STAR Heritage Railway

The trust based in Stadskanaal, 32 km south-east of Groningen, operates a preserved railway that extends from Veendam, 10 km to the north-west, through Stadskanaal itself to Musselkanaal, 16 km to the south-east. The line was built in the early 20th century by the Noord Ooster Locaal Spoorweg, and carried passenger trains to Groningen until 1955, and freight traffic until 1990.

The trust was set up in 1992, and operates trains from its headquarters in Stadskanaal. Its steam locomotives, mostly acquired from Germany, include two of the celebrated ‘Krieglok’ 2-10-0s, both built in 1943, a tank locomotive constructed by Kraus-Maffei in 1936, and one built by Krupp of Essen in 1953. There is a small fleet of diesel locomotives, the earliest of which dates from 1955.

Visitors are able to experience railway travel characteristic of the mid-20th century, and also to view from the train the remarkable landscape of the peat moors of the Groningse Veenkolonien.