Setesdal Line

Setesdal Line
File:Setesdalsbanen.jpg Veteran train on Setesdalsbanen, July 23 2003. The train is driving onto the Paulen bridge.
Overview
Type	Railway
System	Norwegian railway
Status	Heritage railway, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of the original line
Termini	Kristiansand Byglandsfjord
Operation
Opened	26 November 1895
Closed	1 September 1962
Owner	Norwegian State Railways (original) Setesdalsbanen (heritage)
Operator(s)	Norwegian State Railways (original) Setesdalsbanen (heritage)
Character	Heritage (Grovane - Røyknes)
Technical
Line length	78 km (48 mi) (original) 8 km (5 mi) (heritage)
No. of tracks	Single
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	No

The Setesdal Line (Norwegian: Setesdalsbanen) was a railway between Kristiansand and Byglandsfjord in southern Norway, 78 km (48 mi) long. It was built with a narrow gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), and opened to Hægeland 26 November 1895, and to Byglandsfjord 27 November 1896. Stations along the line included Mosby, Vennesla, Grovene (Grovane), Iveland and Hægeland.

Today, only the stretch between Grovane and Røyknes of the original line is preserved as a heritage railway.

History

When the Sørlandet Line was opened to Kristiansand in 1938, Grovane became the new terminal station for the Setesdal Line, with connection to the Sørlandet Line.

The Sørlandet Line was suspended from 1 September 1962, and the track was lifted between Byglandsfjord and Beihølen. The 6 km (3.7 mi) line between Beihølen and Grovane was, however, preserved by local enthusiasts. The Setesdalsbanen Hobby Club was established already in 1964.

Today, the Sørlandet Line is a railway museum with steam trains serving the 8 km (5.0 mi) 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 and Company in 1894.
• Class XXI number 2, built at Dübs and Company 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 Værksted. 56 passengers.
• Cmdo Sulitelma, built in 1957 at Strømmens Værksted. 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.

• Skd 206 number 39, built in 1936.
• Skd 206 number 44, built in 1936.

Stations and stops

File:Grovane stasjon.JPG

Grovane Station

File:Setesdalsbanen ankommer Røyknes stasjon. Foto T Lunde (7459361810) (2).jpg

Røyknes Station

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

See also

• Narrow gauge railways in Norway

External links

• Official site (Norwegian)
• Vest-Ager Museum Setesdalsbanen (Optional languages)
• photos from Setesdalsbanen
• Google map location