Geldersch-Westfaalsche Stoomtram-Maatschappij

The railway line Lichtenvoorde -Bocholt was a cross-border narrow gauge railway with 750 mm gauge, which was operated by the Geldersch - Westfaalsche Stoomtram - Maatschappij ( Geldersch -Westphalian steam railway company).

History

Before the First World War, many workers from the Netherlands were employed in the textile factories in Bocholt. Thus, the construction of a rail link from Bocholt to neighboring Gelderland was close. First thoughts were there at the end of the 19th century, 1905 Geldersch - Westfaalsche Stoomtrammaatschappij ( Geldersch -Westphalian steam railway company, GWSM ) was founded. Elaborately was obtaining the concession for the Prussian section after the small railway law. So initially one route of Groenlo after Zeddam was built. It was opened in 1908. 1908 was also the Prussian franchise, and so could be on May 2, 1910, the route will be opened by Lichtenvoorde to Bocholt. The preliminary endpoint in Bocholt was replaced on 1 September by a proper train station to the city. But this was more than a kilometer away from the state railway. Although later tracks were laid to the station, but never put into operation. The First World War brought the burgeoning traffic on 31 July 1914, end, until then six pairs of trains a day were been on the road. Only in March 1915, the traffic was resumed. On 1 May 1916, the traffic finally ceased. However, only in 1937 the tracks were dismantled. The operation on the Dutch part of the track was taken over in 1917 by the Geldersche Stoomtram Maatschappij, which also ran the also cross-border railway line Velp Doetinchen - Isselburg - Anholt. 1933, the traffic was discontinued on the remaining GWSM routes.

Rolling stock

At the start of operation were four built by Hanomag triaxial steam locomotives available. In addition, there were eight four-axle passenger cars, two Post-/Gepäckwagen and two freight cars. But partially reversed the existing five -axle tram locomotives GWSM on the track, which had been prepared in 1908 by the company Breda. The cars had a vacuum brake.