Vestmarka Line

The railway line Skotterud - Vestmarka ( in Norwegian called Vestmarkabanen or Paradisbanen ) was a railway line in Norway. They branched off in Skotterud of the Kongsvingerbane and led by Vestmarka in the municipality in Hedmark Eidskog.

History

Vestmarkabanen was 14.3 km long and was opened on 15 October 1918. It was built as a private car and taken over later by Norges Statsbaner ( NSB). The name Paradisbanen comes from a garden at Stangnes, who had the name Paradis. Between Stangnes Rasta and the route went through the only railway tunnel in Sør- Hedmark.

Background for the track construction was the removal of timber from the forests lying to Vestmarka to the main track.

With the setting of the passenger traffic on January 30, 1931, this was the first railway line in the history of Norway, who lost her passenger. Until the 1960s there were plans to extend the route until after Mysen in Østfold. These plans were never realized.

The transport of goods between BUAA and Vestmarka was maintained until February 15, 1961 the final closure of the route took place on 1 June 1965.

The still existing railway tunnel is to be prepared for a foot and cycle path between Vestmarka and Skotterud again.