Belgium’s jewel is among Europe’s most magnificent railway terminals.
![Antwerpen Centraal, Belgium on March 22, 2013. Lumix LX-3.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Antwerpen_Centraal_interior_2.jpg?resize=420%2C629)
On the morning of Friday March 22, 2013, I rode an SNCB (Société National des Chemins de fer Belges—Belgian National Railways) train from Brussels to Antwerpen Centraal (Antwerp Central Station). It was bright and sunny, a real contrast to my experience in Dublin on the previous day where it was cloudy, windy and raining.
I first visited Antwerpen Centraal in May 1996. Since that time this classic stub-end terminal has been transformed into a three-level railway intermodal center. Tracks on the lowest level permit through services without the need for trains to reverse direction as was previously required.
![Looking straight up at the domed roof in Antwerpen Centraal, Belgium on March 22, 2013. Lumix LX-3.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Antwerpen_Centraal_domed_roof_P1450118.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
The station head-house is among the most opulent and best kept anywhere in Europe, while the steeply pitched balloon train shed makes for a wonderful venue to photograph trains, its glass windows acting as enormous soft-box.
On Friday March 22nd, I had about 45 minutes at Antwerpen Centraal between trains. I used my time to good advantage and exposed a variety of digital images with my Lumix LX-3, and some Fuji Provia 100F with my Canon EOS-3. The film will be processed at a later time.
![New SNCB electric multple-unit at Antwerpen Centraal, Belgium on March 22, 2013. Lumix LX-3.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Antwerpen_Centraal_new_units_inside_shed_MOD1_P1450090.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Station at Antwerp, Belgium.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Antwerpen_Centraal_new_units_w_shed_P1450087.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
The terminal is well-suited to the city center and connected to myriad destinations through an excellent public transport system operated by De Lijn. This includes a 1000mm gauge tram network that still hosts vintage President Conference Committee (PCC) streetcars.
![PCC Streetcar near Antwerpen Centraal on March 22, 2013.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Antwerpen_PCC_P1450103.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
My layover at Antwerpen Centraal was a sideshow to my main effort: I was on my way to a location near Antwerp port where I was aiming to photograph freight trains. Keep your eye on this space for those images!