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The Noord-Friesche Locaalspoorweg-Maatschappij (North Friesland Railway) was a railway serving the sparsely populated province of Friesland in Northern Netherlands. Operated by the North Friesland Local Railway Company (Dutch: Noord-Friesche Locaalspoorweg-Maatschappij (NFLS)), it functioned as a light railway, equivalent to what would be known in the UK. The line spanned approximately 91 kilometers (57 miles) and was built to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge .
The NFLS had a network of lines in North Friesland. The lines opened in eight stages:
| Leeuwarden – Ferwerd | 22 April 1901 |
| Ferwerd – Metslawier | 2 October 1901 |
| Stiens – Tzummarum | 2 December 1902 |
| Tzummarum – Franeker Halte | 1 October 1903 |
| Tzummarum – Midlum-Herbaijum | 1 October 1903 |
| Midlum-Herbaijum – Harlingen | 2 May 1904 |
| St. Jacobiparochie – Berlikum (freight only) | before 1910 |
| Metslawier – Anjum | 24 August 1913 |
Wetsens station closed in May 1902, less than eight months after opening. [1] On 1 December 1905, the NFLS was taken over by the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij (HSM), which itself was nationalized on 1 December 1938, becoming part of Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).
The NFLS had a fleet of 10 2-4-2T locomotives, numbered 1-10. They became HSM 1051-60 and later the NS 7101-10. The locomotives cost ƒ23,300 each and were built by Hohenzollern. [2] [3]
The NFLS had the following passenger stock, all built by Nederlandsche Fabriek van Werktuigen & Spoorwegmaterieel, Amsterdam: [2]
| Qty | Type | Class | NFLS Nº | HSM Nº | NS Nº |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | four-wheel carriage | 2nd class | B1–10 | B1060–69 | B1071–80 |
| 25 | four-wheel carriage | 3rd class | C1–25 | C1072–96 | C1146–70 |
| 2 | four-wheel brake carriage | 2nd class | BDL1–2 | BDP1070–71 | 1001–02 |
| 3 | four-wheel brake carriage | post and baggage | LD1–3 | DP3003–05 | PD1026–28 |
The NFLS had the following goods wagons: [2]
| Qty | Type | NFLS Nº | HSM Nº | NS Nº | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | van | DE1–2 | DP3001–02 | D2261–62 | ||
| 9 | van with guard cab | CHG1–9 | 11950–58 | CHC3236–44 | ||
| 2 | van with steam heating | CHFF51–52 | 11959–60 | CHC3561–62 | ||
| 4 | open wagon with guard cab | CL201–04 | 29960–73 | GL43661–64 | ||
| 16 | open wagon | CL301–16 | 29974–89 | GL41816–31 | ||
| 2 | van with guard shelter | FO601–02 | 5490–91 | FB70774–75 | ||
| 8 | van | FO651–58 | 5492–99 | FB70571–78 | ||
| 3 | water tank
| WW1–3 | 4197–99 to 1911 4142–44 after 1911 | 158059 158056–57 | ||
| 1 | ballast wagon | 1 | 13646 | — |
The rolling stock was all built by Nederlandsche Fabriek van Werktuigen & Spoorwegmaterieel, Amsterdam, except for the two 6,500-liter water tankers, which were built by Nivelles in 1896 and acquired secondhand. [2]
The lines were closed gradually, with some short-term reopenings occurring during the Second World War:
| Section | Date | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Tzummarum – Franeker Halte | 8 October 1933 | closed, track lifted |
| Tzummarum – Harlingen | 15 May 1935 | closed to passengers |
| Dokkum-Aalsum – Anjum | 15 May 1935 | closed to passengers |
| Stiens – Tzummarum | 15 May 1936 | closed to passengers |
| Leeuwarden – Dokkum-Aalsum | 1 July 1936 | closed to passengers |
| Midlum-Herbaijum – Harlingen | 11 January 1938 | closed, track lifted |
| Leeuwarden – Dokkum-Aalsum | 28 May 1940 | reopened to passengers |
| Stiens – Tzummarum | 28 May 1940 | reopened to passengers |
| Leeuwarden – Dokkum-Aalsum | 1 December 1940 | closed to passenger |
| Dokkum-Aalsum – Anjum | 27 July 1942 | closed [4] |
| Stiens – Tzummarum | 30 October 1942 | closed to passengers |
| Tzummarum – Midlum-Herbaijum | 7 December 1961 | closed, track lifted |
| Minnertsga – Tzummarum | 4 May 1966 | closed, track lifted |
| Mooie Paal – Berlikum | 27 September 1971 | closed, track lifted |
| Stiens – Minnertsga | 1973 | closed |
| Holwerd – Dokkum Aalsum | 1975 | closed |
| Stiens – Holwerd | 1978 | closed |
| Stiens – Dokkum-Aalsum | 1980 | track lifted |
| Stiens – Minnertsga | 1980 | track lifted |
| Leeuwarden – Stiens | 1997 | closed |
| Leeuwarden station | 2006 | track lifted |
Distances are measured from Leeuwarden station.
Leeuwarden Rijksweg (or Halte) station was demolished in 1970 [5]
Jelsum station was demolished in 1944. [5]
Finkum station was demolished by 1970 [5]
Hallum station was demolished in 1970 [5]
Ferwerd station was demolished in 1974 [5] [ unreliable source? ]
Hantum station was demolished by 1960. [5]
Dokkum-Aalsum station was demolished in 1974. [5]
Wetsens station closed in May 1902. [1]
Oosterbierum station was demolished by 1980. [5]
On 12 June 1927, NS locomotive 7124 derailed near Holwerd and ended up on its side in a canal. The locomotive was recovered on 23 June and returned to service after repairs were made. [6]
Information contained in the above articles has been used in compiling this article.
