Between the charming chugging steam trains and the flashing high speed trains one can spot enormous progress and renewal. Elsewhere on the track one will discover a whole world of travellers and railway workers, machinist and conductors, porters and signalmen.
More than 175 years of trains automatically left( there traces. In language one discovers new proverbs and sayings such as :”you’re a cross-beam” and “You’re on a& dead track”. Also in art one starts to spot trains in several paintings by Paul Delvaux. The train reaches everybody ‘s imagination because of it’s speed, it’s power and it’s mystery. This resulted in names such as “Flying Scotsman”. The more luxurious trains e.g. the “Blue Train” and the “Orient-Express” were food for fantasy. The Orient-Express was realized by the Belgian George Nagelmackers who mad international traveling in Europe possible. The Orient-Express played an important role in transporting state heads, diplomats and spies (accompanied by artists and other bohemians) to various European Capitals. This political context and the adventure of an uncertain trip brought fame and glory to the trains. Famous novels such as Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient-Express”, Ian Fleming’s “From Russia with love”, Graham Green’s “Stamboul Train” and various films mad the train even more popular.
Often it is not only the train but also the railway lines that become notorious because of their locations, length or difficult route. Many constructions such as buildings, tunnels and bridges along the stretch express the importance (Bernina Railway Line, Trans-Siberian Railway Line, Darjeeling Railway Line, Transcontinental Railroad, Panama Railroad). This is why some of them have been listed in the World Heritage of Unesco.
In Belgian we have lines like the “Iron Rhine” running from the port of Antwerp straight through Boechout on to the German Industrial Ruhr region. The old warehouse at the train station of Boechout is momentary a “Café “(pub). The old station itself (type 1893) is now desolate and awaits a new purpose. The whole neighbourhood around the station of Boechout is scheduled to be redeveloped in the near future. In the past stations often obtained a bad reputation and attracted unwanted figures who made living there unattractive. Many cities and communities are catching up to re-establish these sites. Antwerp and Luik (Liège) have two magnificent examples of station renovation. Both are listed in the top ten of the world by the magazine ‘Railway Terminal World’. On ‘Stedentripper.com’ the Central Station of Antwerp was elected the most beautiful station of Europe.
Stations have become the center of activity and social life again. A place to meet. Stations and trains are a matter of motion.
Text: Timothy Vanoystaeyen.
