I’m really sorry to say that I don’t have any railway contacts in Belgium at all. I’ve gotten all my information from the web, mostly from the Dutch-language version of wikipedia (nl.wikipedia.org).

I can help you out with line numbers though. In 1943 there were three lines from Antwerp to Brussels – you had Lines 25 & 27 which run right next to each other almost the entire way, and line 25A which had a totally separate course and closed in 1969.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_25
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_27
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_25A

The stretch from Brussels to Tournai is a little bit harder to tie down.

The most direct route form Brussels to Tournai (Doornik in Felmish) would seem to be to take Line 96 from Brussels South to Halle, and Line 94 from there directly to Tournai. However, that would require crossing the centre of Brussels, which might not have been an option. Another logical route would seem to be to follow Line 50 from the North of Brussels to Denderleeuw, and then Line 90 from Denderleeuw to Ath on Line 94.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_96
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_94
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_50
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_90

The final section from Tournai to Rumes could only have been along the now closed Line 88A. This line opened in 1883, and the first section of it was not closed until 1950.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoorlijn_88A

The vast majority of these possible routes is still open today, with three exceptions. The most obvious two being the complete closure of line 25A, and the complete closure of the 12.6KM section of Line 88A from Tournai to the Belgian border in Rumes. The other exception is a section of Line 94 from Mark to Ath. In 1985 a new and much straighter route was opened between Mark and Ath, and the original route that would have been used in 1943 was closed.

All these lines, past and present, are mapped out in the latest version of the project that this post announced the start of, you can download the KMZ file (to be opened in Google Earth) at the bottom of this post: http://www.bartbusschots.ie/blog/?p=1634

I hope that’s of some help, and I wish I could do more for you. The very best of luck with your research, and if you ever do write up what you find out, I’d really love to read it.

Bart.

I wondered if you may be able to help me, or do you know any contacts who would have a good knowledge of Belgian Railways in 1943 and could assist I am especially interested in specific stations, general locomotives and rolling stock for this period , plus routes from Antwerp to Brussels, Brussels to Tournai and then Tournai to Rumes. My father was an Allied airman trying to evade capture after his aircraft had been been shot down. He travelled this way. Background information and specific details would be most hopeful.

I think it was your last post that prompted me to look at the line that passed behind my parents house.

It is Long since broken up, but you can almost track between places where there are still signs and where the signs are long gone.

I was also planning on Google-mapping the line, but I see our locl historical society have now published a book on the railway, so I must check that out.

I also have memories as a kid on holiday with the family, spotting old rail formations in the area where my father grew up. The difference for him is he remembers when the line was operating.

It is a fascinating subject.