Grimstad Line

Infobox rail line
name = Grimstad Line
nativename = Grimstadbanen


caption =
type = Railway
system = Norwegian railway
status = Abandoned
start = Grimstad Station
end = Rise Station
stations =
open = 14 September 1907
close = 1 September 1961
owner = Norges Statsbaner
operator = Norges Statsbaner
character =
stock =
linelength = convert|22.19|km|mi|abbr=on
tracklength =
notrack = Single
gauge = RailGauge|sg
el = No
speed =
elevation = |

The Grimstad Line ( _no. Grimstadbanen was a Norwegian railway between Rise and Grimstad in Aust-Agder. Opened on 14 September 1907, the railway was a branch line of the Treungen Line, later renamed the Arendal Line. Grimstadbanen was abandoned on 1 September 1961 when passenger transport terminated.cite book |author=Norsk Jernbaneklubb |title=Banedata '94 |isbn=8290286155 |date=1994 |language=Norwegian]

History

The railway was built as a narrow gauge (1067 mm) line from Grimstad to Froland by private investors, as the Grimstad–Froland Line ( _no. Grimstad–Frolandbanen). The railway was nationalized on 24 January 1912., and operated by Norges Statsbaner under the present name. At Froland Grimstadbanen connected to the state built railway between Arendal and Froland that opened in 1908, as the first part of the Treungen Line, which was extended via Nelaug to Treungen in Telemark by 1913. The Treungen Line became part of the national rail network in 1935 when the Sørland Line reached Nelaug. After the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) eventually acquired the railway, and upgraded it to standard gauge (1435 mm) on 9 November 1936 just after the Arendal Line; the latter was converted to standard gauge because it was for three years the terminus of the Sørland Line. NSB operated a branchline rail service to Grimstad from Rise Station until 1961, when the railway was abandoned. [cite web |url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/jernbanenettet/stasjonssok/stasjonsoversikt/Arendalsbanen/index.jhtml?expanded=Rise |title=Arendalsbanen |author=Jernbaneverket |accessdate=2006-12-12 |language=Norwegian ] Part of the railway is now a hiking trail.

References