European Railroad Discussion > A thunderstorm over Mainz

Just got back from a couple of hours train watching on Mainz Römisches Theater Bhf which is a couple of blocks from our hotel. The forecast was for thundery showers, boy they were not wrong.

1: When I arrived, at about 16:15 the sun was out and it was hot. This DB class 429 Stadler Flirt is on a semi fast to Mannheim. You can see the remains of the Roman theatre to the left of the train. Much of it was lost when the railway was built in the 1850s.

2: A Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) Alstom Coradia EMU on a Wiesbaden to Aschaffenburg via Mainz & Darmstadt service. We went too and from Darmstadt in these units yesterday, all the toilets were locked out of use.

3: Mainz is served by S-Bahn services from Frankfurt am Main, such as this class 430 on an S8 service from Frankfurt am Main Stadion to Wiesbaden Hbf.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/25 23:13 by 86235.

---

---

---

I had hoped to see one or two freight trains but no, nothing, which was a disappointment. But the intensity of the rainfall & size of hailstones forced me to stay put until it cleared up, so I took some video footage to pass the time

An ICE from the direction of Frankfurt is halted by the signals. Whilst it waits it is joined by a DB class 111 on a pair of Flixtrain cars, ex DB Bmmz and Bmmdz.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/25 22:04 by 86235.

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Good thing you had the protection of the platform cover. I like that scheme on the DB loco. Is DB doing haulage for Flixtrain or is Flixtrain leasing the DB locomotive? Also the shortest Flixtrain that I have seen.

Nick, The thunderstorm caught up with me on 8/12/05 in Darmstadt.  Gerry

---

NMlurker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good thing you had the protection of the platform
> cover. I like that scheme on the DB loco. Is DB
> doing haulage for Flixtrain or is Flixtrain
> leasing the DB locomotive? Also the shortest
> Flixtrain that I have seen.

Empty stock, being moved by DB on behalf of Flix.

GPutz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nick, The thunderstorm caught up with me on
> 8/12/05 in Darmstadt.  Gerry

Yep, a typical summer thunderstorm in Germany



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/25 14:03 by 86235.

The rain overcame the guttering and downpipes of the station roof.

A Vlexx DMU getting a good soaking.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/25 05:01 by 86235.

---

---

I like shots in the rain!  Glad you braved the downpour.  Just like outside Těchlovice!

Great shots, I love rain photography. I enjoyed a monster thunderstorm in Lucerne the other day.

55002 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great shots, I love rain photography. I enjoyed a
> monster thunderstorm in Lucerne the other day.

There's nothing quite like a summer thunderstorm, so long as you're under cover!