New Freeware NS MAT 24 set available

[holzroller]

As above De Blokkendoos MAT24 sets now available here http://rail-sim.de/forum/index.php/Thre ... post285105

[marcusboon]

Thanks for the tip, downloading now!

Marcus

[tnleeuw01]

That's great news, was unaware these were being developed! Will download them soon.

--Tim

[kennyb]

Very unexpected and very welcome, downloaded now to install and enjoy. Does anybody have any other gen on these fantastic looking units train sets -- reminds me of an N Gauge Roco model of a Bavarian set I once had, does it come from the same Era as that one ????
.
Ken

[tnleeuw01]

Very unexpected and very welcome, downloaded now to install and enjoy. Does anybody have any other gen on these fantastic looking units train sets -- reminds me of an N Gauge Roco model of a Bavarian set I once had, does it come from the same Era as that one ????
.
Ken

Hi Ken,

Back home I have a book full of info on these trains, but it's all in Dutch!

They date back to 1924, hence their name.

They were built in large quantities for electrification of Dutch commuter lines. Their are numerous variations, with end cars for the driver, powered and unpowered middle cars, and some middle cars had a small stand for a driver to the side of the coach connecting doors.
I'm not sure until which year they were in service, but several were in use as maintenance trains for many years after regular passenger service ended for them.

By their design, they could easily be combined and split into units of varying size, like blocks in a toy box. This have them their name, "Blokkendoos".

In the war years, powered units were combined in sets of 3 or more to work as traction for freight trains, since there was a lack of other motive power and passenger services had been vastly reduced.
In those years, the Dutch railways didn't have any electric locomotives - only EMU sets.

I haven't had a chance yet to look at these trains in the sim, does anyone have perhaps a few screenshots to share?

Cheers,

--Tim

[kennyb]

Thanks for the info Tim - will have to start "Googling" these wonderful looking units to get more info - - What was the book called might even check Amazon to see if its available --- and get a Dutch / English dictionary !!!!!
.
Ken

[marcusboon]

I guess the book Tim mentioned is:

N.J. van Wijck Jurriaanse, Van stoom tot stroom: het blokkendozenmateriel van de NS (ISBN 9060139062, Alkmaar: De Alk 1979). Currently not on Amazon.co.uk, but widely available in Dutch secondhand bookshops.

Marcus

[kennyb]

Many thanks will start hunting it down !!!!
.
Ken

[tnleeuw01]

I guess the book Tim mentioned is:

N.J. van Wijck Jurriaanse, Van stoom tot stroom: het blokkendozenmateriel van de NS (ISBN 9060139062, Alkmaar: De Alk 1979). Currently not on Amazon.co.uk, but widely available in Dutch secondhand bookshops.

Marcus

Yep it's that book indeed!

Sorry I was typing from my phone when I typed out that message yesterday, on the way to work - so I couldn't easily check the book, nor other facts!

It's all in Dutch of course, that book...

--Tim

[tnleeuw01]

The Wikipedia page on these trains I'd only in Dutch;

http://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mat_%2724

Some more quick facts of interest:

Until 1959 they were running under their own power. They were in use until 1972 as coaching stock on passenger services.

They were constructed over a period from 1924 to 1933. After that time, streamlined trains were being developed in the Netherlands.

Originally they were painted in ivory and green, but that was changed to just green because the ivory colour for dirty too easily, this requiring too much maintenance.

After the war, many were left behind in East Germany, were they were still found until the 80s and 90s (Wikipedia is not clear if that means in service, or found as disused stock).

Many of the remaining coaches are now in service with Dutch heritage railways, kind of like the Mark 1 coaches are in the UK.

Cheers,

--Tim

[holzroller]

Remember the trailer coaches being used in rush hour trains heading north in the evening from Sittard in 70-72, By the way, off topic, but do you Nederlandse guys know where I could get a copy of De Gele Rijders / druk 1: de standaardstree​kbussen in Nederland, bouwjaar 1967-1988 . Used to take the bus to the international school in Brunsuum courtesy of LTM, would be a nice nostalgic trip to have the book. Would need to be able to pay by credit card or paypal.

[marcusboon]

Re. Dutch buses. Peter van der Meer, De gele rijders : de standaardstreekbussen in Nederland, bouwjaar 1967-1988 (Alkmaar: De Alk 2004). I think you’ve already found out that this is now out of print, but it might be worthwhile to check the site http://www.boekwinkeltjes.nl where you will find the offerings of most Dutch second-hand bookshops. I did some searching, but at the moment it is not listed, but it might turn up again during the coming months. Alternatively, you might try the Dutch ebay clone http://www.marktplaats.nl . I did my national service in Maastricht in 72/73, but I cannot remember when I last saw 'blokkendoos'-coaches....

Marcus

[Javiz]

@ holzroller: If you're still interested in 'De gele rijders' book : http://www.bol.com/nl/p/de-gele-rijders ... 002068996/

[holzroller]

I'm interested, but unfortunately it is out of my price range at the moment. Thanks for the link anyway.