{"id":29423,"date":"2024-04-09T12:44:47","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T10:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/?post_type=guide&p=29423"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:37:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:37:22","slug":"train-nostalgia","status":"publish","type":"guide","link":"https:\/\/www.visitsmaland.se\/en\/discover\/train-nostalgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Train nostalgia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Train Nostalgia <\/h1>\n <\/div>\n
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Frontpage<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The railways have played a crucial role in the development of Sm\u00e5land, and even today there are several historic routes where you can travel back in time. From nostalgic railbus tours and steam locomotives to trolleybus rentals and a living railway museum \u2013 there is something here for both history buffs and adventure seekers. Discover Sm\u00e5land’s railway history and take part in unique train experiences along the historic tracks!<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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\n The railway revolution in Sm\u00e5land <\/h3>\n
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When the railways came to Sm\u00e5land, 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 Sm\u00e5land 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.<\/p>\n

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\n On a narrow track through Sm\u00e5land <\/h3>\n
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The narrow gauge V\u00e4xj\u00f6\u2013V\u00e4stervik railway was once an important link between the interior of Sm\u00e5land and the coast. The railway actually consisted of two separate lines \u2013 the V\u00e4stervik-Hultsfred Railway, inaugurated as early as 1879 by King Oscar II, and the V\u00e4xj\u00f6-\u00c5seda-Hultsfred Railway, which was built in stages and finally connected in Hultsfred in 1922.<\/p>\n

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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 \u2013 something that was met with strong protests.<\/p>\n

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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 \u2013 V\u00e4xj\u00f6-Hultsfred-V\u00e4sterviks J\u00e4rnv\u00e4gs 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.<\/p>\n

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The oldest section, Hultsfred\u2013V\u00e4stervik, is particularly noteworthy \u2013 it became Sweden\u2019s first listed railway. Here, the tracks wind through the Sm\u00e5land 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 V\u00e4stervik and Ankarsrum and by rail bus between V\u00e4stervik and Hultsfred. For more information about tours and timetables, contact Tjustbygdens J\u00e4rnv\u00e4gsf\u00f6rening.<\/p>\n

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On the southern part of the line, the rails were unfortunately torn up between V\u00e4xj\u00f6 and \u00c5seda, but here too, enthusiasts have taken matters into their own hands. The non-profit association Smalsp\u00e5ret now operates rail buses on the \u00c5seda\u2013Virserum 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.<\/p>\n

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\n By steam train on the Ohsabanan Line <\/h2>\n
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Take a ride on one of the country’s narrowest railways with a track width of 600 mm. It was built in 1902 as an industrial line to Bor to connect to the newly built Alvesta-Bor\u00e5s railway. Due…