Namsos Line

The Namsos Line branches from the Nordland Line at Grong and runs to Namsos. Prior to 1981, the line had a different terminus in Namsos and was long. The curve radius is and the maximum gradient is 1.25 percent. The line has five tunnels, with a combined length of . automatic train control, and train radio. The railway line is owned and maintained by the Norwegian National Rail Administration. The section from Grong to Skogmo, Overhalla, remains open and maintained, but is not used for ordinary traffic. The section from Skogmo to Namsos remains, but is not maintained. After Grong Station, which is located from Trondheim Central Station and above mean sea level (AMSL), the line runs over Tømmeråsfoss on the Sanddøla Bridge and then over the Røttesdal Vidaduct. The line then runs past Dun Station ( from Grong Station), before Sjemsvoll Station () and Jørem Station (). Next the line reaches Øyheim Station (), which has a passing loop. The line then passes into Overhalla and continues to Øysletta Station (), before crossing to the north shore Namsen on the Bertnem Bridge. It passes Heknbakk Station () before Skogmo, where there is an industrial spur. This is the end of the part of the line which remains open to traffic. The line then reaches Skogmo Station (), which has a passing loop. It then crosses Namsen on the Bjøra Bridge and reaches Himo Station (). The line then reaches Overhalla Station (), which has a passing loop and serves the municipal center of Ranemsletta. The line continues on a bridge over Reina before reaching Barlia Station (), Øysvoll Station (), Myrmo Station () and Halvardsmo Station (). An industrial spur then branches off before the main line reaches Skage Station (), which has a passing loop. The line crosses a bridge over Myrelven before passing through the Bergeng Tunnel and the Brudalsøy Tunnel. Next the line reaches Grytøya Station () before running through the Vika Tunnel. It continues past Kvatninga Station () and then over Moeosen on a bridge. Next it reaches Meosen Station (), Høyknes Station () and Angelskjæret Station (). The line then runs through the Hønhaugen I Tunnel and the Hønhaugen II Tunnel. Originally the line went to the old Namsos Station ( from Grong and AMSL), but since 1981, the line has been shortened to terminate at the new Namsos Station (). ==Architecture==

Because the line was built during the Great Depression and NSB was experiencing an operating loss for the first time in its history, minimal investments were made in stations and their facilities. The main architects were Gerhard Fischer and Bjarne F. Baastad, who both worked for the in-house NSB Arkitektkontor. The line's architecture is designed in Neoclassisism, and is, along with the Ålgård Line, the only line which employed this style consistently. Neoclassical architecture on other lines were only used for individual buildings. Namsos Station was built in brick and also featured motive power depot. Overhalla Station was built in half-timbering. Both stations had hip roofs, and were the only stations to receive water towers, cargo expeditions and station master's residences. After complaints, also Skogmo, Skage and Øysletta Stations received cargo expeditions some years after the opening of the line. Two buildings have been preserved by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Fischer's wooden station building at Skage was preserved as a typical representation of the line's narrow and long buildings in Neoclassisism, and is also similar to the small stations built on the Numedal Line. Baastad's natural stone locomotive depot in Namsos has been preserved as the only remaining part of the original station environment in Namsos. ==History==

Planning Proposals for a railway to Namsos were first launched by Ole Tobias Olsen in 1872, who wanted a railway built from Trondheim to Nordland. In 1875, Nord-Trøndelag County Council established a committee to look into building a railway from Stjørdal to Namsos. A similar committee was established for a continuation through Nordland by Nordland County Council. At the time, the Meråker Line was under planning between Trondheim and Hell in Stjørdal, which opened in 1881. The Royal Railway Commission of 1875 mentioned a railway to Namsos in its report, but did not recommend that it be prioritized at the time. By the 1880s, Norway fell into recession and railway investments plummeted. The original proposal called for a line directly from Steinkjer via Beitstad to Namsos and from there onwards to Nordland. Building a railway to Namdalen was seen as important to ease export both of lumber, farm produce and seafood. The railway was also regarded as having a strategic importance for the postal service and the military, as transport times northwards would decrease significantly and be less affected by severe weather, which particularly during winter could hinder efficient steam ship transport. In 1890, the county council supported that the first part of the Nordland Line, the Hell–Sunnan Line, which terminated at the outflow of the lake of Snåsavatnet, as there was consensus of route to that point. A public debate start about whether the Beitstad Line or Snåsa Line should be chosen, with all involved municipal councils being asked for their opinion ahead of the committee's 1889 report. The most vocal proponent of the Beitstad Line was Hans Konrad Foosnæs from Namdalseid, while Svend Matthiesen from Grong was the most vocal proponent of the Snåsa Line. In an 1892 report, a line from Trondheim via Beitstad to Namsos was estimated to be long and would take 6 hours and 40 minutes. In comparison, the steam ships at the time used 16 hours. During the 1890s, public meets were held throughout the area to rally support for public spending on the railway and for support for the most advantageous route for the local area. The Beitstad Line would run through areas with a population three to four times that of the Snåsa Line. All previous railway lines were built following the route which gave the most people a service, as this gave the best economic impact and would create more revenue for the railway, making it more profitable. Namsos was also the gateway to Nærøy Municipality and Vikna Municipality. It was further argued that Beitstad did not need a railway as it was connected to the Trondheimsfjord and that a branch line to Namsos would be built anyway. All municipalities in Namdalen, except Grong, supported the Beitstad Line, while municipalities from Steinkjer and south supported the Snåsa Line. In 1899, the cost of a line from Sunnan via Namsos to Grong would cost NOK 11.68 million and would be long. Conversely, a line from Sunnan via Snåsa to Grong would cost NOK 6.59 million and would be long. In addition, the branch from Grong to Namsos was estimated at 4.28 million and would be long. Thus the Snåsa Line would be shorter and 824,000 Norwegian krone cheaper. Both routes were based on municipal grants of NOK 500,000. In 1899, a county railway committee published its recommendation, with the majority of three members recommending the Snåsa Line, while the minority of two members recommended the Beitstad Line. Nord-Trøndelag County Council voted over the issue on 13 June 1900, with 18 votes for the Snåsa Line and 12 for the Beitstad Line. The Hell–Sunnan Line was completed to Sunnan and officially opened on 14 November 1905. From 25 July 1908, Stenkjær og Namsos Automobilselskap started a bus service from Steinkjer to Rødhammeren, with a ferry service onwards to Namsos. From 1905, the government started work on financing several large railway projects, including the Dovre Line, the Rauma Line, the Sørlandet Line and the Nordland Line. On 10 June 1908, Parliament unanimously passed these lines in the Railway Plan of 1908, which included the section from Sunnan via Snåsa to Grong, albeit without a branch to Namsos. The county stated that they would not grant any district funding to the line unless a branch to Namsos was also passed. This was a high-stake game, as Parliament could as a counter-measure decide to not built the line to Grong. In 1912, the Ministry of Labour recommended that Parliament pass the Namsos Line on the north shore of Namsen and that Parliament demand 15 percent district grants from the county and the affected municipalities. The level of the district grants were subject to public debate, as they would affect the municipal finances for a long period. The same year, an additional proposal was made by the Norwegian Directorate of Mining, who wanted a railway from Namsos via Grong to Tunnsjøen, where pyrite mining was planned. The formal decision to build the line was taken by Parliament on 2 June 1913, Construction Preliminary surveying started in 1916, but was, in part because of lack of workforce, not completed until 1922. The first construction ran through the winter of 1921 and 1922 as a public relief works program. Regular, and better paid, work started in 1923. By the last quarter of 1924, the workforce had reached 332 men, but as the economy and thus funding dropped, the work force was reduced, with a low of 116 men in 1928. By 1932, the relief aspect was back and the work force peaked at 540 men in 1932. Ordinary workers were paid an average NOK 1.64 per hour, while relief workers were paid an average NOK 1.24 per hour. In addition, the latter was paid between NOK 0.50 and 2.00 based on the number of people the supported. The wage differences were opposed by the trade union, who in 1923 demanded the same pay for the same work, which came into effect from that year. In 1927, Minister of Labor Worm Hirsch Darre-Jenssen of the Conservative Party stopped construction of the line. He stated that time had run from the line, and that instead a "good road" should be built between Grong and Namsos. This resulted in an uproar among local politicians, who in unison stated that cars were not a suitable means of transport, particularly for freight. The line opened for temporary traffic on 1 November 1933, although regular service did not start until 1 July 1934. In 1976, Parliament passed and upgrade to the line, costing NOK 10 million. Used 35 kg/m rails were laid, increasing the permitted axle load to and the speed to . However, the speed was later reduced to . Trains with an axle load of were also permitted, given that they operate at a maximum . Following the closing of the passenger traffic, most station buildings were demolished, By 2000, the only regular user of the line was Namdal Mølle og Kornsilo, a grain silo in Namsos. In 2003, local musician Bjarne Brøndbo started renting out draisines on the line. Based at Namsos Camping, of the track is available for use. During the construction of the Namsos Bridge, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration attempted to demolish of the line in downtown Namsos. This was protested by the National Rail Administration, who stated that only Parliament could close a railway. As part of the 2007 local election, the Labour Party proposed that the line be demolished. The same year, the National Rail Administration stated that, after the Horten Line, the Namsos Line was the most likely line to have the tracks removed. In 2008, Namsos was considered as a port for shipping out minerals from Namsskogan. This would require a major overhaul of the line, if the mining company were to choose Namsos instead of Mosjøen. The upgrade would have cost between NOK 150 and 250 million and taken one year. A decision to reopen the line for permanent operation would have to be taken by Parliament. The initial need for transport was 200,000 tonnes per year. In June 2009, the National Rail Administration stated that they would not continue to work on plans to re-open the line, as it was considerably cheaper to use the Nordland Line to Mosjøen than to cover the costs to reopen the Namsos Line. However, the mining company, Heli Utvikling, stated that should they increase their production to the planned 1.5 million tonnes per year, they would again consider Namsos. ==References==