The Pammukale Expresi back to Istanbul

PANIC!

Road works had cut off Denizli Station from the outside world. With time running out we were at a dead end in a commercial back street surrounded by curious Turkish workers and with no sign of the station. We had tried everything and could not move and did not know what to try next. Then a small miracle. A hand appeared pressing a sheet of paper against the drivers window - bearing my signature!!! It was my hire car deposit slip! The rent a car man also could not find the station and was wandering about the town hoping to spot us!!

The cases were unloaded and the car disappeared but still no sign of the station until two Turkish workers grabbed the cases and made for a nearby hedge. 'Mugged' we thought......
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......but no. The railway tracks were just through the hedge (above left) and it was just a matter of dodging passing trains (above right) to cross the tracks and reach the platform!!!

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Having finally penetrated the station's defences it looked as if we were to be rewarded with a steam drawn train...this magnificent old sabre toothed!engine looked to be ready for action....

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But sadly no steam extravaganza.................

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........just a hefty old diesel...and a quick check that the train was going to Istanbul. Another moment of panic until we remembered that H Pasa was the abbreviation for the Istanbul terminus.