Rombak Station

We are now arriving at Rombak Station. Rombak was once a passenger station on the Ofoten Railway, originally known as Sildvik Station. Today, it is still used as a passing point for long trains travelling along the line. Rombak was once home to railway workers and their families. In 1912, a school was established here for the children living along this part of the railway, and remained in use until the school districts of Sildvik and Straumsnes were merged in 1927 As we pass through Rombak, look out for the old water tower beside the railway. It dates back to the days when steam locomotives operated on the Ofoten Railway. The tank could hold around 30 tonnes of water. In winter, a furnace beneath it kept the water from freezing – an essential detail when operating steam locomotives in the Arctic. When the Ofoten Railway was electrified, water towers were no longer needed. The water tower here at Rombak, however, was preserved. Today, it is the only remaining water tower from the steam era of the Ofoten Railway – a reminder of what it took to keep trains running through these mountains more than a century ago. And as we continue, take a look around. Here at Rombak, the railway, mountains and fjord come together in one of the most striking landscapes along the line.