Last locomotive built in Belgium saved from scrapping

The last locomotive built in Belgium, the so-called “2160,” has been saved from scrapping, according to the newspaper Le Soir. The unit, initially sold to a scrap dealer, is moving to the Musée de Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des Trois Vallées in Treignes, in the province of Namur.

Anyone who now thinks that the Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB is careless with its historical heritage is wrong: Train World, the showcase of the NMBS/SNCB that highlights the history of railroads and rolling stock, also has a specimen of the locomotive series.

Built in Bruges

The locomotive’s nickname, “2160,” comes from the fact that it is the 60th and last locomotive of series 21. The electric locomotive dates to 1988 and is the last to emerge from the workshops of “La Brugeoise et Nivelles” (then taken over by Bombardier and then Alstom) and the Acec in Bruges. It is, therefore, the last locomotive built entirely in Belgium.

Thus, 60 of these locomotives, numbered 2101 to 2160, were built, and they were used for both passenger and freight service. Some were taken out of service in 2013-2014, but the remainder were used mainly for P services, and a limited number of IC runs until the last one was taken out of service in 2023 after 35 years of service. Their lack of engine power makes them unsuitable for pulling often long double-decker coaches like the M6.

Several reactions

The 2160 locomotive in question had initially been sold to a scrap dealer. However, because the NMBS/SNCB received several reactions to the decision, a meeting was organized with Febelrail, the Federation of Belgian Associations of Railway Interested Persons, and four historical non-profit organizations recognized by NMBS/SNCB.

“After evaluating the responses received and taking into account the heritage importance of this locomotive, an agreement was reached with the association of the Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des Trois Vallées (CFV3V),” the newspaper quotes NMBS/SNCB as saying. “Loc 2016 will be put at the disposal of CFV3V by NMBS/SNCB, while another wagon from the same series will be added to NMBS/SNCB’s historical collection as planned.”

Steam train rides

As for the scrap dealer who initially bought the 2160 for 24,000 euros, he will get another locomotive of the same series, minus the “historical” aspect.

The Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des Trois Vallées, or Treignes Railway Museum, was founded in 1994 and organized yearly to highlight the railroad heritage. Especially popular are the stream train rides on their own 14-km-long railroad line, such as on St. Valentine’s Day, although unfortunately, the latter are all already sold out.