Stations, lines & junctions for spotting

Planning a Spotting Tour: One Day, Several Stations, Maximum Haul

How many stations can you really manage in a day? The maths behind spot time, travel time and buffer – plus a fully planned example day in the Ruhr region.

Choosing the Right Platform Photo Spot: Perspective, Not Chance

Angle to the track axis, distance from the platform edge, dealing with masts: the craft of choosing a spot works at any station – regardless of local knowledge.

Spotting Steep Gradients: Geislinger Steige and Schiefe Ebene

Two legendary steep gradients compared head to head: what makes each one special, how to get there without a car, and why sound matters here as much as the picture.

Spotting Border Stations: Where Foreign Trains Enter Germany

Ten border crossings at a glance: which railways turn up there, where system changes and locomotive changes take place, and which locations are worth the trip.

Small Stations for Spotting: Why They're Often Better Than the Hbf

Fewer tracks, fewer people, cleaner backgrounds: what makes a good small station, and how to find such stops systematically on the map.

Spotting at Cologne Hbf: Platforms, Times and the Best Positions

Cologne Hbf is one of Germany's densest rail hubs. This guide goes platform by platform: sightlines, light conditions and typical trains for each area.

Middle Rhine Valley: spotting Germany's busiest freight line

Two railway lines, one valley, not a single bridge crossing: how to plan a spotting tour in the Middle Rhine Valley between Koblenz, the Loreley and Bingen.

Marshalling yard spotting: how to tackle Maschen, Hamm and co.

Marshalling yards are the densest source of subjects for freight fans – and the ones with the strictest rules. Here's how to approach them safely and sensibly.

The Best Stations for Trainspotting in Germany: The Big Overview

From Hamburg to Munich: these German stations offer the highest train density and the best vantage points for successful trainspotting.

Ahrtalbahn in Brief: Current Status, Rebuild, Timetable, Photo Spots & Drehscheibe Online Links

Everything about the rebuild of the Ahrtalbahn: current operating status, timetable situation, rail-replacement info and the best photo spots between Remagen and Altenahr – summarised compactly and practically.

Drehscheibe Online Bocholt: Everything About the Bocholt Railway (Wesel–Bocholt), the RE19, Photo Spots and Special Trains

Everything about the Eifel Line (Cologne–Trier): Engineering Status, Timetables, Vehicles, Photo Spots, Special Workings & Diversions

Gäubahn Compact: Current Status 2026 (S21), Diversions, Timetable, Photo Spots, Freight Traffic and More

Everything about the Murr Valley Railway: route, photo spots, sightings, typical trains, crossings, times of day and tour tips

Everything about the Riedbahn: diversions after the general renewal, current engineering works, best photo spots & sightings

The comprehensive guide to the Schönbuchbahn: Drehscheibe Online sightings, timetable, photo spots, rolling stock & upgrades