Hell–Sunnan Line

The Hell–Sunnan Line ( _no. Hell–Sunnanbanen) or the was the name of the railway line opened in 1905, running from Hell to Sunnan in Nord-Trøndelag county in Norway. Since 1926 the 105 km line constitutes a part of the Nordland Line.

The railway line between Throndhjem and Hell, was opened in 1881 as a part of the Meråker Line to Meråker and Storlien in Sweden. In contrast to most lines in Norway at the time, it was only as the third line in Norway build with standard gauge, due to its connection with the Swedish Norrländska Tvärbanan.

A northern extension from Hell through Innherred was discussed already from 1874, and finally 20 years later, in 1894, the decision was made by the Norwegian Parliament. The line would pass Stjørdal, Levanger, Verdal and Steinkjer, and have it's terminal at Sunnan on the southern end of lake Snåsavatnet. As for the Meråker Line, standard gauge was chosen.

The construction started in 1899 and operations started as sections were finished from 1902 to 1905, until the full length was opened 14 November 1905. Although it was the first event of this kind in newly independent Norway, king Haakon VII did not have the time to come, so the inauguration was made by the county governor of Nordre Trondhjems Amt (Nord-Trøndelag), Torvald Løchen.

The continuation further north was stalled for many years, as the route could not be decided. The main alternatives discussed was via Snåsa and Namsos, respectively. Consequently, Sunnan resumed the terminal until 1926 when the next section to Snåsa was opened. The Nordland Line to Bodø was finalized in 1962.

Sources

* [http://www.norsk-jernbanemuseum.no/htm/njm_historie/ Norwegian railway history in brief] no icon
* [http://www.jernbaneverket.no/jernbanenettet/Historie/Jernbanen_Trondelag/ Railway development in Trøndelag] no icon
* [http://www.steinkjerleksikonet.no/index.php?artikkel=322 Steinkjerleksikonet: Hell-Sunnanbanen] no icon