Soignes Forest Railway
{{Short description|Railway line in Belgium}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 300px
| name = Soignes Forest Railway
| other_name =
| native_name = Chemin de fer de la forêt de Soignes
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| type = Decauville
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| status = Closed and disappeared
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| open = 1902
| close = 1918
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| linelength_km = 2.5
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| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{Track gauge|600mm|lk=on}}
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| electrification = No
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uHSTq~~Petite-Espinette~Brussels tram Brussels–Waterloo
exKHSTa~~Petite-Espinette~Drève Saint-Hubert
exBUE~~Allée des Cavaliers
exBUE~~Dreve of the Infanta
exSTR~~Drève des Deux Montagnes
exBUE~~Drève du Comte
exBUE~~Drève du Comte diverted~Chemin des Tumuli
exKHSTe~~Boitsfort
HSTq~~Boitsfort~Brussels–Namur–Luxemburg
}}
}}
The Soignes Forest Railway was a Belgian type Decauville railway, which has disappeared since its closing in 1918.
History
Put into service in 1902, this railway linked the Petite-Espinette in the Brussels municipality of Uccle (at the limit of Rhode-Saint-Genèse), then served by the old line to Waterloo of the Brussels tram, to Boitsfort railway station, on the Brussels–Namur–Luxembourg railway line. Established in the Sonian Forest, the line was {{convert|2.5|km|mi}} long.
After the First World War, it was abandoned for reasons of unprofitability. This railway line transported gravelling materials for the laying of forest paths, and was also used to transport wood.According to the IBGE(fr).
Location
Starting from the beginning of the Drève Saint-Hubert, the railway crossed the Drève de Lorraine and then ran along a large part of the Drève des Deux Montagnes.
Gallery
=The railway=
File:Neolothische site 'Bosvoorde-Vijvers' aan de Twee Bergenlaan in Watermaal-Bosvoorde. Gedeeltelijk zicht op de grachten en aarden wallen van het Decauville-veldspoor in het Zoniënwoud.jpg|The railway before 1920 (Chemin des Deux Montagnes){{in lang|nl}} Source: [http:/ /app.bruxellesenvironnement.be/multimedia/plan-gestion-foret-soignes/Boek_III_20190404_Reserves_NL.pdf bruxellesenvironnement.be]
File:Wagon du Rail en Soignes.jpg|Decauville wagon or open wagon used at the time
=The shed=
The shed, built in 1902 like the line,The hangar is located at the coordinates: {{coord|50.777297|4.392238}} (taken from {{nobr|Google Maps}}). was renovated in 2003. Having served as a shed for the rolling stock, it is the only remnant of the old railway. In the {{nobr|2010s}}, this building served as a storage facility and shelter for foresters.
Hangar du Rail en Soignes.jpg|Shed in the Sonian Forest
Hangar du Rail en Soignes2.jpg|Traces of the three old rolling stock access gates
Hangar du Rail en Soignes4.jpg|Entrance for bats, fitted into the roof
See also
{{div col|colwidth=23em}}
- Drève des Deux Montagnes(fr)
- Drève Saint-Hubert(fr)
- Drève de Lorraine(fr)
- Forest railway
- List of Decauville railways
- Narrow gauge railway
- Soignes Forest
{{div col end}}
References
Literature
- Stéphane Vanwijnsberghe und Jean-Christophe Prignon: [http://app.bruxellesenvironnement.be/multimedia/plan-gestion-foret-soignes/Boek_III_20190404_Reserves_NL.pdf Beheerplan voor het Brussels gedeelte van het Zoniënwoud. Boek III. Beheerplannen voor de archeologische sites, natuurreservaten en bosreservaten.]
- Stéphane Vanwijnsberghe und Jean-Christophe Prignon: [http://app.bruxellesenvironnement.be/multimedia/plan-gestion-foret-soignes/Livre_III_20190404PG_Reserves_FR.pdf Plan de gestion de la Forêt de Soignes bruxelloise. Livre III. Plans de gestion des réserves archéologiques, naturelles et forestières.]
- Bart Vanmontfort, Els Meirsman und Roger Langohr: [http://erfgoed.brussels/links/digitale-publicaties/pdf-versies/archeologie-in-brussel/AB010_4.pdf Archeologische evaluatie van de neolothische site (Bosvoorde-Vijvers) Twee Bergenlaan in Watermaal-Bosvoorde.]