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Our intrepid traveller manfully surmounted the first major obstacle, getting out of bed to get to Munich station for 6:30, in time to see our train backing in.
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The sky was blue and it was going to be hot. I had a whole compartment to myself, and even first class was a bit basic, but it was OK. It was not a very long train, only 5 coaches, but the locomotive sounded great and we were speeding along at a good lick between station stops, and a couple of stops to let expresses pass us. I had some Munich white sausages from the buffet for breakfast; some of the Germans were having beer with them.
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Arrived at Nurnberg main station on time at 10am, and then watched trains go by until 1045 when the vintage train was due to run a round trip around Nurnberg, ending up at the works where the festival was. Clouds gathered and it started spitting with rain, but it was so hot that you did not really get wet. The vintage train was old 4 wheelers and 2nd, 3rd and 4th classes were just wooden benches. I spent most of the hour trip standing outside on one of the open end balconies though, with lightning strikes and rain all around. Not a bad trip for 5 euro.
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When we got to the festival site the rain had stopped. It was packed with people and very hot and sweaty. there were engines everywhere, most of them in steam and moving around. At 2pm the grand parade started. The grandstand was sold out and I stood nearby and watched the first few go by, but my feet and legs were already aching, so I wandered around again. I was able to get better photos then as there were not so many people in the way of the parked locos.
Click the image to zoom in Replicas of Der Adler and Saxonia.
Click the image to zoom in Engines everywhere.
Click the image to zoom in A selection of electric locomotives around the turntable.
I gave up and caught the U-bahn back to the main station to watch the trains there. There were two steam specials heading for Munich, here is the earlier one about to depart:
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Here is the steam special for Stutgard. This was supposed to leave Nurnberg a minute after my Munich bound train:
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And here is my train ready to depart for Munich:
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As I suspected, the Stutgard train departed directly after us, and as we were struggling uphill to cross a flyover, it caught us up and passed beneath us and our paths separated. It was wonderful.
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Click the image to zoom in
I thought I would be asleep on the way home, but my coach was next to the engine so I travelled most of the way standing with my head at the window watching and listening. It will take ages to get the black bits out of my hair.
I even managed to get a cup of tea on the train - how civilised.
Finally back to Munich five minutes late.
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