The Beverloo Camp Railway was a 115 km (71 mi) long 600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge railway line in Beverloo Camp near Leopoldsburg in Belgium, which was operated from 1879 to 1940.[2][3]

Beverloo Camp Railway
Decauville railway station at Beverloo Camp, 1920s [1]

Route of the main line, as shown on a 1970s map
Technical
Line length115 km (71 mi)
Track gauge600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)
Route map

Beverloo Camp
1879-1940
Military railway station
1879-1940
Leopoldsburg
1914-1940
Leopoldsburg station on standard gauge line

History

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The first section of track was laid in 1879 by Paul Decauville. It was extended to Leopoldsburg Station, on the standard gauge railway, in 1914.

The track was lifted on 10 May 1940 by Lieutenant Jeunehomme of the 3rd Compagnie and his troops, because of the German invasion during World War II.[4]

Route

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The network was in total 115 km long including all the tracks throughout old Beverloo Camp. They went to the barracks, but also to the buildings outside the Infantry or Cavalry Barracks (military bakery, military butchery, military hospital etc) and to the firing range, which was located several kilometers away from the barracks.

Rolling stock

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Carriages

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Initially horse-drawn, eight-wheeled Decauville bogie carriages were used.

Steam locomotives

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Later Borsig steam locomotives were used:

Name Type Manufacturer Operator Image
Anna 0-4-4-0 Borsig RCF  
Cecile 0-4-4-0 Borsig RCF  
Henriette 0-4-4-0 Borsig RCF  
0-4-4-0 Borsig  

Troup transport

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References

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51°07′21″N 5°15′54″E / 51.12237°N 5.26509°E / 51.12237; 5.26509