NS 177 + 178 at Wijlre, May 14, 1988.
NS dmu's 177 and 178 entering the station of Wijlre from the east. Note the historic semaphores.
In 1988 Netherlands Railways closed one of the most scenic rail routes in our country. This route is in the southern province of Limburg, between Kerkrade-West and Schin-op-Geul. It's nicknamed Miljoenenlijn (million dollar route) as construction of this railroad in the Limburg hills cost 1 million guilders per kilometer in 1934. In the seventies and eighties Netherlands Railways wanted to get rid of this route and they let it deteriorate intentionally. Service was at a very low level, maintenance was deferred, and some of the oldest dmu's were used on this route. Fortunately the tracks stayed in place and the route was saved. Now it's part of the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij, a museum railroad. www.zlsm.nl/.
NS 177 + 178 at Wijlre, May 14, 1988.
NS dmu's 177 and 178 entering the station of Wijlre from the east. Note the historic semaphores.
In 1988 Netherlands Railways closed one of the most scenic rail routes in our country. This route is in the southern province of Limburg, between Kerkrade-West and Schin-op-Geul. It's nicknamed Miljoenenlijn (million dollar route) as construction of this railroad in the Limburg hills cost 1 million guilders per kilometer in 1934. In the seventies and eighties Netherlands Railways wanted to get rid of this route and they let it deteriorate intentionally. Service was at a very low level, maintenance was deferred, and some of the oldest dmu's were used on this route. Fortunately the tracks stayed in place and the route was saved. Now it's part of the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij, a museum railroad. www.zlsm.nl/.