The western part of Norway is known for it's steep mountains and deep fjords.  A lot of tourists, from all over the world, visit this area every year.

In July 2004 we had some visitors from Belgium, a nice couple we have known for many years.  They wanted to see some mountains and fjords, so we thought that a trip to Bergen would be nice, including this one day round trip from Bergen to Bergen.  The route is train from Bergen to Myrdal, swap train to go with Flåmsbana from Myrdal to Flåm, and finally a boat trip from Flåm to Bergen.

The presentation is split into three parts:

Leg 1, train Bergen - Myrdal
This is a part of Bergensbanen, the Oslo-Bergen railway line.

Leg 2, train Myrdal - Flåm
This is the famous Flåmsbana, which transports more than half a million people every year, mostly tourists. Flåmsbana is the third steepest adhesion railway in the world.

The photos in this presentation are made by some good friends, my son and myself.  Photos made by others than me are marked with names.  Some photos are shot from the train, some photos are shot from the scenic narrow road from Myrdal to Flåm.  The upper part of this road is only for walking or bicycling.
The panorama photo of Myrdal and the surrounding area is made by Mr. Svein Ulvund, with his permission.  Thank you.
The unmarked photos shot from the train was made July 9th 2004.  The unmarked photos along the track was shot in June and July 2009.

Myrdal is 866 meters above sea level, and the track climbs down to Myrdal, altitude 2 meters, in just 20,2 km.  Almost 80% of the line has a gradient of 5,5%, or 1:18.  The number of passengers have increased year by year.  Almost 600.000 passengers has travelled with this train annually the last couple of years.

First a panoramic view of Myrdal station and the upper part of the Flåm valley, made by Mr. Svein Ulvund. A fantastic photo.
The lake to the left is Reinungavatn, supplying water to hydro power plant that feeds Flåmsbana with electric power.  The waterfall is Kjosfossen.  The power plant is below Kjosfossen, not visible in the photo.  The zig-zag road is a steep and narrow road (for walking and bicycling) going down to Flåm.  Inside the mountain, in Vatnahalsen tunnel, above the white "line" to the right of Kjosfossen, the track describes a horseshoe curve, to help the descent down the valley.  Above the left part of the long white avalange protection, in a small triangle shaped shadow, it is a small opening in the mountain side, so the train passengers see the fantastic view of the valley.  Also the long avalange protection is open for a nice view down the valley.

The descent to Flåm starts at Myrdal station

Many nice places for a short rest if you use the road.  It looks like young Mr. Simen Klatran enjoys the rest, or maybe he is dreaming about a nice lunch?  In the background is a part of the avalange protection over the railway line, not far from Myrdal station.

Some old "buildings" can be seen from the narrow road.  The railway can be seen in the background.

An old bridge crossing the river.  Maybe not so safe?  The sign states that the bridge has been overloaded by bicycle tourists.

Not so far from Myrdal station.  Note the steel net in the mountain side, to prevent rocks from falling down on the below track.

Nice scenery

Next to Reinungavatn, the track makes a horseshoe turn, From Vatnahalsen station down to Reinunga station, the small yellow building in the center of the picture.

This photo was shot close to Reinunga station, in the opposite direction of the above photo.  The train soon enters the Vatnahalsen horseshoe tunnel.

A view through the mountain wall.

Another view, from the narrow road, almost the same location as above

The same mountain side, at Kårdal, seen from the narrow road winding down the hill side.  This mountain side is called Pinnalia.

Next is Kjosfossen station, where the train stops in the tourist season, and the passengers can leave the train to admire the fantastic Kjosfossen water fall.

A big platform is built next to the track.  The conductor is probably the most famous in Norway.  The signs in the background means 5,5 percent inclination and 130 meters curve radius.

People looking at Kjosfossen waterfall.

Huldra appears.  Normally, if you meet her and talk to her, you're lost, or become very lucky.  This show, with song and music, that takes place almost every time the train stops.

Kjosfossen station was built because of the power plant.  No roads, and nobody is living here.

Kjosfossen power plant.

The narrow road winding down the valley is very popular for bicyclists and for walking trips.

The bicycle ride is quite exiting.  You certainly need good brakes.  Some people claim to have worn out a set of brake pads on the way down.  This sporty lady is my colleague Ms. Hanne Klatran.

A view up the valley from further down.  Sorry about the reflexes from the train window.

This is also a view up the valley

Another shot down the valley, I think we are approaching Blomheller station.

The opposite view from Blomheller station.  This is quite typical for Flåmsbana, with the curves, steep hill and tunnels.

Just above Blomheller station the road stops, next to the tunnel opening in the above photo.  Only pedestrians and cyclists are allowed.

Down the valley, between Blomheller and Berekvam.  Berekvam station can be seen far away, to the right of the picture center.

The track and the road before entering Reppa tunnel, with the new gates at the road crossing.

At Berekvam station, where the upwards and the downwards train meet.  This is the upwards train shot from the downwards train.  Normally there are only one locomotive in each end of the train.

Berekvam station with the two trains.

When stopping at Berekvam Station you can see this house.  Several identical houses like this were put up along the train lines in Norway, to house the "line managers".  It was split in the middle with two identical inverted halves.

From the train, above Høga road bridge, looking down the valley, just before entering Høga tunnel.

The upwards going train approaches Høga tunnel,

exits Høga tunnel and soon passing the Høga road crossing...

...and going up towards Timberheller tunnel

From the train, approx from where it is in the above picture, just before entering Timberheller tunnel

Up the valley from Høga, next to the road crossing.  Timberheller tunnel to the right.

The river from Reinungavatn and Kjosfossen follows the Flåm valley down to the fjord.  Some places there are some rather deep ponds.  The water looks very cold.

Four artificial tunnels were made by the railway constructers, to lead the water away from the track bed.  This one is next to Høga road crossing.

The other end of the tunnel leads the water under Høga road bridge.

Down the valley from Høga tunnel.

Several waterfalls can be seen from the train.  I think this is 140 meters high.

Further down the valley.  The old Flåm village.

The train is soon arriving in Flåm, This is between Håreina and Lunden.

From behind.

Entering Flåm station, track 4

At the new platform.

At the old platform.  To handle the increasing number of passengers, track 5 was removed and the platform was widened.

The train is soon empty

The conductor is checking that everything is in order before climbing up the hills again

Flåmsbana has it's own museum in Flåm, and while waiting for the boat to take us to Bergen, the museum was worth a visit.

A collection of the old locomotives used on Flåmsbana.  This is a photo of a picture hanging on the wall in the museum.

This locomotive has got it's own house now, as an extension of the museum, so it's not outdoors anymore

Some other kinds of transport used on Flåmsbana, not allowed anymore.  Quite hazardous to run down the steep hills with these.

About Flåmsbana, source Flåmsbana's website:

Flåmsbana
Length		20,20 km
Altitude difference		864 m
Upper station		Altitude 866 metres
Lower station		Altitude 2 metres
Steepest gradient		55 ‰ - 1:18
Stretch steeper than 28 ‰		16 km - 79,3 %
Minimum curve radius		130 m
Track width/gauge		1.435 mm
Voltage		15.000 V - 16 2/3 Hz
Maximum speed		40 km/h
Duration of journey		Approx. 60 min.
Brake systems		5
Tunnels		20, total 5.962 m
Bridges		1
Water tunnels		4
Stops/halts		8
Stations
Station	Altitude	Kilometres from
		Myrdal	Flåm
Myrdal	866 m	0,00	20,20
Vatnahalsen	811 m	1,13	19,07
Reinunga	767 m	2,20	18,00
Kjosfoss	670 m	4,40	15,80
Kårdal *	557 m	6,34	13,86
Blomheller	458 m	8,40	11,80
Berekvam	345 m	10,51	9,69
Dalsbotn	200 m	13,90	6,30
Håreina	48 m	17,21	2,99
Lunden	16 m	18,60	1,60
Flåm	2 m	20,20	0,00
Tunnels
Tunnel		Length	Built
Toppen, upper		101,4 m	1926-29
Toppen, lower		79,9 m	1925-26
Vatnahalsen upper + lower (horseshoe)		888,6 m	1924-34
Pel 1692		14,0 m	?
Pel 1667		22,7 m	?
Bakli		195,1 m	1924-34
Kjosfoss		478,4 m	1924-35
Nåli		1341,5 m	1924-35
Blomheller		1029,6 m	1924-35
Melhus		177,5 m	?
Melhusgjelet		11,1 m	?
Reppa		123,9 m	1926-28
Sjølskott		39,2 m	1931-35
Geithus		139,2 m	1934-35
Timberheller		172,6 m	1932-33
Høga		59,2 m	1927-28
Dalsbotn, upper		154,3 m	1925-28
Dalsbotn, lower		206,6 m	1930-35
Spælemyren		24,6 m	1929-30
Furuberget		424,0 m	1926-34

* The trains do not stop at Kårdal

Leg 3, Flåm - Bergen
Out Sognefjorden and south to Bergen with a high speed boat

Thanks for the photos:
Svein Ulvund, Norway
Nicky Cremers, Belgium
Bjørn Wigholm, Switzerland
Hanne Klatran, Norway
Tom A. Sæbø, Norway

Some good links from NRK, the Norwegian broadcasting Corporation:
Flaamsbana minute-by minute, a link to the TV program about Flåmsbana
Download the front camera files, in 2D or 3D (I do not know if this works abroad)

Updated 09.04.2013

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