, logo = , logo_width = , logo_alt = , image = Setesdalsbanen

, image_name = , image_width = , image_alt = , caption = Veteran train on the Setesdal Line, 23 July 2003. The train is driving onto the Paulen bridge. , color = , locale = , terminus = Grovane Røyknes , map = , map_caption = , map_alt = , mapsize = , connections = , linename = , builtby = Norwegian State Railways , originalopen = 26 November 1895 , originalgauge = , originalelec = None , owned = Setesdal Line , operator = Setesdal Line , marks = , stations = Kristiansand Station - Byglandsfjord Station (original)
Grovane Station - Røyknes Station (heritage) , length = (original)
(heritage) , preservedgauge = , era = , com-years = , com-events = , com-years1 = , com-events1 = , closedpassengers = , closed = 1 September 1962 , stageyears = , stage = , years = , events = , years1 = , events1 = , headquarters = , website
setesdalsbanen.no
, routemap = , routemap_name = , routemap_state = The Setesdal Line ( no, Setesdalsbanen) was a

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

between

Kristiansand Kristiansand is a seaside resort city and municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 112,000 as of January 2020, following the incorporati ...

and

Byglandsfjord Byglandsfjord is a village in Bygland municipality in Agder county, Norway. The village is located in the Setesdal valley along the Norwegian National Road 9 and the river Otra in the far southern part of the municipality, just north of the border ...

in southern

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

, long. It was built with a narrow

gauge Gauge ( or ) may refer to: Measurement * Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments * Gauge (firearms) * Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire ** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, ...

of , and opened to

Hægeland Hægeland or Hægelandskrossen is a village in Vennesla municipality in Agder county, Norway. The village is located along the northeastern shore of the lake Hægelandsvatnet, a short distance south of the Kilefjorden. The Norwegian National Roa ...

26 November 1895, and to Byglandsfjord 27 November 1896. Stations along the line included Mosby,

Vennesla Vennesla is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vennesla. Other villages in Vennesla include Grovane, Hægeland, Hom ...

, Grovene ( Grovane),

Iveland Iveland is a municipality in Agder County, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Setesdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Birketveit. Other villages in the municipality include Bakken, Skaiå, and ...

and

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

History

When the standard gauged

Sørlandet Line The Sørlandet Line ( no, Sørlandsbanen) is a railway line between Drammen (though this is connected to Oslo by means of the Drammen Line) via Kristiansand to Stavanger. The line is long between Oslo and Stavanger. History The railway was con ...

was opened to Kristiansand in 1938, Grovane became the new terminal station for the Setesdal Line, with connection to the Sørlandet Line. The Setesdal Line was suspended from 1 September 1962, and the track was lifted between Byglandsfjord and Beihølen. The line between Beihølen and Grovane was, however, preserved by local enthusiasts. The Setesdal Line Hobby Club was already established in 1964. Today, the Setesdal Line is a railway museum with steam trains serving the 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 Dübs & Co. was a locomotive manufacturer in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Henry Dübs in 1863 and based at the Queens Park Works in Polmadie. In 1903 it amalgamated with two other Glasgow locomotive manufacturers to create the North British ...

in 1894. * Class XXI number 2, built at

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 Strømmens Værksted A/S was an industrial company based in Skedsmo, Norway, specialising in the production of rolling stock. Founded in 1873, it remains as a part of Bombardier Transportation. The plant is located just off Hoved Line, Hovedbanen ...

. 56 passengers. *Cmdo Sulitelma, built in 1957 at

. 56 passengers. Transferred to the Setesdal Line after the closure of Sulitjelma Line.

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.

Heritage railway stations and stops

The following stations and stops exist at the current railway museum:

Setesdal Line 1896 - 1938

Connection with steamboat on Lake

Byglandsfjorden Byglandsfjorden is a lake in Agder county, Norway. The lake lies on the river Otra, primarily in the municipality of Bygland, but the far southern tip of the lake extends into the neighboring municipality of Evje og Hornnes. The river flows o ...

from Byglandsfjord Station. The railway line was closed in 1962, but parts of the railroad have been preserved. It is a current narrow-gauge heritage railroad between Røyknes and Grovane and the current standard gauged track from Grovane Station to Kristiansand Station is a part of the current

. Several of the station buildings along the former railroad are still preserved. Rail passengers had to change trains at Grovane Station from 1938 to 1962 due to different track widths, narrow-gauge to normal gauge.

Route

Legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess ...

References

External links

Official site

Vest-Ager Museum, Setesdal Line
(Optional languages)
Google map location
{{coord, 58.2936, N, 7.9808, E, source:wikidata, display=title Railway lines in Norway Railway lines in Agder Heritage railways in Norway 3 ft 6 in gauge railways in Norway Sørlandet Line Setesdal Museums in Agder Tourist attractions in Agder Railway lines opened in 1895 1895 establishments in Norway Railway lines closed in 1962 Museums established in 1964 1964 establishments in Norway Vennesla Bygland