Namsos Line

Namsos Line
The Namsos Line (right) branches off from the Nordland Line (left) at Grong
Overview
Type	Railway
Status	Abandoned
Termini	Grong Station Namsos Station (1933–1981) New Namsos Station (1981–2002)
Operation
Opened	1 November 1933 (temporarily) 1 July 1934 (permanent)
Closed	2002
Owner	Norwegian National Rail Administration
Operator(s)	CargoNet
Character	Passenger, freight (1933–1978) Freight (1978–2002)
Technical
Line length	51.61 km (32.07 mi) (1933–1981) 50.60 km (31.44 mi) (1981–2002)
No. of tracks	Single
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	No

The Namsos Line (Norwegian: Namsosbanen) was a 51-kilometre (32 mi) long railway line between Grong and Namsos in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.^[1] The line branched off from the Nordland Line at Grong Station.

History

The first proposal of a railway line to Namsos came in 1875. The Railway Commission approved the idea, and proposed that the line be built between 1878 and 1884. However, this plan did not materialize. The 1894 decision to build the Hell–Sunnan Line, construction finished in 1905, gave way to another discussion. People of inner Nord-Trøndelag proposed that the planned extension of the Hell–Sunnan Line towards Nordland should go via Snåsa instead of Namsos. This plan was eventually passed by the Norwegian Parliament in 1908. Instead, the Namsos Line would be constructed as a branch line off what became the main Nordland Line.^[2]

Based on legislation in the Norwegian Parliament passed on 2 June 1913, construction of the railway started in 1922. The final plan was affirmed by the Norwegian Parliament on 13 December 1923.^[2] However, in 1927 the construction was stopped by Conservative Minister of Labour, Worm Hirsch Darre-Jenssen. His halt order was revoked by Parliament on 19 May 1928, but by that time the original plans had been reduced. For instance, the original track weight of 35 kg/m was replaced by a lower standard of 25 kg/m—this reduced the permitted axle load. The line opened temporarily on 1 November 1933, and for ordinary traffic on 1 July 1934. There were routes both between Namsos and Grong, and between Namsos and Trondheim.^[3]

The number of departures was doubled before 1940, but declined during World War II. A recovery after 1945 was followed by another decline in the number of departures, the first proposal to close the line surfacing in the 1950s. People who travelled to Trondheim, could reach Steinkjer Station by bus and then take the main Nordland Line from there—compared to rail travel from Namsos to Trondheim, this means of travel was quicker, and 67 kilometres (42 mi) shorter.^[3] The speed limit on the Namsos Line was 60 km/h for passenger trains. An upgrade plan was passed by the Parliament in 1976,^[4] but nonetheless the branch was closed to passenger traffic on 1 January 1978.^[3] Most of the buildings associated with the Namsos Line have been torn down.^[5]

On 1 June 1981, a new goods terminal was opened in Namsos,^[6] shortening the line by 1.01 km. The withdrawal of freight services followed in 2002, although in 2005 the reopening of the line for the transport of lumber was considered. ^[7] In 2008, Namsos was considered as a port for shipping out minerals from Namsskogan. This would require a major overhaul of the line, if the mining company is to choose Namsos instead of Mosjøen.^[8]

Stations

Name	Distance[2]	Elevation
Grong	0.00 km (0 mi)
Dun	3.31 km (2.06 mi)
Sjemsvoll	6.30 km (3.91 mi)
Jørem	8.71 km (5.41 mi)
Øyheim	11.99 km (7.45 mi)
Øysletta	16.21 km (10.07 mi)
Heknbakk	19.08 km (11.86 mi)
Skogmo	22.22 km (13.81 mi)
Himo	23.92 km (14.86 mi)
Overhalla	25.58 km (15.89 mi)
Barlia	27.07 km (16.82 mi)
Øysvoll	29.88 km (18.57 mi)
Myrmo	32.44 km (20.16 mi)
Halvardsmo	35.11 km (21.82 mi)
Skage	36.90 km (22.93 mi)
Grytøya	40.55 km (25.20 mi)
Kvatninga	43.42 km (26.98 mi)
Meosen	44.47 km (27.63 mi)
Høyknes	48.02 km (29.84 mi)
Angelskjæret	50.13 km (31.15 mi)
Namsos Station (1933–1981)	51.61 km (32.07 mi)
New Namsos Station (1981–2002)	50.60 km (31.44 mi)

References

1. ^ Norwegian National Rail Administration. "Nøkkeltall for norske baner" (in Norwegian). http://www.jernbaneverket.no/jernbanenettet/Jernbanekart/jernbane_nettet_i_tall/. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Aspenberg, Nils Carl (1994). Glemte spor. Boken om sidebanenes tragiske liv. Oslo: Baneforlaget. pp. 274. ISBN 92-91448-00-0. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Aspenberg, 1994: p.274
4. ^ Aspenberg, 1994: p.275
5. ^ Aspenberg, 1994: p.278
6. ^ Aspenberg, 1994: p.279
7. ^ Namdalsavisa (2005-12-08). "Åpner for trafikk på Namsosbanen" (in Norwegian). http://www.namdalsavisa.no/Nyhet/article1884375.ece. 
8. ^ "Heli krever klart svar" (in Norwegian). Namdalsavisa. 26 November 2008. http://www.namdalsavisa.no/Nyhet/article3947629.ece. Retrieved 26 January 2009.