Railfanning 4-13-2018

Hi, After a more than two month hiatus I finally got out for a day of railfanning. This time friend Dale Jacobson and I headed up to Hagerstown, MD. Our first stop was in Vardo Yard where Dale learned that the Winchester and Western ran up to Hagerstown on a Sunday - Thursday schedule. However, NS was getting ready to run a southbound and another train was called for 11:20 AM.

We headed to Saint James, MD where we caught NS #35Q.

We then moved south to one of my favorite spots, a farm at Fairplay, MD (above and below).

We returned to Vardo as we wanted a photo of the SD80MAC sitting in the yard and found it sitting next to NS #228.

After photographing at Vardo yard we set up just south of the old depot in Sharpsburg, MD to wait for #228 (above and two below).

We then moved to College Road, south of Hagerstown. Unfortunately, I blew the shot of the first train but here is the second one, NS #202 (above and below).

Thanks for looking.

Romance of the Rhine and Mosel - River Cruise 4

Hi, The tenth day of the trip began with a 40 mile cruise through the Rhine River Gorge. There are 27 castles and fortresses along the river here that can be visited. In addition, there are a number of other castles and fortresses, some of which are in ruins, that can not be visited. A number of these castles are shown in the photos below.

Small towns dot both sides of the river.

River traffic is very active.

This is a toll house that controlled a chain across the river. After the captain paid the toll the chain would be lowered and the boat could pass.

A mythical maiden named Lorelei, who supposedly would lure sailors to their death on the cliff of the same name, is depicted by this statue.

After our morning cruise we stopped at a town called Boppard (above and four below).

Located in front of what is thought to be her candy shop this statue commemorates a woman who always had cookies for the local children.

A square in the town had this interesting fountain (above and below).

From Boppard I took an optional tour of Marksburg Castle. Ruthe stayed with the boat as we were warned that walking would be difficult and

it was.

This is a view looking up river. The town of Spay is to the right.

I don't remember what alcoholic beverage was kept in these barrels but given that this is Germany I would guess Beer.

Here is the fireplace in the kitchen,

a typical bedroom and

one of the first privies. It empties through a pipe to the outside of the castle.

Thanks for looking.

Romance of the Rhine and Mosel - River Cruise 3

Hi, Speyer was the second town we visited in Germany. Our day began with the usual walking tour.

The statues above and below, located in the Speyer Domgarten, depict a local saga. The five emperors above need to cross the Rhine to help the Empire and the ferryman, below, hears their call and takes them across.

The Speyer Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Speyer. This view is from the rear.

This front view is from a square.

At the other end of of a pedestrian street which ends at the square is a restaurant which once was a customs house. A farmers market occupied the square in front of this building (above and below).

A fountain was between the farmer's market and the restaurant (above and below).

Here are some other views we photographed on our walking tour (above and five below).

Along the pedestrian street is this statue of a pilgrim (above and two below).

This view of the upper part of the cathedral was taken from the pedestrian street.

A synagogue was dedicated in Speyer in 1104 and the ruins remain today as the center piece of a Jewish museum (Above and six below). Ruthe tries to find Jewish sites for us to visit on our trips and we ask our guides for suggestions.

Present is the ritual bath or Mikvah. It is in excellent condition and has not been restored. The view above is the outside,

and here are the steps leading down to the bath which is shown below.

At one end of the square in front of the Cathedral are some interesting buildings

and this structure decorated with Crepe Myrtle (above and below).

Thanks for looking.