The Flickr Passenger Image Generatr

09.21: 2-Car "Cousteau" AM86 EMU 949 departs Bercham on its way to Antwerpen Centraal.

The AM86s are 2-Car sets built by BN - La Brugeoise et Nivelles & Bombardier in 2 batches:
1988 to 1989: 901 to 935
1991: 936 to 952

More were ordered, but cancelled with the decision to build the Bombardier AM90s.

From 2012 to 2016, all were modernised to include a Passenger Information system, refreshed interiors and anti-graffiti paint.

They have also been supplied with ECTS to continue working beyond the deadline of December 2025 for ECTS to start in Belgium (delayed again since then).

Their nickname is "AM Cousteau" for obvious reasons from the windscreen 😊

949 was released from modernisation in 2015.

It is still active in March 2026, as are all but 2 of the class.

932 was wrecked on 27/03/2001 in a collision with EMU 709 at Pécrot.
935 is “in parc” (stored) after it derailed and hit a OHLE pylon in Shaarbeek on 22/09/2025.

Exxaero Cessna 525 CitationJet Reg: D-IKMO parked at Shannon.

Class 377 Electrostars seen here on the approach to approach to London Victoria on a glorious summer evening with the stunning Battersea Power Station setting the backdrop.

A two-car DMU running from Cork to Cobh approaches its stop at Carrigaloe. I don't remember why we decided to get off the train here on the way out to Cobh (or maybe we went all the way to Cobh and got off here on the way back) but we spent an hour or so here shooting the somewhat frequent passenger trains. I also remember that I found a geocache near the station (my first in Ireland).

Set: Old sleeping cars

Set: Old sleeping cars

Set: Old sleeping cars

Amtrak P371, the Pere Marquette, loads passengers at the old Grand Rapids Amtrak station on August 15, 1998. The consist includes P42DC #38, an Amfleet, two Horizon coaches, an automat car, and an unidentified Dash 8. This is a scanned slide from my collection, originally taken by Thomas Hoffmann.

North American SNJ-5 Texan US Navy BuNo 51828 N626CC ME-N-7
Photo taken at EAA Airventure Wittman Regional Airport Oshkosh Wisconsin USA July 2024
DAF_8297

London Heathrow Airport, LHR/EGLL.

On our way to Mahallet Rooh we stopped just north of Mit Yazid for a photo of a southbound train, hopefully hauled by a G22. The line was quite overgrown and didn't seem to offer many options but we found a bit of an opening. Thankfully G22 3617 rolled through with train 4307 Mahallet Rooh - El-Santa, making it the first photo of one on our trip. In the background you can just make out a Mosque in Mahallet Rooh.

GWR 0-6-0 Class2251 3205 drops down Eardington Bank in July 1970.

An attempt to create a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Very early on in my contact with the SVR as an occasional volunteer and a member of the Chester Branch of the Severn Valley Railway Association. I have done my best to turn this into an acceptable picture with a reduction in grain and an increase in the pixels of the scan.

10.52: SNCB's 2733 arrives into Bercham's Platform 6, pushing its coaches from Antwerpen Centraal.

This was the return service after previously departing Bercham at 10.14.

Details on the history of the loco are in the photo linked in the first comment.

LNER 5MT 4-6-0 Class B1 No 61264 rounds the curve from the Erewash Valley line to join the Midland Main Line at Clay Cross South Junction on 25th October 2003.

This was the Railway Touring Company's 1Z63 - 'The Lincolnshire Poacher' railtour from London Kings Cross (0713) to Immingham Reception Sidings. In the event the delayed tour actually started from Finsbury park at 0857. The B1 took over the working at Grantham.

Copyright Photograph Robin Stewart-Smith - All Rights Reserved

After the train, a swaying bus ride home. Handrails, grab loops, and window frames layer upon each other as thoughts keep flooding in.

12.38: AM80 EMU 375 arrives at Bercham on its way out from Antwerpen Centraal.

The AM80s have a local nickname of “breaks” due to the break in design from the older ones used by SNCB.

All 140 sets were delivered between 1981 and 1983 to SNCB by BN - La Brugeoise et Nivelles, with 375 delivered in 1983.

Initially built as 2-Car sets (Car types “ABDx” & “Bx”), they have a maximum speed of 160 km/h and were known for their very good acceleration.

But this changed when SNCB added a middle carriage (Car “B”) to all sets between 1991 and 1993. The single powered car lost acceleration with the extra 50 tonnes weight of the 3rd carriage.

From 2009 to 2019 all sets went through a major modernisation refurb. This added mobility access and bike storage facilities as well as passenger information screens and AC for the drivers.

Set 375 was released from its refurb on 11/03/2016.

All but 4 of the 140 in the Class are still active, as at March 2026:

- 321 had a collision at Liege on 14/08/2000, was stored for repair, but formally withdrawn on 10/12/2006 as a parts donor.

- 355 is ‘in parc” (stored) after a collision with a truck at Ardooie and derailment on 14/11/2023. Officially stored September 2024 and has donated its Bx car to set 322.

- 407 is undergoing repairs after a collision with a bus at Zedelgem on 29/11/2024. Not noted as officially stored, this one may or may not return.

- 426 is the same as 407, after a collision with an excavator at Belsele on 12/03/2024.

Being now over 40 years old, we can expect more withdrawals for parts donors if they have accidents, or expensive problems are found at major overhauls.

cambridge, massachusetts
1971

candid, riding the bus

part of an archival project, featuring the photographs of nick dewolf

© the Nick DeWolf Foundation
Image-use requests are welcome via flickrmail or nickdewolfphotoarchive [at] gmail [dot] com

Beyond Cork there is a short branch to Cobh, serviced by DMUs. Trains for Cobh run out of a two track bay at the south end of Cork station. One trainset is in the station as a train approaches from Cobh.

5B71 Exeter Central to Exeter Central. Class 158 Express in GWR green livery seen here running ECS to free up the platform at Exeter Central.

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