No steam power, but man and woman power today sets a train in motion at the Stadskanaal museum railway line on the Drents-Groningen border. The station is the setting for the NK train pulling. And that attracts strong men and women from all over the country.
On track 2 is a historic locomotive of the type Sik of 21 tons. Behind it an extra wagon of 11 tons. A modest weight for a train, because a steam locomotive easily weighs 140 tons. But just put 32,000 kilos in motion with only manpower. “If you only get it rolling once, and the thigh muscles are the most important,” explain participants who warm up their muscles in various ways. It’s not a competition for wimps, that can be read from the faces while pulling.
The NK was devised by the Organization Strong Men Oldambt (OSO), but they should actually replace ‘men’ with ‘people’ laughs Berend Schuur of OSO
Race leader Onno Straat of OSO explains the rules of the game. “Both the men and the women compete in two parts. First, the 21-tonne locomotive must be pulled towards you while sitting on the ground. The men are divided into two weight classes up to 105 kilos and from 105 kilos. The second part is in a harness to pull the train on foot. For men, another wagon is added behind the locomotive so that the total weight is 32 tons. It is always about the fastest time. The sum of the sitting and walking determines the total time. Who has the fastest time has wins.”