Train World
Steam locomotives on display
Display of "Pays du Waes" (left) and type 18 (right) steam locomotives at Train World
Map
Interactive fullscreen map
Established25 September 2015 (2015-09-25)
LocationSchaarbeek railway station,
Place Princesse Elisabeth / Prinses Elisabethplein 5,
1030 Schaerbeek, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
Coordinates50°52′41″N 4°22′46″E / 50.87806°N 4.37944°E / 50.87806; 4.37944
TypeRailway museum
Websitewww.trainworld.be/en

Train World is a railway museum in Schaerbeek, a municipality of Brussels, Belgium, and the official museum of the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB). It is situated in the preserved buildings of Schaarbeek railway station and in a new shed built to its north. The museum was opened in September 2015 by King Philippe.[1][2]

History and location

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Train World is located at Schaarbeek railway station, incorporating the station building. The museum's scenography was designed by the comic book artist François Schuiten.[3]

The museum was scheduled to be opened in 2014, but was delayed and was open to the public on 25 September 2015, having been formally opened the previous day by King Philippe.[4] Until then, €20.5 million had been invested into the project, which planned to attract 100,000 visitors per year from its third year of operations onwards.[1]

Overview

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The museum is over 8,000 square metres (86,000 sq ft) and displays 22 locomotives,[5] as well as 1,200 other objects, including an original 19th-century railway bridge. Also featured is an interactive railway simulator, where players drive a train through current-day Schaerbeek, and a possible future Brussels.

One of the most important objects in the museum is the "Pays du Waes" steam locomotive, dating from 1845, which is the oldest preserved locomotive in continental Europe.[6]

  • Former ticket hall of Schaerbeek railway station, now used as an exhibition space
    Former ticket hall of Schaerbeek railway station, now used as an exhibition space
  • Deck of a railway viaduct over the Meuse, which now serves as a raised platform for the public
    Deck of a railway viaduct over the Meuse, which now serves as a raised platform for the public
  • Electric locomotive 1503 (left) and diesel locomotive 6406 (right)
    Electric locomotive 1503 (left) and diesel locomotive 6406 (right)
  • Steam locomotive type 12 (left) and AM 35 (right)
    Steam locomotive type 12 (left) and AM 35 (right)

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Robinson, Frances (19 March 2013). "Belgian Train Museum Had a Hard Time Getting on Track". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Nouveauté 2015 : Train World, la vitrine des chemins de fer à Bruxelles" (in French). Wallonie-Bruxelles Tourisme. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Train World". Altaplana. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  4. ^ "The Brussels Times - Flagship pieces of Belgian railway brought together in Schaerbeek". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015.
  5. ^ Van De Poel, Nana (3 October 2016). "A Brief History Of Train World And Schaerbeek Station". Culture Trip. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Belgische treinpatrimonium verzameld in Train World in Schaarbeek". Het Laatste Nieuws. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.

Bibliography

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  • Smith, Ron (December 2016 – January 2017). "Train World". Locomotives International (105): 18–19.
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