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 a track gauge of 1435 mm.
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 |
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.[1] [2]
The NFLS had the following passenger stock, all built by Nederlandsche Fabriek van Werktuigen & Spoorwegmaterieel, Amsterdam:[1]
| 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 stock:[1]
| 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 4142–44 | 158059 158056–57 | |
| 1 | ballast wagon | 1 | 13646 | — |
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[3] | |
| 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
Jelsum station was demolished in 1944.
Finkum station was demolished by 1970
Hallum station was demolished in 1970
Ferwerd station was demolished in 1974[4]
Hantum station was demolished by 1960.[4]
Dokkum-Aalsum station was demolished in 1974.[4]
Wetsens station closed in May 1902.[5]
Oosterbierum station was demolished by 1980.[4]
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.