De Lijn garage at Heist-op-den-Berg - 1 Feb 1993

Monday 1 February 1993 (approx. 1200) – The temperature was just around freezing when I called at the De Lijn garage in Heist-op-den-Berg. The property, which I assume had its origins with De Lijn’s predecessor NMVB (Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen), stands beside the mainline railway in Halfstraat. The brick building remains today although the large cobbled outside parking area has been resurfaced and is mainly used for staff parking.

On the left is 2170 (1918 P), a Jonckheere Trans City bodied Volvo B10MA-55 articulated that had been new to NMVB October 1988. In the garage doorway are 4783 (0215 P) and 5638 (1973 P). These are both are DAF powered Van Hool integrals, 4783 an AI119/2 model new in October 1976 and 5638 an A120/031 new in February 1981.

The national bus and tram company of Belgium was formally titled Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen (NMVB) in Flemish and Société nationale des chemins de fer vicinaux (SNCV) in French.