4K CABVIEW: Sunny spring afternoon on the Bergen Line hauling freight

It's a sunny spring afternoon on the Bergen Line and today I'm hauling a freight train from the Terminal in Bergen to Ål, where it will be a crew change. The train will continue to Alnabru freight terminal in Oslo. Composition of the train is:
2x Bombardier TRAXX F160 AC3, 17 cars totalling 616m and 1343 tonns. Maximum speed allowed with this composition is 100km/h.

The shift starts at 5pm at the Terminal in Bergen where we assemble the tran and do the break testing before heading off. Departure time is 7:12pm and arrival at Ål is 11:08pm. This time of year it never gets really dark in Norway.

The big difference in this video compared to others I have done, is that you get to see the coupling between loco and cars and not to mention that I've swapped out the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K for a Sony FX3. A huge difference when it comes to noise and visibility in the tunnels. There shalt never be darkness again.

Check out the chapters below for interesting points during the travel marked with "🐄"

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//CHAPTERS:
0:00:00 Intro & what's to come
0:00:46 The walk to the terminal and locomotives
0:01:58 Walk around the locomotives 🐄
0:03:30 Moving down to the first half of the train and coupling 🐄
0:05:13 Coupling 🐄
0:06:58 Pulling out on track 84 (Kronstad track) and slipping back down to the other half
0:11:36 A Stadler FLIRT Class 75B is arriving Bergen Station during our brake testing
0:11:59 Pulling all the way to the top of the Track 84 (Kronstad track) and slipping back to the Departure track.

0:18:16 Map and elevation profile of the trip 🐄
0:19:16 Bergen - Arna (Through Norway's first TBM drilled tunnel) 🐄
0:31:40 Arna - Trengereid (Scenic parts) 🐄
0:42:08 Trengereid - Vaksdal
0:51:04 Vaksdal - Stanghelle (Scenic views of Sørfjorden fjord) 🐄
0:58:41 Stanghelle - Dale (Scenic views of Mjelkevikjæ) 🐄
1:05:45 Dale - Bolstadøyri (going through Trollkona tunnel, translated to Trolls Wife tunnel)
1:13:24 Bolstadøyri - Evanger (scenic parts running along the river Bolstadelvi) 🐄
1:20:45 Evanger - Bulken (Scenic parts running along the river Vosso)🐄
1:29:04 Bulken - Voss

1:33:53 Voss - Urdland (the start of the climb all the way to Myrdal and Finse) 🐄
1:47:13 Urdland - Reimegrend (scenic parts of the Raundal valley and Raundalselvi river)🐄
1:59:24 Reimegrend - Mjølfjell (following Raundalselvi river with scenic view onto the mountainpass)

2:07:25 Mjølfjell - Myrdal (Start of mountain pass) 🐄
2:36:16 Myrdal - Hallingskeid (mountain pass climb with lots of snowsheds) 🐄
2:40:30 Hallingskeid - Finse (Mountains pass main part with the new highspeed track) 🐄
2:45:21 Entering the Longest tunnel on the Bergen Line, Finse Tunnel ("Naomi tunnel"), 10.300m long 🐄
2:53:15 Finse - Haugastøl (Finse is the highest situated station in northern Europe at 1222m above seal level. Filming location for the ice planet Hoth in Star Wars: Empire Strikes back)🐄
3:17:29 Haugastøl - Ustaoset (going down from the mountain) 🐄

3:26:04 Ustaoset - Geilo (The end of the mountain pass and descending into the Hallingdal Valley) 🐄
3:36:08 Geilo - Ål (Scenic view of the Hallingdal Valley and Strandafjord lake) 🐄
3:39:38 The Moose to the left 🐄🐄 and Hare running to the right 🐄🐄
3:56:06 Arriving Ål with crew change and exterior view of the whole train leaving the station 🐄🐄

//MUSIC USED IN THIS VIDEO FROM EPIDEMIC SOUND
Tigerblood Jewel - Viriginia Highway
Ooyy - Ghandi
Alexa Cappelli - Stuck in the moment (Instrumental Version)

//CAMERA GEAR I USED FOR THIS VIDEO

//TOOLS & SERVICES I USE:

//LINE & SIGNAL INFORMATION:

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DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting RailCowGirl so I can continue to provide you with content each week-ish!

[Elvenhome]

Wow simply wow. The image quality is spectacular. So good to see the route in better weather and, after so long with various amounts of lock down, with more people out and about. The time to record and edit this alone must have been substantial, without the problems getting this to upload. The scenery is as stunning as ever of course, but in even more detail. Thanks so much for doing this.

[TheSmwman]

I'm looking at the insane 4K picture quality and am thinking you must be relieved that you don't have to upgrade your cameras any more because this is as good as you can get! Is it? Thank you for the investment you make in your time and money to bring us such amazing work!

[vanitazazas]

2:45 that little shunter engine popping by saying hello. Adorable.

[everskiing]

I am glad you and us viewers get to see the light of day in the spring and summer months. I see there has been a lot of upgrades along the tracks.

[shaynestephens]

I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. During my Navy career I have been to Trondheim and Hammerfest in 1976 and Bergen in 1994. I haven't been to Norway's interior. After completing this video, MY GOD! What a wondrously beautiful country you have! Absolutely stunning! Thank you for this!

[possiblecat]

Your videos are so good and so interesting, I almost feel as if I've actually visited Norway. If I was younger and healthier, I'd book a ticket as soon as possible and spend some time exploring Norway. Your videos made me want to see more of this wonderful country.

[larrycurie]

I really love your videos. I'm 75 and retired and have always liked watching trains. I truly love when the crossing gates come down. Thank you!!!

[stevenosmond]

Back on the train with RailCowGirl. If you don't enjoy this, well I feel sorry for you. If you upset, this will relax you. If you are having problems sleeping, the sound of the train will help you get to sleep. If you want scenic travel at its best, here it is.

[verenadelor]

Hey Christine
Thank you for your new story about the Bergen Railway. From the first to the last minute one could be with you and experience what your passion is. Details such as counting the turns on the screw coupling are anything but trivial when you have almost 1, 500 tons. on the hook. Then the ascent from spring into the mountains where winter is at home. After Finse the liberation, now it goes downhill. The train pushes from behind. The incomparable landscape. She steals so much power. The wonderful lighting conditions. I envy and admire you. Stay the way you are and take care of yourself.

[jimbarnes]

This was definitely worth the wait. The views in the bright sunshine are just stunning. And the details are as crisp as I’ve ever seen. Great work, and thank-you.

[genefaulkner]

Thanks! RCG… you are a true professional in every way possible. The effort you put forth is very much appreciated. Your video quality is at the highest scale. Looking forward to your continuing travels! THANK YOU! 🌈🎉

[SteveMikre]

After all the difficulties you encountered uploading this episode I'm glad to see to all finally worked out. Thank you RailCowGirl...

[russ-aepx]

I looked up specs on the Bombardier TRAXX locomotives. Most impressive. I am greatly impressed of the entire system. Fantastic! I appreciate everything you do for all of us. You are the best! ❤

[georgiabrigand]

Fantastic new quality ! I think I have now watched all your older videos, and enjoyed them immensely. Thank you for doing all this work.
I'm proud to be a new supporting member. My brother (just retired), father and grandfather all drove trains in Germany. Josef drove steam, Hans electric, and Wolfgang electric and diesel. No FLIRT, they seem to prefer the Siemens train in Germany.
Riding along next to the "number 1 seat" was always a great experience. Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof was tricky, it's like Oslo Sentralstasjon where you end up sitting right in front of all the people at the terminal, and the Railroad Police frown on ride-alongs. I had always bought a ticket beforehand, which kept me out of trouble with the Deutsche Bahn. Lots of similarities with VY in signaling and train operation. Not at all similar to Norfolk-Southern, which has trains passing near my house every day here in Georgia, USA.
Ride safe always !(horn blow)

[Daneelro]

Thank you for another wonderful portrait of the Bergen line, in its ever changing appearances thanks to time of day, weather, season & logging! As beautiful as the intitial Sun-lit parts were, my favourite part was the reflection of the pink sky in the melting lake before Ustaoset.

[rrgibbons]

My new learning from this video: your locomotives can move under their own power for a short time while not under catenary. Neat!

[joeziegler]

Some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen! Thank you for sharing. You have to enjoy your job!

[briansaanich]

Simply awesome quality, and stunning scenery. Thanks for all of your work!

[thatthingyoudo]

Wow! That camera/lens combination is insane! Well done and thank you for another fantastic trip.

[workonitm]

Love your beautiful country RCG ! The small towns and less busy roads make me wish I were
there. I believe the air must always be fresh and clean.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😊 !