| Inspection trolleys and trains for a special trip through Dalsland |
Dal-Vastra Varmlands Järnväg, DVVJ is in Swedish called
"De Vackra Vyernas Järnväg": The railway of gorgeous
sceneries. The railroad distance is attractive for the tourists.
Nowadays you can go by training trolley or by rail bus from the
1950's. Both ways of travelling can be comb-ined with a tour on
the Dalslands Canal. Besides that you can also com-bine trolley
and canoeing in diffe-rent package solutions.
"De Vackra Vyernas Järnväg": The railway of gorgeous
sceneries. The railroad distance is attractive for the tourists.
Nowadays you can go by training trolley or by rail bus from the
1950's. Both ways of travelling can be comb-ined with a tour on
the Dalslands Canal. Besides that you can also com-bine trolley
and canoeing in diffe-rent package solutions.
| It is a very special feeling taking a ride on an inspection trolley in the wilderness. Photo: Lisa Nestorsson |
The building of Dal-Västra Varmlands Järnväg started in 1916. This was one of the last railway buildings in
Sweden. The railway couldn't open for traffic until the year 1928. The distance was from Mellerud in the south
by Bengtsfors, Arjang and further to Arvika. It was operated until 1985 when the part between Bengtsfors
and Mellerud was shut down. The distance between Bengtsfors and Mellerud shared the same fate the year
after.
But the break didn't last too long. The muni-cipalities Bengtsfors and Mellerud started the foundation DVVJ
already the year after the railway was shut down. They started traffic during the summer between the two
municipalities. Also the municipality Arjang joined the foundation later on.
Since then DVVJ is one of the regions most popular tourist attractions. Last season 11 000 people hired a
trolley and 7 000 people went by train. The training trolley is an invention made in the 19th century, by the
German Karl Drais and was used for tours of inspection. "The trolleys DVVJ let out today is much more modern
and easier to pedal", says Peder Johansson, C.E.O. of DVVJ
The distance for the trolleys is 52 kilometres long. It reaches from Bengtsfors to Arjang and offers a travel
through the wild and lovely scenery in the provinces Vármland and Dalsland. At times you are far away from
roads and traffic.
The tour on the trolley can be combined with canoeing and a stay-over in a lap cot. There are many packages to
choose between. You can start the travel in Bengtsfors or Arjang and you choose between canoeing and riding a
trolley. The package that includes life jacket, paddle and Nature conservations card, ensures you to enjoy the
rich sceneries in Dalsland and Värmland, both from the lake and the railway.
You don't have to pedal the whole distance; you choose when to turn back. You'll need a day for a shorter trip.
The railway passes from its start in Bengtsfors Svardlang after eight kilometres, Krakviken after 16
kilometres, Gustavsfors 24 kilometres, Rasstegen 30,5 kilometres, Blomskog 38 kilometres and Bjarnasen
after 47 kilometres. When you reach Arjang you have paddled 52 kilome-tres.
Boat and train
With the rail bus you go south. DVVJ opera-tes the distance Bengtsfors-Mellerud using rail buses from the
50's. You can choose to buy a return ticket, or combine a single with a voyage on the Dalsland's Canal. The train
stops at eight halts. There are three possibili-ties to combine the travel on the train and the voyage on the
canal; The Round tour, the Canal tour and the Short Canal tour.
DVVJ will next year operate with a unique wagon.
"We are alone in Sweden to have a mano-euvre wagon," says Peder Johansson.
Hagglund & Saner in Ornskaldsvik construc-ted only ten of those wagons and there is only one left intact. DVVl
is now renovating this wagon
Sweden. The railway couldn't open for traffic until the year 1928. The distance was from Mellerud in the south
by Bengtsfors, Arjang and further to Arvika. It was operated until 1985 when the part between Bengtsfors
and Mellerud was shut down. The distance between Bengtsfors and Mellerud shared the same fate the year
after.
But the break didn't last too long. The muni-cipalities Bengtsfors and Mellerud started the foundation DVVJ
already the year after the railway was shut down. They started traffic during the summer between the two
municipalities. Also the municipality Arjang joined the foundation later on.
Since then DVVJ is one of the regions most popular tourist attractions. Last season 11 000 people hired a
trolley and 7 000 people went by train. The training trolley is an invention made in the 19th century, by the
German Karl Drais and was used for tours of inspection. "The trolleys DVVJ let out today is much more modern
and easier to pedal", says Peder Johansson, C.E.O. of DVVJ
The distance for the trolleys is 52 kilometres long. It reaches from Bengtsfors to Arjang and offers a travel
through the wild and lovely scenery in the provinces Vármland and Dalsland. At times you are far away from
roads and traffic.
The tour on the trolley can be combined with canoeing and a stay-over in a lap cot. There are many packages to
choose between. You can start the travel in Bengtsfors or Arjang and you choose between canoeing and riding a
trolley. The package that includes life jacket, paddle and Nature conservations card, ensures you to enjoy the
rich sceneries in Dalsland and Värmland, both from the lake and the railway.
You don't have to pedal the whole distance; you choose when to turn back. You'll need a day for a shorter trip.
The railway passes from its start in Bengtsfors Svardlang after eight kilometres, Krakviken after 16
kilometres, Gustavsfors 24 kilometres, Rasstegen 30,5 kilometres, Blomskog 38 kilometres and Bjarnasen
after 47 kilometres. When you reach Arjang you have paddled 52 kilome-tres.
Boat and train
With the rail bus you go south. DVVJ opera-tes the distance Bengtsfors-Mellerud using rail buses from the
50's. You can choose to buy a return ticket, or combine a single with a voyage on the Dalsland's Canal. The train
stops at eight halts. There are three possibili-ties to combine the travel on the train and the voyage on the
canal; The Round tour, the Canal tour and the Short Canal tour.
DVVJ will next year operate with a unique wagon.
"We are alone in Sweden to have a mano-euvre wagon," says Peder Johansson.
Hagglund & Saner in Ornskaldsvik construc-ted only ten of those wagons and there is only one left intact. DVVl
is now renovating this wagon
