(6 February 2001)
Bodal looking timetable north, toward Gåshaga. Larsberg is the
next stop in this direction. On the double-track stretch between Baggeby
and Aga, we have right-hand running (this was the first stretch of double-track
railway in Sweden with right-hand running; our mainline railways still run
on the left).
This double-track stretch is fully reverse-signaled. In the view above,
you can just barely make out two signals, one left of the left-hand track
and one right of the right-hand track. Both are automatic block signals,
but the left-hand signal, not used for normal traffic movements, is normally
red all the time (as it is in this view). The right-hand signal shows
a green aspect because the block of track ahead is unoccupied.
(6 February 2001)
Bodal looking timetable south, toward Ropsten. Baggeby is the next station
in this direction; in fact, where the track vanishes in the distance in this
view, it actually rounds a curve, passes under a road viaduct (that you can
barely see), and Baggeby is just ahead. Not counting station stop time,
this takes about forty-five seconds to run.
(22 December 2001)
Bodal on another wintry day, with a northbound train (toward Gåshaga) approaching.
(22 December 2001)
The same northbound train as it makes the stop at Bodal.
(22 December 2001)
The northbound train departs Bodal. Notice that signal 25 has turned red behind the train.
(22 December 2001)
Bodal with a southbound train (toward Ropsten) approaching, seen from the northbound platform.
(22 December 2001)
The same southbound train making the stop at Bodal.
(22 December 2001)
The southbound train departs Bodal.
(6 February 2001)
Larsberg looking timetable north. Aga is the next station. Larsberg
is a Johnny-come-lately; originally there was no stop between Bodal and Aga.
Larsberg opened in 1966 to serve a newly built residential area nearby.
I guess that explains its awkward location on a rather sharp grade, making
the northbound station stop difficult (at times I've had to use the track
brake just to get the train stopped here) and making it hard for some trains
(with weaker motors) to start from here southbound. That also explains
why Larsberg lacks a station building; the only other stop without one is
Torsvik, where there simply isn't room. (There isn't room here either,
but there would have been if Larsberg had been an original stop.)
(6 February 2001)
This stairway leads from the northbound platform up to the road above.
There is a timed transfer between bus and train at Larsberg, but passengers
making the transfer have to negotiate this stairway, which isn't all that
fast even when the stairway isn't covered in snow...and then there's the need
for passengers transferring from southbound trains to the bus to cross both
tracks to even reach the northbound platform and this stairway.
I guess it's better than nothing, but it seems it could have been better executed.
(6 February 2001)
A southbound train stopped at Larsberg. This view is looking timetable
north. The driver is waiting for the woman to cross the tracks and board
the train.
(6 February 2001)
A northbound train about to stop at Larsberg. At the top of the picture,
the road viaduct where the bus line runs.
Next to the right-hand track, you can see a signal showing a yellow aspect.
That's called a "försignal" in Swedish; I don't know what it's called
in English, but anyway, it blinks if the next high signal is red, and shines
steady if the next high signal is green.