My Son in Law and I went to for a ride on Stoomtram Hoorn Medemblik Christmas Express, december 2020
1 Hoorn,the home base of Stoomtram Hoorn Medemblik, is situated in the northwestern parts of the Netherlands, a 45 km drive from Amsterdam.
2 They offer a ride with steamtram to Medemblik and then alternatively a return with an old ferry boat and regular train via Enkhuizen, or a return with the steamtram. Today's Christmas express would only go as far as Wognum because major works on the railroad were underway during the low season.
3 The SHM tramway is proud that most of its stationsbuildings along the line have been preserved in a pretty much original state. But the station in Hoorn itself is a new building, opened in 1987 and extended (the left wing) in 2016. Its design however is based on a real tramway station so it beautifully blends in.
4 Two beloved friends in one photo
5 This 1929 La Meuse was a standard industry locomotive. It served as such for many years. Since 1972 it is part of the SHM collection.
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10 The weather was variable, very gloomy at times and then suddenly a burst of sunshine would brighten the day.
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28 Some modern equipment. It turned out that a profesional photographer was around to shoot a film for SHM.
29 This a Dutch Railways freight car dating from 1929 is one of batch form 424 examples. This one was in use until 1974.
30 An old boiler for demostration purposes.
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32 No 35 "Griezel" (The Creep) is not part of the historical collection. Built in 1975 in the DDR (German Democratic Republic) it earns its keep as a shunting locomotive around the depot.
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34 501 is a new built reflection of the C228-297 class of the HIJSM (Dutch Iron Railway Company)
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37 After we made a tour over the depot area we got on board and our train departed with a burst of sunlight.
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43 The workshop
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46 After passing the road crossing the tram stopped and guess what?? Ho ho, o no!!
47 Meanwhile a drone was following our train
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50 I went outside to get some fresh air.
51 until peace and quiet descended again
52 But admittedly, clearly this girl enjoyed the show.
53 Before long we reached Wognum, in fact the first station along the line, but now the temporary end. This cut the "Christmas Express" disappointingly short.
54 Runing round at Wognum
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70 The professional photographer hovering around the train/tram all the time. He was good fun talking to though.
71 Ready to go
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81 People make the railway
82 Departure from Wognum
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85 During the ride we had a wonderful conversation the staff
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89 A visit to the depot. Unfortunately the Health & Safety mania has struck here too. A few years ago you were allowed, no invited to walk around freely, and now it is off limits and there's only a ballustrade from where you can only watch.
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91 New passenger carriage under construction incorporating existing original frame parts.
92 An old RTM carriage. They used to ride on the RTM-network in the southwest of the country until 1966. My parental home in Rotterdam was quite close to the main tramwayline leaving the city so I remember seeing them in daily service. Originally 1067mm gauge they have been regauged to standard gauge.
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94 A 1915 carriage which served until 1961 on various tramways. From 1934 onwards it served at the Gooische Tramwegmaatschappij so it is possible that my mother travelled on it.
