20070707_01.jpg	Lage Zwaluwe is the junction for both the Moerdijk and Oosterhout branches, that the tour was to explore. It's also where the mainline to Venlo and Germany parts company from that to Roosendal and Belgium. Freight activity is intense. This class 66 is in charge of ERS train 40131 a Maasvlakte (Rotterdam) to Padova (Padua) intermodal.
20070707_02.jpg	Whilst waiting seven freight trains passed. This is a Veolia operated intermodal, probably heading for Blerick in SE Holland, behind Vossloh G1206.
20070707_03.jpg	A semi-fast train, bound for Breda so I was told, approaching Lage Zwaluwe station
20070707_04.jpg	Eventually the special, train no.38000 appeared from the direction of Moerdijk, already some 70 minutes late
20070707_05.jpg	As it approached a Railion train of laden coal hoppers bound for Germany appeared on the flyover
20070707_06.jpg	6703 is an ex-SNCB 6200 class. Built by BN it is powered by an EMD 12-567C
20070707_07.jpg	It continued through Lage Zwaluwe on to the Oosterhout branch whilst it's fellow ACTS fleet members rested in the sunshine. 5814 is in VOS Logistics livery, whilst 1251 is dressed conventionally in ACTS blue
20070707_08.jpg	A couple of shots of the 5814...
20070707_09.jpg	...never the most handsome of front ends it is still a pleasure to see them in regular service, even if it is a few miles distant from their original stamping grounds.
20070707_10.jpg	Whilst looking around Lage Zwaluwe, this NS IC train bound for Venlo raced through the station.
20070707_11.jpg	Returning from Oosterhout, the driver of 6703 gives a friendly wave.
20070707_12.jpg	The Mitropa restaurant car. Mitropa (Mitteleuropäische Schlaf und Speisewagen Aktiengesellschaft - Central European Sleeping & Dining Car Company) was the German equivalent of CIWL.  
20070707_13.jpg	From Lage Zwaluwe the train, now operating as 38001 headed east towards the VSM via Breda, Tilburg, 's-Hertogenbosch, Utrecht (reversal) and Arnhem. This is the line from 's-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht, to the north of Geldermalsen. An intercity train heading towards Amsterdam  behind a class 1700.
20070707_14.jpg	A graffitti defaced 64-II EMU on a northbound local crossing the grade crossing
20070707_15.jpg	A moment later a southbound pair of 64-II EMUs is lit by a shaft of sunlight. 
20070707_16.jpg	The light was a bit hit or miss at this time of the day, but thankfully behaved itself when 38001 appeared, with 5814 in pole position.
20070707_17.jpg	The same could not be said about an hour later. 30 seconds before the sun was out...
20070707_18.jpg	...and 20 seconds later it was too. That's 38001's tail lamp on the right.
20070707_19.jpg	Beekbergen. The VSM have a number of German steam locomotives. This is 2-10-0 52-8053...
20070707_20.jpg	...built by Henschel during WW2...
20070707_21.jpg	...earlier in the day it had operated a wedding special using the VSM's dining train to Dieren and back. Now it was shunting...
20070707_23.jpg	...this beauty, 23-076 a 2-6-2 built in 1956 for service on the Deutsch Bundesbahn.
20070707_25.jpg	To prepare for the arrival of the Mercia Charters train VSM Dutch 08 (Engliah Electric 1956) shunted the dining train off the main line.
20070707_26.jpg	The very strange sight of a Dutch Gronk pulling a passenger train with two locomotives at the front...
20070707_27.jpg	...and one at the rear.
20070707_28.jpg	On arrival at Beekbergen the ridership took up their positions for the photocall...
20070707_29.jpg	...5814 looked particularly well turned out
20070707_30.jpg	The VSM have a well equipped, modern workshop complete with turntable.
20070707_31.jpg	The ACTS crew van, with an ex DR V100 class switcher behind. 
20070707_32.jpg	Even the Gronk driver wanted to capture this piece of history. A 1251 at the head of a train, some 5 kms away from the nearest 3000v catenary.
20070707_33.jpg	One last opportunity to catch the special (now running as 38003) before heading back to Schiphol. The location is Stroe, about half way between Apeldoorn and Amersfoort. This train is presumably bound for a destination in Germany, judging by the DB stock. 
20070707_34.jpg	A Enschede to Schiphol inter-city made up of a brace of IC3 units
20070707_35.jpg	And finally 38003, behind 1251, with 6703 tucked in behind and 5814 bringing up th rear. 
20070707_08a.jpg	...this sticker adorning 5804's side is promoting the new Betuwe freight line across Holland, opened by the Queen in June. To date it is used by maybe one train a day. How successful it will be remains to be seen...
20070707_12a.jpg	Founded in 1916 to replace services in Germany & Austria-Hungary previously operated by CIWL it's famous logo adorned the catering cars of the Deutsch Reichsbahn up to re-unification in 1989. Today it has no involvement in on-train catering anymore.