The Viceroy Special, Sri Lanka.

The Viceroy Special train in Sri Lanka transports guests throughout the rail-way system in Sri Lanka.

A ride on this unique luxury steam train to Kandy, the Hill Capital is one of the most picturesque rail journeys in the world. Specially popular are trips from Colombo to Kandy and the tea plantations of the hill country and down the west coast to the beach resorts to the walled city of Galle. Also the lush rain forest, cascading water falls, broad rivers, terraced paddy fields, shimming on the sun light, misty tea-clad hillside, herds of elephants and mile upon mile of sandy beaches, are best seen by train. As you journey through, in the modern and relaxing comfort, you are sure to witness and experience a way of life that has existed since time immemorial. Being steam-hauled, the train can stop on request and guests can photograph scenic beauty spots and even ride in the engine driver's cabin.

 

The Viceroy Special is a 75 year old private train and the only steam train still in operation in Sri Lanka. The train has two air-conditioned observation saloons furnished in period style, with 64 plush reclining seats and individual adjustable tables. A public address system is available for guides to describe details of the journey or for suitable music to be broadcast. Each saloon has an adjoining smokers' lounge and a modern toilet.

 

There is also a restaurant car, elegantly furnished with Edwardian ribbed fans and teak-trimmed wood paneling is complete with a fully equipped kitchen and a well complemented bar.

Vintage View of Utrecht Railway Station & City Tramsways of Utrecht, Netherlands.

This is a vintage view of a painting from 1906 of the Utrecht Railway Station in Netherlands. This station built in 1843 became the Central Station in 1938. The building was demolished in the 1970's to make way for a enclosed shopping mall. Since then the station has no real entrance and passengers just continue through the mall to the station.

International, national and local services call at the station

Steam Locomotive No: C 11227, Japan

Photo: Kubozuka Hiroshi

  

Steam Locomotive C 11227 in a nice summer day in Japan traveling along the rail track surrounded by Cherry Blossoms.

Lisbon Red & Yellow Trams, Portugal.

The famous Red and Yellow trams of Lisbon is seen on this post card. These trams are a tourist attraction and reach various points of interest in and around Lisbon.

Gothenburg tram network, Sweden.

Foto: Lars Ericsson

 

The Gothenburg tram network is part of the public transport system in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. The 161 km of track — making it the largest tram network in Sweden is used by around 200 trams.  The trams perform about 2,000 trips and cover 30,000 km per day.

Dubai Metro, Dubai, U. A. E.

This post card shows the Dubai Metro with the famous land marks of Dubai in the background.

The William Halsey Locomotive Drawing Collection.

 

This a painting of a locomotive from the William Halsey Locomotive Drawing collection.

Lisbon Trams, Portugal.

 

The Lisbon tramway network serves the municipality of Lisbon in Portugal. In operation since 1873, it presently comprises five urban lines, and is primarily a tourist attraction. There are several popular tram lines. Amongst the popular lines are tram 28 from Largo Martim Moniz or tram 12 from Praça da Figueira through the narrow streets of the Alfama. Two other useful lines are tram 15 from Praça da Figueira and Praça do Comércio via Alcântara to Belem., and tram 18 from Praça do Comércio via Alcântara to Ajuda. Tram stops are marked by a small yellow paragem (stop) sign hanging from a lamppost or the overhead wires.

Locomotives from different times, Germany.

Different locomotives from the steam era to Diesel and High Speed ICE Train in Germany.

Trams of the Past in Cologne, Germany.

Different types of Trams used in Cologne between 1912 - 1921.

T G V, France

The TGV  links the majority of major cities and towns in France. You can reach over 150 destinations by the high-speed TGV network. With peak speeds of 320 km/h, TGVs carry millions of passengers a year. With some 450 TGVs now serving 230 destinations, you can travel to major cities in France and across Europe and return the same day, alighting in the very heart of town. 

The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe on the Garden Route, South Africa.

South Africa’s only remaining scheduled steam train, the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe offers its passengers a unique, picturesque and scenic 52-kilometre journey experiencing the Garden Route with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. The railway initially traverses mainly agricultural land used for grazing. Two major rivers are crossed. These are the Gwaiing and Malgate rivers. After crossing the Gwaiing River the railway climbs towards the siding of Skimmelkrans. After Skimmelkrans the railway winds its way for 4 kms into the Malgate Valley. The railway crosses the Malgate River high above the river where large roundish holes can be seen in the rock of the riverbed. These holes are the result of floodwater rolling stones over and over in the depressions causing gradual, but noticeable erosion. From Outeniqua the line begins its descendant to the sea. As the train twists around a large horseshoe bend, the hillsides fall dramatically towards the sea. The first seaside resort to come into view is Glentana. The view of the Indian Ocean with its foaming waves crashing on to the seemingly endless beach, is  breath taking. The train plunges into a deep cutting and then snakes through the only tunnel on the line. Emerging again into the sunlight, passengers have an awesome vista, which stretches away to the St Blaze lighthouse to the south of Mossel Bay. At Great Brak River the original corrugated-iron station building, erected by the Cape Government Railways, still stands. Crossing the Great Brak River just after the station, one can see the remains of the supports for the original railway bridge. During construction of the line in 1906, a temporary wooden bridge was built over the river. There was great drama on one occasion when the bridge collapsed and a locomotive fell into the river. After Hartenbos station the Voorbay marshalling yard and railway workshops are passed. In these workshops the steam locomotives, that haul the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, are maintained.