Would you like to take a train trip to days gone by? Then hop on the train to Train World in Schaerbeek. The museum presents the history of Belgian Railways in an immersive and interactive way. By means of a rich collection, sound fragments and real stories, Train World and the ErfgoedApp take you back in time.
The departure on the platform
You start your visit in Schaerbeek's restored station hall. In the ErfgoedApp you will learn all about the old station building and the different Belgian train stations. In the old ticket offices you can see how train tickets have evolved and get an overview of the uniforms worn by railroad personnel. This is followed by a walk to the large exhibition hall, spread over four halls.
A journey along a historic trail
The first two halls immediately create an exciting atmosphere thanks to a special sound and light show. Visual material and several locomotives on display successively illuminate the early beginnings of the railroads, the age of steam and the changeover to diesel and electric locomotives. You will see the first locomotives that ran on mainland Europe, as well as an exemplary diesel train and an electric train. The exhibit is interactive for young and old alike. In most of the locomotives you can try out all the levers and wheels, and in the carriages you can lay back and soak up the atmosphere of the past. Look around quietly, because through the ErfgoedApp you get extensive information about the impact of the train and the efforts to improve its comfort.
Jobkeeper's cottage: people's story
In Hall 3 is a trackman's house; the museum was literally built around it. This is where the track steward used to live with his family. In the ErfgoedApp , you will discover that the house is dressed in the style of Expo '58.
Hall of Time and the Railway Attic
In addition to large locomotives, carriages and a simulation of the railroad, there are also rooms where you will discover the smaller trinkets and artifacts of the Belgian Railways. The Room of Time zooms in on the role the railroad played in the equalization of time with a large number of clocks. The Railway Attic intrigues with its many station signs, emotional resistance letters from World War II and realizations by Henri Van de Velde. All artifacts show a direct connection to the railroad.
A contemporary story looking to the future
That the story of the railroads has not yet been told, you will learn at the end of your museum visit. You get an overview of the SNCB and the railroads today and take a look at the modern high-speed trains. In the train simulator you can even imagine you are a real train driver! You finish in the Neuzen Gallery, between Thalys and Eurostar.
Also for toddlers: 'In search of the Sultan's diamond'. To be found in the ErfgoedApp!
Did you know that there is a real treasure hidden somewhere in Train World? Joni and Basil would like to join the littlest railroad enthusiasts on a treasure hunt. Take the sultan's train ticket and be guided through a distant past ... will you find the code to crack the treasure chest?
Animalia
On Feb. 17, 2023, a new temporary expo will launch at Train World: Animalia. In this exhibition, the museum focuses on the role of the train in the climate crisis. Indeed, due to its low CO2 emissions, the train can be an important asset in our fight to save animals' natural habitats and biodiversity. This is why the museum has teamed up with animal sculptor Pierre-Yves Renkin. Together, they are transforming Train World into a place where animals are exhibited poetically in relation to trains and climate change. A veritable beastly gang.
For those visiting Train World, the ErfgoedApp is the best tool to explore all facets of the museum. Created for young and old, the ErfgoedApp helps you absorb all the information about the past, present and future of railroads. Download the ErfgoedApp for free in the AppStore or via GooglePlay. Then you will have free access to Train World's various tours.
