The Hoorn–Medemblik heritage railway operated by the ''Museumstoomtram Hoorn Medemblik'' is a

heritage railway A heritage railway or heritage railroad (US usage) is a railway operated as living history to re-create or preserve railway scenes of the past. Heritage railways are often old railway lines preserved in a state depicting a period (or periods) i ...

in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. It runs from

Hoorn Hoorn () is a city and municipality in the northwest of the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the largest town and the traditional capital of the region of West Friesland. Hoorn is located on the Markermeer, 20 kilometers ( ...

Medemblik Medemblik () is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. It lies immediately south of the polder and former municipality of Wieringermeer. History Medemblik was a prosperous ...

, a distance of about .

History

The original railway line was operated by ''Locaalspoorwegmaatschappij Hollands Noorderkwartier'' (1884 - 1935). The line was opened on 3 November 1887. The track followed a circuitous route to reduce the amount of land that had to be compulsorily purchased. The line used steam traction; diesel traction being introduced in 1929. The line was closed to passenger services from 1 January 1936 to 29 May 1940. On 5 January 1941 the line was permanently closed to passenger services; as was the railway station in

Heritage railway

Today, the railway is operated as a tourist attraction. The centrepiece of its collection is the former

Nederlandse Spoorwegen Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS; ; en, "Dutch Railways") is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. It is a Dutch state-owned company founded in 1938. The Dutch rail network is one of the busiest in the European Union, and the ...

locomotive 7742 ''Bello'', the only preserved light steam engine in the Netherlands. Other steam locomotives in running order include three tramway engines, two of which are enclosed tram engines (steam dummies). The remaining ones are: three industrial engines; a German engine which is rebuilt as a replica of a Dutch railway shunting engine (of a series of which several also served on steam tramways); and a locomotive of industrial type which served at a steam tram company in Zuid-Holland, still awaiting restoration. One of the industrial locomotives is on a long-term loan to . Seven of the ten steam locomotives are official Dutch railway monuments. NS 7742 and the two enclosed tram engines are in regular use: ''Bello'' mainly in the peak season afternoon train. The regular 10.40 am train is pulled by tramloco LTM 26. The two steam dummies mainly in the peak season (Tue/Wed/Thu). Eight steam tram carriages are in regular service, as well as several steam tram goods wagons. Bello and the three tramway engines originate from the provinces North Holland, South Holland and Limburg. The serviceable steam tram carriages originate from the provinces Friesland, Gelderland, North Holland, South Holland and Zeeland. The livery and presentation of the cars is as they were in 1926. The station is twinned with the Bluebell Railway in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. The ride between Hoorn and Medemblik is often combined by tourists with a trip from

Enkhuizen Enkhuizen () is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. History Enkhuizen, like Hoorn and Amsterdam, was one of the harbor-towns of the VOC, from where overseas trade wi ...

by boat. On the disused side of platform 2 of Huddersfield railway station in northern England, an old carriage is bolted to the ground, and set in its window is a Dutch plaque commemorating 100 years of Stoomtram Hoorn - Medemblik.

Film

The railway was used as film location for the 1979 movie '' The Riddle of the Sands'': the station building of 'Emden' was in fact Medemblik, and Twisk was used to represent 'Bensersiel'.

Route

Stations in ''italics'' have been restored.

Gallery

Image:SHM 26 - Ir. P.H. Bosboom.jpg, Loc 26 - "Ir. P.H. Bosboom" Image:SHM Loc 30.jpg, Loc 30 - "Hoorn" Image:SHM Loc 7742.jpg, NS 7742 "Bello"NS 7742 "Bello"
/ref> Image:Museumstoomtram Hoorn Medemblik and Friesland ship in Medemblik.jpg, Train with "

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

" museum ship File:Tramstation Hoorn noordzijde.JPG, Tramstation Hoorn; july 2015. File:Sporenplan Hoorn.gif, Track layout at Hoorn (HM in blue, NS in black). File:Station Zwaag.jpg, Station Zwaag

References

External links

The most exciting journey through time by Steamtram and Boat!
(English)
Stationsweb entry
(Dutch) {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoorn-Medemblik heritage railway Heritage railways in the Netherlands Hoorn Tourist attractions in North Holland