Hoorn–Medemblik heritage railway

The Museumstoomtram Hoorn Medemblik is a heritage railway in the Netherlands. It runs from Hoorn to Medemblik, a distance of about 20 km.

Original

The original connection was run by Locaalspoorwegmaatschappij Hollands Noorderkwartier (1884 - 1935). The line was opened on 3 November 1887. The connection follows a curving path, to reduce the amount of land that had to be compulsorily purchased. The train used steam traction, with diesel traction being introduced in 1929.

The line was closed for passenger service from 1 January 1936 until 29 May 1940.

On 5 January 1941 the line was permanently closed for passenger service, just as the railway station in Medemblik.

The line

Distance (km)	Station name
	Hoorn
2	Westerblokker
4	Zwaag
5	Zwaagdijk
6	Wognum- Nibbixwoud
7	Wijzend
9	Benningbroek- Sijbekarspel
10	Abbekerk- Lambertschaag
14	Midwoud- Oostwoud
16	Twisk
18	Opperdoes
19	Opperdoes Oosteinde
20	Medemblik

Station with names in italics have been restored.

Heritage railway

Nowadays the railways is in use as a tourist attraction. The masterpiece in the collection is the former Nederlandse Spoorwegen locomotive 7742 Bello, the Netherlands' only preserved light steam engine. Other steam locomotives in running order include three tramway engines, two of which are enclosed tram engines (steam dummies). The remaining ones are: three industrial engines; a German one which is now being rebuilt as a replica of a Dutch railway shunting engine (of a series of which several also served on steam tramways); and a locomotive of industrial type which served at a steam tram company in Zuid-Holland, still awaiting restoration.

Seven of the nine steam locomotives are official Dutch rail monuments.

NS 7742 and the two enclosed tram engines are in regular use: Bello mainly in the peak season afternoon train, and the two steam dummies mainly in the 10 o' clock train (tue/wed/thursdays during peak season).

Eight steam tram carriages are in regular service, as well as several steam tram goods wagons.

Bello and the three tramway engines originate from the provinces Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Limburg. The serviceable steam tram carriages originate from the provinces Friesland, Gelderland, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Zeeland.

The livery and presentation of the cars is as they were in 1926.

The station is twinned with the Bluebell Railway in England. The ride between Hoorn and Medemblik is often combined by tourists with a trip from Medemblik to Enkhuizen by boat.

On the disused side of platform 2 of Huddersfield railway station in northern England, an old carriage is bolted to the ground, and set in its window is a Dutch plaque commemorating 100 years of Stoomtram Hoorn - Medemblik.