Spoorwegmuseum De Mijlpaal, Railway museum in Mechelen, Belgium
De Mijlpaal was a railway museum in Mechelen displaying vintage locomotives, historical carriages, and artifacts that traced the development of Belgian rail transport. The collection presented technical objects from different eras showing how rail travel evolved across the country.
The museum building was constructed in 1837 and was the first railway structure of its kind on the European continent. Mechelen became an important station in the early history of rail transport in Europe.
The collection shows models of Mechelen from three different time periods: 1835, 1885, and 1935, documenting how the city changed across these eras. Visitors can observe how the urban layout and infrastructure transformed over a century.
The museum collection was relocated to Train World in Schaarbeek on October 1, 2011. Visitors can explore the complete railway heritage there.
A memorial column in front of Mechelen station marked the first railway line between Brussels and Mechelen and served as a measurement point. This column was a symbol of the beginning of the modern railway age in the region.
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