NMVB, 850-851

The Belgian Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen (NMVB) operated an extensive tramway network in Belgium. It owned two Garratts, road numbers 850-851, weighing 60 tons. The Garratts could haul a tram of 350 tons. Their main purpose was hauling goods trams. They were the last steam locomotives ordered by the NMVB. The two Garratts ran occasionally on the NMVB tramway line Maaseik (Belgium)-Weert (Netherlands). These Garratts consequently operated in the Netherlands albeit under Belgian ownership. The lines to the Netherlands were closed in the mid-thirties. What happened to these locomotives during their further operational lives is unknown to me. If anyone can shed ight on that subject please contact me.

Photos of these Garratts in the Netherlands soil are rare, I have seen one once but I have not been able to retrace it yet.

Interesting photo: with the service hatches open to give acess to the motion

 

A typical environment for this Garatt: in Belgium in front of a goods tram

 

The NMVB Garratt on what looks like a builder's photo (source: G. Hamilton's Garratt website)

 

NMVB 850-851, fully enclosed and typically Belgian tram design properties.

I found all photos on internet forums. I may infringe on copyright. If some one feels owner of these photos please contact me.

 

For those among you interested in railway models, I stumbled over a kit of the loco at the 2010 Mechelen Expo (Belgium) by Jocadis at a price of €350

References

Gavin Hamilton's comprehensive Garratt site

Dutch Wikipedia on NMVB

The Terminal, Standard Steam Locomotives by J.D.H. Smith

Construction of a Garratt type 23 SNCV Jocadis