the search key above followed by a blank space) :
(on passenger trains or signalling :)
- an acceleration that is impossible to witness in France... outside RATP territory : 06 or 11 or 18 (nr. 16 show braking)
- how an ICE entrs Frankfurt main station (about twice as fast as a TGV in Paris, except at Paris Nord) : 13 and 14
- how an ICE departs from Frankfurt main station : 12
- how signals work in Germany : 11
(on freight trains :)
- a Stadler Eurodual locomotive from a polish operator, seen in Bavaria with a 739 m-long train, close to the 740 m limit : 89
- for lovers of "big-diesels-with-400kN-or-more-tractive-effort », a VOITH MAXIMA 30 CoCo locomotive, hauling a track maintenance train : 91
- a pretty full train reception yard (with no less than 5 trains moving about almost simultaneously...) : 59
- trains with a load of more than 3,000 tons : 73 and 82
- well loaded intermodal trains : in many videos... including nr. 89 already mentioned
Videos with most explanatory text, or talking about a major subject, are the following : 11 14 51 59 64 77 80 92
(3) CANADA 2019 (CP trains in red, CN trains in blue, others in black)
For more comments on these 18 canadian videos, see photographic report #63
On the first passing loop north of Kamloops, at dusk, a southbound CN train (mixed freight) is on the move (only 2 locos for 168 wagons)...
Youtube link : RD-RAIL CANADA VIDEO 03
Now east of Kamloops, on the CP line : more potash (like here) and coal than on the CN line, less container traffic...
Youtube link : RD-RAIL CANADA VIDEO 11
A rare event : a CN contanier train, running completely empty, here towards Prince Rupert, the other seaport on Canada's west coast.
Youtube link : RD-RAIL CANADA VIDEO 15
