#palatinate

[thebaroquehuman]

Elisabeth of the Palatinate, Princess-Abbess of Herford Abbey - Gerard van Honthorst

[j-k-i-ng]

“R E F L E C T I O N” by | Manuel Wagner

[diemelusine]

Princess Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, Duchess of Orléans (c. 1700) by André Bouys. Musée Bernard-d'Agesci.

[rie-k-photo]

Mainz by sergei.gussev https://www.flickr.com/photos/133200397@N03/45167628671

[merpmonde]

French and German cross-border railcars

Just on the French side of the border, Wissembourg station sees French TERs arriving from Haguenau and Strasbourg, meeting German Regionalbahn from Landau and Neustadt. When a French service doesn't cross the border itself, SNCF and DB services are often synced up, giving us the chance to see both companies' cross-border efforts side by side.

The B 85500 is a brand-new bi-mode (electric and Diesel) multiple unit from the Alstom Régiolis family. While not the first international Régiolis - a tri-voltage electric version runs between Évian and Geneva -, the B 85500 adds autonomous Diesel power. With 30 units on order, it aims to revive and/or intensify cross-border routes into Germany. I was under the impression there was a bit of a gathering at the front end of the train, maybe local politicians marking the type's first visit to Wissembourg?

On the German side meanwhile, we have a standard railcar for what DB regard as a relatively low-density non-electrified regional route, which was closed to passengers for over 20 years between 1975 and 1997. The BR 628/928 (628: power car, 928: trailer car) is a 1980s design. Besides the lack of low floor, there's not a lot wrong with them, and they have comfortable, current DB Regio interiors. More recent types have been used, and if a plan to electrify Landau and Winden stations to allow charging of battery-EMUs goes ahead, there could soon be the latest trains on the German side of Wissembourg station too.

Which brings us to our "I beg your pardon" of the week:

[wgm-beautiful-world]

C O C H E M

[palatinewolfsblog]

Where are you from?

Good question.

Let's say

I came a long long way.

a star child

or

just stardust

golden

or silver

grey

as time goes by.

a journeyman

voyager on a ship called earth.

located in a remote part of a galaxy.

a sceptic when some folks speak

about the crown of creation.

a citizen of a country in the middle of europe.

a country responsible for great wars.

a country that set the world on fire - almost.

rose from ruins and ashes.

a country at peace for almost 80 years.

but what does that mean

when neighbors are worried about their safety?

a man from a small town

a suburb

actually more of a village

but a village with barracks

and a military training area

that used to be

my playground

when i was a child

and knew nothing about the world.

Now I'm getting older

(wiser? i doubt it.).

but there are still so many things i want to know.

Things i want to learn.

Above all, the answer

to the question that

really

really

matters:

Where is this journey leading to?

[illustratus]

Burg Scharfenberg at Night by Ernst Ferdinand Oehme