Train Nostalgia

When the railways came to Småland, it was a revolution – both goods and people could move in a completely new way. From the end of the 19th century, the railways came to the pure countryside, to small farms and to the cities. They were built crisscrossing Småland with different gauges. They were originally private, but in the 1940s they were nationalised and bought up by SJ. After that, they disappeared one by one when the car made its entrance in earnest. Many have become cycle paths and in the middle of the wasteland you can recognise old buildings like station houses. But thanks to voluntary forces, parts have been preserved.

The narrow gauge Växjö–Västervik railway was once an important link between the interior of Småland and the coast. The railway actually consisted of two separate lines – the Westervik-Hultfred Railway, inaugurated as early as 1879 by King Oscar II, and the Växjö-Åseda-Hultfred Railway, which was built in stages and finally connected in Hultsfred in 1922.

For many years, the route was served by steam locomotives, especially in the northern part, before they were replaced in the 1950s by the characteristic yellow-orange railbuses. Passenger traffic along the entire almost 190-kilometer-long line continued until 1984, before SJ finally closed down both passenger and freight traffic in 1986 – something that was met with strong protests.

Committed enthusiasts came together and formed a company that bought the railway from SJ, including the station building and other infrastructure. The new company, VHVJ – Växjö-Hultsfred-Västerviks Järnvägs AB, had the goal of both preserving the track and operating traffic for both tourists and regular travelers. Despite financial challenges and a bankruptcy, the railway lives on, albeit divided into different sections. Today, 122 km of the narrow gauge still remains.

The oldest section, Hultsfred–Västervik, is particularly noteworthy – it became Sweden’s first listed railway. Here, the tracks wind through the Småland landscape, and thanks to the small rail buses, travelers get really close to nature. During the summer, visitors can enjoy nostalgic train journeys, both by steam locomotive between Västervik and Ankarsrum and by rail bus between Västervik and Hultsfred. For more information about tours and timetables, contact Tjustbygdens Järnvägsförening.

On the southern part of the line, the rails were unfortunately torn up between Växjö and Åseda, but here too, enthusiasts have taken matters into their own hands. The non-profit association Smalspåret now operates rail buses on the Åseda–Virserum route during the summer and also offers trolleybus rentals along the line. For those who want a unique experience, it is also possible to rent a restaurant car for a truly nostalgic feast.

In Strömsnäsbruk there is a small but important remnant of the once proud Skåne-Småland railways. The Kärreberga–Markaryd–Strömsnäsbruk section was completed in 1899, and today the traffic between Strömsnäsbruk and Markaryd is operated by an association of the same name. Here, visitors can ride rail buses, passenger carriages and locomotives along the historic railway. The main station and locomotive sheds in Strömsnäsbruk are still preserved and house both classic railway vehicles and historic buildings. For those who want to experience the tracks in a more active way, there is also the opportunity to rent a trolleybus and enjoy the beautiful surroundings at their own pace. Along the way, there are rest areas where you can stop and take a break.

Another important railway point in Småland is Nässjö, a historic railway junction along the Southern Main Line. Here is the Nässjö Railway Museum, one of the first museum associations in Sweden to receive a traffic permit from the Railway Inspectorate. At the museum, visitors can learn about the history of the railway and even rent their own train! It is possible to book both steam locomotives and electric locomotives, complete with carriages from the golden era of railways. The museum also arranges its own train tours for those who want to experience the wings of history on rails.