The author Stig Svallhammar takes us through the 125-year history of the NVHJ (Norsholm-Västervik-Hultsfred Railway). The emphasis is on the last five decades and the politics of nationalisation, widening and closure.
We also learn more about how the organisation "Save the Narrow Gauge", which later became our organisation, came into being. The county governor's perspective and the development of the business community in Västervik are also addressed.
When the Riksdag decided to nationalise most of the individual railways in 1939, hopes were raised that the NVHJ network would be expanded to standard gauge. Ten years later, SJ took over the railway network and now the visions were to be realised - but was the state takeover really the "crowning glory" that so many had hoped for? The power to act was gradually revealed in the post-war prioritisation of needs. When the northern line was opened as a standard gauge line in 1964, it was also clear that the southern line would never be widened. Despite this, it was operated by SJ for another 20 years and still exists today as a museum railway.
Rolling stock on the NVHJ lines, especially during the SJ era, is discussed, as well as how moves were made from other parts of the country, etc. A full 344 pages in A4 format with over 500 photos, maps and drawings.
