This page is another one assembled from the photo archive - it seems that within a few days of returning from our silver wedding 'grand tour' I was back across the water in Belgium.
Saturday 17 August 1996
Yet again I arrived in Belgium by means I can't remember, and without my notebook. I remember a good deal about our 'grand tour' which ended a few days before. In fairness our silver wedding anniversary was of far more significance to Mrs EG and me than a one day tram bash in a very busy year, so my lack of recall of something a few days later is perhaps excusable.
I'd been to Charleroi in 1993 en route to the BLS tour of Luxembourg, and in an unusual burst of good sense I'd done the tram route out to La Louvière, which though electrified and worked by modern trams was near as I was ever going to get to a Vicinal line. At that stage it had been 'metro-ised' as far, roughly, as the Charleroi city limits but from there on hadn't changed hugely in the last three or four decades. It had left me with enough interest in the matter that when a Belgian organisation (can't even remember if it was local or national) advertised a tour visiting both the newest of the new bits in Charleroi, and the preserved Lobbes-Thuin route, it did appeal.
I have this vague lingering memory that the tour was supposed to go from Anderlues to Lobbes which then had some sort of sporadic, not to say erratic, public service. I also have an equally vague memory that for some reason it didn't, which if correct is a great shame. It certainly can't be done now, the track having been lifted beyond Anderlues depot. The tramway (Metro) does still continue to the Anderlues Monument, on the road to Mons, but after diverging from the main road after the Monument stop it ends by a supermarket where it used to wander on into the fields on its way to Binche and La Louvière. I'm so glad I did that bit. Now, back to the point...
The tour seems to have begun with a visit to the Metro control room and then got underway with a tour of the central area section. Continuing on the as yet unmodernised route towards Anderlues, we passed through the industrial area on the north side of the river Sambre, with a photo stop at a point which I think would have been near the present day Marchienne-au-Pont Providence stop. It's hard to be certain from the photo, because since then the heavy industry is much diminished and the tramway has suffered 'vertical realignment' on to a concrete viaduct.
Another photo stop occurred a short distance further west on the bridge taking the tramway across the Sambre. With us (nearly) all dutifully lined up for the photo I do seem to remember a certain amount of bellowing from one of the organisers being required to persuade one photter of the error of his ways and get him back in line. This may have been another occasion but my photo seems familiar and that may be the reason.
It would be nice to think that the tour tram took us to Lobbes, but although I can't remember exactly how we got there, I think I'd remember if the tram was involved. Suffice it to say that an enjoyable visit was made to the ASVi (Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal) line and their depot at Thuin, on the outskirts of the town. Once again, the means by which I returned from Charleroi to Shropshire are obscured by the mists of time. OK then, the mists of old age.
Yet again I arrived in Belgium by means I can't remember, and without my notebook. I remember a good deal about our 'grand tour' which ended a few days before. In fairness our silver wedding anniversary was of far more significance to Mrs EG and me than a one day tram bash in a very busy year, so my lack of recall of something a few days later is perhaps excusable.
I'd been to Charleroi in 1993 en route to the BLS tour of Luxembourg, and in an unusual burst of good sense I'd done the tram route out to La Louvière, which though electrified and worked by modern trams was near as I was ever going to get to a Vicinal line. At that stage it had been 'metro-ised' as far, roughly, as the Charleroi city limits but from there on hadn't changed hugely in the last three or four decades. It had left me with enough interest in the matter that when a Belgian organisation (can't even remember if it was local or national) advertised a tour visiting both the newest of the new bits in Charleroi, and the preserved Lobbes-Thuin route, it did appeal.
I have this vague lingering memory that the tour was supposed to go from Anderlues to Lobbes which then had some sort of sporadic, not to say erratic, public service. I also have an equally vague memory that for some reason it didn't, which if correct is a great shame. It certainly can't be done now, the track having been lifted beyond Anderlues depot. The tramway (Metro) does still continue to the Anderlues Monument, on the road to Mons, but after diverging from the main road after the Monument stop it ends by a supermarket where it used to wander on into the fields on its way to Binche and La Louvière. I'm so glad I did that bit. Now, back to the point...
The tour seems to have begun with a visit to the Metro control room and then got underway with a tour of the central area section. Continuing on the as yet unmodernised route towards Anderlues, we passed through the industrial area on the north side of the river Sambre, with a photo stop at a point which I think would have been near the present day Marchienne-au-Pont Providence stop. It's hard to be certain from the photo, because since then the heavy industry is much diminished and the tramway has suffered 'vertical realignment' on to a concrete viaduct.
Another photo stop occurred a short distance further west on the bridge taking the tramway across the Sambre. With us (nearly) all dutifully lined up for the photo I do seem to remember a certain amount of bellowing from one of the organisers being required to persuade one photter of the error of his ways and get him back in line. This may have been another occasion but my photo seems familiar and that may be the reason.
It would be nice to think that the tour tram took us to Lobbes, but although I can't remember exactly how we got there, I think I'd remember if the tram was involved. Suffice it to say that an enjoyable visit was made to the ASVi (Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal) line and their depot at Thuin, on the outskirts of the town. Once again, the means by which I returned from Charleroi to Shropshire are obscured by the mists of time. OK then, the mists of old age.
Out with the old... The tour tram has paused along the Rue de la Providence to pass an Anderlues service. The track appears to be interlaced to pass under the narrow bridge. |
The tour tram at a photostop on the Sambre bridge |
...or perhaps not out with the old. ASVi's A9515 (Le Roeulx 1918) at Avenue de la Couture, Thuin |
At ASVi's Musée du Tram Vicinal, diesel powered ART300 (SNCV Andenne 1947) appears to be doing some shunting. What was then a siding has now been extended on the former SNCB line to Beaumont as far as Biesme-sous-Thuin |
Barges moored on the Sambre at Basse Ville, Thuin. Among the trees in the centre of the picture can be seen on the left, 10409 (La Brugeoise & Nicaise & Delcuve 1949) on display and A9073 (Electricité et Hydraulique 1901) which was working to Lobbes. |
A9073 on its way to Basse Ville |
This page has been very short on information unfortunately but on the next trip, to the Netherlands and Belgium in late September of 1996, I did manage to make some notes, albeit on a scruffy old bit of green A4!
