Bergensbanen snowpiercing Myrdal and Finse, Norway

6/2/2015
The legendary Bergensbanen (Bergen train) is the highest railway line in Northern Europe, connecting Norway's two major cities Oslo and Bergen over Hardangervidda plateau. The train goes through many long tunnels on the plateau. Some of the small stations are actually inside the tunnels. Myrdal and Fense, the two main stations on the plateau, were snow covered when I took the train in June. Myrdal, at 866 meters, connects another legendary steep mountain train Flåmsbana. My original plan was to get off here and hike down Flåmsdalen, but the snow made me stay on the train as if it was the only civilization in the white, like in the movie "Snowpiercer". Finse, at 1222 meters, is the highest station on the entire Norwegian Railway System. Temperature was -2°C when we stopped here.