Chris Robins Photography

Koln: Krazy Tracks & Wires

Koln (Cologne), Germany: 2011

I spent much time last year in Koln, Germany for business.  A few things really stand out for me from the many visits and getting to know this beautiful city more than just passing through to see the famed Kolner Dom, the Dom Catherdral.  The beer.  The wurst.  The wienerschnitzel.  The people.  The Killepisch.  The long-standing feud between Koln & Dusseldorf.  And of course the Koln train station.  I got to loving Kolsch at the local beer halls and bars, eating the delicious local cuisine, and meeting some of the nicest people around.  My good friend, Philipp Schaffer, is one the the young guys in the city that really knows his way around, especially at Karnival time.  If you have not experienced Karnival in Koln, put it on your list of the 100 things to do in your life.  A cross between Mardi Gras and Halloween.  VIVA KOLONIA!!!

As I was making my way through the train station toward the end of the platform, I was struck by how accessible one side of the tracks were.  Not one to shy away from getting the shot I want, I walked down to an area that framed out this image just as I envisioned it with the complete and seeming mayhem of the criss-crossing tracks and overhead wires.  The trains were humming through and I waited patiently until they were all gone, save for one last local commuter rail train pulling in to the station. How do they know exactly which switch to pull to get the train onto the right track?  Really amazing.

Posted on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 2:53 pm. Filed under: Cologne, Germany, Train, Train Tracks Tags: Cologne, dusk, Hauptbanhof, Hbf, Koln, overhead wires, rail lines, railroad, tracks, train, train tracks RSS 2.0 feed.

5 Responses to “Koln: Krazy Tracks & Wires”

1. Alain says:

   January 28, 2012 at 3:14 pm

   Good shot Chris!

   Reply
2. JoeRodriguez says:

   January 28, 2012 at 6:15 pm

   Fantastic photo Chris!

   Reply
3. RobertB says:

   January 28, 2012 at 7:23 pm

   I love this shot of the tracks in one of my favourite cities. You’ve brought back many fond memories of my time spent there on business, two weeks every second year at Photokina. I especially miss Dom Kolsch and the incredible food in the old town, and strolling the Rhinegarten. I haven’t been back in many years, but after reading your commentary, it’s now back on my bucket list.

   Reply
4. Mike Olbinski says:

   January 30, 2012 at 3:44 pm

   WOW dude. Insanity.

   Reply
5. Mark Garbowski says:

   January 30, 2012 at 8:15 pm

   And how considerate of them to offer up a cool red train is perfect contrast to the cool tones of the rest of the image. Great image.

   Reply