SŽ, Slovenia Trip Report 10-12 June 2019

664 106 departs Most na Soči and crosses the Idrijka River with the 10:38 Autovlak to Bohinjska Bistrica. 12/06/2019

Introduction:

In the usual position 664 112 waits at Ljublijana. 661 032 is stabled
behind having arrived during the day. 10/06/2019

It was 2015 in the dying days of class 664 action on the 'Citadella' from Hodos to Pragersko that I had made my previous fleeting visit to Slovenia. At the end of my trip report I concluded that it was a country I would like to come back to, but doubted it would be before the 664's had finished on this route (I also correctly predicted that the electrification would be finished before that of the GWR electrification!). Both predictions would prove to be correct!

363 021 at Zidani Most with a service to Ljublijana.

The big 'Reagan' 664 diesels have indeed finished on the international train however with SŽ announcing a sizeable order for new multiple units to be delivered from 2020 it was time to return. Again a short trip of just two nights was all that could be fitted in with the simple target to pick up one of the big Alsthom Co-Co 363 'broken nose' electrics and also to get a ride on the 'Autovlak' car train which runs between Bhoinjska Bistrica and Most na Soči - Now the last regular diesel hauled train in Slovenia.





Monday 10th June-

363 021 follows the river Sava with a service from Dobova to Ljublijana. 10/06/2019

541 005 waits to depart Ljublijana for Dobova. 10/06/2019

An uneventful flight out to Ljublijana with Wizz Air saw us arrive into the main station shortly after midday. After exploring the station and photographing 664112, which was stabled in the usual spot over at the west side of the station we took the first loco hauled train with 541005 on the 13:45 to Dobova as far as Zidani Most. The plan was then to pick up EC246 'Citadella'- although no longer a bet for a 664 the train did now present a good chance for a 363!

363 015 is in charge of the Citadella at Zagorgi. 10/06/2019

The wait for a 'Zig-Zag' was a lot shorter than expected as the first train to appear along the river was 363021 on a passenger service- Not the 'Citadella' but R5066 inbound from Dobova- a 342 duty. Target number one had been achieved very efficiently! Of course 363021 was taken, but being greedy we then bailed off at Zagorgi in the hope that 'Citadella' might produce another! A couple of freights passed and caught us off guard, both 363 hauled. Surely it would be too good to be true to get a fourth 363 in a row on our train? No- 363015 was in charge of the 'Citadella' and took us forward to Ljublijana, departing 8 minutes late- a lot better than the 50 minute delay of my last trip!

With the weather closing in 363 025 pauses at Borovnika bound for Koper.
10/06/2019

Unfortunately the train lost a little more time and arrived into Ljublijana just in time to miss the next train I wanted to cover, the 16:50 to Dobova with a 342 in charge. I had a couple more targets in mine for 363's however, and both produced. 363024 on IC502 'Pohorje' and 363025 on IC509 'Koper'- the later was taken to Borovnica, heading into an electrical storm before returning on a unit. 664112 at the stabling point had been joined by 661032 and these were photographed one more time before heading into town to check into our accommodation and find some dinner content with the day's haul. 363's appeared to be out in abundance. The surprise was the lack of 342's! None covered and none even photographed- something that would require a plan for the morning.


Tuesday 11th June-

Beneath a threatening sky 665 105 waits for it's next Autovlak working from Most na Soči. 11/06/2019

A very shabby 315 207 is bound for Dobova. 11/06/2019.

Up at a sensible time to purchase a meat Burek for breakfast and head to the station. Having passed on a stupidly early start there were few loco hauled moves available before our planned train to Jesenice to head over to the Autovlak. The only option available from the diagrams to net a 342 was a quick leap to Ljublijana Zalog. The outbound run had a late start with one of the elderly Polish (EN57) style 315 EMU's. The return disappointingly was a Desiro- not the hoped for 342. Running late into Ljublijana gave us an unfavourable +0 onto EC212 to Jesinice, fortunately the EC was running a few minutes late also, but less fortunately was powered by 541005 (now not required since yesterday)! Also briefly sighted out of the window was the fireless steam loco used at the Ljublijana power station - this must be one of the last steam locos in regular use in Europe now- maybe worth investigating if I ever have some more time here!

643 031 pauses in the Ljublijana carriage sidings. 11/06/2019.

There was a little wait at Jesinice for the branch train during which several freights were seen. The DMU to Nova Gorica was then boarded. After around 15 minutes at Bled Jezero we were all chucked off and onto a bus. Not what we had planned and worry quickly set in about how this might affect the Autovlak! As things turned out the line was only shut as far as Bohinjska Bistrica from where a DMU was waiting to take passengers onwards to Nova Gorica, all be it it 35 minutes late.

664 105 runs around its train at Most na Soči. 11/06/2019

After checking into our accommodation for the night it was back to the station for the arrival of the car train, behind 664105 in place of the usual class 644 (I understand 644020 is on maintenance). This was a good result, although it did leave the 644 as a required class! 664105 was taken all the way to Most na Soči, the gripper noticeably bemused that it was then taken back up the hill to Podbrdo! Here we transfered to a DMU to Grahovo. With the clouds now rolling in it was probably inevitable that the viaduct shot was in cloud (if only it had been 5 minutes earlier!) but it was a pleasant beer stop!

Travelling on the Autovlak is a unique and picturesque experience. 11/06/2019

Back to Most na Soči by DMU to pick up the Autovlak for a last run back up the hill, 664105 making a great sight basking in the sun with a threatening sky looming behind. It wasn't until walking back to our accommodation we finally got rained on, before enjoying a good final night meal.

Wednesday 12th June-

A grey morning at Bohinjska Bistrica as 'new' class 664 106 takes it's turn on the Autovlak. 12/06/2019.

Passing the Autovlak at Podbrodo with 664 106. 12/06/2019

There were a couple of options this morning before making our way back to the airport and home (how was it almost over so soon?!). Aware of the potential chaos of the bus replacement and having still not had a 342 option 1 was to head straight back to Ljublijana to try some more moves. Option 2 was to use the local buses to spend the morning on Lake Bled enjoying the sunshine. However hen 664106 was viewed on the arriving Autovlak it was obvious that option 3 would be used - another run to Most na Soči and back with our second 'Reagan' of the trip! The train was taken down the hill before being photographed on the return, the journey back up the hill then being taken by DMU.

813 021 ready to start its train from Bohinjska Bistrica 12/06/2019.

541 021 waites with a freight in the yard at Jesenice. 12/06/2019

Had we not waited 15 minutes en-route for a late running passing train the bus replacement would have got us back to Jesenice in time to make our planned connection onto IC211 back to Kranj (and Ljublijana). As it was we missed the connection by around 8 minutes. Research had already revealed there was a back up train behind, but no chance of picking up another loco now. We left SŽ at Kranj for a taxi I had booked from Jesenice to the airport. This station is actually much closer to the airport than Ljublijana and the 15 minute taxi ride cost €30- perhaps more than I had expected, but it made our flight!





Conclusions-

664 105 powers the Autovlak over the impressive viaduct at Grahovo. 11/06/2019.

I always knew the trip would be too short, and it was. But it did also achieve everything I had hoped to despite my worries about actually picking up a 363! The one disappointment perhaps would be the failure to pick up, or even see a 342 - while the bane of the 363 bashers they are still quite nice locos!

363 021 pauses with a freight at Jesenice as the weather closes in. 12/06/2019

Slovenia is a beautiful country but slightly lacking in loco hauled passenger trains, though does seem to have freight in abundance. The Autovlak comes highly recommended- great traction, great scenery and a very interesting operation. If the classic traction sticks I'm sure I'll be back- and maybe get the 644 one day! It remains to be seen how much loco haulage will remain after the new EMU's are delivered- though it is hard to see an outcome where much more than a handful of Euro Cities remain hauled- as a sign of the times just as I returned from the trip it was announced that a Pendolino would replace the loco hauled classic train on IC502/3 'Pohorje'.

Plenty of Alsthom 'Zig-Zag' action at Ljublijana with 363 015 and 363 021 bringing in subsequent arrivals. 10/06/2019