TICKET TO RIDE
Railways Of The Netherlands
Part 2

We start part two of our Dutch rail adventure at Geldermalsen on the old Betuwe line before heading east, crossing the Waal at Zaltbommel on a magnificent lattice bridge before arriving at Den Bosch where Thalys and Benelux trains are taking the long way round to Amsterdam! Tilburg, Boxtel and Best - freight trains pour through on their way to Venlo and Germany.

At best, we see modern Dutch railway architecture at its best (sic) and three 6400s at full power hauling 5000 tons of ore out of the underground station and up and over the canal on its way to the Saar. Eindhoven is an IC hub and we spend some time in the "city of light" before continuing east to Venlo where most freight trains change traction before travelling into Germany.

The ERS class 66s work straight through on their run to Speyer and we catch them on a night run to the border. South from Venlo to Roermond and we pick up freight bound for Belgium, a Rail4Chem loco makes a pleasing sight heading south.

Sittard is a junction station but of more interest is Born where DSM are caught loading melamine bound for Berlin. Maastricht is a great place to admire fine station architecture and Heerlen for the international shuttle to Aachen.

Finally to Simpleveld and the Miljoenenlijn of the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij and their superb collection of steam locos and venerable coaches- a great day out!

DVD Info

Region: 0
Running Time: 65 minutes