Setesdal Line

Infobox rail line
name = Setesdal Line


caption = Veteran train on Setesdalsbanen, July 23 2003. The train is driving onto the Paulen bridge.
type = Railway
system = Norwegian railway
status = Heritage
start = Kristiansand
end = Byglandsfjord
stations =
open = 26 November 1895
close = 1 September 1962
owner = Norges Statsbaner (original)
Setesdalsbanen (heritage)
operator = Norges Statsbaner (original)
Setesdalsbanen (heritage)
character = Heritage
stock =
linelength = 78 km (original)
8 km (heritage)
tracklength =
notrack = Single
gauge = RailGauge|1067mm
el = No
speed =
elevation = |

The Setesdal Line ( _no. Setesdalsbanen) is a heritage railway between Kristiansand and Byglandsfjord in southern Norway, 78 km long. It was built with a narrow gauge of RailGauge|1067mm, 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.

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 1 September 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 serving 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.

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

Stations and stops

The following stations and stops exist at the railway museum:

External links

* [http://www.setesdalsbanen.no Setesdalsbanen web site]
* [http://norwegen.piranho.de/Vest-Agder_Venneslae.htm photos from Setesdalsbanen]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&ll=58.29941,7.975001&spn=0.012268,0.03562&t=k&om=1 Google map location]