Madrid-Atocha
would be a very interesting station, and an excellent hunting area for
the photographs: Lots of traffic, varied material and a nice bright
architecture. Instead, I shot here only exactly 13 photos, and only the
3 ones down are "presentable". Why?
The problem
is that
since the bombings of the 11th of march, Atocha mutated to a sort of
polician state:
policemen and
vigiles really everywhere, even in the toilets (Sorry, it's not a joke:
I had the great honor of making pee-pee under the supervision and the
protection of a
vigile...), no free access to the trains, security procedures like in
an
international airport,
check-in,
etc, etc... Last but not least, the photography authorisation of the
Renfe is here needless: The
"Atención al cliente" office did as if they would see such
an
authorisation for the very first time (!...).
Finally, the office made a big exceptionnal favor and allowed me to
make
"3-4 photos" (That's exactly what they said: "3-4
photos". My God, how generous!..) of the historic steam train
"Tren de la Fresa" (The "Strawberry Train"), and that being escorted
(watched? protected?) by a railwayman (Thanks God not a policeman!),
who happily didn't control the allowed "3-4 photos"...
18.9.2005
And that's the result:
exactly 3
pictures of the superb Mikado
141 F 2413, before I was escorted
to the "non
sensible" zone (!), and then I hurried to leave this sticky railway
station, where you could think that Spain is a repressive police
dictature... Gran hermano (="Big
brother") is
watching
you in Atocha! :-( TopMadrid-Chamartin Radical
other ambiance in the other main station of Madrid: As I showed my
authorisation to the "Atención
al cliente" office, the chief of the office had a quick look on it,
said immediately "No problemo", and informed the security service that
I will take pictures in the station, that I'm OK, and that they doesn't
need to watch me. So I took all the pics I wanted all the afternoon
without seeing any vigile...
To recommand!
19.9.2005
594.603-3
252.039-3
446.040-8
446.019-2
450.029-4
311.118-4
333.401-8
354.008-5
"Virgen de Montserrat"
354.008-5
"Virgen de Montserrat"
594.108-3
596.010-9
333.401-8
TopVillaverde
Bajo First
stop of the
suburb trains leaving Atocha in southern direction, Villaverde Bajo was
recommanded by the spanish
railfan colleagues when I asked them for the best spots in the region.
Top Villalba
Other spot recommanded by the colleagues,
Villalba is located on the northern line (to Segovia,
Asturias and the Basque country). Nice place and an exciting traffic, a
good place for good shots...
20.9.2005
470.094-4
447.304-7
250.011-4
450.037-7
450.006-2
252.042-7
594.607-4
446.040-8
269.409-9
269.409-9
269.409-9
448.022-4
Top Alcalá de Henares Alcalá
de
Henares is an old university townlocated about 30 kilometers east of
Madrid. Birthplace of
Miguel de Cervantès (author of "El ingenioso hidalgo Don
Quixote", better known as "Don Quichotte"),
the old town round of the Plaza de Cervantès is really nice
to
see.
Tous les
contenus et photos de ce site / Alle Inhalte und Bilder dieser Website
/ All contents
and pictures of this website: (C)
Pierre-Noël
Rietsch, Hinwil (CH) 1980-2005
Region
of Madrid 
Top
