Jon Searles' photos with the keyword: diamond2

The same day that I took the Andel Tram Stop picture, I decided to wander down Stefanikova to see if I could take any good street or tram shots, and this was the first good shot I got. The strange looking building on the left is now owned and run by Komercni Banka, or KB, one of the Czech Republic's major banks, while the others are mostly apartment blocks of varying ages.

Deviating from the Stefanikova story for a moment, here's perhaps the most spectacular view possible from a tram in Prague (not counting the Funicular). It was taken from Chotkova, on Tram 22 or 23 (I don't remember right now), southbound. The historic tram service, #91, and several other services also use it, but these three are the best for tourists because this is the way to and from Prazky Hrad, the castle. There was a bit of fog on this day as the sun melted the snow, and some of that is inevitably smog, too, but I think it adds atmosphere. As I get better shots, I'll probably post them, but for now, enjoy. :-)

I really liked the lighting in this shot, so I figured I'd post it to see what people think. :-) This was continuing down Stefanikova, shooting pictures of the shops.

Like the "Shops and Shadows" shot, I also liked this one for the lighting, but also for the irony of going, historically, from one extreme to the other. The building is blatantly Communist (unless someone knows otherwise and wants to make a fool out of me), but the shops are all small businesses, in the finest tradition of capitalism, as Wal-Mart hasn't destroyed this neighborhood yet.

One of several St. Vaclav's churches in Prague, this one is considered to be Neo-Rennaissance in style. Again, maybe this shot isn't so great technically, as much of the lower part of the church is almost black, but I love how it looks.

It took this from one of the trams going through Malostranska, and I love it. I don't know why. I think it's the blowing snow.

I'm pretty sure this was a coach based on a Class 810 railbus, rather than a real railbus. Some of these are powered railbuses, while some are pulled by small diesel locomotives or by 810s. They're used on branchlines, mainly, although I've ridden in an 810 at up to 80Km/h on the Decin-Prague mainline before.

Class 111 electric locomotives are used a lot in Ceske Drahy stations for switching coaching stock, but I have occassionally seen them on locals and freights. This one had just brought in a cut of coaches that would be ultimately pulled by a 363 electric.

Class 363 electric locomotives work passenger and freight trains on all of the electrified mainlines in the Czech Republic, and I've of course posted photos of them before. This one was sitting on one of the outer sidings of Praha Hlavni Nadrazi waiting to pull an express to Ceske Budejovice, which was being made up by #111011-9, which I've already posted a photo of. Note that 363127-2 is painted in an advertising livery instead of the standard Ceske Drahy green and yellow.

451s are very common on local services on electrified lines on Ceske Drahy, and I've already discussed them in detail elsewhere. This one is arriving from Benesov U Prahy with a local, and will also form the return service after unloading.

This is #451060-9 after working a service from Prague, waiting at Cercany for the highball to Benesov U Prahy, where it will terminate and switch direction to work a return service to Prague. Notice the Class 810 railbus and the freight to the right. Cercany is a very busy station, in spite of Cercany being a relatively small town. There's plenty of business, too, as the only reason the platform isn't crawling with people is that the train is already loaded.

As #451060-9 was waiting for the highball, #452013-6 pulled in with a local for Praha Hlavni Nadrazi. It was the early afternoon, so the glare to the right is the setting winter sun.

Cercany is so busy it's actually possible to line up an EMU, a diesel-hauled freight, and a railbus all at once if you're careful and lucky enough. :-)

Here's...yet another Class 452 shot!! #452014-4 is waiting in this picture to work a service Praha Hlavni Nadrazi-Benesov U Prahy.

This is one of the express trains for Ceske Budejovice, and on this particular day (January 26th, 2007) it looked like it was all set to be packed to standing room only with skiiers, in spite of having over 10 cars on.

Here's a shot of train #R641 for Ceske Budejovice, waiting for it's locomotive at Praha Hlavni Nadrazi. There are so many coaches on to accomodate unexpected ski traffic that you can't see to the end!!!

I took this just as the sun was finally coming out after several days of snow and storms. I liked the way the buildings were illuminated.

Although the station has too many tracks for it to cover all of them, the inner platforms of Hlavni Nadrazi have a fair-sized train shed.