Preservation of historic railway know-how a new goal

HAAKSBERGEN - The Railway Museum foundation MBS hopes to upgrade its facility from a general tourism destination into one with a strong vocational training component as well, modeled after the programs offered at Batavia Wharf at distant Lelystad for people interested maintaining old trades. Haaksbergen wants to take on the role for railway history what Lelystad already has accomplished for Dutch maritime history. Currently, MBS operates a heritage railroad between the towns of Haaksbergen and Boekelo. Steam and diesel locomotives from years past ply this track in the weekends and holidays in summer. The pride of Haaksbergen’s collection is Kikker, a steam locomotive built in 1901, the oldest Dutch steam engine in running condition. MBS also has a fantastic collection of memorabilia that celebrates the railways that operated in the region variously between the cities Hengelo, Winterswijk, Enschede, Haaksbergen and Boekelo transporting coal to the great textile industry, but also carrying passengers.