History of rail transport in Finland
Encyclopedia
The history of rail transport in Finland began on January 31 1862, with the opening of the railway line between Helsinki
and Hämeenlinna
. By 1900 most of the future main lines had been constructed, including the line to St. Petersburg. By the time of the birth of the new Finnish Republic in 1917 lines connected all major cities, major ports, and reached as far as the Swedish border, and inner Finland as far north as Kontiomäki in Paltamo
region, as well as eastwards into Karelia.
had an undeveloped primarily agricultural economy, the primary exports being forestry products, both timber and furs. Much of the transportation was conducted via waterways; Finland being a country of many lakes. However connecting the waterways system to the coast was problematic. The use of a railway had already been considered in the 1840s; In 1849 Claes Alfred Stjernvall had suggested constructing a horse drawn railway from Helsinki to Turkhauta (in the municipality of Janakkala
)
) and subject to Russian influence, thus in 1849 Governor General Menshikov
ordered the board of transportation (road and waterways) to investigate the construction of a railway connecting Helsinki
and Hämeenlinna
. The investigations took two years and it was decided use locomotive traction, however construction was delayed due to the Crimean war
.
The project was restarted in 1856 by Tsar Alexander II
's initiative. Some opposed the very idea of the railways, in the Finnish senate responses to the proposed line reflected differing views in Finland at the time towards Finlands relationship with Russia: Finnish nationalists such as Johan Vilhelm Snellman
favoured the line since it would aid development in Finland, more pro-Russian figures such as Lars Gabriel von Haartman
favoured the idea of a line between Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
After discussions it happened that the Helsinki to Hämeenlinna line was the first to be built. The decision to build the line finalised in 1857, the line based on a revised version of the plan made in 1851. Knut Adolf Ludvig Stjernvall was construction manager, and came under criticism for the project cost, resigning in 1861.
The line was opened in 1862. The track was 96 km long, singled tracked and expected to carry one train a day. For more frequent services passing loop
s could be used. After Helsinki intermediate stations were found at Pasila
, Kerava
, Hyvinkää
and Riihimäki
before reaching Hämeenlinna.
Following the opening of the first railway line in Finland further lines were built, being constructed on the relative needs of industrial growth, populations, the interests of the Russian empire also being a guiding factor. The construction of early lines was primarily state controlled and financed.
had proposed to pay for the construction of a link between the Russian capital and Vyborg. No real progress was made until March 1867 when Finnish Senate proposed the construction of a link, in Nov 1867 the Tsar Alexander II gave a decree ordering its construction, stating that the link should be from Riihimaki
(a station on the Helsinki-Hämeenlinna line) to St. Petersburg, being favourable for transportation and trade as well as providing employment to many currently experiencing hardship due to the crop failure that caused the Finnish famine of 1866-1868. Work began in 1868, and was completed by 1870.
Between Riihimäki and St. Petersburg the major stops were: Lahti, Kausala, Kouvola
, Luumäki
, Simola
, Viipuri (Vyborg), Maaskola, Terijoki, Walkeasaari and Spasskaja
The line was 371 km in length, and included some difficult terrain for railways - particularly swampy regions. A steel bridge over the Kymi
and a moving bridge at Vyborg also were engineering challenges. The German firm Siemens and Haske provided the telegraph communications Iron rails were imported from Belgium, being 6.4m long and weighing 30pounds per meter.By 1876 the rails were being found too weak for the traffic and were gradually replaced with steel rails over the next 20 years The line works were split into five sections, the first completed was the Riihimäki to Lahti
section. The main opening ceremony was held in February 1870 when the St. Petersburg-Vyborg section was complete, at the famous Finlyandsky Rail Terminal; itself being built specifically for the new line. The whole line was open by September 1870.
The entire railway including parts in Russia and the Russian rail terminal were the property and responsibility of the Finnish railways, not till 1913 and the building of a bridge over the Neva was the line connected to the railways of Russia proper.
The Hanko to Hyvinkää railway was a private venture funded by which began construction in March 1872, and was opened in October 1873. The line was expected to profit from enormous amounts of freight bound for the port of Hanko,Being the southernmost port in Finland it is free of ice for the longest period of the year, additionally it was expected that the line and port would serve imports and exports from russia and further east unfortunately three years earlier in 1870 the Paldiski-Tallinn-St. Petersburg line was completed in Estonia, which competed it went bankrupt in 1875 and the Finnish government bought the railway for just over 10million marks.
The line which was 153 km in length, also passed through Lohja
and Karis
on the way south to Hanko.
to Kerava
railway (Finnish: Porvoon Keravan Rautatie). The first proposals for a line were made in 1863 with local grandees and businessmen supporting the project on the understanding that it would stimulate trade, as well as the wish not to become a backwater compared to other ports that had a rail connection. However the Finnish state gave priority to lines to Tampere and Lahti. Another attempt to gain funding was made in 1866, but this time the St. Petersburg line was given priorityThe state was unwilling to fund the project, and the St. Petersburg line was paid in part by an alcohol tax, and in part through a lone from Russian state funds.
In 1871 the senate of the Grand Duchy of Finland granted permission for a line to be built. The shareholders included Carl Eugen Åbergalso his father Wilhelm Åberg (died 1870) and August Eklöf as well as Fredrik SneckenströmFredrik Sneckenström had been involved in the 1863 attempt to build a railway to Porvoo, he died in 1877 financially ruined by the railway collapse. all of who had investments in Porvoo. By 1874 the railway was complete and carrying goods.
The railway company soon experience financial difficulties - the amount of traffic had not lived up to estimates: by 1876 it was being offered for sale, by 1878 the original company was bankrupt, by 1887 new owner has been found, in 1917 the company was sold to the Finnish state railways. (Passenger traffic ceased in 1981, freight around 1990, the line has since been used for heritage trains, and is used by the Porvoo museum railway.)
(via Toijala), and Toijala
to Turku
which were open by 1876, extending the existing line from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna north and west, and making Toijala railway station
a major junction.
and Seinäjoki
to Vaasa
.
The 334 km Ostrobothnian line (Finnish: Pohjanmaan rata) from Seinäjoki to Oulu
via Bennäs
, Kokkola
and Ylivieska
was open by 1886 making Seinäjoki railway station
another major junction.
From Oulu railway station
the line continued via Tuira to the port of Toppila (A suburb of Oulu) on a 5 km stretch of track, two other short lines were also opened: a port connection to the Kokkola suburb of Ykspihlaja (5 km) and in 1887 to Pietarsaari (Swedish Jakobstad) from Bennas.
to the Ostrobothnian line. The line to Raahe was open in 1899, and the extension to the docks of Raahe was complete by 1900. The main line ran from Lappi
(now called Tuomioja
The name was changed to avoid confusion with Lappi
, the finnish name for Lapland.) on the ostrobothnian line (between Kokkola and Oulu) to Raahe and was 18 km long. In 1926 the line was sold to the state railways.
, Mynttilä, Otava
, Mikkeli
, Pieksämäki
, Suonenjoki
to Kuopio
with a 6.7 spur line from Suonenjoki to Isvesi, the line was open by 1889.
In 1887 the 52 km Kotka line (Finnish: Kotkan rata) line from Kouvola to the port town of Kotka
was commissioned, opening in 1890.
A short industrial line branching to the Kymintehdas factory district at the Tanttari district of Kouvala was added in 1892. The Savonian line was completed in 1902 with the continuation of the track from Kuopio to Iisalmi
(85 km); extensions to the Savonian line were opened in 1904 from Iisalmi with a 83 km track passing through Murtomäki further north to Kajaani
. and in 1923 when the line from Kajaani was extended 25 km to reach Kontiomäki
Thus by 1900 Kouvola railway station
had become a major junction on the Finnish railway network with lines leading to St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Kotka, and to Savonia.
The first line completed was the 72 km Viipuri (or Vyborg
) to Imatra
line via Antrea in 1892. By 1893 an extension 139 km long from Antrea through Hiitola, Elisenvaara
, Jaakkima, and Sortavala
was complete. The final part of the line was from Sortavala though Matkaselkä, Värtsilä
, Onkamo and Sulkuniemi to Joensuu was complete in 1894 adding another 133 km. Additionally in 1895 a short 6.75 km line from Imatra via Tainionkoski to Vuoksenniska (both suburbs of Imatra) was added.
(on the western coast) had been connected to Tampere via Peipohja (near Kokemaki). By 1899 a short line from Pori of 20 km was built to the coast at Mäntyluoto via Yyteri
.
to Rauma
Later in 1914 another line was opened branching west and southward from Kuikainen to Kauttua (in the municipality of Eura
).
The railway was absorbed into VR in 1950.
(on Tampere-Seinäjoki line) was connected to Jyväskylä
; making Haapamäki railway station
a junction station. Additionally a 42 km line northwards from Jyväskylä to Suolahti
was complete by 1898.
railway (Finnish: Haminan Rautatie, Swedish: Fredrikshamns järnväg) was founded as a privately funded enterprise; a single 27.5 km line ran to Inkeroinen. The line was opened in 1899 and used two Baldwin
2-6-2T locomotives from the USA. In 1916 the line and company was absorbed into the state railways.
was constructed roughly following the south-western coast of Finland; this linked with Helsinki by 1903 once a railway between Karjaa and Pasila had been constructed. The whole line is named Rantarata (Swedish: Kustbanan) meaning "coastal railway".
close to the Swedish border.The line from Tornio was russia's only land link to its western allies during WWI, an aerial ropeway for carrying post over the river Torne was constructed. See Tornion ja Haaparannan posti-ilmarata (finnish wikipedia), and Muistomerkit Torniossa - Posti-ilmaradan muistomerkki (Memorials in Tornio) via www.haparandatornio.com. A dual gauge bridge was constructed in 1919
In 1909 the Lapland capital Rovaniemi
was connected to the rail network via Kemi
, the junction being at Laurila 8 km north of Kemi. By 1911 Nurmes
in eastern Finland had been connected to Joensuu via Lieksa
., and by 1913 Kristinestad
and Kaskinen
(Kaskö) on the western coast were connected to Seinäjoki via a branch at Perälä
Between 1906 and 1914 the Karelian railway was connected to the Savonian railway by track running from Elisenvaara to Pieksämäki.
In 1913 a bridge built in Russia over the Neva river connected the Finnish rail network to the rest of the Russian network for the first time. Construction began in 1910; the bridge consisted of four tied-girder-truss-arch spans (bowstring bridge), two on either side of a lifting bridge. Originally the bridge was called the Alexander I bridge after Alexander I of Russia
, later in the 1910s it became known as the Finlyandsky Railway Bridge.
In 1917 Vladimir Ilyich Lenin made his famous journey out of exile and travelled from Helsinki to St. Petersburg arriving at the Finlayandsky railway station on the 16th of April 1917, by July he had to flee again, returning to Helsinki this time disguised as the fireman of the train (driven by Hugo Jalava) - he only got as far as Lahti railway station
by rail as the wax used in the disguise was starting to melt. In September he returned to Russia again in another disguise; this time he was more successful: As a consequence of the Russian revolution Finland was able to gain its independence in peace from Russia, and on the 6th of December 1917 Finland's Declaration of Independence
was made.
During the Finnish Civil War
the rail network was sufficiently well developed to play a significant role in the conflict, a train from Russia, the so called "weapons train" arrived in January 1918 bringing 15,000 rifles, 30 machineguns, 76mm guns, two armoured cars and ammunition. Much of the fighting took place on or around the railways, or for control of vital railway points. Armoured trains were also used during the war, and were effective.
In 1919 a rail bridge was built across the river Torne between Tornio and Haparanda
connecting by rail Finland and Sweden.
The first part of the Saint Petersburg – Hiitola railroad was completed in 1919; a 107 km line connecting Hiitola (on the Vyborg–Joensuu railroad
) with Rautu. and ultimately leading southward past the Finnish-Russian border to St. Petersburg.
A line northwards from Tornio to Karunki opened in 1923; close to the Swedish border, and extending to Kaulinranta by 1928The track was extended in the 1960s to Kolari
. In finnish it is known as the Kolarin rata In 1924 a line from Matkaselkä (on the Vyborg-Joensuu) line to Suojärvi opened, by 1927 it had been extended to Naistenjärvi.
Various other lines expanded the network through the 1920s and 1930s including an east west connection of 154 km between Iisalmi
and Ylivieska
; this connected the Ostrobothnian line on the west coast with the Savonia line in the east of the country. Another important east west connection was made in 1930 with Oulu and Kontiomäki being joined by a 166 km railway.
Outokumpu
was connected in 1928 from Joensuu, and Vuokatti to Nurmes
in 1929. A line in Lapland eastward from Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi was built in 1934, this was extended further east to Salla
in 1942, and Pori connected to Haapamäki by a 193 km line in 1938. The 1930s as in other countries were considered the heyday of rail transport
the Finnish forces again used armoured trains. Two trains were fielded, both dating to the WWI era. The Armoured Train No.1 (Finnish: Ps.Juna 1 : abbr. from Panssarijuna) was used mostly to support the fighting in the Kollaa River
area, found to be effective in supporting infantry. The opposing Soviet forces recognised this and it was repeatedly targeted by artillery and attacked from the air; as a result hiding places had to be found for the armoured train, and modifications made - such as smokestack extension pipes that directed the exhaust smoke under the train, to reduced the risk of it being spotted. More often than not bombardments and aerial attack damaged the track rather than the train directly. Ps.Juna 2 was used in both the Kollaa River battles and other battles around the Karelian Isthmus
.
During the interim period before the Continuation War
the trains were re-armed with anti-aircraft weapons to counter the constant bombing they had experienced. The Russian forces also used armoured trains, some of which were captured or destroyed. Armoured Train No.1 became a permanent exhibit at the Finnish Armour Museum (Finnish: Panssarimuseo) in Parola.
Additionally railway gun
s were used by both sides, the finns constructed a battery of 152mm rail mounted artillery pieces from coastal artillery guns, the Russians had access to far larger pieces of rail mounted artillery including 12" guns., one of which became known as the "ghost gun" (Finnish: aavetykki) during its shelling of Vyborg.
of September 1944, the Finnish state lost large amounts of land, including parts of Karelia in southeastern Finland; in addition to the ceding of the large town of Vyborg
important parts of the rail network were lost including the Saint Petersburg – Hiitola railroad and most of the Vyborg–Joensuu railroad
(Karelian railroad) - as a consequence a new Karelian line had to be built.
in Helsinki
.
In 1912 trams started to operate in Turku (see Turku tram
) (a horse tramway had operated between 1890 and 1892), and in Vyborg in 1912.
was a sky god, and a god of crafts and metals. The first Finnish locomotive was built in 1874, type A5, also a 4-4-0 tender locomotive and built to a similar design as the A3 class. that were imported from Dübs and Co.
Scotland (A3 Class) More 4-4-0 tender locomotives (class A4) came from Baldwin locomotive works
in America for the private Hanko–Hyvinkää railway between 1872-3. followed by further imported machines from G. Sigl locomotive works in Wiener Neustadt in Austria (class A6) Sigl, SLM and Hanomag
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
. By 1900 most of the future main lines had been constructed, including the line to St. Petersburg. By the time of the birth of the new Finnish Republic in 1917 lines connected all major cities, major ports, and reached as far as the Swedish border, and inner Finland as far north as Kontiomäki in Paltamo
Paltamo
Paltamo is a municipality of Finland.It is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is. There are two built-up areas in the municipality: Kontiomäki and Paltamo...
region, as well as eastwards into Karelia.
Rail in the Grand Duchy of Finland
In the 1800s FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
had an undeveloped primarily agricultural economy, the primary exports being forestry products, both timber and furs. Much of the transportation was conducted via waterways; Finland being a country of many lakes. However connecting the waterways system to the coast was problematic. The use of a railway had already been considered in the 1840s; In 1849 Claes Alfred Stjernvall had suggested constructing a horse drawn railway from Helsinki to Turkhauta (in the municipality of Janakkala
Janakkala
Janakkala is a municipality of Finland. Its administrative centre is in Turenki, which is nowadays often erroneously shown on maps as being "Janakkala"....
)
Hämeenlinna to Helsinki line (1862)
At that time in its history Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire (see Grand Duchy of FinlandGrand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
) and subject to Russian influence, thus in 1849 Governor General Menshikov
Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov
Prince Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menschikov was a Finnish-Russian nobleman, military commander and statesman. He was made adjutant general in 1817 and admiral in 1833....
ordered the board of transportation (road and waterways) to investigate the construction of a railway connecting Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
. The investigations took two years and it was decided use locomotive traction, however construction was delayed due to the Crimean war
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
.
The project was restarted in 1856 by Tsar Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
's initiative. Some opposed the very idea of the railways, in the Finnish senate responses to the proposed line reflected differing views in Finland at the time towards Finlands relationship with Russia: Finnish nationalists such as Johan Vilhelm Snellman
Johan Vilhelm Snellman
Johan Vilhelm Snellman was an influential Fennoman philosopher and Finnish statesman, ennobled in 1866.Snellman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, as son of Kristian Henrik Snellman, a ship's captain...
favoured the line since it would aid development in Finland, more pro-Russian figures such as Lars Gabriel von Haartman
Lars Gabriel von Haartman
Lars Gabriel von Haartman was a Swedish-speaking Finnish politician. Along with Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, he was one of the most prominent politicians who were in favour of developing Finland as part of the Russian Empire instead of striving towards independence.He was a Vice-chairman of the...
favoured the idea of a line between Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
After discussions it happened that the Helsinki to Hämeenlinna line was the first to be built. The decision to build the line finalised in 1857, the line based on a revised version of the plan made in 1851. Knut Adolf Ludvig Stjernvall was construction manager, and came under criticism for the project cost, resigning in 1861.
The line was opened in 1862. The track was 96 km long, singled tracked and expected to carry one train a day. For more frequent services passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s could be used. After Helsinki intermediate stations were found at Pasila
Pasila
is a suburb in Helsinki, Finland. It is a central-northern neighbourhood, bordering Alppila to the south, Central Park to the west and Vallila to the east....
, Kerava
Kerava
Kerava is a town and municipality in Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Uusimaa region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Hyvinkää
Hyvinkää
Hyvinkää is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in Uusimaa region, approximately north of the capital Helsinki. The town was chartered in 1960. Hyvinkää belongs to the Province of Southern Finland. The population of Hyvinkää is ....
and Riihimäki
Riihimäki
Riihimäki is a town and municipality in the south of Finland, about north of Helsinki and southeast of Tampere. It is somewhat of a railway junction, since the railway tracks going from different parts of the nation to Helsinki merge there. Sako, Ltd...
before reaching Hämeenlinna.
Following the opening of the first railway line in Finland further lines were built, being constructed on the relative needs of industrial growth, populations, the interests of the Russian empire also being a guiding factor. The construction of early lines was primarily state controlled and financed.
Riihimäki – Saint Petersburg Railway (1868-1870)
A rail link between the capitals of the grand Duchy of Finland and of Russia had been considered for some time; surveys for a railway had been made in 1857, and some time after merchants of VyborgVyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
had proposed to pay for the construction of a link between the Russian capital and Vyborg. No real progress was made until March 1867 when Finnish Senate proposed the construction of a link, in Nov 1867 the Tsar Alexander II gave a decree ordering its construction, stating that the link should be from Riihimaki
Riihimäki
Riihimäki is a town and municipality in the south of Finland, about north of Helsinki and southeast of Tampere. It is somewhat of a railway junction, since the railway tracks going from different parts of the nation to Helsinki merge there. Sako, Ltd...
(a station on the Helsinki-Hämeenlinna line) to St. Petersburg, being favourable for transportation and trade as well as providing employment to many currently experiencing hardship due to the crop failure that caused the Finnish famine of 1866-1868. Work began in 1868, and was completed by 1870.
Between Riihimäki and St. Petersburg the major stops were: Lahti, Kausala, Kouvola
Kouvola
Kouvola is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located northeast of the capital, Helsinki.The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Luumäki
Luumäki
Luumäki is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in Taavetti.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Simola
Simola
-People:*Seppo Simola a Finnish shotputter*Seija Simola a Finnish singer*other finns with Simola as a name...
, Viipuri (Vyborg), Maaskola, Terijoki, Walkeasaari and Spasskaja
The line was 371 km in length, and included some difficult terrain for railways - particularly swampy regions. A steel bridge over the Kymi
Kymi River
Kymi river is a river in Finland. It begins from the lake Päijänne, flows through the provinces of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso and discharges into the Gulf of Finland. River passes the towns of Heinola and Kouvola...
and a moving bridge at Vyborg also were engineering challenges. The German firm Siemens and Haske provided the telegraph communications Iron rails were imported from Belgium, being 6.4m long and weighing 30pounds per meter.By 1876 the rails were being found too weak for the traffic and were gradually replaced with steel rails over the next 20 years The line works were split into five sections, the first completed was the Riihimäki to Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
section. The main opening ceremony was held in February 1870 when the St. Petersburg-Vyborg section was complete, at the famous Finlyandsky Rail Terminal; itself being built specifically for the new line. The whole line was open by September 1870.
The entire railway including parts in Russia and the Russian rail terminal were the property and responsibility of the Finnish railways, not till 1913 and the building of a bridge over the Neva was the line connected to the railways of Russia proper.
Hanko–Hyvinkää railway (1872-1873)
The Hanko to Hyvinkää railway was a private venture funded by which began construction in March 1872, and was opened in October 1873. The line was expected to profit from enormous amounts of freight bound for the port of Hanko,Being the southernmost port in Finland it is free of ice for the longest period of the year, additionally it was expected that the line and port would serve imports and exports from russia and further east unfortunately three years earlier in 1870 the Paldiski-Tallinn-St. Petersburg line was completed in Estonia, which competed it went bankrupt in 1875 and the Finnish government bought the railway for just over 10million marks.
The line which was 153 km in length, also passed through Lohja
Lohja
Lohja , is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Uusimaa region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
and Karis
Karis
Karis is a former Finnish town and Finnish municipality in Finland. On January 1, 2009, it was consolidated with Ekenäs and Pohja that formed the new town of Raseborg....
on the way south to Hanko.
Porvoo-Kerava Railway (1874)
The second private railway to be built in Finland was the 33 km long PorvooPorvoo
Porvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century...
to Kerava
Kerava
Kerava is a town and municipality in Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Uusimaa region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
railway (Finnish: Porvoon Keravan Rautatie). The first proposals for a line were made in 1863 with local grandees and businessmen supporting the project on the understanding that it would stimulate trade, as well as the wish not to become a backwater compared to other ports that had a rail connection. However the Finnish state gave priority to lines to Tampere and Lahti. Another attempt to gain funding was made in 1866, but this time the St. Petersburg line was given priorityThe state was unwilling to fund the project, and the St. Petersburg line was paid in part by an alcohol tax, and in part through a lone from Russian state funds.
In 1871 the senate of the Grand Duchy of Finland granted permission for a line to be built. The shareholders included Carl Eugen Åbergalso his father Wilhelm Åberg (died 1870) and August Eklöf as well as Fredrik SneckenströmFredrik Sneckenström had been involved in the 1863 attempt to build a railway to Porvoo, he died in 1877 financially ruined by the railway collapse. all of who had investments in Porvoo. By 1874 the railway was complete and carrying goods.
The railway company soon experience financial difficulties - the amount of traffic had not lived up to estimates: by 1876 it was being offered for sale, by 1878 the original company was bankrupt, by 1887 new owner has been found, in 1917 the company was sold to the Finnish state railways. (Passenger traffic ceased in 1981, freight around 1990, the line has since been used for heritage trains, and is used by the Porvoo museum railway.)
Tampere and Turku (1876)
After connections from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna and St. Petersburg had been made connections to Finland's great cities of Turku (Swedish Abo) and Tampere (Swedish Tammerfors) were next to get state approval. In 1874 lines were commissioned connecting Hämeenlinna to TampereTampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
(via Toijala), and Toijala
Toijala
Toijala is a former town and municipality of Finland, located some south of Tampere. On 1 January 2007, it was consolidated with Viiala to form the town of Akaa....
to Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
which were open by 1876, extending the existing line from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna north and west, and making Toijala railway station
Toijala railway station
Toijala railway station is located in the Toijala district of the town of Akaa, Finland.The station is located at a crossing point of three different railway tracks: from Riihimäki to Tampere, from Turku to Toijala, and from Toijala to Valkeakoski. Originally, all three tracks served both...
a major junction.
Tampere to Vaasa and the Ostrobothnian line (1883-1886)
By 1883 the Tampere line had been extended over 300 km northwards via HaapamäkiHaapamäki
Haapamäki is a village in the municipality of Keuruu, Finland. It is historically an important meeting point of major railway lines, which converge at Haapamäki railway station....
and Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality in 1868, market town in 1931 and town in 1960...
to Vaasa
Vaasa
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa...
.
The 334 km Ostrobothnian line (Finnish: Pohjanmaan rata) from Seinäjoki to Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
via Bennäs
Bennäs
Bennäs is a village and railway station in the municipality of Pedersöre, Finland. It is the administrative center of the municipality, but the biggest population center is Kållby. The village be located in by the side of Ostrobothnia Railway Line. The railway station operates among other things...
, Kokkola
Kokkola
Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland.The town is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
and Ylivieska
Ylivieska
Ylivieska is a town and a municipality of Northern Ostrobothnia region, Finland. It has a population of , and it serves as the administrative centre for Kalajokilaakso and Pyhäjokilaakso, an area with about 90,000 inhabitants....
was open by 1886 making Seinäjoki railway station
Seinäjoki railway station
The Seinäjoki railway station is located in the centre of city of Seinäjoki, Finland, at Valtionkatu 1. The current station building was built in the 1970s, and it is located in the same building as the bus station. In the 2000s, the building was renovated as a modern travel centre.Seinäjoki is a...
another major junction.
From Oulu railway station
Oulu railway station
The Oulu Railway Station is located in the centre of Oulu, Finland, in the city district of Vaara. All trains are operated by VR. Nearby is the bus station for long-distance buses....
the line continued via Tuira to the port of Toppila (A suburb of Oulu) on a 5 km stretch of track, two other short lines were also opened: a port connection to the Kokkola suburb of Ykspihlaja (5 km) and in 1887 to Pietarsaari (Swedish Jakobstad) from Bennas.
Raahe Railway (1899-1900)
The Raahe railway (Finnish: Raahen Rautatie) was built as a private enterprise to connect the coastal town of RaaheRaahe
Raahe is a town and municipality of Finland. Founded by Swedish statesman and Governor General of Finland Count Per Brahe the younger in 1649, it is one of 10 historic wooden towns remaining in Finland. Examples of other Finnish historic wooden towns are Kaskinen , Old Rauma, Porvoo , Jakobstad ,...
to the Ostrobothnian line. The line to Raahe was open in 1899, and the extension to the docks of Raahe was complete by 1900. The main line ran from Lappi
Lappi
Lappi is a former municipality of Finland.It was located in the province of Western Finland and was part of the Satakunta region. The municipality had a population of 3,236 and covered an area of 213.27 km² of which 7.24 km² is water. The population density was 15.2 inhabitants per...
(now called Tuomioja
Tuomioja
Tuomioja is a Finnish surname. It may refer to:* Erkki Tuomioja , former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland* Sakari Tuomioja , Finnish politicianalso...
The name was changed to avoid confusion with Lappi
Lappi
Lappi is a former municipality of Finland.It was located in the province of Western Finland and was part of the Satakunta region. The municipality had a population of 3,236 and covered an area of 213.27 km² of which 7.24 km² is water. The population density was 15.2 inhabitants per...
, the finnish name for Lapland.) on the ostrobothnian line (between Kokkola and Oulu) to Raahe and was 18 km long. In 1926 the line was sold to the state railways.
Kouvola; the Savonian line (1889,1902) and the Kotka line (1890)
In 1885 274 kilometers of the Savonia line (Finnish Savon rata) was commissioned, connecting Kouvola (on the St. Petersburg line) through Tanttari, HarjuHarju
-People:*Arsi Harju , Finnish shot putter*Johan Harju , Swedish ice hockey player*Juha Harju , Finnish heavy metal musician-Estonia:*Harju County, one of 15 counties of Estonia...
, Mynttilä, Otava
Otava
Otava Publishing Company Ltd. is a major Finnish publisher of books. It was founded in 1890 and now is the second largest in Finland. It publishes fiction, non-fiction, books for teenagers and children, multimedia and teaching materials. The number of new titles a year exceeds 400...
, Mikkeli
Mikkeli
Mikkeli is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki is a town and municipality of Finland. Its original name was Haukivuori .It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region.The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki is a town and municipality of Finland.Suonenjoki is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
to Kuopio
Kuopio
Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. A population of makes it the ninth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of , of which is water and half forest...
with a 6.7 spur line from Suonenjoki to Isvesi, the line was open by 1889.
In 1887 the 52 km Kotka line (Finnish: Kotkan rata) line from Kouvola to the port town of Kotka
Kotka
Kotka is a town and municipality of Finland. Its former name is Rochensalm.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water....
was commissioned, opening in 1890.
A short industrial line branching to the Kymintehdas factory district at the Tanttari district of Kouvala was added in 1892. The Savonian line was completed in 1902 with the continuation of the track from Kuopio to Iisalmi
Iisalmi
Iisalmi is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
(85 km); extensions to the Savonian line were opened in 1904 from Iisalmi with a 83 km track passing through Murtomäki further north to Kajaani
Kajaani
Kajaani is a town and municipality in Finland.It is the capital of the Kainuu region. It is located southeast of Oulujärvi , which drains to the Gulf of Bothnia along the Oulujoki . There are inhabitants and city surface area is of which is water. The population density is . The town is...
. and in 1923 when the line from Kajaani was extended 25 km to reach Kontiomäki
Thus by 1900 Kouvola railway station
Kouvola railway station
The Kouvola railway station is located in the city of Kouvola in Finland.The Kouvola railway station is an important crossing point station. It is located about from the Helsinki Central railway station. There is also a bus terminal by the station and together they form a travel centre.Kouvola is...
had become a major junction on the Finnish railway network with lines leading to St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Kotka, and to Savonia.
Karelian railway (1892-1895)
Between 1892 and 1895 a series of lines known collectively as the Karelian railways (Finnish: Karjalan rata) were built.Another line in Karelia, the Joensu to Nurmes extension was added to the network in 1910-11The first line completed was the 72 km Viipuri (or Vyborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
) to Imatra
Imatra
Imatra is a town and municipality in eastern Finland, founded in 1948 around three industrial settlements near the Finnish–Russian border. In the course of the last 50 years, this amorphous group of settlements has grown into a modern industrial town dominated by Lake Saimaa, the Vuoksi River and...
line via Antrea in 1892. By 1893 an extension 139 km long from Antrea through Hiitola, Elisenvaara
Elisenvaara
Elisenvaara is a settlement in Lakhdenpokhsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, and an important station of the Vyborg-Joensuu railroad. The station is also linked by railway to Savonlinna, Finland...
, Jaakkima, and Sortavala
Sortavala
Sortavala is a town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located at the northern tip of Lake Ladoga. Population: It is an important station of the Vyborg-Joensuu railroad.-History:...
was complete. The final part of the line was from Sortavala though Matkaselkä, Värtsilä
Värtsilä
Värtsilä is a former municipality of Finland. It merged with Tohmajärvi in 2005.Värtsilä was located in the province of Eastern Finland and was part of the North Karelia region. The municipality had a population of 647 and covered an area of of which was water...
, Onkamo and Sulkuniemi to Joensuu was complete in 1894 adding another 133 km. Additionally in 1895 a short 6.75 km line from Imatra via Tainionkoski to Vuoksenniska (both suburbs of Imatra) was added.
Tampere to Pori line (1895,1899)
By 1895 PoriPori
Pori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the largest in Finland. Pori is the most important town in the Satakunta region....
(on the western coast) had been connected to Tampere via Peipohja (near Kokemaki). By 1899 a short line from Pori of 20 km was built to the coast at Mäntyluoto via Yyteri
Yyteri
Yyteri is a district in the city of Pori, Finland.Yyteri is located about 17 km away from the centre of Pori, bordering the Baltic sea. Yyteri is not an urban district, instead it is mostly like a holiday resort...
.
The Rauma Railway (1897,1914)
The Rauman railway (Finnish: Rauman rata) was the most long lived private railway in Finland. The first line (~50 km) opened in 1897 connecting Peipohja via KiukainenKiukainen
Kiukainen is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated with Eura on 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Satakunta region. The municipality had a population of 3,408 and covered an area of 149.88 km² of which 0.22 km² is water...
to Rauma
Rauma, Finland
Rauma is a town and municipality of ca. inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, north of Turku, and south of Pori. Granted town privileges on May 17, 1442 , Rauma is known of its high quality lace , and of the old wooden architecture of its centre , which is a Unesco world heritage...
Later in 1914 another line was opened branching west and southward from Kuikainen to Kauttua (in the municipality of Eura
Eura
Eura is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Satakunta region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
).
The railway was absorbed into VR in 1950.
Haapamäki to Jyväskylä line (1897)
By 1897 HaapamäkiHaapamäki
Haapamäki is a village in the municipality of Keuruu, Finland. It is historically an important meeting point of major railway lines, which converge at Haapamäki railway station....
(on Tampere-Seinäjoki line) was connected to Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
; making Haapamäki railway station
Haapamäki railway station
Haapamäki railway station is a junction station in the village of Haapamäki, in Keuruu, Finland. Construction on the railway line from Tampere to Seinäjoki via Haapamäki was finished in 1882. When the railway line to Jyväskylä was built, Haapamäki became a junction station...
a junction station. Additionally a 42 km line northwards from Jyväskylä to Suolahti
Suolahti
Suolahti was a former town and municipality of Finland. It is located next to Lake Keitele in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region...
was complete by 1898.
Hamina railway (1899)
In 1898 the HaminaHamina
Hamina is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Kymenlaakso region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is...
railway (Finnish: Haminan Rautatie, Swedish: Fredrikshamns järnväg) was founded as a privately funded enterprise; a single 27.5 km line ran to Inkeroinen. The line was opened in 1899 and used two Baldwin
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
2-6-2T locomotives from the USA. In 1916 the line and company was absorbed into the state railways.
Finnish coastal railway (1899,1903)
By 1899 a line from Karjaa (Swedish: Karis) near Helsinki to TurkuTurku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
was constructed roughly following the south-western coast of Finland; this linked with Helsinki by 1903 once a railway between Karjaa and Pasila had been constructed. The whole line is named Rantarata (Swedish: Kustbanan) meaning "coastal railway".
Other lines (1900-1917)
In 1900 Finland had 3,300 km of railway lines. The network continued to expand; in addition to extensions to the Savonian line and the completion of the rantarata by extension 83 km from Karjaa to Pasila, the Ostrobothnian line was extended by 1903 131 km from Tuira northwards to TornioTornio
Tornio is a town and municipality in Lapland, Finland. The municipality covers an area of of which is water. The population density is , with a total population of . It borders to the Swedish municipality of Haparanda...
close to the Swedish border.The line from Tornio was russia's only land link to its western allies during WWI, an aerial ropeway for carrying post over the river Torne was constructed. See Tornion ja Haaparannan posti-ilmarata (finnish wikipedia), and Muistomerkit Torniossa - Posti-ilmaradan muistomerkki (Memorials in Tornio) via www.haparandatornio.com. A dual gauge bridge was constructed in 1919
In 1909 the Lapland capital Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. It is situated close to the Arctic Circle and is between the hills of Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara, at the confluence of the Kemijoki River and its...
was connected to the rail network via Kemi
Kemi
Kemi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located very near the city of Tornio. It was founded in 1869 by royal decree, because of its proximity to a deep water harbour....
, the junction being at Laurila 8 km north of Kemi. By 1911 Nurmes
Nurmes
Nurmes is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
in eastern Finland had been connected to Joensuu via Lieksa
Lieksa
Lieksa is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
., and by 1913 Kristinestad
Kristinestad
Kristinestad is a town and a municipality in Finland. It is located in the western part of Finland on the shore of the Bothnian Sea. The population of Kristinestad is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water . The population density is . The population is bilingual...
and Kaskinen
Kaskinen
Kaskinen is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Ostrobothnia region. The population of Kaskinen is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water . The population density is...
(Kaskö) on the western coast were connected to Seinäjoki via a branch at Perälä
Between 1906 and 1914 the Karelian railway was connected to the Savonian railway by track running from Elisenvaara to Pieksämäki.
In 1913 a bridge built in Russia over the Neva river connected the Finnish rail network to the rest of the Russian network for the first time. Construction began in 1910; the bridge consisted of four tied-girder-truss-arch spans (bowstring bridge), two on either side of a lifting bridge. Originally the bridge was called the Alexander I bridge after Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
, later in the 1910s it became known as the Finlyandsky Railway Bridge.
Rail in Finland during transition and civil war (1917-1918)
Lahti railway station
The Lahti railway station is located in the city of Lahti in Finland.The station was designed by architect Thure Hellström from the VR Group and built in 1935. Because of the depression in the 1930s, the station did not get a third floor, neither did it get a tower, as the Tampere railway station...
by rail as the wax used in the disguise was starting to melt. In September he returned to Russia again in another disguise; this time he was more successful: As a consequence of the Russian revolution Finland was able to gain its independence in peace from Russia, and on the 6th of December 1917 Finland's Declaration of Independence
Finland's declaration of independence
The Finnish declaration of independence was adopted by the Parliament of Finland on 6 December 1917. It declared Finland an independent and sovereign nation state rather than an autonomous Russian Grand duchy.-Revolution in Russia:...
was made.
During the Finnish Civil War
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
the rail network was sufficiently well developed to play a significant role in the conflict, a train from Russia, the so called "weapons train" arrived in January 1918 bringing 15,000 rifles, 30 machineguns, 76mm guns, two armoured cars and ammunition. Much of the fighting took place on or around the railways, or for control of vital railway points. Armoured trains were also used during the war, and were effective.
1919-1939
Haparanda
Haparanda is a locality and the seat of Haparanda Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 4,778 inhabitants in 2005. It is adjacent to Tornio, Finland...
connecting by rail Finland and Sweden.
The first part of the Saint Petersburg – Hiitola railroad was completed in 1919; a 107 km line connecting Hiitola (on the Vyborg–Joensuu railroad
Vyborg–Joensuu railroad
The old Karelian railroad between Viipuri and Joensuu is a railway with broad gauge, which used to link Joensuu, Sortavala, Hiitola, Antrea and Viipuri...
) with Rautu. and ultimately leading southward past the Finnish-Russian border to St. Petersburg.
A line northwards from Tornio to Karunki opened in 1923; close to the Swedish border, and extending to Kaulinranta by 1928The track was extended in the 1960s to Kolari
Kolari
Kolari is a municipality of Finland at the Swedish border, which follows the Torne River, the longest free-flowing river in Europe.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
. In finnish it is known as the Kolarin rata In 1924 a line from Matkaselkä (on the Vyborg-Joensuu) line to Suojärvi opened, by 1927 it had been extended to Naistenjärvi.
Various other lines expanded the network through the 1920s and 1930s including an east west connection of 154 km between Iisalmi
Iisalmi
Iisalmi is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
and Ylivieska
Ylivieska
Ylivieska is a town and a municipality of Northern Ostrobothnia region, Finland. It has a population of , and it serves as the administrative centre for Kalajokilaakso and Pyhäjokilaakso, an area with about 90,000 inhabitants....
; this connected the Ostrobothnian line on the west coast with the Savonia line in the east of the country. Another important east west connection was made in 1930 with Oulu and Kontiomäki being joined by a 166 km railway.
Outokumpu
Outokumpu, Finland
Outokumpu is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
was connected in 1928 from Joensuu, and Vuokatti to Nurmes
Nurmes
Nurmes is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
in 1929. A line in Lapland eastward from Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi was built in 1934, this was extended further east to Salla
Salla
Salla is a municipality of Finland, located in Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
in 1942, and Pori connected to Haapamäki by a 193 km line in 1938. The 1930s as in other countries were considered the heyday of rail transport
Second World War
During the Winter WarWinter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
the Finnish forces again used armoured trains. Two trains were fielded, both dating to the WWI era. The Armoured Train No.1 (Finnish: Ps.Juna 1 : abbr. from Panssarijuna) was used mostly to support the fighting in the Kollaa River
Kollaa River
thumb|232px|picture taken on December 17th 1939The Kollaa River is a 76-kilometre long river in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It starts from Lake Kollasjärvi in the Suoyarvsky District and flows to Lake Tulmozero in the Pryazhinsky District....
area, found to be effective in supporting infantry. The opposing Soviet forces recognised this and it was repeatedly targeted by artillery and attacked from the air; as a result hiding places had to be found for the armoured train, and modifications made - such as smokestack extension pipes that directed the exhaust smoke under the train, to reduced the risk of it being spotted. More often than not bombardments and aerial attack damaged the track rather than the train directly. Ps.Juna 2 was used in both the Kollaa River battles and other battles around the Karelian Isthmus
Karelian Isthmus
The Karelian Isthmus is the approximately 45–110 km wide stretch of land, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, to the north of the River Neva . Its northwestern boundary is the relatively narrow area between the Bay of Vyborg and Lake Ladoga...
.
During the interim period before the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
the trains were re-armed with anti-aircraft weapons to counter the constant bombing they had experienced. The Russian forces also used armoured trains, some of which were captured or destroyed. Armoured Train No.1 became a permanent exhibit at the Finnish Armour Museum (Finnish: Panssarimuseo) in Parola.
Additionally railway gun
Railway gun
A railway gun, also called a railroad gun, is a large artillery piece, often surplus naval ordnance, mounted on, transported by, and fired from a specially designed railway wagon. Many countries have built railway guns, but the best known are the large Krupp-built pieces used by Germany in World...
s were used by both sides, the finns constructed a battery of 152mm rail mounted artillery pieces from coastal artillery guns, the Russians had access to far larger pieces of rail mounted artillery including 12" guns., one of which became known as the "ghost gun" (Finnish: aavetykki) during its shelling of Vyborg.
1944-present
As a result of the unfavourable terms of peace of the Moscow ArmisticeMoscow Armistice
The Moscow Armistice was signed between Finland on one side and the Soviet Union and United Kingdom on the other side on September 19, 1944, ending the Continuation War...
of September 1944, the Finnish state lost large amounts of land, including parts of Karelia in southeastern Finland; in addition to the ceding of the large town of Vyborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
important parts of the rail network were lost including the Saint Petersburg – Hiitola railroad and most of the Vyborg–Joensuu railroad
Vyborg–Joensuu railroad
The old Karelian railroad between Viipuri and Joensuu is a railway with broad gauge, which used to link Joensuu, Sortavala, Hiitola, Antrea and Viipuri...
(Karelian railroad) - as a consequence a new Karelian line had to be built.
History of urban railways, trams, metros and mass transit
In 1890 trams started to operateHelsinki tram
The Helsinki tram network forms part of the Helsinki public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Helsinki City Transport in the Finnish capital city of Helsinki. The trams are the main means of transport in the city centre. 56.6 million trips were made...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
.
In 1912 trams started to operate in Turku (see Turku tram
Turku tram
The Turku tramway network was the first—and as of 2008, second to last—tram system to be operated in Finland. It was operated as horse tramway from 1890 until 1892, and as an electrified tramway from 1908 until 1972...
) (a horse tramway had operated between 1890 and 1892), and in Vyborg in 1912.
Narrow gauge lines
- See also Narrow gauge railway#Finland
Rolling stock
The first steam locomotives in Finland were imported from the Canada Works in Birkenhead, England; six 4-4-0 tender locomotives were bought and given the class designation A1, the first into was named Ilmarinen.IlmarinenIlmarinen
Seppo Ilmarinen, the Eternal Hammerer, blacksmith and inventor in the Kalevala, is an archetypal artificer from Finnish mythology. Immortal, he is capable of creating practically anything, but is portrayed as unlucky in love...
was a sky god, and a god of crafts and metals. The first Finnish locomotive was built in 1874, type A5, also a 4-4-0 tender locomotive and built to a similar design as the A3 class. that were imported from Dübs and Co.
Dûbs and Company
Dübs & Co. was a locomotive works in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Henry Dübs in 1863 and based at the Queens Park Works in Polmadie. In 1903 it became part of the North British Locomotive Company.-Preserved locomotives:...
Scotland (A3 Class) More 4-4-0 tender locomotives (class A4) came from Baldwin locomotive works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
in America for the private Hanko–Hyvinkää railway between 1872-3. followed by further imported machines from G. Sigl locomotive works in Wiener Neustadt in Austria (class A6) Sigl, SLM and Hanomag
Other resources
- Обзор железнодорожной сети Великого Княжества Финляндии за 1890 год Overview of the Finnish rail network in 1890, Compiled by N.A. Sytenko, from the book "Outline of Russian Railways network" Volume 2. 1896 via www.railway.ruzgd.ru
- Vanhoja rautateiden aikatauluja Archives of old railway timetables jpl.yi.org
- ”IF ONLY WE HAD A RAILWAY!” The role of the finnish railway network in the nation's technological progress as seen by Ernst Gustaf Palmen Author: Tiina Päivärinne. Publication: Tekniikan Waiheita. 2/08. via www.reila.fi
- Railway lines - dates of opening and lengths:
- (SVR) SUOMEN VALTION RAUTATIET / FINSKA STATSJÄRNVÄGARNE (FSJ) : complete list of opening years of VR railway lines List of railway line constructions by track length and date, including narrow gauge (up to 1912) personal.inet.fi
- Suomen leveäraiteiset rataosat valmistumisjärjestyksessä Finnish railway lines, their lengths and dates of opening 1862-modern web.archive.org
- Finnish Railway Statistics 2009 Finnish Rail Administration, (Dates of opening of lines) section 1.3 pages 9–10, rhk-fi-bin.directo.fi