Myrdal and the Flåmsbana to Flåm
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2004
1
13
27
Trip End
Jun 30, 2004
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Myrdal,
Western Fjords,
Norway
Monday, June 21, 2004
Myrdal
Myrdal Station
Myrdal signpost
The train runs about 12 miles. You see rivers that cut through deep ravines, waterfalls cascading down the side of steep, snow-capped mountains and mountain farms cling to sheer slopes.
The Flåm Railway is one of the worlds steepest railway lines on normal gauge. The gradient is 55/1000 on almost 80% of the line, i.e. a gradient of one in eighteen. The twisting tunnels that spiral in and out of the mountain are manifestations of the most daring and skillful engineering in Norwegian railway history. The electric train drops 2800 feet in the 12 mile run! The train stops at Kjosfossen.
Kjosfossen
There is no other place on earth where rail travellers have the chance to see such an impressive waterfall as from the platform at Kjosfossen. High up on the horizon you see the white water cascading off the steep mountain side. The rushing river of water dissolves into foam with a thunderous roar as it hits the mountain on its way down the 305 foot drop. While admiring the view, a lady in a red dress appears on a ledge about a quarter of the way up. Music is playing a siren's song. In olden times when a Norseman disappeared while hunting, his family believed he was lured away by a beautiful young female siren named Huldra. Though my understanding is that Huldra would be nude but she had a tail that gave away her as a siren.
Hildur in circle
After the exciting ride, we came into Flåm.
Coming into Flåm
Flåm Station with Westerdam
