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GRAMMONT. 18. Route. 217
Ghent, see p. 63. The train crosses the Scheldt, and beyond
Ledeberg, Meirelbeke, aud Melle diverges to the S. from the Brussels
line (p.3). Stations Gonirode, Moorizeele, Scheldewindeke, Baeleghem.
44M. Sotteghem, where the railway crosses the Brussels and
Courtrai line (p. 54). Branch to Renaix, see p. 79.
16 M. Erweteghem; 18'/ M. Lierde-Sainte-Marie.
23 M. Grammont (405 ft.), Flem. Geeraardsbergen, an indus-
trial place with 13,000 inhab., on the slope of a hill, is the junction
of the Denderleeuw-Ath line (p.7) and of a steam-tramway to Oude-
naarde (p. 53). The Hétel de Ville has four corner-turrets; and
under the balcony is a Mannikin fountain, resembling that at Brus-
sels (p. 434). It contains an early-Flemish painting of Christ as
the Judge of the earth. The church of St. Barthélemy possesses two
pictures by De Crayer.
Stations Viane-Moerbeke, Gammerages, Thollembeek, Hérinnes-
lez-Enghien. — The train enters the province of Hainault. At (33 M.)
Enghien (p. 8) our line is crossed by the Brussels and Tournai
railway (R. 1b); to Renaix and Courtrai, see p. 79. Steam-tram-
ways, see p. 8. — From (37!/, M.) Rognon ‘a branch-line diverges
to Tubize (p. 213).
41 M. Braine-le-Comte (p. 215). The line to Charleroi and
Namur now diverges from that to Mons (R. 17). Carriages are
sometimes changed here.
45 M. Ecaussines (Carrizres) possesses extensive quarries of blue
limestone. Of the two castles here the more picturesque is the
Chateau de Lalaing (15th cent.), situated on a precipitous cliff.
Railways hence to Faureulx and Erquelinnes and to Lembecq
(p. 212). — Beyond Marche-les-Ecaussines and Familleureus (light
railway to La Louyiére, see above) the train crosses the Charleroi
Canal, and near Manage it enters a rich coal-district.
50 M. Manage (450 ft.) is the junction of our line with those to
Mons, Piéton (p. 246), and Ottignies. Light railway hence to
Houdeng-Goegnies vid Jolimont, Haine-St-Pierre, and La Lou-
viere, see p. 242.
From ManacGe To Mons, 151/2M., railway in 1 hr. (fares 2 fr. 60, 1 fr. 70'c,,
This branch-line inter sa valuable coal-field, called ‘Le Centre’,
ield of which is brought into the market by means of an extensive
ork of railways. In connection with the coal-mines there is a rapidly
S sing iron-industry. At La Louviére (see below) is a large hydranlic
lift, constructed by the Cockerill Co. (p. 257) in 1885-88, at an outlay of
41/2 million francs, to counteract the difference of level (49 ft.) between
the two arms of the Canal du Centre. — The chief station is (3\/2 M.)
La Louviére, a rising industrial centre, whence a branch-line leads to
Haine-St-Pierre. Light railways run hence also to Houdeng-Goegnies
(p. 242); vid La Croyére in one direction to Familleureux (see above) and
in the other direction to Bois d'Haine; via Haine-St-Pierre and Jolimont
to Manage in one direction and in the other to Mariemont, Morlanwelz,
and Carniéres (p. 216); yiaé Haine-St-Paul to Haine- St-Pierre, and via
St. Vaast (see p. 246) to Binche (pp. 216, 213), or to Estinnes, all with
extensive mines. — The following stations are Bois-du-Luc, Bracquegnies
(p. 212), Thieu, Havré-Ville, where the old chateau of Havré rises to the |
