Belgian heritage line hosts gala weekend

BELGIAN national rail enthusiasts’ group Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme (PFT) held its annual gala weekend on the Chemin de Fer du Bocq heritage line from Ciney to Bauche in mid-August.

Steam loco No. 29 013 leaves one of the line’s several tunnels, near Purnode, with a photo freight on August 16. This was the day set aside for photographers, with special lineside access via special train possible. Class 29 locos were regular performers on the Ciney to Yvoir line in the 1950s. PAUL JESSETT

A wide variety of visiting diesel locos, from several operators, visited the line, along with preserved ex-Belgian State Railways Canadian-built (Montreal Loco Works 74511/1945) 2-8-0 No. 29 013, which operated the last regular steam-hauled passenger train in Belgium on December 20, 1966.

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