Germany: Hamburg

This summer, it is time to travel by train outside Sweden, and first I begin with Germany. 

 Hamburg is a large harbour town in northern Germany.

 The river Elbe is the second longest in Germany (after Rhine).

 The harbour is the largest in Germany and the second largest in Europe (after Rotterdam).

 Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany (after Berlin) and is also named as "Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg".

 There is a beach in Hamburg.

 Elbe tunnel is from 1911 and is used for pedestrians, bikes and small cars.

 Sternschanze is a popular hipster area in Hamburg, reminding of Berlin.

 S-Bahn in Hamburg.

 ICE-T train.

 Hamburg central station. The station is busiest in Germany and second busiest in Europe (after Gare du Nord in Paris).

 The view of Hamburg from top of St. Michael's Church.

 The metro of hamburg (U-Bahn), it is called Hochbahn (elevated railway).

 Specially nice is the part along the Elbe river, here close to station Landungsbrücken.

The old port of Hamburg, Hafen City.

 In one of the buildings in Hafen City, you can find Miniatur Wunderland, the largest model railway exhibition in the world.

 Different countries are represented, among others is Sweden. Here is Kiruna station.

 Swedish passenger train.

LKAB cargo train. 

Västerdalsbanan

Västerdalsbanan is a 129km long railway in Dalarna, between Borlänge and Malung.

 The railway is non-electrified, and unfortunately since 2011 no passengers trains are operating here. However, cargo trains still does.

 Lokstallet in Vansbro (old locomotive depot) is now transformed into a local shopping and business centre.

 The railway got upgraded to ERTMS Regional system in 2012, which unfortunately was the reason to why passengers trains is not anymore operating here. It would have been to expensive installing the necessary equipment on the trains.

 Vansbro station is one of the most beautiful in Sweden. Vansbro has been an important railway intersection through the years where Inlandsbanan meets the Västerdalsbanan.

 In 1974 the last trains went on this part of Inlandsbanan, and the station lost it's importance.

 The station is now empty, maybe one day there will be life here again.

 Outside the station, there is an old steam train from 1911.

 The train has been recently re-painted, so it is shining and looking like new again.

 Short history recap about the station.

 The platform outside.

 Next stop further west is Rågsveden. The station is just outside the timber facility. The cargo trains are operated here.

 Further west no trains are operating since 2011. However, the stations are still there. Äppelbo station is on this photo.

 Yttermalung station.

 Malung Folkhögskola staion.

 Malung gymnasium station.

 And the last stop along the Västerdalsbanan is Malung. The tracks were continuing even further to Sälen, but since 1969 no trains or even rail tracks are in place.

 Malung station is also a beauty.

 Here one can see remains from the diesel trains on the tracks.

 Beautiful nature is just outside the train station.

 Further to the east, several nice stations can be found. Many of the station building are of the same type and very typical as all buildings in this part of Dalarna.

 Here is Dala-Järna station.

 The station is now used for living, the platform is on the other side.

 Nås station. The old station house is further down.

 Same style as in Dala-Järna.

 Björbo station.

 Build in the style of national romanticism and art nouveau (jugendstil).

 All the details are intact.

 Old SJ phone number.

 Fänforsen, a rapid in Västerdalälven just outside Björbo.

 It is 600m long, and has a fall of 9m.

 One of many several railway bridges over Västerdalälven.