Cross-border Service Coming Soon (3)

The closed line between Bad Bentheim and Coevorden was to be partly opened for passengers as far as Neuenhaus, one settlement north of Nordhorn.

The passenger service started two years later. Most observers of the rail scene would expect some infrastructure improvements over and above the very basic set-up for freight journeys.

They would be right!

As well as new-build stations, the line has been completely signalled. fbb is not familiar with German railway signalling systems, but to an untrained observer it looks like a mixture of tram-style white lights with “proper” signals where the trains might, say, meet the freight runs reported in yesterday’s blog.

This time we are travelling from the north back to Bad Bentheim, starting just after the train has left the station at Neuenhaus.

Still no boundary fences are provided, even on quite busy roads.

… maintaining the design style of a very basic railway – but, unlike most modern trams, we do have a raised platform, The video quality is poor but fbb thinks that the yellow aspect on the signal is painted – the light above it flashes white continuously.

All the footpath crossings have been given warning lights for those crossing the tracko …

Even the smallest side roads have automatic barriers, as far as fbb could tell.

The camera lens is wide angle which makes the corners look far sharper they they are in real life. 

A second train stands at Nordhorn.

The new platform …

… sits close to its more illustrious predecessor.

The town’s bus station is, of course, outside the building ideally suited for interchange.

The terminus of the freight line is on the southern fringes of the town …

… with the passenger service joining from the top left. Our video cameraman films one of the two overbridges that were spotted yesterday from the freight loco cab.

Remember that industrial site …

… and that other overbridge.

The last stop before Bad Bentheim is Quendorf …

… and soon we are approaching our southern terminus and interchange with the rest of the Deutsche Bahn network.

Speed limit 6 kmph on the approaches!

Under more traditional “approach control’ …

… we soon glide into our new-build platform.

Interesting!

It is worthy of speculation as to the cost of this basic (albeit less basic than the freight line!) railway with tram-like signalling and minimalist station structures.

It would appear to be a lot cheaper than, say, the Portishead branch at Bristol or the Leven branch in Scotland. 

Why do we make our UK mm”heavy” rail lines so heavy?

And plans have been announced to continue the Bad Bentheim service north to Coevorden across the border by a few miles into the Netherlands.

More on this tomorrow.

All TTA yank wagons that ran on BR lines had ladders. They were very necessary to get on top of the tank and open the lid! And for nit-picking modellers there was plenty of variety.

Most were “standard” with a tasteful bend in the middle and all were extended below the solebar as above. Some, however were straight …

… and there were variations in the extra hand holds at the top – if fitted!

A few, it seems, had one central end ladder.

These did not descend below the buffer beam but there was one rung at the side to get the athletic top cap opener up to this bottom of his ladder!

Interestingly (fbb must be joking!) early production samples of the new Hornby tanker had one version with a single end ladder …

So below are the ladders on the three OO models being compared – for now.

Triang/Hornby from 1973 – die-stamped metal ladders.

Bachmann c2002 – fine plastic ladders.

Hornby 2024 – very fine etched metal ladders. The top handrail is part of the etch.

Tomorrow; tank top walkways and buffer beams. It’s just too much excitement.

 Next Bad Bentheim branch blog : Thur 1st Feb