Locomotives

In 1944, the Flåm Railway received its first three electric locomotives of type EL 9 and this locomotive is the last of these three. The EL9 was built specifically for the Flåm Railway and had four braking systems to cope with the descent from Myrdal. In the early 80s, the original locomotives were replaced by three converted locomotives of type EL 11. These were modified for use on the Flåm Railway, with changes to the electrical equipment, better brakes and more searchlights. After 1998, the service is provided by push–pull trains consisting of an EL 17 at each end, to be followed by EL 18 locomotives at each end in 2014. Pulling 6 passenger carriages and a capacity of 500 passengers per departure in high season. Until 1977, the Flåm Railway was central to the postal service's distribution system in Sogn. Agricultural products and livestock were also shipped with the track. When the aluminum plant in Årdal was developed during World War 2, large quantities of goods were transported on the Flåm Railway and loaded into boats. The hydropower development in Aurland in the 1960s also led to heavy freight traffic on the Flåm Railway. Today, the line has minimal significance as a railway in the "traffic sense". It is the tourist traffic during the summer months that gives the railway the greatest revenues. The Flåm Railway is among Norway's five most visited tourist attractions.