Belgium's Trams and Trolleybuses

Belgium has a rich history of tramways, with main towns and cities developing their own networks. However, in the 1960s, French-speaking Liège and Verviers lost their tramways. Tony Martens, a photographer who lived in the UK, began revisiting the country in the 1960s and captured many of the surviving operations. John Law first visited Belgium in 1971 and has since returned regularly. He has gained access to Tony's slide collection and has compiled a photographic history of Belgium's trams and trolleybuses from the mid-1960s to the present day.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Belgium, like many European countries, boasts a rich history of tramway networks that have developed over the years. While some of these networks have faded away, a few cities have managed to preserve their tramways, including Brussels, Gent, Antwerpen, and Charleroi. However, it's worth noting that in the 1960s, both French-speaking Liège and Verviers lost their tramways. While there is a desire in Liège to bring back the tramway system, it remains a topic of discussion and feasibility.

In addition to the urban tramway systems, Belgium had a comprehensive rural network of mainly metre gauge tramways known as the Vicinal. This network served various towns and villages throughout the country. Tony Martens, a photographer born in Belgium but who spent most of his life in the UK, began revisiting Belgium in the 1960s. During his visits, he captured stunning photographs of the surviving tramways, including the Vicinal routes. John Laws, another photographer, first visited Belgium in 1971, accompanying Tony in Brussels. At that time, the last of the Vicinal routes were still in operation, and four-wheeled trams were running on the city streets. John's visits to Belgium continued on a regular basis, and he has since documented the country's trams and trolleybuses from the mid-1960s to the present day.

Unfortunately, Tony Martens passed away in early 2019. However, John Law was able to gain access to Tony's slide collection, which includes a wealth of photographs documenting Belgium's tramways and trolleybuses. John has combined his own photographic work with this archive to create a comprehensive photographic history of Belgium's trams and trolleybuses. The resulting book, "Belgium's Trams and Trolleybuses: A Photographic History from the Mid-1960s to the Present Day," offers a glimpse into the country's transportation history and the evolution of its tramway networks.

The book features a wide range of photographs, including street scenes, trams in operation, and historical details about the tramway systems. It also includes interviews with tramway enthusiasts and professionals who have contributed to the preservation and restoration of these iconic vehicles.

In conclusion, Belgium's tramway networks have a rich history that has been preserved in a few cities. While some networks have disappeared, the Vicinal and urban tramway systems continue to thrive. Tony Martens and John Laws have played a significant role in documenting and preserving this transportation heritage, and their work has been invaluable in creating a photographic history of Belgium's trams and trolleybuses.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 164 x 233 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398107243