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When in Kristiansand, one of many ports of name on my Norway cruise itinerary, I made a decision to take a experience on the Setesdal Classic Railway (Setesdalsbanen). This Kristiansand shore tour first appealed to me as a result of I like trains, but it surely additionally gave the impression of a great way to expertise a little bit of the realm’s historical past and scenic views.
Earlier than I share my expertise on the Setesdal Classic Railway tour, right here’s some details about this historic railway line close to Kristiansand.
In regards to the Setesdal Classic Railway
Setesdalsbanen is a slender gauge railway line that opened in 1896 between Kristiansand and Byglandsfjord in southern Norway. On the time of its opening, there have been seven stations on the 78 km/48 mi lengthy line.
By the 1960’s, highway automobiles had been more and more used for transporting items and the railway line wasn’t making any cash. Setesdalsbanen closed in 1962 and the observe quickly began to be dismantled. Nonetheless, native practice fanatics managed to protect 6 km/3.7 mi of the unique observe between Grovane and Beihølen to be used as a interest railroad.
Since then, the Setesdal Line has gone from being utilized by a interest membership to working as a dwelling railway museum. Some infrastructure and tracks had been reinstated and as we speak the Setesdal Line runs for 8 km/5 mi between Grovane and Røyknes stations.
As a heritage railway, Setesdalsbanen has 4 steam locomotives which are over 100 years previous, a number of preserved wood passenger carriages, and a few recreated station buildings.
Driving the Setesdal Classic Railway- My Expertise
The Setesdal Classic Railway tour from Kristiansand began with a bus experience from the cruise ship port to Grovane station. There was a information on board who shared some tales in regards to the space, identified the sights as we drove by, and advised us in regards to the historical past of the Setesdal railway.
In case you’re travelling independently and never a part of a cruise or tour, you may nonetheless experience the classic railway, however your tickets gained’t embody transportation to and from the practice station.
As soon as we arrived at Grovane station, the group waited for the practice to reach. This took longer than normal as a result of there was one other practice that needed to go by on the tracks first. If there’s a little bit of a wait, Grovane station has a small cafe you may go to and there’s additionally some info panels and brochures that you could learn in regards to the railway and sights alongside the road.
I believed Grovane station was very cute with its pink paint and yellow trim. I particularly appreciated the clock hanging above the principle entrance.
When the steam locomotive lastly arrived, the group excitedly boarded the practice. There isn’t any assigned seating, so I like to recommend sitting on the appropriate aspect when travelling from Grovane to Røyknes station as a result of there’s extra surroundings to have a look at. The left aspect does have a waterfall early on the journey, however after that, you’ll be looking at a rocky hillside and timber more often than not.
The wood passenger vehicles had been properly restored to protect their classic feel and look. I actually appreciated that many of the home windows slid open so I might simply take footage. Simply don’t lean out the window too far as a result of there’s a tunnel and a snow shed over a portion of the observe.
Chugging away from Grovane station the practice quickly handed a service yard with workshops, sheds, and previous railcars. The primary scenic focal point was a small waterfall flowing down the hillside by the hydroelectric energy plant.
After the waterfall, the practice crossed the Otra River on a metal lattice bridge inbuilt 1895. The observe then curved away from the river into an space of timber.
A couple of minutes later we handed by Paulen gård, the previous house of the strains man answerable for sustaining the Setesdal railway. The previous farm and its buildings at the moment are utilized by the first Vennesla Scouts group.
The perfect surroundings of the practice experience was after Paulen gård when the observe adopted carefully alongside the river. My favorite function was the previous log chute and the way it’s now utilized by pleasant, waving hikers. What a singular climbing path!
Persevering with alongside, I had an ideal view of the rock-framed river, the forest and hills alongside its banks, and the wood log chute. I used to be impressed by how far the chute runs!
Subsequent up the practice went by way of a brief, slender tunnel so there have been just a few moments of darkness earlier than the practice re-emerged beside the river.
Throughout this part of the journey, there have been extra fantastic views of the forest and river on the appropriate because the practice hugged the mountainside on the left.
Ultimately, the practice handed by the Beihølen Dam and we obtained to see a waterfall flowing down from a fenced-off portion of the log chute. Simply south of the dam can also be the place the unique tracks finish.
Now on the part of rebuilt observe, we rode alongside a large and really scenic stretch of the river. Quickly we handed Beihøldalen station, which isn’t unique. It was established in 1996 and served because the higher terminus of the road till 2004.
Nearing the tip of my experience on the Setesdal Classic Railway some fairly islands got here into view. There was a much bigger island close to Røyknes station that had some homes on it and I couldn’t assist however assume it seemed like a pleasant place to stay.
After pulling into Røyknes station everybody disembarked the practice and the following group obtained on for the return journey. An attention-grabbing factor about Røyknes station is that it’s not unique to the road, having been taken aside and moved from Svenkerud on the Bergen Line and re-erected at Røyknes. Though it’s not unique, it’s an identical to the station constructing that stood right here from 1914 till 1962.
We had a bit of time to stroll across the station space so I took some footage and watched the locomotive replenish on the water tower. Then we boarded the buses to be pushed again to Kristiansand.
Ultimate Ideas- My Evaluation of the Setesdal Classic Railway
I like being on trains and watching the surroundings go by so my experience on the Setesdal Classic Railway was as pleasurable as I anticipated it to be. The river and forest views had been lovely and seeing a dam and previous log chute was a pleasant bonus.
The practice carriages had been well-restored however nonetheless had a nostalgic, old-timey feeling. The stations and different historic buildings alongside the road added to the expertise as effectively. Top-of-the-line elements was the steam engine- that basically made me really feel like I had gone again in time!
There was no commentary through the practice experience so I used to be glad I took a brochure as a result of it had a information to the principle sights alongside the road. With the brochure, I might comply with alongside and know what I used to be seeing.
The practice experience was pretty quick, solely about half-hour. I sort of want it was longer, however I’m additionally glad it wasn’t so I had time to discover Kristiansand afterwards. The one different draw back was the lengthy wait on the station for the practice to reach, however this may not all the time be the case.
General, the Setesdal Classic Railway tour was a very good expertise that practice lovers and other people in search of a calming technique to see the sights will take pleasure in.
Ideas for Driving the Setesdalsbanen
Location: The Setesdalsbanen is positioned about 21 km north of Kristiansand close to Vennesla.
Schedule: The Setesdalsbanen operates from June to September. The practice runs on Sundays plus some Saturdays and Wednesdays. Affirm the present schedule here.
Tickets: Tickets for the Setesdal Classic Railway could be purchased on the terminus stations and on the museum’s website. Spherical-trip or one-way tickets can be found.
Steam Locomotive: Sadly, there are some occasions when the steam engine isn’t in a position to pull the practice, like when there’s a danger of forest hearth. In these situations, an alternate engine is used.
Amenities: Snacks could be purchased on the stations. There are additionally rest room amenities. There are not any bathrooms on the practice.
Lodging in Kristiansand
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