Trip to Finland - July 2017
General Notes
Ten days in Finland, mostly on the PTG "Southern Finland" trip from 2nd to 9th July.
Operating Company Abbreviations:
- VR - formerly Valtionrautatiet (national train operator in Finland)
Track gauge
1524 mm gauge unless otherwise stated.
| Place | Arrive | Depart | Train | Traction details & notes |
Saturday 1st July 2017
| Timperley | 14:54 | Metrolink tram 3004 | ||
| Cornbrook | 15:07 | 15:11 | Metrolink tram 3097 | |
| Manchester Airport | 15:54 | |||
| Manchester Airport (MAN) | 17:50 | AY0938 | Finnair Embraer 190 OH-LKI push-back 18:46, take-off 18:55 from runway 23R | |
| Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) | 22:30 | landed 23:14 on runway 04L, on stand at gate 32 23:19 | ||
| Helsinki Airport | 23:48 | 'P' | VR EMU Sr5 set 016 via Tikkurila | |
| Helsinki | 00:16 | |||
| New passenger track today: Helsinki Airport - Tikkurila - Helsinki. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Holiday Inn Helsinki Centre, adjacent to Helsinki railway station. | ||||
| Notes Flight from Manchester to Helsinki, then into the city centre via clockwise suburban route 'P'. |
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Sunday 2nd July 2017
| Helsinki | 08:00 | VR DMU Dm7 4163/4207 PTG charter train | ||
| Via yard lines - Pasila - Kerava - Olli - Sköldvik (09:22/09:32 reverse in yard) - Olli - Porvoo (10:37/11:10 shunt to end of line) - Nikkilä - Kerava north curve - Mäntsälä | ||||
| Lahti | 13:17 | 13:36 | SL Hr1 1009 PTG charter train | |
| Via Heinola (reverse 14:39/15:15) - Lahti (reverse 16:10/16:12, 6/6 late) - west apex of triangle (reverse 16:26) - Salpausselkä (reverse in platform 16:23/16:28, 7/9 late) - Lahti (16:33/16:35, 18/17 late) - Loviisa - Loviisa satama (reverse 18:07/18:20, 41/50 late) - Loviisa - Lahti (20:12/20:14, 60/62 late) - Riihimäki (21:07/21:11, 63/65 late) | ||||
| Hyvinkää | 21:24 | arr 65 late Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Pasila - Kerava - Lahti; Lahti - Riihimäki; Riihimäki - Hyvinkää. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Helsinki yard lines; Kerava - Olli - Sköldvik; Olli - Porvoo; Lahti - Heinola; Lahti - Salpausselkä; Lahti - Loviisa satama. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Cumulus, Hämeenkatu 2, Hyvinkää. | ||||
| Notes Helsinki to Hyvinkää via the freight-only branches to Sköldvik, Porvoo, Heinola and Loviisa satama (satama = harbour), and to Lahti Salpausselkä which sees event specials only. |
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Monday 3rd July 2017
| Hyvinkää | 08:45 | VR DL Dv12 2549 PTG charter train | ||
| Via reversal south of Hyvinkää station - Hyvinkää railway museum (08:50/10:45) - Hyvinkää (shunt) - Lohja - Karjaa (12:13/12:20) - Hanko (13:10/13:12) - Hanko free port (reverse 13:20/13:27, 8/8 late) - Hanko (13:56, dep 15 late) - Karjaa (reverse 15:00/15:40) - Turku (18:12/18:22, 18/8 late) - Raisio - Naantali (reverse 18:42/19:15, dep 17 late) - Raisio | ||||
| Turku | 19:38 | arr 20 late | ||
| Turku | 20:03 | IC928 | VR EL Sr1 3031 | |
| Turku satama | 20:10 | 20:20 | IC972 | VR EL Sr2 3215 |
| Turku | 20:27 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Karjaa - Hanko; Karjaa - Turku; Turku - Turku satama. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Hyvinkää station - Hyvinkää railway museum; Hyvinkää - Karjaa; Hanko port; Turku - Raisio - Naantali. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Scandic Plaza, Yliopistinkatu 29, Turku. | ||||
| Notes Hyvinkää to Turku via the non-passenger line from Hyvinkää to Karjaa, the branch to Hanko and the freight-only continuation to the harbour, and the freight-only line to Turku Naantali, all with class Dv12 diesel loco 2549; also the short passenger branch to the ferry terminal at Turku satama. |
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Tuesday 4th July 2017
| Turku | 07:52 | VR DL Dr12 2216 PTG charter train | ||
| Via Viheriäinen (reverse/propel 08:10/08:20) - Turku Goods (reverse 08:35/08:38, 8/9 late) - Raisio - Mynämäki - Uusikaupunki - Hangonsaari (reverse 10:08/10:45, 18/13 late) - Uusikaupunki - Mynämäki - Raisio - Turku (12:40/13:11) | ||||
| Humppila | 14:31 | 14:35 | DL Move 21 PTG charter train (750 mm gauge) | |
| Via Jokioinen (reverse, 15:15/15:17) - Jänhijoki bridge (photo run-past 15:32/15:37) | ||||
| Humppila | 16:15 | 16:21 | VR DL Dr12 2216 PTG charter train | |
| Via Toijala (17:04/18:15, visit locomotive museum) - Valkeakoski (reverse/run-round 18:39/19:05, 17/7 late) - Toijala (reverse/run-round 19:29/19:54, 10/4 late) | ||||
| Tampere | 20:32 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Turku - Humppila - Toijala; Toijala - Tampere. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Turku - Viheriäinen; Raisio - Hangonsaari; Toijala - Valkeakoski. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Sokos Torni, Ratapihankatu 43, Tampere (1st of 2 nights). | ||||
| Notes Turku to Tampere via the freight-only branches to Viheriäinen, Hangonsaari and Valkeakoski, with class Dr12 diesel loco 2216; plus the 750 mm preserved line between Humppila and Jokioinen with class Move diesel loco 21. |
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Wednesday 5th July 2017
| Tampere | 08:16 | VR DL Dr12 2216 PTG charter train | ||
| Via Nokia (08:31/08:35) - Nakkila (10:07/10:19) - Pori (10:33) - Mäntyluoto (reverse/run-round 10:50/11:15) - Kaana (reverse 11:22/11:25) - Tahkoluoto (reverse/run-round 11:14/12:00, 35/10 late) - Pori (13:11/13:47, -8/5 late) - Kokemäki (reverse/run-round 14:20/14:56) - Rauma (reverse/run-round 15:38/16:17) - Kokemäki (16:59) - Ahvenus - Lielahti (18:15) | ||||
| Tampere | 18:32 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Tampere - Kokemäki - Pori. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Pori - Mäntyluoto and Tahkoluoto; Kokemäki - Rauma. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Sokos Torni, Ratapihankatu 43, Tampere (2nd of 2 nights). | ||||
| Notes Tampere to Tampere via Kokemäki and Pori, the freight-only branches from Pori to Tahkoluoto and from Kokemäki to Rauma, with class Dr12 diesel loco 2216. |
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Thursday 6th July 2017
| Tampere | 08:10 | VR DL Dr12 2216 PTG charter train | ||
| Via propelling move to Tampere Viiniklka (reverse 08:16/08:17) - south-to-east curve - Orivesi | ||||
| * Vilppula | 09:34 | 09:54 | VR DL Dv15 1991 + Dv16 2038 | |
| Via Mäntää (reverse/run-round 10:30/11:00) - Vilppula (reverse/run-round 11:15/11:48) | ||||
| * Happamäki | 12:22 | 14:38 | VR DL Dr13 2343 (visit steam park shed) | |
| Via Jyväskylä - Venetmäki - Pieksämäki yard | ||||
| Pieksämäki | 17:38 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Tampere east jn - Orivesi - Vilppula - Happamäki; Happamäki - Jyväskylä - Pieksämäki. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Tampere south-to-east curve; Vilppula - Mäntää. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Savonsolmu, Toikantie 9, Pieksämäki. | ||||
| Notes Tampere to Pieksämäki via the Tampere avoiding curve and the freight-only branch from Vilppula to Mäntää, with class Dr12 diesel loco 2216 to Vilppula, then class Dv15/16 diesel locos 1991 and 2038 to Happamäki, then class Dr13 diesel loco 2343. |
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Friday 7th July 2017
| Pieksämäki | 09:05 | VR DL Dr12 2216 PTG charter train | ||
| Via Suonenjoki (09:47/10:05) - Yläkoski (reverse/run-round 10:25/10:40) - Suonenjoki (11:00/11:20) - Salminen - Kurkimäki - Kuopio (12:31/12:51) - Siilinjärvi (13:18) - Juankoski (13:56/14:15) - Luikolahti (14:38/15:11) - Sysmäjärvi (reverse/run-round 15:25/15:30) - Vuonos (reverse/run-round 15:50/16:05) - Sysmäjärvi (16:14) - Viinijärvi - Joensuu (17:00) | ||||
| * Joensuu | 17:00 | 17:35 | VR DL Dr16 2810 shunt to depot | |
| Joensuu depot | 17:40 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Pieksämäki - Suonenjoki - Kuopio - Siilinjärvi; Viinijärvi - Joensuu. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Suonenjoki - Yläkoski; Siilinjärvi - Sysmäjärvi - Viinijärvi; Sysmäjärvi - Vuonos; Joensuu depot. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Sokos Kimmel, Itäranta 1, Joensuu. | ||||
| Notes Pieksämäki to Joensuu via the freight-only branch from Suonenjoki to Yläkoski and the freight line between Siilinjärvi and Viinijärvi (plus the branch off this from Sysmäjärvi to Vuounos), with class Dr13 diesel loco 2343; finally class Dr16 diesel loco 2810 shunted us into Joensuu depot. |
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Saturday 8th July 2017
| Joensuu | 07:30 | VR DL Dv12 2607 PTG charter train | ||
| Via Heinävaara - Tuupovaara - Ilomantsi (end of line 09:16/09:20, then propel back to station, run-round 09:30, dep 15 late) - Tuupovaara - Heinävaara - Joensuu (11:10/11:30) - Viinijärvi - Heinavesi (12:48/12:52) | ||||
| * Pieksämäki | 14:40 | 14:50 | VR SL Hr1 1009 | |
| Via Otava (16:11/16:16, 3/43 late) - Lelkola - Mäntyharju (reverse/run-round 16:51/17:05, 48/55 late) - Mynttilä (17:15, 55 late) - Ristiina (reverse/run-round, propel to road crossing, water locomotive 18:16/18:45 40/183 late) - Mynttilä (19:47, dep 132 late) - Mäntyharju (hot axle box on locomotive tender 19:56/20:04, 132/147 late) | ||||
| Hillosensalmi | 23:21 | bus to Kouvola | ||
| Kouvola | Today's photos | |||
| New passenger track today: Pieksämäki - Mynttilä - Hillosensalmi. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: Joensuu - Ilomantsi; Mynttilä - Ristiina. | ||||
| Overnight: PTG Hotel: Hotel Cumulus Restel, Kouvolankatu 11, Kouvola. | ||||
| Notes Joensuu to Kouvola via the freight-only line to Ilomantsi (the most easterly railway line in the European Union) with class Dv12 diesel loco 2607, to Pieksämäki with class Dr13 diesel loco 2343, then with class Hr1 steam loco 1009 via the freight-only branch from Mäntyharju/Mynttilä to Ristiina. Unfortunately 1009 failed with a hot axle box at Hillosensalmi so we were bussed, over 3 hours late, to Kouvola! |
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Sunday 9th July 2017
| Kouvola | 09:00 | H352 | VR DMU Sm2 6075 | |
| Kotka satama | 09:47 | 10:15 | H353 | VR DMU Sm2 6075 |
| Kouvola | 11:03 | 11:22 | IC74 | VR EL Sr2 3242 (P) |
| Helsinki | 12:40 | |||
| Rautatieasema | 13:45 | '9' | Helsinki tram 412 | |
| Länsiterminaali T2 | 14:03 | 14:13 | '6T' | Helsinki tram 413 |
| Rautatieasema | 14:28 | 14:33 | '3' | Helsinki tram 405 |
| Via clockwise circle - change to '2' - Rautatieasema - change to '3' | ||||
| Rautatieasema | 15:26 | 15:40 | '6T' | Helsinki tram 214 |
| Huutokonttori | 15:52 | 16:05 | '9' | Helsinki tram 414 |
| Länsilinkki | 16:07 | |||
| Itämerenkatu | 16:12 | '8' | Helsinki tram 236 | |
| Sankonpaasi | 16:16 | 16:21 | '8' | Helsinki tram 236 |
| Ooppera | 16:38 | 16:44 | '4' | Helsinki tram 95 |
| Saunalahdentie | 16:58 | 17:02 | '4' | Helsinki tram 95 |
| Kansaneläkelaitos | 17:12 | 17:16 | '10' | Helsinki tram 92 |
| Korppaanmäki | 17:28 | 17:32 | '10' | Helsinki tram 92 |
| Tarkk'ampujankatu | 18:00 | 18:04 | '10' | Helsinki tram 92 |
| Lasipalatsi | 18:10 | 18:11 | '4' | Helsinki tram 88 |
| Merisotilaantori | 18:20 | 18:28 | '4' | Helsinki tram 88 |
| Kaupplaankatu | 18:34 | |||
| Senaatintori | 19:00 | '5' | Helsinki tram 112 | |
| Katajanokan terminaali | 19:07 | 19:14 | '5' | Helsinki tram 112 via Rautatieasema |
| Aleksanterinkatu | 19:28 | |||
| Ylioppilastalo | 20:56 | '7B' | Helsinki tram 202 | |
| Pasilan asema | 21:19 | 21:27 | '7A' | Helsinki tram 202 |
| Hakaniemi | 21:40 | 21:48 | '9' | Helsinki tram 414 |
| Pasilan asema | 22:03 | 22:12 | '9' | Helsinki tram 414 |
| Halaniemi | 22:25 | 22:29 | '9' | Helsinki tram 414 |
| Ylioppilastalo | 22:39 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Kouvola - Kotka satama; Kouvola - Lahti. | ||||
| Overnight: Holiday Inn Helsinki Centre, adjacent to Helsinki railway station. | ||||
| Notes Firstly a visit to the passenger branch line from Kouvola to Kotka satama (harbour), then on to Helsinki for some tram riding. |
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Monday 10th July 2017
| Helsinki | 06:11 | 'P' | VR EMU Sr5 sets 21+45 | |
| Airport | 06:42 | |||
| Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) | 08:25 | AY0933 | Finnair OH-LKG ERT-190 gate 53 push-back 08:26 take-off 08:38 from runway 22R | |
| Manchester Airport (MAN) | 09:25 | ??:?? | Landed 09:20 on runway 23R, on stand 09:28 | |
| Timperley | ??:?? | |||
| New passenger track today: none. | ||||
| Notes Heading home. |
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Summary
An excellent firtst 'proper' visit to Finland. Lots of passenger and non-passenger track covered.