Nesttun–Os Line
| Nesttun–Os Line | |
|---|---|
 Old Osbanen station at Osøyro | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Abandoned |
| Owner | A/S Nesttun-Osbanen |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 14 |
| Service | |
| Type | Railway |
| System | Norwegian railway |
| Operator(s) | A/S Nesttun-Osbanen |
| History | |
| Opened | July 1, 1894 |
| Closed | September 2, 1935 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 26.3 km (16.3 mi) |
| Track gauge | 750 |
| Operating speed | 25 km/h |
|}
The Nestun–Os Line (Norwegian: Nesttun–Osbanen) is an abandoned narrow gauge railway between Nesttun in Bergen and the community of Osøyro in the municipality Os, Hordaland, Norway. Opened 1 June 1894, it was designed to connect Os to the Vosse Line, the railway between Bergen and Voss, at Nesttun. On 2 September 1935, it became the first Norwegian railway to close. Today, stretches of the railway survive and a project is underway to open part of the line as a museum railway. A small museum operates at the former station at Stend.
The railway was constructed in 750 narrow gauge, the smallest gauge ever built in Norway. The curve radius was 50 metres. This combination made it possible to avoid any tunnels whatsoever and bridges longer than 8 metres. But it also meant that all goods had to be off-loaded at Nesttun and that the railway had a maximum speed of 25 km/h. The railway was of vast importance for the Os community, as it allowed for day trips to Bergen. The rail trip took only two hours, and was considerably faster and cheaper than steam ship.
References
- Museum Net summary in English
- Norsk Jernbaneklubb (1994). Banedate '94 (in Norwegian).