The Flåm Railway

Kjos Water Falls where the trains make a stop.

Every year thousands of tourists travel on the green trains running between Myrdal and Flåm in the western part of Norway. The railway has a gradient at 55 promille (1/18), and is one of the steepest conventional railway lines in the World. (Some of Oslo's underground lines are steeper). The railway is built as a branch line to the main line between Oslo and Bergen, and it took twenty years to build the line. The line opened at August 1st 1940, and in the beginning the trains were hauled by small steam locomotives. Four years later, in October 1944, the line was electrified.

Three electric locomotives class El 9 were built specially for the line the same year. At this time Norway was under Nazi occupation, and the western part of the country was under Border Zone West. All passengers needed a special travel permit. When the war was over the restrictions were lifted.

An electric locomotive class El 9 on the museum in Flåm. The yellow sign on the right indicates the gradient on the railway, 55 promille.

Two trains are crossing at Berekvam.

The Flåm Line train leaving Myrdal for the return down to Flåm

Today most of the passengers on the Flåm Railway are tourists. There is a station at Berekvam where two trains are able to cross. There is also a halt at Vatnahalsen and at Kjos Water Falls. At Myrdal there is connection with corresponding trains towards Oslo and Bergen. The trains on the line consists of passenger coaches class B3. The trains are hauled by electric locomotives class El 17. Because of the steep gradient there is one locomotive in each end of the train.

Here you can read more about the Flåm Railway.