Statues - Hither & Thither

 

Description

One of four identical monuments, the other three are in Schaesberg, Sittard and Heerlen [not (yet) photographed by us.

On a circular platrom are four façades of identical stations, made of Corten steel and modelled on the authentic Schaesberg station. The fa&$231;ades bear the names Sittard, Heerlen, Schaesberg and Herzogenrath. The windows, stepped gables and ornaments are openwork, allowing a view through to the other side, connection and light penetration. Above the stations, three balls on rods in black, green and gold sprout in the form of a spiral 'firework'. The fireworks mark the moment of 1 May 2021 as the actual moment of the 125th anniversary.
In front of the stations, continuous rails are visible. Three 'train sets' run on the rails. The black steam locomotive stands for the past, the green train for the present and the golden ('high-speed') train for the future. The edge of the platform has a text in German:

1896 - 2021 von schwarz über grün zu gold. die umwandlung unserer regionen durch diese historische eisenbahn ohne grenzen!

The three identical monuments have this text in Dutch:

1896 - 2021 van zwart naar groen naar goud. de transformatie van onze regio's door deze historische spoorlijn zonder grenzen!

From which the English translation reads:
1896 - 2021 from black to green to gold. the transformation of our regions by this historic railway without borders!

The platform is supported by three railway rails that stand on a base plate with a map of the area. Each of the rails is in a different country. The rails are angled and cross each other, expressing the connection between these three countries.

In the dimensions of the object, the number 125 appear repeatedly:

• The diameter of the circular ground plate is 125 cm.
• The platform is 125 cm above the ground.
• The rise of the firework is 12.5 cm, reaching the highest point of the work, 212.5 cm
• The Dutch as well as the German text counts exactly 125 characters.
• The QR code in the edge give access to 125 old photos, it opens this link (on which we did not find those 125 photos).

The Herzogenrath monument was unveiled 18/19 September 2021.

Sculptors

• Nick Custers.
  
• Ronald van den Eijnden

Sources & Information

• Heerlyckheyt Schaesberg, Monument 125 jaar grensoverschrijdende spoorlijn and Het monument.

Tags

• Town: Herzogenrath
• Kreis: Städteregion Aachen
• Land: Nordrhein-Westfalen
• Country: Germany
• Custers, Nick
• Eijnden, Ronald van den

Locatie (N 50°52'11" - E 6°5'40") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

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