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You are here: Frontpage / Vamma LineHistory

Vamma Line

Length: Starts: Ends: Status:
6 km Askim Station Vamma Station Abandoned
The Vamma Line was a 5.9-kilometre long branch line which ran from Askim to Vamma Power Plant. It opened in 1910 and transported heavy freight during the construction of the plant. The Vamma Line was closed in 1961.
Vamma Power Station. Photo: Mittet & Co. AS/Nasjonalbiblioteket
Vamma Power Station. Photo: Mittet & Co. AS/NasjonalbiblioteketPublic domain
In 1903 the engineer Sam Eyde founded his company _A/S Vamma Fossekompani_ in order to construct a hydroelectric power plant at Vammafoss. This plant should produce energy to his planned fertiliser plant. A railway line between Askim and Vamma was needed to transport heavy equipment during the construction period. His application was approved by the ministry on 17 October 1907. The 4.6 kilometre long spur was opened after six months. A material ropeway was also built to transport the freight further from the terminus to the power plant.

Steep extension
Sam Eyde skipped his factory plans in 1912 and sold his half build power plant to Hafslund. In 1913 the Vamma Line was extended by 1.3 kilometres to the plant with a gradient of 7 percent. In order to operate on this steep part, the locomotives had to back off towards the power station.

Demolished
There was no daily traffic on the Vamma Line after the power plant opened. The branch line was demolished after the last train ran in Autumn 1961. At Vammatoppen the fundament of the locomotive shed is preserved and part of the track has been rebuilt with freight wagons as a cultural monument.