The Koningslijn
The VSM operates between Apeldoorn and Dieren, calling at Beekbergen, Loenen and Eerbeek. The train also stops at Immenbergweg Halt for guests of the holiday parks in the Veluwe woods. The line opened on 28 June 1887 and is part of the Koning Willem III line. Regular passenger services ended in 1947 and freight services in 1984. The last freight train ran on 1 June 1984 and, ironically, was hauled by a VSM steam locomotive. The VSM began operating heritage trains in 1975. It has owned the line since 2004.
The collection
Most steam locomotives came from Germany, two from Poland and one from Austria. The VSM also has mainly historic Dutch diesel locomotives, ranging from small shunting engines to large mainline diesels. Its coaches include the 'Austrians' with open balconies, the Dutch Mat'24 ('Blokkendozen') and luxury coaches formerly operated by Wagons-Lits or Mitropa, which are used for brunch and dinner trains.
Beekbergen museum station
At Beekbergen station is the Museumstoomdepot, with a large workshop, an old station building with an authentic station office, a large turntable for steam and diesel locomotives, a mobile coal crane, water columns, semaphore signals and manually operated level crossings. On green and blue running days, you can visit the depot for more than 45 minutes, with the Stoomcourant in hand. There is a restaurant in the station building.