Numedal Line
Numedal Line | |
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Single | |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
Electrification | No |
Highest elevation | 370.9 metres (1,217 ft) |
The Numedal Line (
The first plans for a line through Numedal were launched after the
In 2013, Jernbaneverket reopened a 30 km stretch between Kongsberg and Flesberg, to support the forestry industry.[1] Following a derailment in April 2014, the entire stretch was upgraded with new sleepers.
Route
The Numedal Line branches off from the Sørland Line at
The line continues past the stops Bjørnsrud, Bakkerud and Fossan before reaching the 228-meter (748 ft) Helle Tunnel and then Djupdal Station 40.63 kilometers (25.25 mi) after Kongsberg. The line then runs through the 78-meter (256 ft) Ulvik Tunnel and the 57-meter (187 ft) Gygrestigen Tunnel. It then passes the halt Selsteigen before running through the 44-meter (144 ft) Selsteigen Tunnel. After passing through the halt Kjome, the line reaches Rollag Station, which is 46.80 kilometers (29.08 mi) from Kongsberg.[2] Since 1989, this is the furthest north the line is kept operational, although the track remains all the way to Rødberg.[3]
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The line continues past the stops Tråen, Rollag kirke, Bråten, Sjorsåte, over the 65-meter (213 ft) Bruhaug Bridge, past the stops Laugi, Vamre, Risteigen and then passes over the river Veggli elv on a 30-meter-long (98 ft) bridge. At 60.81 kilometers (37.79 mi) after Kongsberg the line reaches Veggli Station, before continuing past the stops Tveitkåsa, Kjerre, Fossebrekke and then through two tunnels, Gjeiteryggen I and Gjeiteryggen II, which are 572 meters (1,877 ft) and 246 meters (807 ft) long, respectively.[2] The line then passes by the stops Kravikfjord, Kittelsland, Eidsstrykken, a 30-meter (98 ft) bridge over Eidsåa, the stops Norefjord, Svendsrud and the 146-meter (479 ft) Rundberg Tunnel. The line then runs past the stop Midtstigen and Søndre Sandnes before running through five tunnels, named Sandnes I and II, Vrennedalen I and II, and Bondeberg, which are between 12 and 140 meters (39 and 459 ft) long. Just before Gvammen Station, which is 87.39 kilometers (54.30 mi) from Kongsberg, there is a branch to Nore II Power Station.[4]
The line then runs through six tunnels, named Gvamsås I through V, and Hvilsten. These are between 156 and 16 metres (512 and 52 ft) long. The line then passes past Rødberg vokterbolig, which is 90.92 kilometers (56.50 mi) form Kongsberg and is, at 395.0 metres (1,295.9 ft) AMSL the highest point on the line. The line then passes over Uvdalselva on a 35-meter (115 ft) combined road and rail bridge, before reaching Rødberg, 92.84 kilometers (57.69 mi) from Kongsberg.[4]
History
With the construction of the Sørland Line to Kongsberg, which opened on 10 November 1871, proposals were launched to extend the line up Numedal. On 16 August 1873, a meeting was held between representatives from the municipalities in Numedal to discuss how they could convince national politicians to build the Bergen Line through Numedal.
On 3 August 1918, the line was passed by the
Siting commenced in 1918, and by 1919, an administration for the works had been established in Kongsberg. Construction commenced on 2 July 1920, between Fossan and Bratterud. However, there quickly arose a
From 1924, the railway was taken partially into use. Trains could run the 36 kilometers (22 mi) from Kongsberg to Bakkerød from 15 November 1924, the 65 kilometers (40 mi) to Kjærre from 1 December 1925 and to Rødberg from 1 December 1926.[11] These trains included transport of 950 tonnes (930 long tons; 1,050 short tons) of cement and 590 tonnes (580 long tons; 650 short tons) for the railway bridges. In total 4,300 wagon loads were transported before the official opening, of which about half was for the power stations. Because of the delay of building the line, it could only be used during part of the construction period for the power stations.[9]
The official opening took place on 19 November 1927 by
Initially, all trains on the line were hauled by
Because the conductors and engineers often knew where the locals lived or were headed, trains would make non-scheduled stops to disembark passengers to allow them a shorter walk.[8] In the 1960s, the number of round trips was reduced to three per day, allowing the whole service to be operated with a single unit.[11] NSB used steam power for freight trains until 1970, when NSB's last scheduled steam locomotive service hauled a gravel train from Svene to Kongsberg.[13] For a short period during the 1980s, there were also school trains, but as this forced NSB to operate two multiple units on the line, it proved too expensive and was soon afterwards again provided by bus.[11]
Discussion about closing the line started in the 1950s, and the line became a candidate every time NSB and the parliament discussed closures. In 1988, the parliament decided to close many Norwegian lines, including the Numedal Line, although it was decided that the section from Kongsberg to Rollag was to be kept for freight traffic. The last passenger train operated on 31 December 1988 and the line north of Rollag was officially closed on 1 January 1989.[14] By the time the line closed in 1989, manning remained at only three stations: Flesberg, Veggli and Rødberg.[8] NSB retained some traffic south of Flesberg; in 1993 the company hauled 30,000 tonnes (30,000 long tons; 33,000 short tons) of gravel and 25,000 tonnes (25,000 long tons; 28,000 short tons) of lumber along the line.[14]
After the closure, the non-profit organization Friends of the Numedal Line was established and offered occasional heritage rides along the line.[14] It maintains the tracks between Rollag and Rødberg and offers draisine rental between Veggli and Rødberg.[15] Irregular transport from the gravel pit at Svene and the sawmill Numedal Bruk at Flesberg. The latter is operated by Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen and hauls lumber from Uddevalla, Sweden.[16] The stretch from Flesberg to Rødberg is suggested preserved by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage.[3]
References
- ^ "Numedalsbanen reactivated for logging traffic". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Bjerke (1994): 180
- ^ Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (in Norwegian). 12 July 2008. Archivedfrom the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ a b Bjerke (1994): 181
- ^ a b c Dahlen and Borgersen (1989): 15
- ^ Aspenberg (1994): 125
- ^ a b Aspenberg (1994): 126
- ^ a b c d Dahlen and Borgersen (1989): 19
- ^ a b Dahlen and Borgersen (1989): 9
- ^ Dahlen and Borgersen (1989): 17
- ^ a b c d Aspenberg (1994): 127
- ^ "Innskrenkninger ved Numedalsbanen i 1932". Laagendalsposten (in Norwegian). 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Aspenberg (1994): 128
- ^ a b c Aspenberg (1994): 131
- ^ "Dresinsykling" (in Norwegian). Friends of the Numedal Line. Archived from the original on 10 July 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- Norwegian National Rail Administration. 8 June 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 10 July 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
Bibliography
- ISBN 82-91448-00-0.
- Dahlen, Harald; Borgersen, Vidar Skaar (1989). Billedboka om Numedalsbanen (in Norwegian). Kongsberg: Langs Lågen. ISBN 82-7494-002-4.
- Bjerke, Thor (1994). Banedata '94 (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk Jernbaneklubb. ISBN 82-90286-15-5.