In The Last Journey, we follow a man in his final weeks, determined to ride his beloved steam locomotive one last time. Having devoted his life to working on trains, his passion for these iron giants never wanes. Surrounded by lifelong friends and fellow train enthusiasts at Corus Stoom IJmuiden, he fights cancer with the same determination that keeps the old engines alive.
As his health declines, his friends rally to restore one of the first locomotives he ever worked on. With time running out, they pour their hearts into the repairs, driven by friendship and shared love for the steam era. When the locomotive finally roars back to life, it carries him on his last journey—through landscapes etched with memories of a lifetime spent on the rails.
A few days later, he passes away, leaving behind a legacy of beautifully restored steam engines and friendships forged in steel and steam. The Last Journey is a poignant testament to the human spirit, the power of shared passion, and the indelible mark we leave on the world when we follow our dreams.
– Published by Newspaper Trouw
– The film is created in 2014 on the Leica M with M-lenses in cooperation with Transcontinenta.
