page_title: Solør Line
section_title: Flisa–Elverum
hierarchical_section_title: Solør Line / History / Flisa–Elverum
caption_attribution_description: English: Haugsfoss Bridge on the Solør Line in Elveurm, Norway
context_page_description: The Solør Line is a 93.6-kilometer railway line that runs through district of Solør in Innlandet county, Norway. The line connects the Kongsvinger Line at Kongsvinger Station with the Røros Line at Elverum Station, running through the municipalities of Kongsvinger, Grue, Åsnes, Våler and Elverum. The standard gauge line lacks electrification and centralized traffic control; it is solely used by freight trains, mostly hauling lumber and wood chippings.
  Proposals for a railway through Solør were first launched in 1857, but was not approved until 1890. Work commenced the following year on the section from Kongsvinger to Flisa, opening on 3 November 1893. The section from Flisa Station to Elverum was approved in 1894, but a dispute concerning the route postponed construction for thirteen years. The northern section opened on 4 December 1910. The Solør Line had a major impact on the area, leading to industrialization. Communities such as Flisa, Kirkenær and Roverud grew rapidly because they received stations.
  Diesel multiple units were introduced from the 1930s. Passenger services were reduced in 1963 and were finally abolished in 1994.
context_section_description: Political work to extend the line to Elverum started even before the opening of the southern half, and was debated in Parliament in 1893. Railways were in the wind and there were many projects competing for political support.  Initially only a minority was willing to support the line. Several trunk lines were being proposed, and there was political struggling for various parliamentarians to gather support for "their" line. This resulted in the Great Railway Compromise of 1894. The Solør Line was the most popular, receiving 105 against 5 votes on 1 March. The same day four other major railway lines were passed.
  Although the line was passed, there was not agreement as to which route it should follow. From Flisa the line could continue along Glomma past Åsnes Church and Haslemoen to the village of Våler. Alternatively, the line could run further north through the parish of Gjesåsen. The Gjesåsen alternative was supported unanimously in Åsnes Municipal Council, while Våler Municipal Council unanimously supporter the river alternative. Hedmark County Council first supported the river and then the Gjesåsen alternative.
  The route disagreement persisted for thirteen years, hindering the line from being built. It was not until a visit by the Standing Committee on Railways in 1907 that a decision was finally made in favor of the river alternative. They also decided to cross Glomma at Haugsfoss, discarding a military preference of a more southerly crossing of the river.
  Construction began on 20 January 1908 and was led by J. T. Mæhre. There were similar good building conditions, allowing for rapid construction. The line's only tunnel was built, as were six bridges. The two longest were built to cross Glomma. With a span of 84 meters (276 ft), Haugsfoss Bridge was the longest in the country at the time and work was subcontracted to a German company. Five stations were built. Construction cost NOK 2,869,750, giving the lowest kilometer price of any mainline railway ever built in Norway. The 44.4-kilometer (27.6 mi) segment was officially opened on 3 December 1910 and regular traffic commenced the following day. Work on a new station in Elverum did not commence until 1910, and the new station was opened on 1 May 1913. As the Rorøs Line was narrow gauge, Elverum Station featured break-of-gauge and a transshipment facility until 1919.
caption: Haugsfoss Bridge had the longest span of any bridge in Norway when it was completed in 1910
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