Katterat NLT

We are now heading towards Katterat Station, where we’ll have our main stop of the evening. Katterat is a popular starting point for hiking the historic Rallarveien – the old construction road used during the building of the Ofoten Railway. From here, the trail continues through the mountains and down towards Rombaksbotn, which was once the main construction community for the railway workers in this area. Katterat itself developed into a small railway community, where railway employees and their families lived throughout the year. During the days of steam locomotives, Katterat had its own water tower. When the Ofoten Railway was electrified in 1923, a transformer station was built here instead. Much of this railway history is still visible today. The station building dates from 1922 and is the only station building along the Ofoten Railway that remains in its original design. Together with other preserved railway buildings and installations, it makes Katterat an important part of the railway’s historic heritage. As railway operations became more modern, fewer people were needed to live and work here. The community gradually became smaller, and the last permanent resident left Katterat in 1963. There is no road connection to Katterat. Even today, the railway is the main way to get here, making this a rather special place to visit. And this historic railway setting is where Arctic Train has established its Northern Lights Camp. Close to the old transformer station stands our large lavvu, where we’ll spend part of the evening together, away from the lights and traffic of Narvik. Here, our hosts will welcome you to the camp. They know Katterat and its history well, so feel free to ask them questions and learn more about this remarkable place during your stay. So when we arrive, gather your belongings and get ready to step off the train. Welcome to Katterat – and to Arctic Train’s Northern Lights Camp.