Old Voss Line

The Old Voss Line (Norwegian: Gamle Vossebanen) is a heritage railway between Garnes and Midttun near Bergen, Norway.

Old Voss Line
Norwegian: Gamle Vossebanen
Type 18 locomotive no. 255 at Garnes
Locale	Norway
Terminus	Garnes & Midttun
Connections	Norges Statsbaner
Commercial operations
Built by	Norges Statsbaner
Original gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Original electrification	15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Preserved operations
Owned by	Norwegian Railway Society
Operated by	Norwegian Railway Society
Length	18 km (11 mi)
Preserved gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Preserved electrification	None
Commercial history
Opened	1883
1904	Gauge converted
Closed to passengers	1964
Closed	still open for freight
Preservation history
Headquarters	Garnes
Website
Old Voss Line web site
Route map former main line to Voss Garnes (1883) Arna (1883) Arna (NSB) (1964) Espeland (1899) Haukeland (1883) Søylen Tunnel 89 m Bratland Tunnel 258 m Grimmen Tunnel 123 m Helldal I Tunnel 24 m Helldal II Tunnel 29 m Midttun (1925) former main line to Bergen

Originally constructed as a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge line, it formed part of the Bergen to Voss railway opened in 1883. Following the decision to complete the railway to Oslo in 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge, the line was upgraded in 1904. Electrified in 1954, it continued to serve as part of the Bergen to Oslo main line until the Arnanipa Tunnel and the 7.5 km (4.7 mi) Ulriken Tunnel, which opened in 1964, resulted in the closure of the line for passenger traffic. The line is still open for freight traffic.[1]

Today, the museum railway is operated by the Norwegian Railway Association (Norsk Jernbaneklubb) and runs on Sundays between June and September over a distance of 18 km (11 mi) between Garnes and Midttun, taking just under one hour. The Midttun terminus is located near Nesttun, and there are further intermediate stops at Arna, Espeland and Haukeland. The service operates with a type 18 steam locomotive, no. 255, built in 1913, decommissioned in 1969 and restored by volunteers between 1981 and 1993. It pulls a series of teak coaches built between 1921 and 1938. The locomotive is stored in the engine shed at the restored Garnes station that features a museum, a coach shed, a yard and turntable.[2]

The restored Garnes Station

References

1. "Gamle Vossebanen". Riksantikvaren. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
2. "The Old Voss Steam Railway Museum". Norsk Jernbaneklubb. Retrieved September 1, 2017.

External links

• Old Voss Line web site
• Norwegian Railway Association