Vekk med steam
Vekk med dampen ( German "Weg mit dem Dampf" ) was a program created by the Norges Statsbaner (NSB) in 1954/55 to modernize and rationalize rail operations in Norway by reducing steam operations, closing unprofitable routes and electrifying main lines. Halvdan Eyvind Stokke , NSB General Director from 1950 to 1965, played a major role in this .
prehistory
Until the early 1900s, steam locomotives were used universally in normal operation. The Switzerland , Sweden and Italy were pioneers in the electrification of railway lines in Europe . Switzerland has electrified its entire railway network. In Norway, the first line between Tinnoset and Notodden was spanned with overhead lines in 1911.
In 1949, the Storting set up a commission that should shed light on all questions relating to the newly stipulated requirements in the railway sector. The narrow gauge used in the expansion phase of the Norwegian routes in the 1870s was a particularly important issue. The narrow gauge had many supporters both in parliament and with the railway authorities because the routes were inexpensive to build. Of the 1562 km of railway lines that were built up to 1890, 970 km were built in narrow gauge and 592 km in standard gauge . The discussion about the gauge did not end until 1898 when the decision was made to build Bergensbanen in standard gauge. Later, all the narrow-gauge railways except Aurskog – Hølandsbanen and Setesdalsbanen were converted to standard gauge at considerable expense .
In 1952 a plan followed that provided for the conversion of various routes to electrical operation. These included Vestfoldbanen , Østfoldbanen - eastern line , Hokksund – Hønefoss , Hønefoss – Roa – Oslo , Grefsen – Alnabru, Voss – Hønefoss , Roa – Gjøvik and Hamar – Dombås – Trondheim . After that, the electrification should be ended in 1970 with the Dovrebane . For this purpose, single-phase alternating current with a voltage of around 16,000 V and a frequency of 16 2/3 Hz was used in Norway. The commission submitted its report on February 6, 1953.
As a result of this electrification project, NSB started the "Vekk med dampen" program in 1954/55 . It was then decided to replace the steam locomotives with diesel locomotives on all routes not included in the plan, at that time Nordlandsbanen , Rørosbanen and Raumabanen .
Replacement of the steam locomotives
With the program, large procurement contracts for diesel locomotives were awarded from 1955 onwards. In addition to the locomotives of the types Di 2 and Di 3 , NSB procured new diesel multiple units for local traffic and shunting locomotives for shifting stations in order to replace all NSB steam locomotives during the following 15 years. The last steam locomotive was taken out of regular service in 1971.
Shutdowns
| Railway line | length | Shutdown | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algård – Ganddal | 12.30 km | November 1, 1955 | only passenger traffic |
| Hen sperillen | 24 km | August 1, 1957 | |
| Jaren – Røykenvik | 23.91 km | November 11, 1957 | |
| Vikersund – Krøderen | 25.97 km | January 19, 1958 | only passenger traffic |
The following routes were closed as a result of the Commission's report:
The suspension of the Rise – Grimstad line was also proposed, which was discontinued in 1961.
During this period, consideration was given to converting the line in Setesdal to standard gauge and extending the line to Ustaoset on the Bergensban. The greater part of the Railway Commission of 1949 recommended these measures after extensive consultation and consultation. The board of the state railway, however, spoke out in favor of the closure. The Vekk med dampen project was an important argument in favor of closing the unprofitable branch line.
At the meeting in Storting on January 13, 1960, at which either the closure or the renovation was up for discussion, the MPs decided with nine votes against in favor of the closure. On September 1, 1962, the decision was carried out after consultation with the railway administration and Statens Vegvesen . The route lasted only 66 years.
Ten-year plan 1959 / 60–1968 / 69
In the investment plan for the period from 1959/60 to 1968/69, the continuation of the Vekk med dampen program, including further electrification and dieselization of mainline and shunting traffic, was laid down under points 22 and 23 . At the end of this period, the completion of the approved electrification program was expected.
The NSB board proposed for the ten-year plan in the draft budget for 1959/60 that Urskog – Hølandsbanen , Aurskog – Hølandsbanen since 1947 , be discontinued. This line had a track width of 750 mm. The discontinuation happened in 1960, only a remnant of almost four kilometers remained as a museum railway.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jernbane. In: Store norske leksikon . Retrieved April 9, 2014 (Norwegian).
- ↑ Setesdalsbane's history. Retrieved April 9, 2014 (Norwegian).
- ↑ Storting (Ed.): Proposition No. 84-1957 and Sheet No. 175-1957 . 1957.
literature
- Hovedstyret for Statsbanene (Ed.): Norges Statsbaners modernierings- og rasjonaliseringsplan . Kirstes Boktrykkeri, Oslo September 1958.