Rail transport in Iceland

Rail transport in Iceland occupies a very remote location in the country's infrastructure. Rail transport for the carriage of persons do not exist in Iceland. Historically, there were three railway systems in Iceland. Plans for Railways with Passenger transport was available from 1906 until 1931. One of the plans saw a train from Reykjavik to Selfoss before.

Historic railway companies

Hafenbahn Reykjavík

1913 a narrow gauge railway with 900 mm gauge and two together twelve kilometers of routes has been put into operation. The occasion was the expansion of the port in Reykjavík. A line ran from the port to Öskjuhlíd, the other to Skólavörðuholt. The train was exclusively for the carriage of goods. After completion of the works in 1917 the railway remained until 1928 continued to carry freight in operation. These courses were two steam locomotives locomotive factory Arnold Jung from 1892 are available which were bought second-hand.

These locomotives were built originally for R. Dolberg in Rostock, No. 129 was delivered on 19 May 1892, No. 130 on June 3, 1892 by Jung there. Both were sold in 1910 to Denmark NC Momberg, where they received a replacement boiler ( Boiler No. 129 in 1592 and No. 130 boiler in 1591 ) and reached 1913 on the island. Both are preserved in museums, the " minor" (No. 129 ) as a memorial locomotive in port, " Pioner " (No. 130 ) in the open-air museum Árbæjarsafn in Reykjavik. At this locomotive the name plate of the new boiler is fitted - this gives the impression as if it is the original factory label. So Iceland is probably the only country in the world in which all steam locomotives ever wrong there, were kept in museums.

• Minor

In the port of Reykjavik

Technical data of the locomotive, which arrived in Iceland on March 9, 1913

Image of the first train in 1913

• Pioner

The museum Árbæjarsafn

Manufacturer's plate: the serial number 1591/1919 is the sign of the new boiler

Photo from the operation time 1913-1928

Korpúlfsstaðir

On the large-scale agricultural investment Korpúlfsstaðir a web was built with 600 mm track in the 1930s. There were no locomotives, the cars were moved solely by human power. The plant was still in operation in 1993. The large-scale agricultural investment Korpúlfsstaðir has now been abandoned. There are now a golf course and a school. Structural remains of the railway facilities no longer exist.

Kárahnjúkar

Beginning of the 21st century was built the Kárahnjúkar power plant in the east of Iceland. For the construction of a narrow gauge railway was built by the Italian construction company Impregilo temporarily rented, installed and operated with diesel locomotives. After completion of construction, the railway was dismantled and shipped back to Italy. On this path there was also the only railway accident involving personal injury to Iceland, a collision of a train, who had loaded cement, and a train that transported personnel. In the accident three workers were injured.

Isafjordur

In Isafjordur is seen in the harbor area, a small port railway. Structural remains of this can be seen in the Harbour Museum. The cars on display and switches show that this train was operated by muscle power.

Planning a route between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport

There were plans, the capital of Reykjavík, Keflavík airport by a 50 -kilometer-long electrified standard gauge railway line to connect. The plans are from the period before the Icelandic economic crisis in 2008, so it is uncertain whether they will be pursued.