Say Hello To The Pig
It was this little extract on the DSB network map that stimulated your blogger's grey matter.
The line ran from a station on the Copenhagen 'S-bane' to Naeum. Jaegersborg (translates to 'hunters castle' literally, but maybe a posh 'lodge' in the hunting grounds enjoyed by the nation's royal family.) The operator L , according to the map index, is "Lokaltog" - Local Train.
The company runs a number of local trains (there is a clue in its name!) in the north of the Island of Zetland, but the Naerum branch is not connected to any other part of their system. fbb suspects that this is a political "stitch-up" to pay lip service to privatisation, but that the state will pull the strings and certainly will control the money!
If you are thinking of visiting this branch, fbb would advise using the frequent S-bane train as physical access to the station is challenging for an outsider.
But, never one to shirk from difficult investigations, fbb can now present his "access guide" to Jeagersborg S-bane station - complete with photographic evidence.
The station is carried above two main dual carriageway roads, show here with cream computer graphic overlay. Top left in the above aerial view you can see the Naerum branch curving away from the junction station. Bottom right are three bridges crossing the main road. These bridges are marked A on the angled picture below ...
... which would be described as the main entrance to the platforms via steps ...
... and a subway. This is pictured from underneath the "yellow bridge" of which more below. Hidden within the lighter coloured bridge structure is the lift access.
Here is the "yellow bridge" ...
... providing pedestrian access B from roads on the east. The footpath leading to the bridge looks a bit creepy ...
... but opens up through the bushes.
C leads from low rise housing and the famous tower via a signposted footpath.
We will return to the tower in a moment.
Which leaves D . This is a footpath from a small group of light industrial buildings not visited by Streetview.
And the tower? Obviously it was, and still is, a water storage tower. Originally the tower contained some community rooms and storage for undisclosed "archives".
Now the lower floors retain community use, but the main section is converted into student flats.
Let's hope the tank doesn't spring a leak!
But we need to look in some detail at the Naerum Branch.
It is what you might call a basic railway, almost a tram train. At first it looks much like a rural backwater ...
... with the train trundling through open countryside ...
... with stations that would be classed as "basic" ...
... with a low platform and, if you are lucky, with a simple shelter.
... and what appear to be terminus buildings at the end of the line.
Occasionally the train runs along side narrow single track roads.
But, oddly, an on-line video shows trains passing at an intermediate stop ...
But do not be deceived, dear reader, as there is plenty of well laid out suburban housing of high quality close to the tracks all the way.
These properties are particularly intriguing!
The video shows a clutch of passengers alighting at most apparently rural stops. The trains are used!
fbb would guess that, if such a branch had survived, say as part of the Southern network in Greater London, it might warrant an hourly train service - so here is the shock.
The Naerun branch has a train every ...
At one stage not too long ago, the train(s) had a dedicated livery!
... twenty minutes connecting with the core S-bane service at Jeagersborg. But at peak times, shown in the centre panel above, there is an additional 20 minute frequency giving a train every ten minutes.
The passing loops are needed!
The line opened in 1900, but the section north of Naerum closed in 1923 ...
... and trains were diverted into Jaegersborg in 1936.
Historically, the passenger service always was small but frequent ...
... with modernised railcars being used as time progressed.
Sometimes loading justified two units!
Bet those old short wheelbase cars would have given a bumpy ride. fbb suspects!
On the whole, a fascinating line and so, so different from the big trains on the S-bane services!
And fbb nearly forgot. The Jaegersborg to Nearum train is nicknamed ...
... The Pig!
Tomorrow we go underground!
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Bible Fire Works part 3
Fire Works and Fireworks??
Yesterday's answers.
4 - Smoke
5 - Ba-al
6 - Coal
Puzzle 7
At our meeting, the questions became a bit more like a mini-sermon. We were exploring, simply, how God can be of help in our daily lives today. We were using Bible stories as examples, as above with Moses and the Israelites crossing the desert on the way to their Promised Land. Clue : Giving direction.
Puzzle 8
Clue : Not to burn or destroy but what a traditional open fire does.
Puzzle 9
In the case of New Testament Missionary Paul mishing in Malta, the fire helped save him when a poisonous snake attached to his hand. Clue : a flu jab does this medically.
Puzzle 10
At Pentecost, which many call Whitsun, the early Christian leaders were blessed with the "fire" of God's Holy Spirit which changed them from frightened men into brave ambassadors for Christ, often facing really tough persecution from their own people. Clue : needing Holy muscles?
What God offers is not quite so hard to accept and put into practice as this.
Best not try the physical stuff at home unless you really know what you are doing.
Answers tomorrow.
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Copenhagen below ground blog : Thur 6 Nov
