Setesdalsbanen
| Setesdalsbanen | |
| |
|---|---|
| Veteran train on Setesdalsbanen, July 23 2003. The train is driving onto the Paulen bridge. | |
| Info | |
| Type | Railway |
| System | Norwegian railway |
| Status | Heritage |
| Start station | Kristiansand |
| End station | Byglandsfjord |
| Operation | |
| Opened | November 26, 1895 |
| Closed | September 1, 1962 |
| Owner | Norges Statsbaner (original) Setesdalsbanen (heritage) |
| Operator(s) | Norges Statsbaner (original) Setesdalsbanen (heritage) |
| Character | Heritage |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 78 km (original) 8 km (heritage) |
| No. of tracks | 1 |
| Gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrified | No |
Setesdalsbanen (Setesdal Railway) is a railway between Kristiansand and Byglandsfjord in southern Norway, 78 km long. Built with a narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm). Opened to Hægeland November 26 1895, to Byglandsfjord November 27 1896. Stations along the line included Mosby, Vennesla, Grovene (Grovane), Iveland and Hægeland.
Contents
History
When the Sørlandsbanen (Sørland Railway) was opened to Kristiansand in 1938, Grovane became the new terminal station for Setesdalsbanen, with connection to Sørlandsbanen.
Setesdalsbanen was suspended from September 1, 1962, and the track was demolished between Byglandsfjord and Beihølen. The 6 km line between Beihølen and Grovane was, however, preserved by local enthusiasts. The Setesdalsbanen Hobby Club was established already in 1964.
Today, Setesdalsbanen is a railway museum with steam trains trafficking the 8 km line between Grovane and Røyknes. Four steam locomotives from 1894-1902 are preserved, along with a number of passenger and freight cars.
The preserved locomotives
Narrow gauge steam locomotives
- Class XXI number 1, built at Dübs & Co. in 1894.
- Class XXI number 2, built at Dübs & Co. in 1894.
- Class XXI number 5, built at Thunes Mekaniske Værksted in 1901.
- Class XXII number 6, built at Thunes Mekaniske Værksted in 1902.
Narrow gauge diesel locomotives
- SJ Class Z4t number 227, built in 1950. Bought from the SJ in 1976.
- SJ Class Z4t number 307, built in 1952. Bought from the SJ in 1981.
Narrow gauge railcars
- Cmbo-1 number 2672, built in 1932 at Strømmens Verksted. 56 passengers.
- Cmdo Sulitelma, built in 1957 at Strømmens Verksted. 56 passengers. Transferred to Setesdalsbanen after the closure of Sulitjelmabanen.
Standard gauge diesel locomotives
These locomotives are only used for shunting at areas with dual gauge track.
Stations and stops
The following stations and stops exist at the railway museum:
| Name | Type | Distance from Oslo V (km) | Length (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grovane | Station | 345.25 | |
| Rugåna | Steel bridge | 345.40 | 13.6 |
| Store bu | Siding | 345.69 | |
| Grovane | Stop | 345.80 | |
| Grovane | Level crossing | 345.87 | |
| Paulen | Truss bridge | 347.13 | 50.1 |
| Paulen | Stop | 347.59 | |
| Paulen gård | Stop | 347.76 | |
| Kringsjå | Stop | 348.17 | |
| Løyning | Tunnel | 349.74 | 123 |
| Beihølen dam | Stop | 350.53 | |
| Beihøldalen | Station | 350.97 | |
| Otterdals | Siding | 351.79 | |
| Røyknes | Station | 353.22 | |
| Langåen | Steel bridge | 353.37 | 9.32 |
