Gudhjembanen

Gudhjembanen (Retired Line)

The Gudhjembanen between Almindingen and Gudhjem (1916 - 52) was a railway that was built by Alminding-Gudhjem Jernbaneselskab (AGJ), which on 1 April 1934 was part of De Bornholmske Jernbaner together with Nexøbanen and Allingebanen. They were all narrow gauge and were never converted to standard gauge.

Gudhjembanen History

The Gudhjembanen was included in the great railway act of 1908. Exclusive license was granted on 14 September 1910. The construction work was only started in 1911 , because the Allingebanen had to be completed first. The track was built as an extension of the Nexøbanen side track from Aakirkeby to Almindingen. The operation began on 27 June 1916 with two daily trains in each direction, but three on Sundays.

For most of the line's lifetime, there were direct trains from Rønne to Christianshøj, which was closer to Almindingen's sights than Almindingen Station. The trains from Gudhjem also did not have a terminus in Almindingen. They drove to/from Aakirkeby, which became Bornholm's major railway hub, where trains from 3 sides met. The section Aakirkeby-Almindingen actually became part of the Gudhjembanen and was closed together on 18 August 1952

Gudhjembanen Stopping Points

All stations had bypass/loading tracks with cattle pens and side ramps. Km indicated from Aakirkeby:

• Almindingen station in km 5.0.      The original platform track was headed towards the forestry farm Rømersdal, so a new platform and two 140 m long tracks heading east of the farm had to be built. The turntable the station had from the start was too small for Gudhjembanen's locomotives.
• Christianshøj stepping board in km 6.8      With 120 m circulation/loading track and plug track with ramp. The trestle building is owned by the Norwegian Nature Agency and is used as a small forest and railway museum.
• Åløse station in km 10.7.      Train follower station 1916-21 , completely closed 1921-44, again train follower station 1944-50, then step board with siding.
• Østermarie station in km 13.7.      Extra loading track with plug track for the department store and private side track for the utility association.
• Østerlars station at km 17.8.      At the end of the platform extra loading track with private warehouse and private side track to the dairy.
• Stavehøl step board in km 20.5.
• Gudhjem station in km 23.1.      With 3 tracks outside the platform and side track to a two-track shed with water tap and two-track carriage shed.

Gudhjembanen Preserved Buildings

The station buildings, which have all been preserved, and the step-board building at Christianshøj were designed by Kay Fisker and Aage Rafn in a picturesque neoclassicism. They are all protected except Åløse.

Gudhjembanen Overview

Gudhjembanen Opened: 27 June 1916
Gudhjembanen Length: 18.2 km
Gudhjembanen Track: Single Track
Gudhjembanen Track Width: 1,000 mm
Gudhjembanen Rail Weight: 19.9 kg/m
Gudhjembanen Max. increase: 15 ‰
Gudhjembanen Minimum Curve Radius: 250 m
Gudhjembanen Max. Speed: 30 km/h, in 1927 set up to 45 km/h, in 1950 to 70 km/h
Gudhjembanen Decommissioned: 18 August 1952

Gudhjembanen Route Map

Nexøbanen mod Aakirkeby
0,0      Almindingen
1,8      Christianshøj/Kristianshøj
5,7      Åløse
8,7      Østermarie/Øster-Marie
12,8    Østerlars
15,5    Stavehøl
18,1    Gudhjem