Belgium had its World Chaîne Day celebration in a carriage from the Orient Express “Blue Train” drawn along by a vintage steam-powered railway engine.

The event took place at Maldegem Steam Centre, a heritage railway association that runs historic trains the 10 kilometres between Maldegem and Eeklo railway stations.

Maldegem railway station closed in 1959. However, at the end of the Eighties there was again activity on and around the Maldegem station site. A group of railway enthusiasts from Bruges - who had outgrown the model building phase and had tried their hand at a hobby on a private site in Maldegem for some years - settled down in Maldegem. They bought all the buildings abandoned by Belgian Railways including the station and goods shed.

The glistening blue liveried steam engine that took us to Eeklo was named “Fred”. A typical English 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotive, Fred was built in 1925 by the Avondside Engine Company. After a lifetime working in England, it came to Belgium.

The Orient Express Dining Car aims to take one back to the days of the great express trains of the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, dining cars from the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits “Blue Train” were still in daily use on the major lines and international connections.

During our journey along the heritage line we had a wonderful meal served by Maître Rôtisseur Peter Degroote of Ten Dauwe in Aalter. The food was accompanied by a fine selection of wine chosen by Échanson Dominique Crombé.

RECEPTION

Champagne with amuses-bouches

MENU
Ostend-style North Sea sole
puff pastry twist

Chateaubriand with red wine sauce
glazed vegetables and fondant potato

Cheese plate
selected by Callebaut-Van-Haver Cheese Masters

Saint-Honoré gateau with red fruits

DRINKS

Royal Tokaji Dry Furmint 2019 - Hungary
Château Grand Bertin St Clair 2018 - Médoc
BRU mineral water
'Chaîne Belgium' brand coffee

An outstanding occasion which was enjoyed by all. As you can see from the photos many members and guests were dressed in period costume.

It was a pleasure that Grand Officier Maître Hôtelier Michel Cottray, a Member Honoraire of the Conseil Magistral, was able to participate.

Ilse Duponcheel
Member of the Conseil Magistral
Bailli Délégué