Oslo central station, train 601 is soon ready to depart.
Oslo central station, train 601 is soon ready to depart.
Hønefoss is officially the starting point of Bergensbanen. Here, a museum train makes a halt.
Hønefoss is officially the starting point of Bergensbanen. Here, a museum train makes a halt.
Krøderbanen was never a part of Bergensbanen, officially, but did its part in the construction of the railway. Before bergensbanen was finished, trains ran up to the lake Krøderen and passengers were ferried across to reach Hallingdalen. This connection served many of the workes coming to build the line. After 1911, Krøderbanen lost its regional importance, and was closed in 1958. It is now a museum.
Krøderbanen was never a part of Bergensbanen, officially, but did its part in the construction of the railway. Before bergensbanen was finished, trains ran up to the lake Krøderen and passengers were ferried across to reach Hallingdalen. This connection served many of the workes coming to build the line. After 1911, Krøderbanen lost its regional importance, and was closed in 1958. It is now a museum.
Torpo station is one of many local stations closed to cut cost and travel time.
Torpo station is one of many local stations closed to cut cost and travel time.
Train 5504 near Ustaoset, passing the point where the east and western sections of Bergensbanen were connected, our "golden spike". The trains a about to enter a tunnel framed by a snow shelter. The shelters makes it easier to clear snow from the tracks, as snowdrifts otherwise would accumulate in front of the tunnel. This particular shelter is a conserved one to show how they looked in 1911. Note the funnel at the end to ventilate smoke from the steam trains.
Train 5504 near Ustaoset, passing the point where the east and western sections of Bergensbanen were connected, our "golden spike". The trains a about to enter a tunnel framed by a snow shelter. The shelters makes it easier to clear snow from the tracks, as snowdrifts otherwise would accumulate in front of the tunnel. This particular shelter is a conserved one to show how they looked in 1911. Note the funnel at the end to ventilate smoke from the steam trains.
Train 602 passing Larsbu near Finse. To the left, snowscreens can be seen. The screen works as a 'spoiler', slowing the wind down so snow accumulates behind the snow screen, as one can see. The technique was invented in 1911, and still used today.
Train 602 passing Larsbu near Finse. To the left, snowscreens can be seen. The screen works as a 'spoiler', slowing the wind down so snow accumulates behind the snow screen, as one can see. The technique was invented in 1911, and still used today.
Beilhacn rotary snow plow inspecting the track before train 61, the first train of the day.
Beilhacn rotary snow plow inspecting the track before train 61, the first train of the day.
Train near Finse
Train near Finse
In the 90's, a new line was constructed between Finse and Haugastøl, the highest part of the line, using mass from the Finse tunnel. The old lineage can be seen to the right, along with the old navvi road, a road supporting the construction of Bergensbanen.
In the 90's, a new line was constructed between Finse and Haugastøl, the highest part of the line, using mass from the Finse tunnel. The old lineage can be seen to the right, along with the old navvi road, a road supporting the construction of Bergensbanen.
Train 609 by Oksabotn
Train 609 by Oksabotn
Finse, the highest station on the line, at 1222 meters above sea level.
Finse, the highest station on the line, at 1222 meters above sea level.
Train 5504 passing Lågheller in the background, just before entering Finse tunnel taking it under the mountain to Finse. The old lineage deviates at Lågheller, climbing another hundred meters over the mountain. The highest stretch of the line was difficult to keep open during the winter.
Train 5504 passing Lågheller in the background, just before entering Finse tunnel taking it under the mountain to Finse. The old lineage deviates at Lågheller, climbing another hundred meters over the mountain. The highest stretch of the line was difficult to keep open during the winter.
Kleven bridge.
Kleven bridge.
Between hallingskeid and Myrdal. Snow screens can be seen to the left side of the train.
Between hallingskeid and Myrdal. Snow screens can be seen to the left side of the train.
Tourism accounts for a mayor portion of the riders, now that cheap flights serve the end-to-end travelers. Bergensbanen was a popular tourist attraction from its time of opening. At Myrdal, one can change trains to go on the even more famous Flåm railway.
Tourism accounts for a mayor portion of the riders, now that cheap flights serve the end-to-end travelers. Bergensbanen was a popular tourist attraction from its time of opening. At Myrdal, one can change trains to go on the even more famous Flåm railway.
The Flåm valley was an important route for goods during the construction of Bergensbanen. A road up the valley was constructed, and in the summer months men and horses hauled load up the 18 hair-pin turns. Today, it is mostly used by tourists eighter cycling the old navvi road or for running uphill, as the person seen in the left of this photos, running a long endurance race between Flåm and Finse.
The Flåm valley was an important route for goods during the construction of Bergensbanen. A road up the valley was constructed, and in the summer months men and horses hauled load up the 18 hair-pin turns. Today, it is mostly used by tourists eighter cycling the old navvi road or for running uphill, as the person seen in the left of this photos, running a long endurance race between Flåm and Finse.
Trengereid station
Trengereid station
At Gamle Vossebanen, Old Voss Line, a part of Bergensbanen left as a museum after the line was replaced by tunnel. The line is operated every sunday in summer and on special occations, mainly by volunteer enthusiasts. Here, their steam engine class 18C no. 255 pushes into Garnes station to start todays services. The stoker is walking after the engine, having set the points to the main line.
At Gamle Vossebanen, Old Voss Line, a part of Bergensbanen left as a museum after the line was replaced by tunnel. The line is operated every sunday in summer and on special occations, mainly by volunteer enthusiasts. Here, their steam engine class 18C no. 255 pushes into Garnes station to start todays services. The stoker is walking after the engine, having set the points to the main line.
Garnes station
Garnes station
The Gamle Vossebanen museum service offers a restaurant car with cooked meals served, reminding riders of a time before micro-wave dinners became commonplace.
The Gamle Vossebanen museum service offers a restaurant car with cooked meals served, reminding riders of a time before micro-wave dinners became commonplace.
Gamle Vossebanen
Gamle Vossebanen
The draisine, a rail bicycle, was the chosen tool for line inspectors before health-and-safety regulations were invented. Here, an employee of the National Railway Administrations cultural department, uses a draisine on the disused Gamle Vossebanen, to make registrations of the infrastructure.
The draisine, a rail bicycle, was the chosen tool for line inspectors before health-and-safety regulations were invented. Here, an employee of the National Railway Administrations cultural department, uses a draisine on the disused Gamle Vossebanen, to make registrations of the infrastructure.

Bergensbanen

Bergensbanen, The Bergen Railway, was considered an engineering marvel upon its opening in 1911. Now, as then, it is considered an important link between east and west in Norway, connecting the capital of Oslo to Bergen on the west coast. Its importance at the time can be read in Anders Beer-Wilses photos from the line’s first years. He photographed both the people building it and the landscape it traversed.

This is an ongoing project to document the lines role in the both the landscape and in society, over a hundred years after Wilse.