Museet Gamle Vossebanen

Gamle Vossebanen is not a reconstructed tourist line. It operates over part of the original Bergen–Voss railway, preserving the relationship between main-line rolling stock, stations, track and a route engineered through difficult western terrain.

1. 1883

   The railway between Bergen and Voss opens

   Bergen–Vossbanen opened on 11 July 1883. It was built to the Norwegian narrow gauge and later became the western foundation of the route known as Bergensbanen. 23

2. 1904

   The line changes to standard gauge

   The western railway was converted to standard gauge as work advanced on the trans-mountain connection. That rebuilding allowed it to form part of the through railway between Bergen and eastern Norway. 34

3. 1964–1965

   A new route bypasses the old section

   The opening of the Ulriken tunnel and the new Arna route shifted main-line traffic away from much of the old alignment. Ordinary passenger use of the preserved section ended in 1965. 4

4. 1981

   Museum railway preservation begins

   Organised preservation established Garnes as the operating base and returned historic trains to the old line. The museum railway now runs eighteen kilometres between Garnes and Midttun. 14

5. 2016

   The historic railway receives legal protection

   The 21.4-kilometre railway environment between Tunestveit and Midttun was formally protected, including track, stations and associated infrastructure from the original Vossebanen. 2