Bels lijntje (former railway line Turnhout-Tilburg)

The first attempts to connect Tilburg and Turnhout by diligences (passenger transport with carriages) had failed, but the Tilburg business community remained interested in such a connection. This made it possible to connect to the Belgian railway network. Two months after the Breda-Tilburg railway line was put into operation, the first plans for Tilburg-Turnhout were submitted by private entrepreneurs.

The railway line from Tilburg to Turnhout, popularly known as the Bels Lijntje, was quietly opened on 1 October 1867, both for the transport of goods and passengers.
The name Bels Lijntje because both the construction and the operation were done by a Belgian company.

The Belgians saw opportunities to transport coal for the Dutch factories via this railway. In 1865, the section on Belgian territory was already completed. In August 1867 they approached Tilburg and plans were made for a festive opening of the line. It was planned to provide free tickets to the curious public on September 29 and 30. However, a cholera epidemic broke out in large parts of Brabant, which claimed dozens of victims. Celebrating seemed inappropriate under those circumstances. It was decided to wait for a better moment. The line started quietly on October 1, with three daily connections, but that better time to party has apparently never been found.
In Tilburg this railway connection was called 'the Bels line'.
The Bels line ran through Tilburg until 1958, but was rerouted during that period and then ran from the station at the same time as the line to Breda and turned off at the Zwartvenseweg towards Belgium. From 1974 to 1982, the railway was only used for a tourist steam train.

The journey from Tilburg to Turnhout took about an hour and ran from Tilburg via Riel, Aplhen, Baarle-Nassau, Weelde-Merksplas, to Turnhout. A total of four stations have been built for the line, namely in Riel, Alphen, Baarle-dorp and Weelde-Merksplas. In 1906 another border station was added, Baarle-Nassau-grens/Weelde station. Initially, there were six but later about four trains a day going back and forth.

1867 On 1 October, the Bels Lijntje is put into operation.
1868 28 watch and signal boxes are built on Dutch territory.
1906 Border station Weelde-Baarle-Nassau is put into use (architect ing. Heukelom).
1934 On 7 October, passenger transport comes to an end and Baarle village station is closed.
1940 A number of sheds at the border station were demolished.
1944 At the beginning of July, the railway bridge over the canal at Turnhout is blown up, probably by the White Brigade.
1948 Customs warehouse from the border station is transferred to Hengelo.
1950 Traction buildings, signal boxes and locomotive sheds of the border station are demolished.
1956-1959 The 140-metre-long middle section of the Baarle-Grens station building is demolished.
1958 The track is relocated in Tilburg due to the construction of the elevated railway.
1973 Freight traffic between Tilburg and Baarle-Nassau is discontinued.
1974 On 22 June, the Tilburg-Turnhout Steam Train Company Foundation is founded.
1974-1976 Locomotive 3737 used for the tourist train between Tilburg and Baarle.
1976-1981 Locomotive 8826 used for the tourist train between Tilburg and Baarle.
1981 Locomotive D777 used for the tourist train between Tilburg and Baarle.
1982 The Tilburg-Turnhout Steam Train Foundation is dissolved, the tourist line is no longer profitable.
1993 The Bels Lijntje cycle path is put into use.

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