10 Years of Steam Trains at Pairi Daiza
A celebration of moving, industrial Belgian and European heritage.
Pairi Daiza has been awarded the title of Best Zoo in Europe for several years, but it is truly a unique destination, a garden to celebrates wonder and authenticity, where the preservation of industrial heritage stands alongside natural treasures.
With authentic steam trains, Pairi Daiza is committed to preserving global railway and industrial heritage. These locomotives pay tribute to a time when Belgium was the first country on the European mainland to introduce the train, and when Wallonia, then one of Europe’s leading industrial regions, derived much of its wealth from mining and locomotive construction.
By putting these historic locomotives back into operation, Pairi Daiza aims to revive this essential part of regional history and, through an immersive and sensory experience, allow visitors to discover the distinctive atmosphere of the old narrow-gauge railways.
Train “Caretakers”
These historic machines are maintained and operated by true enthusiasts, who devote their skills every day to preserving this precious railway heritage. Pairi Daiza has a dedicated team of “train caretakers.” They work on these iron workhorses with passion, patience and expertise. Each staff member is responsible for a specific locomotive and ensures that the train is ready to run each morning. It takes no less than three hours to heat up and prepare a locomotive for departure.
“The construction of the Pairi Daiza Steam Railway line ten years ago and the restoration of the locomotives represented a huge investment of time from a team of passionate railway enthusiasts. And we still do this every day. We truly see ourselves as train caretakers,” explains Jason Van Landschoot, head of Pairi Daiza’s mobile collection.
Among Pairi Daiza’s heritage treasures is a remarkable locomotive: the “Couillet 1318.” Built in 1900 by the Société Métallurgique de Couillet — then a flagship of Walloon industry — it was used in Spanish mines. This iconic machine, acquired by Pairi Daiza at the end of 2022, underwent meticulous restoration. It symbolizes both Belgian technical know-how and the park’s commitment to safeguarding rare witnesses of the industrial past.
A Temporary Exhibition This Weekend – 13 and 14 September
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Pairi Daiza Steam Railway, 10 steam locomotives will be running and on display in the Park. For train enthusiasts and visitors this is a unique experience: historic steam locomotives in operation, a rare international collection and the authentic atmosphere of the former narrow-gauge railways.
Some of the locomotives are coming especially for the occasion from Germany, France, the Czech Republic and England.
More info: www.pairidaiza.eu
Johan Vreys