Snow plows on Japanese railroad

Railway videos

I've put up a few videos on YouTube from my railway trip in Europe this summer.

First is from Simpelveld, where the ex-Swedish E2 1040 steam locomotive is now with a museum railway.

Then 3 videos from the AVSi tram museum in Thuin.

First part of the journey from Lobbes to Thuin.

Then one of their combustion engine trams.

Netherlands, Belgium, France by train 2011

With a side trip to Great Britain through the Eurotunnel.

Industrial railways in Dalarna

Record low number of traffic deaths in Sweden

In 2010 there were 270 persons killed in traffic accidents in Sweden. Per capita this may be the lowest number in the world. Per capita, it is the lowest number in Sweden for more than 90 years. In the 1960's, when we were fewer and had fewer cars there were 2000+ deaths per year, so this is a really huge improvement in safety. Some of the post-2000 improvement may be due to us driving a shorter total distance, but not the last years'. And the number of people requiring hospital care has also been reduced, so the figures are not just due to improved medical care.

However: There is one category which haven't gotten a safer traffic: Cyclists.

And regarding railways, safety hasn't gotten better. Only one passenger died in 2010, but 108 other persons. A significant part of them probably because they wanted, but not all.

So the trend is that technology makes for safer transport and there's not much technology available to prevent people from stopping their vehicles on tracks (there can be detectors for cars on a railway crossing which does help a bit) or standing on tracks. Apart from fences, but that's not a practical solution in Sweden.

In short: We don't behave safer, but we're given more safety anyway.

(Preliminary figures.)

Snow clearing dual mode tractor

The light rail railway/streetcar Lidingöbanan has one of these to keep tracks free of snow.
At the right edge you can see a rotating brush attachment I imagine is useful around turnouts.

High density trial car in the Stockholm Metro

The Metro is running a six week trial with two cars with reduced number of seats in order to see if the different layout makes for shorter stops where many get on and off.
Today I got my first glimpse of them from the outside and later from the inside.

The world's northernmost train, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

It not operational, but a preserved mining train used to haul coal from one of the several coal mines on Spitsbergen, a few kilometers to the harbour at Ny-Ålesund, which also happens to be the world's northernmost settlement.

Some Swedish railway photos (1998)

 An X2 regional train approaching Läggesta in the evening, March 1998.

EMU X21-9 previously with TGOJ, now preserved. On the bridge Forsmobron, in Sept 1998.

An Rc4 headed north at Högbränna with a freight train in Sept 1998.

Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, Kyoto

Photos from my vacation in Japan, summer 2010.

TMY 102 at Gnesta, August 1994

Swedish built, ex-Danish diesel pulling a ballast train.

Stockholm city streetcar

At last, a photo I've taken myself of the new streetcars.

Very nice paint (well, it's actually applied sheets of film), isn't it?

Tramway Depot of Strogino

Photos of a tramway depot in Moscow.

Advertising streetcar

Streetcar driving trailer 609 belonging to Lidingöbanan (Stockholm area), with temporary advertising foil for a daily morning newspaper. 2010-08-20 which probably was the first day in service with the new look.

Railroad Significance for the Yamal Megaproject Implementation

Railroad Significance for the Yamal Megaproject Implementation: "The Obskaya – Bovanenkovo railroad is a vital element of the Yamal megaproject being implemented by Gazprom. The railroad will ensure year-round delivery of equipment and construction materials, as well as conveyance of liquid hydrocarbon products, such as gas condensate, from Yamal’s fields." Looks like this could become the world's northmost active railway.

ÖSlJ in 1970

Four photos from a 600 mm gauge museum railway in Sweden, ÖSlJ.

London has a Tube station...on the third story of an office building

London has a Tube station...on the third story of an office building: "Unlike the magical train platforms of Harry Potter or the interdimensional office building from Being John Malkovich, the West Ashfield Tube Station's reason for being is way more mundane."

Rc4 1271 in 1984

As seen at Hallsberg during a trip to Karlstad. There is an interesting colour/paint test panel on the side of the locomotive.

EMU trip in northern Sweden, 1998

Photos from a trip with the preserved EMU X21-9, previously with the company TGOJ, around northern Sweden and to Narvik in September 1998. This photo shows in on the bridge Forsmobron.



Here it's on the Ragunda bridge.




Between Straumsnes and Katterat.




About to cross the low bridge Nordalsbron on the way down to Narvik.

Trains seen from the air

An SJ X52 crossing the river Ljusnan at Ljusne.

Photo taken from a DC-3 during a trip to Söderhamn, during approach.

X2 south of Söderhamn, near Sillvik.

X51 south of Söderhamn, near Rörmuren.