norwegianrailwaystories

[norwegianrailwaystories]

I think that the person who said “Granfos is a king” is just using slang to say that they think Granfos is really awesome.

"Granis IS really awesome! That's a fact we all know about."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

GRANFOS IS A KING DONT LET ANYONE TELL HIM OTHERWISE

"He's cool, but I don't think he is royal..? Unless he has a hidden past we don't know about..."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Do the engines have favorite sports? I know it is kind of hard to play normal people sports, but do they like watching any?

"Not really, we don't get to watch a lot of it as most people don't perform sports on the railway... But anything that looks goofy and funny, I guess. We mostly see people crosscountry skiing in the fields around here in winter, that's not super interesting, but it is the most common sport in Norway."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Is it true that Granfos lets kid put make up on him? That's kinda gay. Nothing a true alpha male would allow! Alphas are masculine and would not let anyone ruin that! Granfos is a loser if he tolerates being put make up on!

"If your masculinity is so easily shattered it will be ruined by a little make up... are you really an Alpha...? I can't care less what others think about me or my gender identity. I don't mind kids having fun putting make-up on me I am confident with who I am and I am pretty sure it won't make me feel attracted to men. And if I was gay... so what? We live in 2024, not 1824. The only bad thing about wearing make-up is that Setskogen thinks I look gross... and some of the cheaper stuff can be really itchy. But hey, if you ever need any make-up tips, let me know, okay? I am quite the connoisseur by now! I am sorry it can't cover up an ugly personality though."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Where to find us

Official webpage: Read more about the characters, the books and look at photos and fanart. Norwegian: https://www.norske-jernbanehistorier.com/ English: https://norwegian-railway-stories.webnode.com/

Facebook: Updates on the books and other railway related things we find worth posting. https://www.facebook.com/norskejernbanehistorier

Discord: For access to the fandom server, send us a dm. We’ll send you a link that will expire within a certain time-window. We have to do it this way as our server was recently raided, and we want to keep it a safe place for everyone.

DeviantArt:

https://www.deviantart.com/norwegian-r-s

Twitter:

TBA

[norwegianrailwaystories]

I am equally judging that commenter. Norway is lookin pretty good right about now, and has a lovely little railway to visit.

"We're all judging that anon pretty hard. And we're more happy than ever to live in Norway. Norway has many lovely railways to visit by the way."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

I dunno if u guys follow the US election but Trump won! Yay! Im so proud!

Silently judging you. Judging you HARD.

[norwegianrailwaystories]

You've mentioned that when your boiler tickets expire you need new boilers. How does that work? Can the whole boiler be removed from the frames?

"We don't necessarily need to have them replaced, but the boiler and firebox needs to be revised to renew the certificate. The last boiler shop in Norway closed down in the 80's, so bigger repairs and revisions of steam locomotives can no longer be done in Norway. Then the boiler, firebox or the entire engine itself needs to be shipped to another country where they still do these jobs. Minor boiler revisions, like Setskogen's in 2023, can still be done at our workshop in Sørumsand. Basically they go through the entire boiler, looking it over, pressure testing it and such. If a locomotive needs to go to another country, they load it onto a truck and drive it there. Like UHB No.2 Urskog who is currently in Czechia for her revision. Or SB No.5 "Markus" who is in England right now. Also SB No.6 "Lukas" is having his boiler revised, but instead of shipping him entirely to England, they picked him apart and only sent his boiler and firebox. I've attached some photos taken by the author who witnessed the entire process of dismantling him."

This is "Lukas" in June 2024, running passenger trains.

In late August 2024, the process of taking him apart started:

First, they needed to remove the funnel, dome cover and the cab. The crane is a useful tool for that!

Once the boiler was removed from the frame, they put the cab back. Now this is all that is left of him, standing in SB's workshop. It's hard to imagine that only 11 days before this photo was taken, he was moving under his own steam, pulling passenger trains!

The boiler and firebox loaded and secured on a flatbed, ready to be shipped to England for revision.

"Lukas" is expected to be back in service in 2026 or 2027. We look forward to seeing him back in action!

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Happy Halloween! I hope your crew gives you lots of candy to eat, with sugarless options available for the diesels!

"Happy Halloween to you too, anon! Halloween isn't as big of a deal here as it is in America, but we sure won't mind getting some candy and snack! And it's not just the diesels who could benefit from sugarfree options. Sugar clogs our tubes, so it's not good for us either. Not as bad as it is for diesels, but still. And I can already hear Høland's protests..."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

How many mechanics do you have on staff? And how often things need to be repaired or replaced?

"There are 3 who work here full time, while around ten people are volunteers who come here on Wednesdays and whenever they are needed and they have time. There is always something that needs to be repaired or replaced. If not on us locomotives, there is something on the coaches... or equipment, or the crane... or a building.. or the line. There is always work that needs to be done here."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Let's say you got a grant to extend the line and as part of the extension they build: a bridge to span a road or river. Which of the engines would be nervous crossing it?

"Bingsfos and Odda, I think. They've never crossed a bridge in their life. The rest of us have crossed bridges before, either here when our line was in service or at their home railways. Tinfos has to travel on some really flimsy constructions at her factory... And I think Granfos has to cross a river when he brought goods from his factory to the station. Not sure, I have to ask him. Though he IS a bit afraid of heights, so... I don't know."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Has your railway, including before it was preserved, ever have any big accidents?

"Nothing really big, no. We've had five deaths in total here, but those were separate accidents and usually caused by people jumping between coaches, getting crushed by lumber falling from a wagon in the yard or people sleeping in the tracks or crossing the rails. Other than that, only minor injuries. A coach toppled over, but nobody got hurt and the passengers helped straightening it back up. A poudrette wagon topple over, contaminating the drinking water of a whole neighborhood. My brother Bjørkelangen toppled over at the turntable, they had to build a temporary track around it to get me and the others out of the shed until they had gotten him out of there. I hit a bakery truck at a level crossing once, but nobody was hurt. There were bread, buns and cinnamon rolls scattered all over the place though... My driver wasn't amused by me indulging myself in the baked goods while the humans got the crash site sorted out..."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Have any of you guys ever seen a ghost?

"I thought I had, but it turned out to just be Flirt... one of the passengertrains at the Kongsvinger Line. He can be a bit spooky if you don't know him, I guess..."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Are you guys going to participate in trick or treating? Or stealing some sweet treats? (Looks at Holand)

"Why are you looking at me like that...? I'm innocent!"

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Are you guys excited for spooky month?

"Noooooooo!!!"

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Since most Norwegians are fluent in both Norwegian and English, which do you find it easier to speak?

"Naturally we find our mother tongue easier to speak, even if we're fluent in English."

[norwegianrailwaystories]

Let's say your watching a steam engine pulling a load under it's own power: what would be the signs to look for that the driver/firemen knew what they were doing?

"I dunno... I'm a diesel. But I learn... I've heard the steamers say it depends on the type of steamer and that it is first and foremost the fireman's efforts you can see with the naked eye like that; light grey or invisible smoke is a sign of a good fireman. The color of the smoke can tell you a lot... A good fireman can read the smoke rather than have to peek into the firebox to know where to put the next shovel of coal. For drivers, you can hear it, but I don't know how to explain... Also of course you see it when pulling in and out of stations, how smoothly it goes. No jerking of the couplings, no wheel slips... things like that. I do have a feeling you already know the answers, but you just want to test us..."