We had a scenic 6 hour train ride travelling from Oslo to Flåm.
The Flåm Line (Norwegian: Flåmsbana) is a 20.2-kilometer long railway line between Myrdal and Flåm in Aurland, Norway. It runs through the valley of Flåmsdalen and connects the mainline with Sognefjord. The line's elevation difference is 863 meters, it has ten stations, twenty tunnels and one bridge.
The maximum gradient is 5.5 percent (1:18), making it the steepest standard gauge railway in Europe. Because of the steep gradient the engines used are modified and have five braking systems.
Construction of the line started in 1924, with the line opening in 1940.
Of the twenty tunnels, machines were only used for two — the rest were built by hand. Hand-construction was done by drilling up to 4.2 meters through the rock, filling the holes with dynamite and blasting.
Kjosfossen is a waterfall where there is a station to stop and look at it. Its total fall is around 225 metres. Below the waterfall is a hydro power station that provides all power for the train line.
Shortly after stopping music started and dancers appeared at the base of the waterfall. It was a bit tacky, but some people were really excited. They were supposed to be Huldra - a seductive forest creature - luring us into the water and the underworld.
Even though this is supposed to be one of the most scenic railway lines in the world, it was slightly diminished by the deafening brakes screeching, extreme tourism and people constantly jumping around the train trying to take pictures out the window. Jumping is not an exaggeration. At least it was amusing blocking their view and watching them fall over when the brakes were applied.
Flåm
We were here for a day before travelling to our destination of Balestrand. We have never seen so many sweater shops… Before our boat ride to Balestrand we went on a boat ride up the Nærøyfjord (narrow fjord). There was old farms half way up the steep sides, porpoise and beautiful scenery.