Marc

 

Even if I live now in Québec I'm Belgian coming from one of the smallest country in the world.

Belgiun is  well know trough the whole world for the quality of his engineering.

We have enginered a lot of big metalic construction in the whole world like bridge, structural structures and we were the first European country with a train line in continental Europe (except England), this was already in 1835 between Brussels and Malines, two town separated by 30 km.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Belgium
 

Belgian engineering was extremly prolific and powerful between 1835 and 1985's

 For our train, Belgian ingineers have had a impact much bigger  you can ever  imagine on the evolution of steam power

You all know their names

, Walschaerts and Belpaire.

Both of them have made a real revolution in the concept of steam power, their names are well know in US and have influenced deeply steam locomotives design in USA.

 

Here are Wikipedia link for Walschaerts and Belpaire

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walschaerts_valve_gear

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belpaire_firebox
 

 

On the run whith my Maclau River RR in Nscale

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CandOfan

Pennsy had a lot to thank

If I think of a steam locomotive with a Belpaire firebox and Walschaerts valve gear I think of Pennsy's vast fleets... 

Modeling the C&O in Virginia in 1943, 1927 and 1918

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twforeman

GN

The Great Northern was also a fan of the Belpaire firebox. I believe they also used Walschaerts valve gear on many of their locomotives.

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NJWG

bit of history

I loved Belgium. I spent most of 1975 and 76 there. The trains were fantastic I rode alot, but to much regret i have no pictures.

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railandsail

Interesting, easy to read

Interesting, easy to read info in those 2 links. Thanks Marc

 

 

Reply 0
Pennsy_Nut

Hercule Poirot

Please don't forget the most famous detective in the world. And Belpaires were used throughout Europe, look at the Brits! And in my case, "Long live the PRR" At least in our memories and layouts.

 

Morgan Bilbo, DCS50, UR93, UT4D, SPROG IIv4, JMRI. PRR 1952.

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