A VISITORS' GUIDE TO NORDIC (SCANDINAVIAN) NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS

Philip Pacey

Last revised 6th July 2012

About this page...

This Visitors' Guide began life as a listing of passenger-carrying narrow gauge railways, open to visitors, in an issue of Skandiapilen, the journal of the Scandinavian Railways Society. Revised and enlarged editions were produced as booklets, the most recent being published by the Scandinavian Railways Society. No more paper editions will be produced; instead, this Web edition will be kept up-to-date as often and as thoroughly as possible.

A first section provides introductory notes on the history of narrow gauge railways in the Nordic countries. These are followed by directories of passenger-carrying narrow gauge railways in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland which can be visited today. You can go straight to these directories by clicking on the links below:

Directory of preserved narrow gauge railways in Denmark

Directory of preserved narrow gauge railways in Norway

Directory of preserved narrow gauge railways in Sweden

Directory of preserved narrow gauge railways in Finland

While the directories are intended to be comprehensive so far as operational passenger-carrying narrow gauge railways are concerned, they may not be; equally, though I have tried to make them as accurate as possible, some inaccuracies are probably inevitable and much of the information provided is subject to alteration. Intending visitors should take note that most railways only operate on certain days during a short (in some cases very short) season; that timetables can vary from year to year; that even when a railway is open, it may not be operating trains along the whole length of the line; and that the fact that a railway is operating trains is not in itself a guarantee that trains will be steam-hauled. It is therefore a good idea to contact the railways concerned in advance of a visit if at all possible.

Acknowledgements I am grateful to everyone who has supplied me with information.

The illustrations are taken from a facsimile reprint of a catalogue, Kosta-Jernvägssystemet , published by Hmmels Jernvägsbyra of Stockholm in approximately 1890. It features a Kosta-Jernvägs 'Mallet' locomotive, an example of which was in time gone by no. 2 on the Munkedals AB railway. I purchased my copy of the facsimile reprint from the booking office and shop of the present-day Munkedals Jernväg.

Narrow gauge railways in the Nordic countries

For several decades, narrow gauge railways - which are relatively cheap to build while being more adaptable to difficult terrain - played an important role in Scandinavia, penetrating areas of countryside beyond the reach of costly standard gauge main lines, linking communities with each other and with the main line network, and serving agriculture, forestry and industry - not least the extraction industries of mining and quarrying - and in a few instances, military installations. Many lines were established which carried passengers as well as freight; in addition, both relatively permanent and essentially temporary lines were utilised on private, industrial sites, and on agricultural land: some of these are likely to have passed unrecorded in their time and to have disappeared without trace. In each country the history of narrow gauge railways followed a similar pattern: development in the latter decades of the 19th century and the early decades of this century; decline, not least in the face of competition from road transport; the conversion of some lines to standard gauge and the closure of others; the survival of a few narrow gauge lines, some of which were taken over by nationalised state railway companies after the Second World War; and, in a very few cases, the preservation of part if not all of the line as a working museum.

In Norway, where construction of a first railway of 1435mm (standard) gauge began in 1851, a ‘battle of the gauges’ took place: champions of 1,067mm (3’6"), led by Carl Pihl, argued that this narrower gauge was better suited to Norwegian geography. Lines in both gauges were built until the 1890s; after much debate, Storting’s (the Norwegian parliament’s) final decision in 1898 that Bergensbanen was to be standard gauge represented victory for the latter. Many miles of narrow gauge track were converted to standard gauge, leaving, by the 1940s, only 71 miles (of a total once nearly 10 times greater) of narrow gauge lines. These included both 1,067mm and 750mm gauges, the latter being regarded not merely as secondary but as tertiary in importance - hence the name ‘Tertitten’ by which Urskog-Hølandsbanen came to be known.

Not surprisingly, given its mountainous terrain, a number of funicular railways can also be found in Norway, three of which, built to narrow gauges, carry passengers today.

In Sweden railways were proposed as early as 1829, yet until the mid 1850s it was thought that inland waterways, comprising lakes and canals, would suffice for the nation’s transport needs. In 1854 the Riksdag finally approved a plan which gave shape to the development of the rail network over the ensuing 80 years: main lines were to be funded by the state, with local lines being privately funded with some government support, usually in the form of loans. Many of the local lines were narrow gauge, so that narrow gauge railways eventually comprised some 25% of the whole network. The private lines were almost all built by limited liability companies, in which municipalities and county councils were significant stockholders. Other than standard gauge, the most frequently adopted gauges were 891mm (3’0") and 1,067mm gauges; other gauges included 600mm. Some 100 public narrow gauge railways are known to have existed; some of these merged with each other; some survived to be taken into state ownership - and to see steam replaced with diesel locomotives and railcars - with the formation of the SJ. In the 1950s there remained some 1,750 miles of 891mm railway, together with some 330 miles of 1,067mm railway in southern Sweden. ‘Roslagsbanan’ continues to provide an efficient, electrified commuter service on 891mm gauge track running into Stockholm from Kärsta, Österskär and Näsbypark. These facts and figures take no account of private, and sometimes transient, industrial and forestry railways, which, utilising 500, 600, 750 or 891mm gauge track have been employed all over Sweden. Many of them are recorded in a series of handbooks produced by SJK Småbaneavdelning.

In Denmark, its smaller, less demanding territory well served by the standard gauge network, there was relatively little passenger carrying narrow gauge. A total of some 350 miles of 1000mm gauge lines were built by ten private companies, of which no less than three operated on the island of Bornholm; all the rest were in Jylland, most being built in North Slesvig while this was part of Germany; some were subsequently converted to standard gauge. However, additional private and in some cases very temporary lines served industry and especially agriculture: networks of portable tracks were laid to facilitate the extraction and spreading of marl, and the extraction of peat; some 660 km (in 1941) of mainly 700mm railways facilitated the carrying of sugar beet from the fields to the refineries. The famous 791mm gauge Faxe railway was built to carry stone from quarry to quayside, but from 1879 shared part of its trackbed with the OSJS standard gauge railway, and this stretch of mixed gauge line witnessed the unusual practice of narrow gauge locomotives hauling standard gauge passenger coaches.

In Finland, too, narrow gauge railways were less used than in Sweden and Norway, partly because the many lakes and rivers provided a natural network of transport by boat. ‘Standard’ gauge in Finland was of course the Russian broad (1524mm or 5’) gauge. Some 13 narrow gauge railways were also built, using 785mm, 750mm and 600mm gauges, to fill gaps in the transport network. As elsewhere, some closed in the face of competition from the roads; others were converted to standard (broad) gauge.

An overview of Nordic (as opposed to merely Scandinavian) narrow gauge would not be complete without mention of a handful of railways far away from the Scandinavian mainlands. These include the 900mm and 914mm (3 imperial feet) gauge railways built to serve coal mines on Norwegian-owned Spitzbergen, and a 1000mm gauge railway on Bear Island. A 850mm gauge railway with two steam locomotives (which survive to this day) was utilised in Iceland between 1913 and 1933 in the construction of the modern Reyjavik harbour by a Danish company. Also in Iceland, 600mm track was used on piers at several locations to unload fishing boats; a wagon and a length of track can be seen at the museum at Ísafjordur. In Greenland, a Danish overseas territory, 600, 750, 785 and 914mm railway equipment has been used in cryolite and other mining operations.

Nordic narrow gauge railways today

The foregoing notes are offered as introductory, background information to the list which follows, of narrow gauge railways which exist today. Many of these comprise ‘preserved’ sections of historic railways, while some others are ‘new’ railways (and in a few cases, privately-owned 'hobby' railways) on which historic rolling stock is demonstrated; in both cases, visitors can take a ride - a ride ‘into the past’ but also into the present and future of narrow gauge railways which today have taken on the function of tourist attractions. A notable exception is Roslagsbanan, a busy suburban service carrying commuters into and out of Stockholm, while present day industrial use of narrow gauge railway equipment is outside the scope of these pages. I have included one or two sites where the ride on offer comprises self-propelled bicycle trolleys only. Although I have also noted one or two sites where significant remnants of narrow gauge railways are preserved but as static exhibits only, no attempt has been made to provide comprehensive lists of non-operational sites. Urban trams and miniature railways are not included.

DENMARK

1. Frilandsmuseet,

Hjerl Hedevej 14, DK-7830 Vinderup, N. Jylland. Tel. 97 44 80 60

Web: www.hjerlhede.dk
E-mail: frilandsmuseum@hjerlhede.dk

785mm gauge. Steam. Trains operate end-June - mid-August, 12.00 - 16.45, and late Nov and Dec weekends 11.00 - 16.45. A short line simulating a peat railway, at an open-air museum.

2. Mosebrugsbanen,

Stendyssevej 16, 8586 Nørre Djurs Tel. 86 38 13 19

Web: http://www.stenvadmosebrugscenter.dk/
E-mail: info@stenvadmosebrugscenter.dk

600mm gauge. 2.5km. Open Tues, Wed, Thurs 10.00-15.00 May-mid June, September; Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat 10.00-15.00 July, August

A 5km peat line, which runs passenger trains hauled by diesel/petrol(?) locos along approximately half its length. A museum of the peat industry is located in Stenvad village.

3. Hedelands Veteranjernbane,

Brandhøjgårdsvej 2, 2640 Hedehusene. Tel. 42 16 39 76/36 46 94 12/46 56 39 76

Web: http://www.ibk.dk/
E-mail: post@ibk.dk

700mm gauge. Steam, etc. 3.5km. Open Sundays, late May to the beginning of September. Train runs between 11.25 a.m. and 16.05 p.m. Close to Hedehusene DSB station (turn left on leaving the station, follow the road under the railway line). A fine collection of industrial narrow gauge locomotives and stock of various gauges, with a line running into a country park formed around gravel workings, this is the home of the Industriebaneklubben. A miniature railway is also situated in the park.

4. Blovstrød Banen,

Teglværksvej 10, Blovstrød, 3450 Allerød. Tel. 48 17 08 18

Web: http://www.blovstrodbanen.dk/
E-mail: blovstrodbanen@blovstrodbanen.dk

700mm gauge. 1.2 km. Steam. Operated by the Dansk Jernbane-Klub on the site of an old brickworks railway. Open on certain summer Sundays and occasionally on other days. When open, trains depart hourly from 11.00 to 16.00. Trains leave from Blovstrødhallen, off Sortemosevej. The site is within walking distance (less than 2km) from Allerød S-bane station.

5. MuseumsCenter Hanstholm,

Tårnvej og Molevej, DK-7730 Hanstholm. Tel. 97 96 17 36 Fax. 97 96 05 95.

Web: www.museumscenterhanstholm.dk
E-mail: CHkanon@post8.tele.dk

600mm gauge. 1.2km. Open through the year except November and some of December., but note that the railway may not be operational even when the museum is open.

Part of a former ammunition railway supporting one of two long range artillery batteries which were installed on either side of the Skagerrak by the Germans in the 2nd World War. The other battery is preserved at the Kristiansand Kanonmuseum, Møvik, Kristiansand, Norway (see below under Norway). Between them the two batteries covered all of the Skagerrak apart from a narrow channel in the middle, which was mined. The original DEMAG diesel locomotive and some trucks can be seen in the museum. The train which carries passengers is hauled by a more recent diesel loco, but the passenger coaches are built onto original rolling stock.

6. Legoland,

Nordmarksvej 9, 7190 Billund. Tel. 75331333

Web: www.legoland.dk
E-mail: info@legoland.dk

There are two narrow gauge railways on site. Lego Tog provides rides around the site, while Legoland Minetog presents a passable imitation of a real industrial narrow gauge railway.

7. Mønsted Kalkgruber,

Kalkvæksvej 8, Mønsted, 7850 Stoholm. Tel. [+45] 86 64 6011

Web: www.monsted-kalkgruber.dk
E-mail: info@monsted-kalkgruber.dk

550mm gauge. Limestone was quarried here, in open quarries and from caves, and the site was served by a railway system which utilised petrol locomotives. It is now open to the public, and the caves are an important habitat for bats. A complete railway, providing visitors with rides around the site (and into the caves?), was ordered from the British company Alan Keef and installed in summer 2011. The diesel locos were designed to resemble the petrol locos of former times.

8. Lille Vildmose,

Birkesøvej 16, Dokkedal 9280 Storvode Tel. [+45] 9931 75 50

Web: lillevildmose.dk
E-mail: info@lillivildmose.dk

700mm gauge. 8km. This nature reserve is located on a peat moss where peat used to be extracted using narrow gauge railways to carry it. All extraction has cased, and instead the moss is the site of a nature reserve. In 2012 a diesel operated railway, built by Alan Keef, was opened to carry visitors from the Visitor Centre to a lake.

NORWAY

1. Thamshavnbanen,

Orkla Industrimuseum, N-7332 Trondheim. Tel. 72 49 91 00. Fax 72 49 91 01

Web: http://www.oi.no/, http://thamshavnbanen.no/
E-mail: post@oi.no

1000mm gauge, 22km Løkken-Bårdshaug. Overhead electric. Runs Sundays June, July and August, and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in July. Norway’s first electric railway, and the world’s first operational electric railway with AC power. Bus from Trondheim (1 hour’s journey).

2. Urskog-Hølandsbanen (‘Tertitten’),

Postboks 59, N-1921 Sørumsand. Tel. 47 63 86 81 50

Web: http://www.akersmus.no/tertitten/
E-mail: post@urskog-holandsbanen.no

750mm gauge, 4km Sørumsand-Bingfoss. Steam. Early June to end of August, Sundays 4 departures. A remnant of the former Urskog-Høland line (the ‘Tertitten’ railway) which operated between Sørumsand and Skulerud, a distance of 57km, from 1896 to 1960. NSB train services Oslo-Sørumsand are more than adequate to facilitate a comfortable day trip.

3. Setesdalsbanen,

Grovane, N-4700 Vennesla. Tel. 47 38 15 64 82, Fax. 47 38 15 67 21

Web: http://www.setesdalsbanen.no/ http://www.vestagdermuseet.no/tema.aspx?m=36
E-mail: post@setesdalsbanen.no

1067mm gauge, 12.2km Grovane-Røknes. Steam. Runs mid June to first weekend of September on Sundays, 3 departures, 1130, 1315, & 1510, and evening train on Tuesdays to Fridays in July 1805. A section of the former Setesdalsbanen which operated between Kristiansand and Byglandsfjord, some 78km. NSB trains no longer stop at Grovane; the nearest NSB station is Vennesla, 2-3 miles away. Buses 30/31 run from Kristiansand via Vennesla to Grovane..

4. Lommedalsbanen,

Tolverudvein, Lommedalen in Bærum. Postal address: Postboks 59, 1334 Rykkin Tel. 47 67 56 26 60.

Web: http://www.lacktain.net/lommedalsbanen/

E-mail: lommedalsbanen@epost.no

600mm gauge. 0.58km is the operational distance (although the actual length is 1.6km or longer). Steam (etc). Open all Sundays in June, the last two Sundays in August, and all Sundays in September, 11.00 - 15.00. Also some Sundays in December. A working collection of industrial and military locomotives and stock, with a short but spectacular line in glorious scenery. Bus from Oslo to Lommedalen, or train from Oslo to Sandvika, then bus 143 or 753 from the station to the end of the route. To find the railway, proceed through Bærum and out the other side, continuing up the valley to where the road forks. Take the right hand fork.

5. Norsk Jernbanemuseet,

Postboks 491, N-2304 Hamar
Strandveien 132, 2301 Hamar. Tel. 47 62 51 31 60 Fax: 47 62 52 96 99

Web: http://www.norsk-jernbanemuseum.no/index.htm
E-mail: norsk.jernbanemuseum@jbv.no

750mm gauge. 0.5km(?). Steam. Open mid-May - mid-Sept. The national railway museum. The steam-hauled ‘Tertitten’ train ruuns daily June to mid August, and on Whit weekend of May and last weekend of August. hourly from 11.30 to 15.30. There is much else of narrow gauge interest in addition to the standard gauge exhibits. 30 minutes walk from the centre of Hamar, although the nicest route, along the lake shore, deserves longer. Bus no. 1 from close by Hamar NSB station (every 30 minutes Mon-Sat, hourly Sun).

6. Norsk Bergverksmuseum - Sølvgruvene,

Hyttegt 3, Postboks 18, 3602 Kongsberg. Tel. 47 32 72 32 00

Web: http://www.bvm.museum.no
E-mail:bergverksmuseet@bvmmuseum.no

800mm gauge, 2.3km. Diesel locos. Open mid-May - end August, daily.

The museum is on two sites, one in the town centre and the other - including the railway which runs into an adit of a former silver mine - at a distance of 7km. The silver mines are also open Saturdays and Sundays in September, and Sundays in October. The silver mines are in Saggrenda 8 km west of Kongsberg off the E134.

7. Nesttun-Osbanen,

Titlestadvegen 12, Fana, Bergen.

Postal address: Osbanens Venner, P.O.Box 87 Fana, 5859 Bergen

Web: http://www.osbanen.no/obv/
E-mail:osbanen@museumsnett.no

750mm. A small museum dedicated to the Nesttun-Osbanen, which closed in 1935, is located in the former station building at Stend. A restored coach stands on about 40 metres of relaid track.Open Sundays, June and August [closed July]; also on Culture Day in Fana (late October), 11.00-15.00

In addition, at Os the station buildings are preserved and some track has been relaid; a diesel locomotive is located here.

If visiting Bergen, don't miss Fløibanen [see below]

8. Sulitjelma Besøksgruve

Sandnes, 80230 Sulitjelma. Tel. 47 64 06 95

Web: http://www.saltenmuseum.no/content/view/73/1/
E-mail:post@saltenmuseum.no

600mm gauge. Open: 7 June to 19 August. A former copper mine, once served by the 1067mm gauge Sulitjelma railway. The mine has been reopened as a tourist attraction. Guided tours are at 1300 daily and make use of a train on the mine’s 600mm gauge railway.

9. Folldal Gruver,

2580 Folldal. Tel. 47 62 49 05 05, Fax. 47 62 49 05 35

Web: http://www.folldalgruver.no/
E-mail: aaqe@folldalgruver.no

600mm gauge. 0.6km. Open daily from 10 June to 31 August 1100 to 1800 (1100 to 1700 weekends). The railway carries visitors into an adit of the mine (now a museum).

10. Stiftelsen Konnerudverket,

near Drammen [off the Drammen-Konnerud road, via a rough forest road].
Tel. 47 41 45 95 18

Web: http://www.kgruver.com
E-mail: postmaster@kgruver.com

600mm gauge. Several industrial locomotives can be found at this new museum at a former mine, and some 500 metres of track are used to take visitors into an adit.

11. Kristiansand Kanonmuseum,

Møvik, Kristiansand.
PB 5563 Voiebyen, 4677 Kristiansand S.
Tel. 47 38 08 50 90, 47 91 34 39 38, 47 38 12 13 14

Web: http://www.kanonmuseet.no/
E-Mail: Post@kanonmuseet.no

600mm gauge. Open daily mid May until end of September. Also open on Sundays the rest of the year. The site of the other long range artillery battery installed by the Germans on either side of the Skagerrak in the Second World War. (See also MuseumsCenter Hanstholm, Denmark, above). Railway equipment preserved here includes a single diesel locomotive, Budich 2570 of 1942, and a number of wagons; both the locomotive and wagons were brought here from the Horten navy dockyard. So far as I know passengers are not carried, although demonstration trains may be operated.

12. Åmdals Verk Gruver

Åmdals Verk, 3880 Dalen. Tel. 47 35 07 77 76; Fax: 47 35 07 79 30

Web: http://vest-telemark.museum.no/ and click on Åmdals Verk gruver.
E-Mail: post@vest-telemark.museum.no

600mm gauge. 0.6km. 1st |June - 15th August. It is understood that visitors can ride on the railway at this mine museum, but more information would be very welcome

13. Øyer Gjestegård, Oppland

Lilleputthammer, 2636 Øyer
Tel. 47 61 28 55 50

Web: http://www.lilleputthammer.no

1,000mm gauge. A diesel-powered 'steam outline' locomotive hauls passenger trains on a circuit of track in Lilleputthammer, an amusement park.

14. Kardemommetrikken

Dyreparken, Kristiansand

Web: http://www.dyreparken.com/

1,000mm gauge, 155m. Opened in 1991, this line in an amusement park is operated by a battery tram loco.

15. Museumsforeningen Vestfold Privatbaner

Hillestad, Vestfold
Tel. 33 05 02 94

Web: www.museumsnett.no/jarlsbergmusum/index1.htm and click on Reidvin-tunet

1067mm gauge. 150m.track has been relaid on the former Holmestrand-Hvittingfossbanen. Visitors can ride on self-proplled trolleys.

16. Gruvemuseet pa Litlabo
on Stord island, north of Leirvik

Venelaget for Gruvo,
Gruva 11, 5415 Stord

Web: www.gruo.no
E-Mail: gruo@museumsnett.no

For a number of years a group of volunteers have been working hard to create a museum at this former copper mine. The museum is now open every Thursday afternoon, from 12.00 to 18.00, and for parties at other times by arrangement. The visitor experience includes rides on a 600mm gauge diesel-hauled railway into the mine. The railway is to be extended.

.............................................................and three funicular railways:

17. Fløibanen

Bergen

Web: http://www.floibanen.com/

1,000mm gauge. Fløibanen ascends from the centre of Bergen. It operates every day of the year. Work began in 1914; regular passenger services commenced in 1918. Fløibanen was extensively refurbished in 2002; the buildings were restored, the track relaid, and the cars replaced.

18. Mågelibanen

Skjeggedal

5770 Tyssedal
Tel. 47 53 65 30 00
Fax. 47 53 65 30 01

E-mail: firmapost@tyssefaldene.no

800mm gauge. Operates mid-June - mid-August on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9.00 - 19.00. Originally built to give access to one of the lakes supplying water to hydro-electric plants at the Tyssedal electro-chemical factory.

For more information and a series of spectacular photographs: http://www.funimag.com/funimag21/Tyssedal02.htm

For information regarding the nearby Norwegian Hydropower & Industrial Museum:
Web: http://www.vim.museum.no/
E -mail: post@www.vim.museum.no

19. Gaustabanen

Gaustatoppen, near Rjukan

Web: http://www.gaustabanen.no/

800mm gauge. 850m + 1,030m funicular. Built by the armed forces between 1954 and 1958, Gaustabanen serves the NATO installation on the summit of southern Norway's highest mountain. The first section of the line, on which trains are hauled by a Levahn loco, runs into the mountain, and is continued by a funicular which ascends inside the mountain. In April, 2004, the line was opened to visitors for the first time; it will be open on a trial basis on several days, in April, May, and August, 2004, and again in 2005. 280 tickets are available on each day. For more information go to http://www.gaustabanen.no/, or contact

Rjukan Skisenter AS
Skrivgata 10,
3660 Rjukan
Tel. 47 900 88 249

SWEDEN

Skåne

1. Kristianstads Järnvägsmuseum,

Västra Storgatan 74, Kristianstad. Tel. 044 13 57 23; 044 13 52 45

Web: http://www.regionmuseet.m.se/nav.html
E-mail: jarnvag@regionmuseet.m.se

600mm gauge. 250m. Steam, etc. Open Sundays in June, July - mid August daily; Sundays mid-August - mid-Sept, Sat/Sun. The museum’s collection includes 600mm, 760mm, and 1067mm as well as standard gauge locos. A short demonstration line of 600mm gauge track has been laid.

Bohuslan

2. Munkedals Järnväg,

Box 103, 455 22 Munkedal. Tel. 0524 123 68

Web: http://www.munkedalsjernvag.com
E-mail: munkedalsjernvag@spray.se

600mm gauge. 2.5km, Åtorp - Munkedals hamn. Steam (etc). Open mid July - late Aug, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. A short walk (approx. 1km) from SJ station at Munkedal. This railway began life as a 600mm line, opened in December 1895, which carried goods and passengers and closed in 1954. Standard gauge track was then laid on the trackbed to provide a purely industrial line linking a paper works with the harbour. When this line closed, the present narrow gauge line was created by adding a third rail between the standard gauge rails, by the Munkedals Järnvägsklubb; opened in 1984/85, it continues to be enthusiastically operated by this small group who hope to extend operations back to Munkedal SJ station in the future.

Västergotland

3. Anten-Gräfnäs Järnväg (AGJ),

Box 300, 441 26 Alingsås. Tel. 0322 721 30, 0322 721 60 [Alingsås tourist information]

Web: http://www.agj.net/

E-mail: agj@agj.net, turistbyran@alingsas.se [Alingsås tourist information]

891mm gauge. 12km. Steam. Open mid-May - end Aug, Sundays, and Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, mid-June - early Aug. Bus 500, 540 or 560 from Alingsås (interchange with SJ station). Part of the former Vastergotland Goteborgs Järnväg (VGJ). Trains start from Anten, where the workshop, cafe, and museum are situated. At Gräfnäs the station is adjacent to a wooded park and lake shore, with castle ruins and a cafe; a ‘summer cafe’ is also operated from a private house in grounds overlooking the line not far from the station. On peak Sundays, a railcar operates over the much shorter distance (but including a tunnel) in the other direction, between Anten and Brobacka.

4. Föreningen Ryttarens torvströfabrik,

near Kättilstorp and Sandhem; 20km south east of Falköping

c/o Sven Söderqvist, Åkerängsvägen 8, 521 95 Kättilstorp Tel. 05 15 76 31 68

Web: http://www.ryttaren.nu/
E-mail: info@ryttaren.nu

600mm gauge 3.5km. This is a museum of the peat industry, based on a preserved peat works, to where the light railway brought peat from the adjacent peatmoss for processing and packing. Although the present buildings date from1947, they are more or less identical with the previous buildings whichburned down twice, in 1934 and 1944-6. The works opened in 1906 and closed in 1997. There are three locomotives on site; the one which is used is a 'Hartelius-loket' diesel-electric locomotive, built in 1952, which was inservice when the works closed. Some of the 13 peat wagons have beenconverted for carrying passengers. In 2000 the museum will be open on 21stand 28th May, 18th June, 30th July, and 20th August, and on Wednesdays in May and June. Visits may be arranged on other days via the e-mail address above

5. Örkaggens Järnväg,

10km west of Askersund

Tel. Bo Malmborg, +46 141 211612 (home), +46 70 5745804 (mobile)

Web:
E-mail: bo.malmborg@telia.com

600mm. 2.3km. A privately-owned 'hobby' railway, using equipment salvaged from the local peat industry. The five internal combustion locomotives include Simplex 9335/1948. This railway, located in woodland next to a lake, can be visited by prior arrangement.

6. Skara-Lundsbrunns Järnvägar,

Box 191, 532 23 Skara. Tel/fax. 0511 136 36

Web: http://www.sklj.se
E-mail: kontakt@sklj.se

891mm gauge. 11.2km, Skara - Lundsbrunns. Steam. Open July-August, Sundays, and Tuesdays and Thursdays in July. Bus 200 from Skovde and Lidköping; bus 1, 5, and 202 from Mariestad and Falköping; bus 203 from Falköping; bus 801 from Goteborg and Örebro. Part of the former Vastergötland-Goteborgs Järnväg (see also no. 7 below). The Gotene-Vara section, used only for goods by then, was closed by SJ in 1984. 17km from Vara to Nossebro remained open for industrial traffic, while Skara-Lundsbrunns was taken over by a preservation group which since1967 had restored and taken care of VGJ steam locomotive no. 29.

Småland

7. High Chaparall,

Box 56
SE-330 33 Hillerstorp

Web: www.highchaparral.se
E-mail:info@bhc.nu

750mm gauge. Steam. This theme park ('the Wild West in Småland) operates trains hauled by Polish 0-8-0 tender locomotives. Three locos are on site, of which two are in steam whenever the park is open between mid-May and mid-August.

8. Ohs Bruks Järnvägs Museiförening (‘Ohsabanan’)

Ohs Bruk, c/o Box 179, 351 04 Växjö. Tel. 0370 6510 75, 0370 6511 11

Web: http://www.ohsabanan.com/
E-mail: mailto:info@ohsabanan

600mm gauge. 14.8km, Ohs Bruk - Bor Norra. Steam (etc). Open mid-June - late Aug, Sundays, also Tuesdays, Weds, Sats in July.

The re-opening of the SJ station at Bors in January 2008 means that Ohsabanen is once again accessible by public transport. The 11.32 from Alvesta connects with the only Ohsabanen departure from Bor Norra; returning on the 16.30 from Ohs Bruk there is a connection at Bor for the 18.05 to Alvesta. It is also possible to stay at a new bed ansd breakfast at Ohs Bruk.

A section of the railway built between 1907 and 1910 from Ohs Bruk to Bor to carry timber from the forest; there was a paper mill at Ohs.The line was closed in 1967. and was re-opened as a preserved line in 1970.

9. Smalspårsjärnvägen Västervik-Hultsfred,

Box 173, 593 23 Västervik. Tel. 0490 36510; 0495 16062, 0495 13486 (tourist office, Hultsfred)

Web: http://www.hwj.nu/

E-mail: info@hwj.nu

891mm. 60km, Västervik-Hultsfred. Diesel railcars. Steam trains operate from Vastervik along part of the line on summer weekends.

Bicycle trolley hire is available on the 11km Hultsfred-Hesjön section of the former Växjö-Västervik line:
Tel. 0495 134 86, Fax. 0495 160 66
Web: http://www.smalsparet.nu/
E -mail: turism@hultsfred.se, sh@smalsparet.nu

Öland

10. Böda skogsjärnväg [Böda Forest Railway],

Grankulla 1473, 380 74 Byxelkrok. Tel.04 85 241 40. .

Web: http://www.bodaskogsjarnvag.se/
E-mail:bosj@bodaskogsjarnvag.se

600mm gauge, 4.1km Fagerrör - Trollskogen. Steam (etc). Open late June - mid-Aug, Tues, Thurs, Sunday, and every day in the second half of July. (Steam on Sundays). Bicycle trolleys for hire Apr-Oct except when trains run. Bus 106 from Kalmar and Borgholm.

Östergötland

11. Östergötlands Jãrnvägsmuseum,

Gamla Linköping, Linköping Tel. 01312 1110. Fax. 01312 3029

Web: http://www.jvgmf.com/
E-mail: jvgmf@hotmail.com

891mm. 0.1km (laid in 1994). (Also 600mm gauge static exhibits). Open daily late June - early August, 13.00 - 16.00 The Museum is primarily concerned with the former Mellersta Östergötlands Järnvägar. Buses from city centre.

12. Risten-Lakviks Järnväg,

Lakvik, near Linköping Tel. 0120 60064.

Web page: http://www.rlj.se/
E-mail: lakvik@hotmail.com

600mm. 2km. Open Sats in July. Bus 538/539 from Linköping.

13. Vadstena-Fågelsta Järnväg,

Museiföreningen Vadstena-Fågelsta Järnväg, Järnvägsstationen, 592 30 Vadstena. Tel. 0143 311 45, 0143 151 25. Fax. 1042 865 38

Web: http://www.wfj.se
E-mail:christer@brimalm.com

891mm gauge. 9.6km, Vadstena - Fågelsta. Steam (etc). Open on Saturdays, Sundays, and on some Wednesday evenings from the end of May to the end of August. Opening dates in September and October to be confirmed. Bicycle trolley available every day from May to September. Steam haulage may be provided during the high season.

Gotland

14. Gotlands Hesselby Järnväg,

Föreningen Gotlandståget, Box 31, 620 24 Dalhem, Gotland. Tel. 0498 380 45, 0498 509 90

Web: http://www.gotlandstaget.se/

E-mail: info@gotlandstaget.se

891mm gauge. 1km, Hesselby-Eken. Steam. Open Sundays mid-June - late-Aug, and Saturdayss, Sundays and Weds through July. Also once in the winter, usually the first Saturday after Christmas. Bus 41 from Visby stops at Hesselby station [which is actually in the village of Dalhem]. A fragment of the once extensive narrow gauge network on the island of Gotland.

15. Bläse Kalkbruksmuseum,

Bläse Fleringe, 620 54 Fårösund, Gotland. Tel/fax. 0498 22 46 62

Web: http://www.blasekalkbruksmuseum.se
info@blasekalkbruksmuseum.se

600mm gauge. 2.2km, Bläse hamn - Kalkbrottet. Steam (etc). May-Aug, daily. A museum, with working railway, on the site of a limestone quarry. Not very accessible by public transport: take bus no. 21 from Visby, alight at Rute, and walk 7-8km.

Södermanland

16. Östra Södermanlands Järnväg (OSlJ),

Box 53, 647 00 Mariefred. Tel. 0159 21006/0159 21000. Fax. 0159 21115.

Web: http://www.oslj.nu/index.html
E-mail:oslj@telia.com

600mm gauge. 11 km, Mariefred-Läggesta.-Taxinge. Steam. Open May-Sept, Sats and Suns, and daily, late June - mid Aug. A 600mm line recreated on the trackbed of a former standard gauge branch line, with locos and stock from several closed 600mm lines. Trains from Stockholm and Eskilstuna to Läggesta run approximately hourly; journey time is 37 minutes from Stockholm. Can also be visited from Stockholm by means of a highly recommended one day circular tour involving the main line railway and a steam ship on Lake Mariefred.

In 2011 the OSlJ opened an extension of the line, more than doubling its length, from Läggesta to Taxinge Näsby, on the trackbed of a former standard gauge branch line. At the same time the opportunity was taken to introduce a rail-and-boat round trip, with a boat between Mariefred and Taxinge.

17. Frövi Maskin- och Bruksbanemusum,

Box 89, 71822 Frövi.Tel/fax. 0581 314 61

Web: http://fmbm.se

600mm gauge. 0.7km. Steam (etc). Open June - late Aug, Sundays; also Mons & Sats, first half of July. 2km east of Frövi. Train to Frövi. Bus 314 from Örebro. A collection of industrial locos and stock with a short line on which passenger trains operate.

Uppland; Stockholm

18. Möja Järnväg,

Bergs Brygga, Möja. Tel. 08 571 643 09, 070 728 42 14. Fax. 530686 65.

Web: http://w1.871.telia.com/~u87105188
E-mail: nils-gunnar.ohlson@3nine.com, moja.jernvag@telia.com

600mm. 0.1m. Steam. This very short but delightful 'hobby' railway, built and owned by Nils-Gunnar Ohlson, is situated close to the ferry landing at Berg, on the island of Möja on the outer edge of the Stockholm archipelago. Nils owns a historic O. & K. steam loco, and has built a small steam locomotive himself. He is happy to raise steam and welcome visitors by prior arrangement during July and August. Two or three ferries operate daily from Stockholm; the 2-3 hour voyage is a delight in itself.

19. Roslagsbanan,

Stockholm Östra. Tel. 08 686 27 80

Web: http://www.osteraker.se/roslagsbanan/rbanan.html

891mm gauge. Overhead electric. Suburban services from Stockholm Östra to Kärsta, Österskäar and Näasbypark, now operated by Roslagståg [a consortium, 90% owned by DSB]. This railway was once part of a larger system, the Stockholm-Roslagens Järnvägar; it was the first railway in Sweden to be electrified, in 1895.

Special trains made up of veteran stock run on Sundays in July. For details:

Tel. 073 660 62 26
Web: http://www.roslagsbanan.com/
E-mail: info@roslagsbanan.com

20. Uppsala-Lenna Järnväg (‘Lennakatten’),

Museiföreningen Stockholm-Roslagens Järnvägar (SRJmf), PO Box 3076, S-75003 Uppsala. Tel. 46 18 13 05 00

Web: http://www.lennakatten.se/
E-mail:info@lennakatten.se

Open Sundays, June - August, and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in July. 891mm gauge. 32.6km. Steam; two locomotives are in steam on Sundays, one on other days. The former Uppsala-Faringe section of the Stockholm-Roslagens Järnvägar. The Uppsala terminus is located in Bergsprunnaparken, where it will remain during rebuilding of Uppsala station and development of the station area. The loco depot and works are at Faringe, but are at some distance from the station and are not routinely open to visitors..

21. Sollentuna Enskilda Järnväg,

Sollentuna. 600mm gauge. 1.2km.

Sadly, this railway closed in September 1996. Its stock has been distributed to other 600mm railways.

Värmland

22. Hagfors-Uddeholms Museijärnväg,

Box 190, 683 24 Hagfors. Tel 0563 617 65/188 00, 010 691 51 61

891mm gauge. 6.7km. Bicycle trolleys for hire. Open May-Sept. Bus 304 from Karlstad. A section of the former electrified Nordmark-Klarälvens-Järnväg (NKlJ) which lost its passenger traffic in 1964 but part of which carried freight (mainly timber and paper products) until 1990. Visitors wanting a ride must travel ‘under their own steam’, so to speak. There are long-term plans to restore electric-powered operations to part of the line. A museum largely devoted to the NKlJ can be found in Hagfors:

23. Hagfors Järnvägs- och Industrimuseum,

Box 77, 683 22 Hagfors. Tel. 0563 149 00
Web: http://www.hagforskultur.se/museum
E-mail: info@hagforskultur.se

Open early June- late Aug, afternoons, daily. Bus 304 from Karlstad. A museum larged devoted to the NKlJ (see above), including three steam locos, steam and diesel inspection trolleys, one electric loco, the power car of an EMU, and a diesel railbus.

24. Älvsjöhyttans hästjärnväg,

near Filipstad

700mm. 650 metres. Opened in 1998, this horse-powered passenger-carrying tramway follows the route of an earlier tramway, also operated by horses, built in the 1850s to a gauge of 742mm, which was one of many such tramways connecting a series of lakes, or bypassing waterfalls, which together constituted a route by means of which iron ore was transported from mines in the Berslagen region to processing plants further south. Open on special occasions only.

Dalarna

25. Närsen-Gråntjärns Järnväg

Dala-Floda, west of Borlänge

Web: http://medlem.spray.se/ngj
E-mail: eronn.syst@spray.se

A 500mm and 600mm gauge private 'hobby' railway, with over 20 internal combustion locos23.

26. Smedjebackens Ångbåtshamn,

Smedjebacken (station). Tel. 0240 660145. Fax. 0240 74489.

Web: http://www.visitludvika.se/

600mm and 802mm static exhibits.

Gästrikland

27 . Jädraås-Tallås Järnväg (JTJ),

Stationshuset, 816 91 Jädraås. Tel. 0297 451 90, 0297 453 95. Fax 0297 451 87

Web: http://www.jtj.org/
E-mail: info@jtj.org

891mm gauge. 4.5km. Steam. Open June-Aug, Sundays (and occasional Sats). Part of the former Dala-Ockelbo-Norrsundet Järnväg (DONJ), built between 1876 and 1881 primarily to carry iron ore and timber. The nearest main line station is at Ockelbo, but sadly there is no local bus service on Sundays. For visitors dependent on public transport it may be worth contacting JTJ in advance to see if anyone can pick you up from Ockelbo - it worked for me!

The Swedish railway museum at Gävle, which includes several narrow gauge exhibits relating to this and other railways, is not far away:

28. Sveriges Järnvägsmuseum,

Box 407, Rälsgatan 1, 80105 Gävle 1. Tel. 0 26 14 46 15 Fax. 026 14 45 98

Web: http://www.jarnvagsmuseum.se/
E-mail: jarnvagsmuseum@banverket.se

Located on the E4 road. Served by the no. 6 bus from the Rådhus in the town centre. It is also a moderate (15-20 minutes) walk from the main line station: turn left on leaving the station, follow the main line until you reach allotment gardens; enter the gardens and imediately take the left fork and turn left again onto a footpath which takes you under the railway, then turns right and leads you to the museum. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10.00 - 16.00, also Mons June-Aug.

Hälsingland

29. Landabanan,

Landaforsen, Segersta.

c/o Peter Ericsson, Box 1062, 821 12 Bollnäs. Tel. 0278 65 33 73; 0278 61 19 39
600mm gauge. 0.9km. Open late June - mid Aug, daily, certain Wednesday evenings, July/August.

Enthusiasts started building this railway in 1991. It is on part of the trackbed of an 891mm gauge horse-powered tramway, which between 1861 and 1879 carried goods and passengers past an un-navigable section of a river south of Ljusnan. The present-day railway uses two diesel locomotives and a steam loco on loan from the Swedish railway museum.

Medelpad

30. Loke i Galtström,
Galtströms Bruk,
Njurundu

Tel. 060 381 01, 070 312 99 40
Web: http://www.galtstromstaget.se/
E-mail: svante@galtstromstaget.se

891mm gauge. Open on Sundays between June and September, weather permitting.

A group of enthusiasts, Föreningen Galtströmståget (FGT), has relaid track on part of the trackbed of the railway which served the former ironworks, now a museum. Trains are hauled by a historic steam locomotive, 0-6-0T 'Loke', which dates from 1887.

Västerbotten

31. Robertsfors Bruksjärnväg,

Robertsfors Tel. 0934 10332

Web page: http://www.robertsfors.se/default.asp?id=2010

762mm gauge. 1km. Open occasionally. Bus 12 from Umeå or Skellefteå. Preserved remains, including five electric locos, of a 750mm gauge industrial line opened in 1878, electrified in 1900, and closed in 1961.

FINLAND

1. Jokioisten Museorautatie,

Museorautatieyhdistys, PL1, FIN-31601 Jokioinen. Tel. 03 433 3235.

Web: http://www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi/
E-mail: info@jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi

750mm gauge, 14km, Jokioinen-Minkio-Humpilla. Steam. Trains run on Sundays June - Aug, Also, on Saturday night on the third weekend of September ('The Starlight Train'), and on the first Saturday of Ocdtober (an 'Autumn Colours Special'). The museum is open every day from 1st June until mid August.

The museum, at Minkio, includes a collection of narrow gauge locos and stock, of 600, 750, 900, and 1000mm gauges.

2. Nykarleby Jernväg,

Kovjoki Station, Ångloksvägen 113, SF-66930 Kovjoki. Tel. 967 722 5180; 967 722 1582 (Nykarleby tourist office).

Web page: http://www.nykarlebyjernvag.webs.com

600mm gauge, 2km. Steam. Open 1st May, Sundays in July. Museum open daily (except Sats) through July. A section of the railway which once, between 1902 and 1916, connected Kovjoki main line station with Nykarleby. The reopened section comprises the 2km from Kovjoki station.

3. Tankavaara Kultakylä

Tankavaaran Kultakylä, 99695 Tankavaara. Tel. (+358) 626 158; Fax (+358) 16 626 261.

Web page: www.kultamuseo.fi

E-mail: info@kultamuseo.fi

600mm gauge. Museum open daily throughout the year (later opening and earlier closing in the winter). The 'Gold village' is an open air museum devoted to the subject of gold prospecting in Lapland. The railway, which opened in 1997 and may be the most northerly passenger-carrying railway in the world, features a traditional narrow gauge steam-outline diesel locomotive. It is not known whether any parts of the locomotive or items of rolling stock are of any historical interest. Nearest railway stations: Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi; nearest airport; Ivalo. Rovaniemi is the hub of the regional bus network; buses call at the museum site. Accomodation in Tankavaara: Wanha Waskoolimies and Hotel Korundi.

4. Lahnus Espoo

At Lahnus Espoo, near Helsinki, there is said to be a small private 600mm gauge 'hobby' railway which is very occasionally open to the public. Can anyone provide further details, please?

5. Outokummun Kaivosrautatie

Outokummun Kaivosrautatie, Kaivosmiehenpolku 2, 83500 Outokumpu

E-mail: perttu.karttunen@kaivosrautatie.fi

750mm gauge, 1.15km
This former copper mine was served by both a 750mm gauge railway and by a short broad gauge branch line. Rails and sleepers from the latter have been relaid to create a new narrow gauge line which opened in 2005. Trains operate every day through June, July and August.