Draisine on the Numedal Line
| Distance: | Duration: | Terrain: | Level: | Type: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 km | 5 hours | Railway | Medium | Draisine |
You can hire a draisine at Veggli Tavern and cycle the abandoned Numedal Line up to Rødberg. You will follow the river Lågen and pass 14 tunnels and beautiful station buildings on your way.
Kjerre Pond. Photo: Alexander Vestrum
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The 93-kilometre Numedal Line was opened between Kongsberg and Rødberg in 1927. It was built to transport heavy equipment to the planned hydroelectric power plants in the Numedal valley. Passenger service terminated in 1988 and freight trains stopped running the year after. Today you can hire a draisine at Veggli Tavern and cycle along Numedal river all the way up to Rødberg. You will pass 14 tunnels and several station buildings on this 32-kilometre trip. The toughest part is between Gvammen and Rødberg where the gradient is 2.5 per cent.
Veggli station
When you have picked up your helmet at the reception, cross the street and walk towards the yellow station building. This is where all the draisines are parked. The draisines are not well constructed for the railway points at the station area, so push the railway bike pass all these to avoid derailment.
Kjerre station
You will pass as many as 12 stops if you cycle all the way up to Rødberg. Almost all the smaller halts are equipped with a little shed and a wooden plattform, but not Tveitkåsa, the very first you pass on your way. After four kilometres you will reach Kjerre station. This red station building is well preserved and is situated in a beautiful area close to a dam.
Geiteryggen Tunnel
Just after you have passed the little waiting shed at Fossebrekka halt, you cycle straight into the longest railway tunnel. Geiteryggen Tunnel is 572 metre long, so switch on your helmet light before entering. When you exit the dark tunnel, you must enter another one, but this is much shorter. When you have passed these tunnels you arrive Kravikfjord halt. Here you will find several benches where you can rest and enjoy the lovely view of the fjord.
Steep part
You reach Norefjord station after you have passed over a short railway bridge. Now you will probably notice the elevation and that it's harder to pedal. The hilly terrain in this area is especially spectacular, and you must cycle through as many as six tunnels until you reach Gvammen station. Take a break before you continue, for now you will start on the very steepest part of the Numedal Line.
Rødberg vokterbolig
After four kilometres uphill you finally reach Rødberg vokterbolig, the highest point on the railway line, 395 metres above sea level. Even though the sign on the red waiting shed says "Rødberg vb", you're quite not there yet. This is the last halt before you reach the terminal station, and also where the lenghtsman's cottage was situated. The last 1.5 kilometres go downhill. When you reach the combined road and railway bridge, you must return. Park the draisine and walk the last hundred metres if you want to see the railway station.
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How do I get there?
Bus 420 from Kongsberg to Veggli. If you are coming by car, follow the National Road 40 towards Rødberg. You will pass the tavern Veggli Vertshus to the right where you can park.