Utrecht, Maliebaan - The Netherlands
Posted by: superstein
N 52° 05.293 E 005° 07.975
31U E 646129 N 5772996
Station Utrecht Maliebaan is the station Between Hilversum and Lunetten
Waymark Code: WM61Z4
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Date Posted: 03/19/2009
Views: 34
History
1874 - Second rail link between Utrecht and Amsterdam
In 1874, Utrecht gained a second rail link to Amsterdam when the Dutch Iron Railways Company [Hollandsche Ijzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij, HSM] opened the Oosterspoorweg between Utrecht and the capital via Hilversum. In keeping with the times, this company wanted to show it could compete with the Dutch Rhine Railway Company [Nederlandsche Rijn Spoorwegmaatschappij, NRS]. The Iron Railways Company built a very imposing station. The architect was probably A.L. van Gendt, the man who later became involved in the construction of Amsterdam's Central Station. The monumental building was opened on 10 June 1874. At the time, the neo-classical style building - which consisted of a higher central section with two single-storey wings - cost 200,000 guilders (the equivalent of 90,758 euros). The total width of the building was over 85 meters. Ticket windows and the telegraph office were housed In the spacious and lofty central hall. A large cloakroom could be found on the other side of the hall. The left hand wing housed the cafeteria and kitchen, and the 3rd class waiting room. The right hand wing served as a storage area for luggage and other goods.
1885 Opening of Biltstraat Halt makes Maliebaan Station redundant
Things went well for the first ten years, but the opening of the Biltstraat Halt just around the corner signalled the beginning of the end. This was certainly the case once the Biltstraat Halt became a proper station in 1892; Maliebaan Station soon lost the battle. The platforms were empty and silent.
1921 Further adversity as a result of a direct link between Utrecht and Hilversum
The next significant blow for Maliebaan Station came in 1921 when a direct rail link was opened between Utrecht Central Station and Hilversum. 1939 saw the closure of both Maliebaan Station and the station in the Biltstraat. Maliebaan Station continued to serve as a lost property repository for a further year, but by the time the Second World War broke out in The Netherlands (1940) it stood empty.
1953 New lease of life for both Railway Museum and Maliebaan Station
Following a major renovation programme in 1953 the building became the permanent venue for the Dutch Railway Museum, which up to then had been housed in various places but could now be brought under one roof at the former Maliebaan Station. A number of alterations have been carried out over the years, including a major rebuilding programme in 1989, and Maliebaan Station is currently undergoing another internal metamorphosis.
For mor information for the museum
click here
The 5 next incoming and outgoing trains.
|