Outward ferry crossing via Felixstowe to Zeebrugge for the first time, but no chance to take any Belgian photos; half a day spent around the Köln area, then a train to Poznan Glowny, Poland. Just three days there, based at Wolsztyn, where I am offered a room at the locomotive depot itself, in the former train crew accommodation block. It's been snowing, it's very overcast and gloomy, I've developed a hole in my boot, and the shoulder strap of my holdall has snapped, meaning I have to stand on one leg, keeping my bags out of the wet, write down numbers AND attempt to take photos - all with just the two hands. So after three nights, instead of heading for Warsaw as planned, I head back through Germany, and spend three days pottering around in Holland. Naturally, the high point is getting a room for three nights at Wolsztyn locomotive depot! Below is listed the eventual itinerary from Zeebrugge, as usual, all unplanned:-
DAY 1 (Mon 28th February): Zeebrugge, Brugge, Köln Hbf, Düsseldorf Hbf, Hagen Hbf, Köln Hbf, Aachen Hbf, (Frankfurt am Oder).
DAY 2 (Tue 1st March): (Frankfurt am Oder, Rzepin), Poznan Glowny, *Wolsztyn (Wostzyn Depot - 17 locos + 3 passing).
DAY 3 (Wed 2nd March): Wolsztyn (Wolstzyn Depot - 18 locos), *Poznan Glowny, Gniezno (Gniezno Depot-incomplete - 24+ locos), Poznan Glowny, *Wolsztyn (Wolstzyn Depot - 18 locos + 2 passing).
DAY 4 (Thu 3rd March): Wolsztyn, Zbaszynek (Zbaszynek Depot - 60 locos), Gorzow Wlkp, Krzyz (Krzyz Depot-incomplete - 16+ locos), Poznan Glowny, *Wolsztyn (Wolstzyn Depot - 20 locos).
DAY 5 (Fri 4th March): Wolsztyn, Leszno, Poznan Glowny, (Rzepin), Berlin Hbf, (Berlin Wannsee), Magdeburg Hbf, Leipzig Hbf, Berlin Hbf, (Magdeburg Hbf)
DAY 6 (Sat 5th March): (Magdeburg Hbf, Hamm, Bad Bentheim), Amsterdam, Roosendaal, Breda, Tilburg, Roosendaal, Breda, Tilburg, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Hilversum, Utrecht, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg, Breda, Roosendaal.
DAY 7 (Sun 6th March): Roosendaal, Breda, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Den Haag CS, Leiden, Utrecht, Amersfoort, Zwolle, Amersfoort, Den Haag CS, Den Haag HS, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Den Haag CS, Tilburg, Breda, Roosendaal.
DAY 8 (Mon 7th March): Roosendaal, Breda, Rotterdam, Hoek van Holland Haven, Harwich Parkeston Quay.
*The four train journeys between Poznan Glowny & Wolsztyn were all hauled by Ol49 Class 2-6-2 steam locos, all regular timetabled services.