Quick Details
Climb aboard the historic “PFT-TSP” train pulled by an iconic locomotive: the 5519 (over 60 years old!) and … travel back in time!
During the day, visit the whole of Belgium and take some exceptional photos!
You’ve been waiting for this for over 10 years! The first trip on the national network organised by the FT and with a PFT locomotive! A dream come true!
Take part in a nostalgic journey with locomotive 5519 and travel back in time.
Experience the thrill of travelling in a train pulled by a locomotive over 60 years old, while enjoying the magnificent Belgian landscape and the company of other travellers.
The perfect activity for train enthusiasts and anyone looking for an unforgettable train journey: come on board for this unique experience!
Schedule: Saturday 15 June 2024 :
- departure at 08.50 h from Schaerbeek station
- return around 19.15 h at Schaerbeek station
Note: this activity is organised by “Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme – Toerisme en SpoorPatrimonium” (PFT-TSP asbl) with the support of SNCB Trainworld Heritage and Train Charter Services. It is on sale via the “Chemin de Fer du Bocq” sales site (Chemin de Fer du Bocq is a PFT-TSP organisation). If you have any questions about this activity, please contact Jan.markschout@pfttsp.be
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Basic ticket
The Basic ticket includes
- travel in 2nd class (unnumbered seats) in an M4 coach with sliding windows, so you can enjoy the music of the V16 GM.
- A hot drink and a cookie in the morning.
Standard ticket
The Standard ticket includes
- travel in 2nd class (unnumbered seats) in an M4 coach with sliding windows, to enjoy the music of the V16 GM.
- In the morning, a hot drink and a cookie.
- at lunchtime, a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a drink.
Premium ticket
The Premium ticket includes
- travel in 2nd class (unnumbered seats) in an M4 car with sliding windows, to enjoy the music of the V16 GM.
- In the morning, a hot drink and a cookie.
- at lunchtime, a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a drink
- in the afternoon, a drink and an aperitif or a hotdog.
Children’s ticket
The “Child” ticket includes
- travel in 2nd class (unnumbered seats) in an M4 car with sliding windows, so you can enjoy the music of the V16 GM.
Upgrade 1st class ticket
The “Upgrade” ticket includes:
- access to first class throughout the journey.
Please note :
- only on sale on the spot with the on-board staff.
- subject to seat availability
- you will of course benefit from the other services associated with your ticket (basic, standard or premium)
Other on-board services :
- sale of drinks and snacks
- sandwiches and snacks (limited quantities)
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Itinerary subject to change (in the event of a major change, you will be notified by e-mail)
We will let you know the exact departure times from Schaerbeek and Antwerp Berchem, as well as the return time to Schaerbeek as soon as possible.
- Departure around 08.50 am from Schaerbeek.
- Possibility of boarding at Antwerpen Berchem around 10.00 am.
- We then set off on a unique tour of Antwerpen Noord. Normally, this huge marshalling area for goods trains does not receive passenger trains, so this is your chance to take some exclusive photos!
- Back to Antwerpen Berchem at around 10.45 am, with another opportunity to board our train.
- We continue on to Lier, Herentals, Mol and Hasselt.
- We head for Tongeren to join the single-track line to Liers and Liège.
- After passing through Liège and its steel industry, we follow the Meuse to Namur.
- From Namur, we’ll follow the Sambre to Auvelais, where we’ll tackle the steep climb to Fleurus. This single-track line doesn’t usually carry passenger traffic, so this is a great chance for you to get some exclusive photos!
- Our train will then travel along the listed site of Villers la ville to Ottignies and then on to Leuven, through the countryside and following the Dyle.
- From Leuven we head for Brussels via Etterbeek and the European Quarter.
- Our final stop is in Schaerbeek, next to the Trainworld museum.
Remarks :
- There will be several stops throughout the day to stretch your legs and take some exclusive photos!
- You can hop on and off at certain stops (full price).
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- More information about the PFT: www.pfttsp.be
- Find out more about the 5519 locomotive:
- Built in 1961, 5519 is the only surviving example of the “blue 55s”.
- Of the SNCB’s 450 mainline diesel locomotives, only 10 were capable of providing “electric heating”, and this is the case of the 5519 in particular.
- After 5 years of restoration work on this loco, its General Motors V16 will take you on an unprecedented ride.
- The 5519 is the only vehicle in Belgium to be managed by a non-profit association (asbl) and authorised to run on the national network!
- Find out more about M4 cars:
- Built in the 1980s, these coaches are in their final years of commercial service with SNCB.
- Equipped with sliding windows, they are the ideal choice for allowing enthusiasts to listen to the gentle song of our beautiful mainline diesel locomotive, the 5519.
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This activity is organised by “Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme – Toerisme en SpoorPatrimonium” (PFT-TSP asbl).
It is offered for sale via the “Le Chemin de Fer du Bocq” sales site (Le Chemin de Fer du Bocq is an organisation of the PFT-TSP).
For any questions concerning this activity, please contact Jan.markschout@pfttsp.be