Setesdal Vintage Railway

by coach, train & by foot

Kristiansand is a seaside resort town in southern Norway and the country’s sixth-largest municipality. The town was founded in the 17th century by King Christian 4th, King of Denmark and Norway, and celebrated its 350 years jubilee in 1991. The old part of the town is very characteristic with its strict right-angled streets, giving its town centre the name Quadraturen.

You begin your journey by coach, heading inland through typical scenery, forestland dotted with lakes, and small hills and farms. You will reach the little industrial town of Vennesla and carry on along the Venneslafjord, a freshwater lake, to Grovane station situated on the railroad connection between Oslo, the capital, and the city of Stavanger.

The Setesdal railway was opened in 1896 linking the town of Kristiansand with the Setesdal valley. The line was discontinued in 1962, but fortunately, part of the line was reopened as a veteran railroad over a distance of 8km (5mi).

From Grovane heading northwards, the narrow-gauge railway, with a gauge of 1067mm (42in), runs along the Otra river, over bridges and dams, through tunnels and avalanche shelters. The railway is powered by a steam engine from 1894 and the trip recreates the special atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century vintage rail journey. There is hardly any other veteran railways in Norway with such varied scenery along the way as this one. Your final destination is Royknes. En route, you can observe the timber slide which was used to transport the logs down to the coast for export.

You will reboard your coach for the short journey back to the pier.