Søsterbekk

We have now reached Søsterbekk. The station was originally located along the old railway route across Norddal Bridge, but was moved here when the new section of the line opened in 1988. As we pass through the area, look out for two old tunnel openings on the north side of the railway. They tell an unusual story about how trains were once operated on this mountain line. One of the tunnels was part of what was known as a runaway track. If a train coming down from the mountains lost its brakes, it could be diverted away from the main line and into this tunnel. The track inside climbed uphill, using gravity to slow the train down. If it still failed to stop, the track continued beyond the tunnel and out towards the marshland. The second tunnel had another clever purpose. Trains could reverse uphill into it, giving them enough room to build up speed before tackling the climb towards the Swedish border. Søsterbekk was also once home to a small railway community. Its sunny position made it a popular place for railway workers and their families to live. Today, the permanent residents are gone, but the old tunnels remain – reminders of some ingenious solutions from an earlier age of the railway.