The Ofoten Railwaybahn
Kiruna (Sweden) – Narvik (Norway)

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In the middle of the 19. century many had the dream to get the «black gold» of north Sweden. The reserves of the iron ore were known more then 100 years. But none got a solution for the transportation out of the wild north Lappland. The terrain was difficult accessible, the climate conditions were harsh and the next sea port was far away. The solution was the railway over the mountains to the port of Narvik.

In the year 1883 they started with the definition of the ofoten railway and in 1903 the track was finished. The building of the part Kiruna – Riksgränsen was in sections of 10 kilometers splited. On the end of every section a station was built. Along the mountain part from Riksgränsen to Narvik it as not easy to find good positions for stations.

To use stronger railroad engines in 1923 the ore railway was electrified. At the stations Torneträsk, Abisko Östra and Vassijaure were voltage transformation stations built. This big complex of buildings made out of bricks replaced the simple stations buildings and were necessary to store the massive electronic equipment.

The linesmen are gone and the trains are led and secured by remote. The stations are silent contemporary witnesses. But not all of them, the station in Kiruna was breaked down two years ago – my view on this station will last.

Christian Weidmann

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Fotobuch «Triologie»:
«Der Lebendige Zerfall»
«Unterwegs»
«Ofotenbahn»
Alle Bilder der Triologie-Serie sind als Fotobuch erhältlich. Format: 28 x 21 cm, gebunden, Herausgegeben im Eigenverlag, Druck und Preis auf Anfrage: foto@avw.ch.
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