The Veluwsche Steam Train Company — Attraction in Apeldoorn

The Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij (VSM) is a steam train company operating a tourist train service on the railway line Dieren - Apeldoorn on the Veluwe in the Dutch province of Gelderland.

Steam train rides are popular with tourists and therefore the VSM organizes them every Sunday from the beginning of April until the end of October. In the summer for seven weeks, the steam train runs six days a week, of which three days a week to Dieren, connecting with a salon boat which travels across the IJssel river to the historic Hanseatic city of Zutphen. The steam whistle is a familiar sound in my home town Apeldoorn.

The VSM is a volunteer organization founded in 1975. In 1974, a few people from the local tourist trade came up with the idea of establishing a new tourist attraction in the form of a steam train service. The NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen - Dutch Railways) gave permission to run the service on the old freight railway line between Apeldoorn and Dieren.

The railway line Dieren - Apeldoorn is a railway line in the Dutch province of Gelderland, which was built by the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Lokaalspoorweg-Maatschappij Koning Willem III (KNLS, Royal Dutch Local Railroad Company King William III)) and opened on 2 July 188, connecting Dieren and Apeldoorn. The line was initially part of the KNLS line Dieren - Doesburg - Apeldoorn - Zwolle. After passenger transport was discontinued in 1950, the line was only used for freight transport. Among other things there was a branch line in the form of a narrow-gauge railway to the 'Alba' sand-lime brick factory near the hamlet of Oosterhuizen. In the meantime, the line has acquired a new function as a tourist railway. In 1975, the Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij (VSM) was founded for that purpose.

In Beekbergen (or rather in the nearby tiny village of Lieren) there is an old railway station which was still in use as a regular railway station until 1950. It is now a museum depot. It also functions as a workshop for regular maintenance of rolling stock such as locomotives. Carriages used for regular tourist rides are stored here. At the station the VSM has an extensive yard with a railway turntable, where locomotives and carriages are now parked, a moving coal crane, a water supply tower, semaphore signals and manually operated level crossings. The architect was K.H. van Brederode.

Most of the steam locomotives come from Germany, from the Deutsche Bundesbahn and Deutsche Reichsbahn. There are also two locomotives from Poland, one from Austria, and an ex-American locomotive NS 2000, a type that had disappeared from the Netherlands, but of which a counterpart was brought from the United States. The VSM also has a large collection of Dutch diesel locomotives from the 1950s.

A very nice nostalgic spot with beautiful surroundings! Worth a visit if you are in the area, a nice pitstop during a walk or ride. More information on the website of the company or on the wikipedia page upon the Veluwsche Stoomtrein...

While cycling around in Gelderland, we bumped inexpectedly on a bunch of photographers and a closed railway crossing. Immediately I took my camera out of my backpack and yes, and an old steam in full regalia passed by and stopped in the station of Beekbergen. We put our bicycles in a stand, walked in for free and bought a piece of apple pie with tea. Afterwards we walked around and enjoyed the magnificent steams and more recent...

Best steam depot museum in the eyes of me and my kids My family really enjoys going here often All people have heart for what they do, and that shows in hospitality, explaining how all works and having fun at the great rides they provide!!! If you respect the material presented, a LOT is possible to see and investigate from up close If you like (steam)trains, this is the place to go...