lmsforever Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 The other day whilst watching cycle racing from the Netherlands on tv I spotted a very smart looking narrow gauge steam line running alongside the road and good shot of the loco and train.The place was Schouwen-Duiverland it looked like a resort area with good beaches caravan parks and the rail line complemented it all,any ideas on the line ,info etc? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Dienstleiter Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 This is the altogether excellent RTM. RTM used to stand for the Rotterdam Tramway Company but the preservationists call themselves the Recreational and Tourist Museumline ... it works better in Dutch. The RTM used to run from Rotterdam into the islands of the delta, some connections between islands by train ferries others by bridge. Unfortunately only a small part of their website is in English but the area is really pleasant with excellent beaches - the line is generally either for steam or for diesel two days a week. An intermediate stop at Middelplaat Haven connects with boat cruises. RTM is a Cape Gauge line (3'6") and they have managed to preserve four of the steam locos as well as a number of the diesels; they have a good representative selection of the coaches and freight stock but the present line is entirely new. The delta is a very conservative area and the municipality of Hellevoetsluis were unable to agree to the kind of operation RTM needed so they moved south. The Schowen end of the island is relatively liberal and encouraged them as a tourist attraction. They got a massive Euro-grant two years back that enabled them to extend southwards into the neighbouring province of Zeeland. Go to of a steam trip southwards past Middelplaat to the new terminus at Scharendijk Dolfijn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meld Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 A quick Google brought this up ................ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marco-moerland/6184776700/ and more here http://www.flickr.com/photos/marco-moerland/sets/72157627757407744/with/6184233295/ This heritage Pic seems to be of the same area ......... http://www.hetutrechtsarchief.nl/collectie/beeldmateriaal/fotografische_documenten/1950-1960/160234 and after a bit of a hunt around I belive this is the line you saw .......... http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stichting_voorheen_RTM HTH Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 What's the public transport access like? It looks like its worth a trip next time I'm in the area. Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Dienstleiter Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 There's an hourly bus service, but you'd need to take the metro in Rotterdam to get to the busstation in the first place. This is one area in our country where a car really is a necessity. Hire one if you have that option... Mind, due to the preference of the locals for extremely conservative religious political parties, there is no train service on Sunday! Which is why the RTM moved from Hellevoetsluis! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 Thanks for the info ,the video especialy that is the loco I saw on tv hope they succeed in growing .The area looked great did not realise it was near Rotterdam remember going there in the sixties when the metro was being built.I went to Holland three times in the sixties and would like to return as it still has a lot of charm and is clean compared to the UK enjoyed traveling on the trains and the cycle racing was good very fast and good prize money! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.