Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij

Veluwse Stoomtrein Maatschappij is a steam railway line running from the city of Apeldoorn to the town of Dieren in the Netherlands. On its way from Apeldoorn, it passes through the following villages: Lieren / Beekbergen, Loenen, Eerbeek on the Veluwe, a region in the Netherlands.

Rides on steam trains are popular with tourists visiting the region, and that is why the VSM operates mainly during the summer vacation. The VSM is operated by volunteers and was founded in 1975.

As of 2006, the VSM has 18 steam locomotives and 20 diesel engines. Also more than 20 passenger coaches and several goods wagons. The rolling stock usually is stationed at the VSM’s depot at Beekbergen.

Most of the steam engines originate from Germany, from the Deutsche Bundesbahn and the Deutsche Reichsbahn. There are also 2 loco’s from Poland, and one from Austria. The VSM displays engines of classes 23, 44, 50, 52.80, 64, 80 and the Polish TKp. Most of these were built in the 1940 or 1950s. The oldest locomotive owned by the VSM is number 80 036 (DRG Class 80) from 1929, and which has been at the VSM since 1976.

The diesel engines are originally from the Dutch state railways, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), apart from one. This way the VSM has a valuable collection of Dutch diesel engines dating from the fifties and sixties from the last century. Present are locomotors (serie 200/300), shunters (serie 500/600 and main line engines (series 2200/2300 and 2400/2500).Passenger coaches available from the NS are six ‘Blokkendozen’ (Mat '24) and ten ‘Bolkoppen’ (Plan D and Plan K), one coach Plan E and one steel Plan D. Also eight Austrian carriages with two axles and open platforms. Also present are 3 Wagon Lits sleeping cars and 3 Mitropa cars. Most of these are licensed to run on the Dutch railways. Among the other items there are a coaling crane and an accident crane from the NS.

Terug naar Toen (Back to Then)

Every year in the first weekend of September, the Back to Then "Terug naar Toen" event is held, using everything that will run. Usually a number of guest locos appear too.

The highlight of the event was until this year, the last run on Saturday, originating in Apeldoorn. The train was pushed and pulled by all operational steam loco’s. In 2005 and 2006 that were 10 (!) engines and a number of carriages.

External links

* [http://www.stoomtrein.org Veluwse Stoomtrein Maatschappij website]
* [http://nmld.locaalspoor.nl/index.php?page=collection&id=15&lan=en] Stock List