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October 15, 2020

45 Fascinating Photos Show Belgium’s Tram System in the 1960s

Belgium’s first horse-drawn trams were introduced in Brussels in 1869, running from the Porte de Namur to the Bois de la Cambre.

Trams in Belgium from the 1960s

In 1877, a steam tram was introduced but it was not powerful enough for the hilly terrain and the tests were stopped. Simultaneously the Tramways Bruxellois experimented with a locomotive built in Tubize but it did not work either. The components proved too fragile and this experiment was also discontinued.

In 1887, experiments were made with accumulator trams, but these had a very limited range. Trolley power, used in Liège, was also tried in Brussels and in 1894 Brussels’ first electric tram lines were laid from Place Stéphanie/Stefanieplein to Uccle/Ukkel.

Take a look at these fascinating photos from Robert von Hirschhorn to see what Belgium’s tram system looked like in the 1960s.

It was one of the largest suburban tramway networks in Europe during the heydays; the NMVB-SNCV

Antwerp. Motorcar 4415 dressed for route Nº 24 at the Jan van Wouwerstraat in front of the stelplaats (depot) Hoboken

Antwerp. Motorcar 5858 + PCC car 2012 (brake-down) on tow near the workshop and depot Grotehondstraat

Antwerp. Motorcar 8827 + carts with rail near the stelplaats / depot Merksem

Antwerp. Motorcar 9647 on route Nº 63 (NMVB outbound) heading for Brasschaat passes the city tram terminal Merksem

Antwerp. Motorcar 9659 on route Nº 63 (NMVB) has just left the terminus on the Franklin Rooseveltplaats / square and running on the Italiëlei

Antwerp. PCC 2071 on route Nº 11 in old livery at the Carnot Street under renovation

Antwerp. PCC car 2038 on route Nº 7 has just left the terminus Mortsel

Antwerp. PCC car 2100 on route Nº 10 during reconstruction in the Carnotstraat near the Middenstatie / Central Station

Antwerp. PCC cars 2038 on route Nº 7 and 2097 on route Nº 15 at the terminus Mortsel

Brussels. Motorcar 165 + trailer 2105 on route Nº 76 on the Grasmarkt

Brussels. Motorcar 1327 + trailer 2087 on route Nº 62 at the Godfried van bouillonstraat with steep alignment

Brussels. Motorcar 1511 on route Nº 102 on the Boulevard Baudouin

Brussels. Motorcar 10356 on route L (cross out) to Meisse has just left the terminal on Place Charles Rogier

Brussels. Motorcar 10476 on route W at Rue des Croisades / Kruisvaartenstraat (Crusade) near Gare du Nord / Noordstatie (North Station)

Brussels. PCC 7077 on route Nº 55 at Gare du Sud / South Station

Charleroi. Motorcar 303 on route Nº 15 passes trailer Nº 8 at the South Station loop

Charleroi. Motorcar 307 on route Nº 15 traversing the Rue de l'Eglise (Church Street) on his way to the South Station (Gare du Sud)

Charleroi. Motorcar 311 + trailer 11 on route Nº 2 at Rue de L'Eglise - Quai de Brabant

Charleroi. Motorcar 410 onroute Nº 8 near the end station Chatelet on Rue de Couillet

Charleroi. Motorcar 9749 + trailer 19464 on route Nº 31 at the stop Avenue de l'Europe

Charleroi. Motorcar 9751 on route Nº 50 and motorcar on route Nº 51 in front of the South Station

Charleroi. Motorcar 10164 on route Nº 65 near the depot entrance at the Place de Tramways - The Tramway Square

Charleroi. Motorcar 10279 on route Nº 93 and 10269 on route Nº 82 at the terminus 'Eden', on the Boulevard Jaques Bertrand

Charleroi. Trailer 11 + motorcar 448 are shifting at the depot Châtelet

Ghent. Motorcar 320 on route Nº 1 towards Moscou, just passed Gravensteen (old castle and landmark)

Ghent. Motorcar 323 on the long gone route Nº 3 in the middle of town

Ghent. Motorcar 331 on route Nº 4 passing a bridge

Ghent. Motorcar 335 on route Nº 4 runs through the Veldstraat city centre

Ghent. Motorcar 341 on route Nº 4 towards St. Pieters Station

Ghent. Motorcar 360 on route Nº 2 at the end stop Arsenaal (Brusselsesteenweg)

Ghent. Motorcar 362 on route Nº 1 at the terminus van Beverenplein

Ghent. Motorcar 376 on route Nº 1 at the terminus Moscou. The conductor or wattman changed the pantograph for the right direction

La Louvière. Motorcar 10261 on route Nº 32 winds itself through the street of La Louvière

Liège. End station city centre, the motorman of car 318 takes a brake before pleasing the crowd waiting

Liège. Motorcar 301 on route Nº 3 next to the River Meuse (Maas) on its way to the end stop in the centre

Liège. Motorcar 314 on route Nº 3 along the banks of the River Meuse towards Flemalle

Liège. Motorcar 318 on route Nº 3 approaches the end station in the city centre with narrow streets

Mons. Motorcar 10076 as special service enters the station square from the city site

Mons. Motorcar 10491 on route Nº 9 leaves the station square on the North side

Ostend. Motorcar 10019 (modified former diesel motorcar) for shunting trailers at the tram station for route Nº 1 and 2

Ostend. Motorcar 10053 + two trailers on route Nº 1 along the yard harbour near the station on its way to Knokke

Ostend. Motorcar 10053 + two trailers on route Nº 1 passing a bridge over the yard harbour near the station

Verviers. Motorcar 34 on route Nº 1 (cross out) (cross out stands for short services) coming down in the 'Rue Thier Mère Dieu'

Verviers. Motorcar 87 on route Nº 1 near Renoupré

1 comment:

  1. All these pictures are actually fascinating, I loved all of them. Every one of them contains something very unique. If you are travelling to Belgium you should not miss on visiting Mini Europe in Belgium. It is one of the best things to visit in Belgium and you will love all the things if you will visit this place. Basically it is a miniature park located in Bruparck, at the foot of the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium. First of all apply for your tourist visa and then easily plan your trip to Belgium. Try to get a longer term visa as it will help you to travel any other schengen area without applying for another visa.

    ReplyDelete




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