25th July 2003

Mercia Charters Limited
The Duet

Locos Used SNCB: 5212, 5303 & 5306
Stock Used 42451 + 42306

Train Reporting Codes :
Z18078 : Arlon to Raccordement Cellulose
Z18079 : Raccordement Cellulose to Marbehan
Z18080 : Marbehan - Croix Rouge
Z18081 : Croix Rouge to Marbehan
Z18082 : Marbehan to Arlon

Loco(s) Route
5303 (1) Arlon - Y. Autelbas - Athus - Y. Aubange - Halanzy - Virton - Raccordement Cellulose
5212 (2) Raccordement Cellulose - (reverse of outward route) - Arlon
5306 + 5212 (2) Arlon - Viville - (via Stockem Yard) - Habay - Marbehan
5303 (3) Marbehan - Y. St Lambert - Zoning de Gantaufet
5306 + 5212 (2) Zoning de Gantaufet - Y. St Lambert
5303 (3) Y. St Lambert - Croix Rouge
5306 + 5212 (2) Croix Rouge - Y. St Lambert - Marbehan
5303 (3) shunt onto mainline (towards Stockem)
5306 + 5212 (2) set-back to Marbehan station
5303 (3) Marbehan - Stockem - Arlon

Notes :
(1) 5212 on rear.
(2) 5303 on rear.
(3) 5212 & 5306 on rear.

Source : Gary Thornton (on the train throughout)

Tour Review

This weekends tours followed the "normal" format for Mercia Charters in having a "half day" tour on the Friday and a "full day" tour on the Saturday. This time however differed in that the tours were in different countries!

Friday saw many of us waking up in Luxembourg, the location for the Saturday tour. A mornings bashing ensued (hotel empty by 06.00, full again for breakfast at 9am after filling our moves books!) before we set off to Arlon on the 11.21 from Luxembourg.

Problem no.1 was apparent as we rolled into Arlon - pre-gen and discussions with SNCB had "suggested" the tour would be top-and-tailed by Nohabs 5303 & 5306, but 5306 was sat in the sidings and our stock was in with 5212 on one end & 5303 on the other. Some swift negotiations took place and it was confirmed we would have to leave with the train "as was" but, yes, on our return to Arlon we would get 5306 on the train. A few happier faces were seen on passing this information around!

The train set-off first to Virton where we traversed the short "Raccordement Cellulose" branch. A photo-stop in the works was taken before we headed back to Arlon, Good to their word, SNCB had 5306 ready and it was added atop 5212 to give a two-coach train with three locos!

We now carried on to Marbehan (via Stockem Yard, some bonus non-passenger route) where we travelled on the "Y" shaped goods lines to Zoning de Gantaufet and Croix Rouge. The latter was interesting as we halted in the middle of a wood-yard, much of the wood being kept dry with water-sprinklers, The train got a good wash too, as did some tour participants who were too slow to shut their windows!

The return to Arlon proved interesting - we only had a "+8" connection on to a Luxembourg service but we were about 10 down. A swift shunt at Marbehan delayed the very train we were wanting to catch but at least (unlike in the UK I suspect) the local signallers made sure we got to Arlon first and so made out desired train back to base!

Gary Thornton.

Timings (Booked & Actual)
 (from Gary Thornton)

KM Location Booked Actual
0.00 Arlon 12.00d 12.00
5.10 Y Autelbas 12/06 12/06
15.40 Athus 12/18 12/19
16.70 Y Aubange 12/21 12/23
21.80 Halanzy 12/26 ??/??
39.30 Virton 12p39a ~ 12p49d 12.43 ~ 12.50
43.00
0.00		 Raccordement Cellulose 12p59a ~ 13p09d 13.01 ~ 13.11
3.70 Virton 13/20 13.19a ~ 13.21d
21.20 Halanzy 13/35 ??/??
26.30 Y Aubange 13/40 13/40
27.60 Athus 13p42a ~ 13p52d 13.42 ~ 13.49
37.90 Y Autelbas 14/04 13/57
43.00 Arlon 14*10a ~ 14*15d 14L03a ~ 14L15d
46.30 Stockem 14/20 14/22 (via yard)
56.70 Habay 1430 14/35
63.90
0.00		 Marbehan 14p36a ~ 14p46d 14.43 ~ 14.49
8.35 Y St Lambert 15/01 15/10
13.35
0.00		 Zoning de Gantaufet 15p16a ~ 15p26d 15.27 ~ 15.37
5.00
0.00		 Y St Lambert 15/41 15.51a ~ 15.54d
(reversal required)
5.40
0.00		 Croix Rouge 16p06a ~ 16p16d 16.07 ~ 16.18
5.40 Y St Lambert 16/31 16/32
13.75
0.00		 Marbehan 16.46a ~ 16.50d 16.50 ~ 16.55
?.??
0.00		 mainline (reversal) - 16.59a ~ 17.01d
?.??
0.00		 Marbehan 16.50d ??.??
7.20 Habay 16/56 17/07
17.60 Stockem 17/05 17/13
20.90 Arlon 17.11a 17.16


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