After the busy weeks of December at the restaurant, we finally got the chance to have a week off and spend some family quality time. This week we went to Train World at Schaerbeek – Brussels. I am very suprised that the museum has surpassed all my expectations! It’s clean, new, high tech and very well laid out. I really recommend family with kids or train enthousiastics visit Train World. Kids under six are for free.
The ticket salespersons do speak English, Flemish and French. If you park your car next to the museum at the public parking do validate your parking ticket at the counter whilst you receive a discount for it.
Once entered you will start your journey at the main hall of the station where you can discover the evolution of the uniforms, authentic train tickets (nostalgic for the senior guests) and various model trains.
To the next part of the museum, we need to follow a path outside along the train tracks of the new station which becomes interesting for my son seeing trains flying by. After standing here for a few more “look at this train and that one – moments”, we continued our way to the most interesting part where we will see the trains.
Once you got in the building, it feels like another dimension, the atmosphere is historical, the lights are dimmed and big interactive screens showing the history of expanding train connections from Belgium and all over Europe. My son got a bit scared of the atmosphere and sticked to his tricycle. Steam trains that you can board are with all the working bells and whistles. Advertising posters from back the days decorated the walls.
Besides trains you can discover real tracks beneath a glass-floor with the evolution of the steel and wood they were using from the beginning and following by the next technique and so on. Also I find it very interesting you can learn the way how the steam, fuel and electric trains works! Especially the steam train how the energy of the steam proppels the enormous wheels and did you know the last steam train was still in action in the 1960’s? Amazing!
In this hall we can discover three technologies: steam, fuel and electric trains. In the past century, between 1900-2000, they had been co-existing and the electric has outperformed the other two because of the many advantages (cheaper running costs, lighter motor,…). I don’t want to spoil too much so I will let you discover the rest of this hall.
There is a wagon for carrying cargo in the next area where it got the chills, goosebumps and made me very quiet. It wasn’t for carrying goods but for people… it was a deportation wagon used in the Second World War for deporting Jewish persons to Auschwitz.
Wagons are in the next hall. We have wagons for postal use, restaurant, passenger in every class,… .
The tour had almost come to an end. There is a kids play area within a big train at the end of the hall and a simulator that you can try out. And of course we find all the must-have item at the souvenir shop.
I think overall we spend a lovely time at Train World at least for 2-3 hours. The museum is certainly worth to pay a visit.
Hope you enjoy reading my stories and see you on my next blog. Bye bye!
Make sure checking their website for all kinds of practical information.
Daily life of an entrepreneur dad 