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Espagne - Madrid region

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¡E viva España !


Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles



 Region of Madrid 

Summary

Madrid is THE center of the spanish railways. Like in France, the Renfe network is principally based on radial lines centered on the capital.

Madrid and around




Madrid-Atocha

Madrid-Chamartin

Villaverde Bajo

Villaverde Alto

Villalba

Alcalá de Henares





Madrid-Atocha

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!  :-(

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Madrid-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

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Villaverde 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.

19.9.2005



251.029-5

440.200-4

464.505-7

465.503-1

464.502-4

269.408-1

465.503-1

470.085-2

440.185-7

446.005-1

464.502-4

490.***

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Villaverde Alto

20.9.2005




333.048-7

465.502-3

464.003-3

464.001-7

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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

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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.

21.9.2005




470.132-2


446.187-7

470.136-3

470.097-7

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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

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