We arrived in Kristiansand, Norway this morning, July 27th. Today’s excursion: a train trip through the Norwegian countryside.

We took a bus to Grovane Station, where we boarded the narrow-gauge Setesdal Vintage Railway for a ride that recreates the atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century rail journey. Founded in 1896, the Setesdal Line once linked Kristiansand with the farms and mines of the Setesdal Valley. It closed in 1962 and reopened two years later as a living, working museum.

The whistle of the restored 1894 locomotive sounded, marking the start of our scenic ride. The track winds through a wild and beautiful stretch of countryside, running alongside the Otra River and past lakes, rolling hills, and the occasional farm.

Norway is in the midst of a two-month drought, and this is currently the only steam engine permitted to operate. A dedicated firefighting train followed close behind, ready to extinguish any fires sparked by ashes from the locomotive.

Our destination was Røyknes, where we reboarded the coach for the return trip to sea level.

Back in Kristiansand, we found a charming port town rich in history and culture — founded in 1641 by King Christian IV.