Rolling stock : Steam locomotives

General description

The steam locomotives of the NMVB were divided into "types". The first to be built were the type 1 until 3; The type 1 was the smallest, type 2 somewhat larger, type 3 a heavy loc. Later on, other types were added to the list. At last the type-numbering came to type 23.

Because of the fact that there was a nationwide organisation of the NMVB, they could acuire rolling stock in large numbers. This stock was placed on different lines of the different managers. Because of the standardisation, of some types a large number was buidt; Of the type 4 even 390 locs have been build. The total number of locs came to 998 steam locs in Belgium.

The division into types does not imply, that the numbering of locs is from 1 going up for each type. When ordering a certain type, of course the numbers were after each other. At a next ordering of another type the locs of that other type became the next numbers. When after a few years more locs of the first type were ordered, then the locs became the next numbers, so leaving a gap in the numbering of the same type. When looking to the numbers you can see the year of building of the loc; an low number means a old loc, a higher number implies a later build. The numbering was from 1 (the oldest steam loc) with some gaps in the numbering, until almost 1100.

Below you find a table with the number of locs that has been built, for the three track-widths and the total number of locs.Click on a link to see more details of the specific type.

This type was a light loc, the first type to be built.
They could be foud along the coast and in Oost- and West-Vlaanderen

This type of loc was a very narrow loc (2,05 m against normally 2,50 meter). This loc was allowed to ride in the Netherland where only such narrow locs were allowed. But as in the Netherlands this rule was abandoned soon after the start of the building of these locs, only 4 were built.
They could be found in places around the border with the Netherlands.

This was the normal loc of the NMVB in the first years. As we can deduct from the large number of locs, it was a good loc. To be used as well for goods transport as for passengers trams.
It could be found all over the country

This was a loc, much resembling type 3. We can see it as a rebuilt of type 3, but somewhat stronger with more power.
It could be found all over the country

Loc with cabin and 3 driven axles.
Although narrow gauge, they had buffers to pull normal gauge wagons, this on 3- or 4-rail tracks.
It could be found on industrial rails with 2 gauges (Mol-Donk, Antwerpen-Merksem).

A loc to be used for heavy trams. But because of high coal usage only used for short distances.
It could be found all over the country, expecially with heavy goods trams over short distances.

A heavy loc, to be used on lines with steep gradients. A loc, getting its highest power at low speed (20 km/h). Therefore only used in heavy goods trams.
It could be found all over the country

Built for traffic over the border with the Netherlands, where track gauge was 1067 mm.
It could be found in the province Antwerp (at lines with connection with the Netherlands)

A four-axle loc, of which one (the middle axe) was not driven.
It could be found in the northern and eastern parts of the province of Liège

Originally built in a series of 6 locs, built for the line Ixelles-Boendaal (gauge 1435 mm).
They resembled the locs of type 3 of the NMVB.
After operation on the line Ixelles-Boendaal by the NMVB in 1897, they were placed on normal track lines in the Ardennes.

See description of type 10.

See description of type 10.

Built for the line Brussel - Haacht.
After incorporation of this line into the NMVB, a part of the series locs was sold, another part remained in the province Brabant operated by the NMVB.

Steam loc with cabin and 3 driven axles.
Resembling type 5, but heavier and stronger.
Although they were for narrow gauge, they had buffers to pull normal track railway goods wagons on tracks with 3 or 4 rails.
They could be found on industrial lines with 2 gauges (Mol-Donk, Antwerpen-Merksem).

Light loc with cabin and 2 driven axles.
In use in Merksem and Mol Donk.

Prototype with some modern equipment. Later built in larger quantities in a changed type as type 18.
They could be found on the line Oostende-Veurne and later on Huy-Burdinne.

Prototype with some modern equipment, later in slightly changed form rebuilt as type 18.

This was the new standard type loc, more modern than the first standard locs of type 3 and 4, based on prototypes 16 and 17.
They could be found all over the country.

The same type as type 18, but as result of the second world war built in England in 1915. In 1919 these locs were put into service.
They could be found in Vlaanderen.

Loc with cabin and 2 driven axles and at the front a running axle (type 1-B).
Used in Merksem for shunting services and industrial areas.

Built in America in 1915, put into service in 1919.
Because of the great width of these locs, and because of the bad quality, they were soon scrapped in 1924.
They could be found in the Kempen (eastern part of the province of Antwerpen).

In use in Groenendaal - Overijsse. Nickname "dikke Bertha", because of her eating so much coal.

Type Garret (on two boogies). Used for heavy goods trams in the provinces Limburg and Liège for trams with destination the harbours in the river Meuse, loaded with stones from quarries or loaded with coal from the mines.

Rolling stock : stock list steam locs by number

Below you find the number of the loc, the type, and the year built.