Gulfoss Tunnel

Historie

Gulfoss Tunnel is a 701m railway tunnel situated at Gulfossen in Melhus, Norway. The tunnel carries a single, electrified track of the Dovre Line. The Trondhjem–Støren Line, which opened in 1864, crossed the river Gaula on a bridge to the opposite side of the river as the current site of the tunnel. This section of track was a challenge due to regular flooding. With the 1908 decision to build the Dovre Line and gauge conversion, the Gulfossen section became one of two parts of the line to be reworked. Gulfoss Tunnel opened on 6 July 1918.SpecificationsThe Gulfoss Tunnel has a length of 701m and carries a single track of electrified, standard gauge railway. Situated on the Dovre Line, the southern end is situated 508.97km from Oslo Central Station. Immediately to the north is a 72m bridge which crosses Gaula.HistoryThe Trondhjem–Støren Line opened in 1864. At Gulfossen the line was carried across Gaula on a 188m bridge. Gaula had proved a challenge for keeping the railway running. The first major flood took place in May 1879, causing landslides along the line at several parts. Following the 1908 decision to extend the Dovre Line to Trondheim, the Norwegian State Railways decided to upgrade two sections of the Trondhjem–Støren Line along with a gauge conversion to standard gauge. In addition to part of the line north of Heimdal, this involved building a new section past Gulfossen.