Kosta (- Lessebo) Järnväg

Also known as Kosta rwy. Opened 1888-1889, closed down in 1948. Length 30 km.
This line was laid out in two directions from Kosta, first to the standard gauge railway at Lessebo (Carlskrona -Wexiö rwy - CWJ) and then to another standard gauge line at Målerås (Nybro - Sävsjöströms rwy). Traffic mostly consisted of freight to and from the glassworks at Kosta, in the Småland province, s. Sweden. A large share of the lidded glass jars used for household food conservation in Sweden sixty or seventy years ago did start their life with a trip on the KLJ! In 1931 passenger traffic was discontinued and the Kosta - Målerås section was closed. In 1948 operation ceased between Kosta and Lessebo.
Lessebo station ca 1905, on the left the train to Kosta awaits departure with the recently refurbished locomotive No 1 "KOSTA", to the right the normal gauge CWJ rwy
KLJ had four steam engines, two railcars and a varied assortment of other rolling stock. KLJ stock at present in operation on the ÖSlJ line consists of a number of coaches and wagons, including the very oldest of all Swedish coaches on this gauge, a small side-door 4-wheeler; see the Passenger coach roster. Also, our Mallet engine no. 5 HAMRA, an industrial locomotive, is mechanically identical with the now scrapped no. 3 on the KLJ roster. See the Steam locomotive roster.
In addition, the remains of the Decauville-built tender of former KLJ engine no. 1 are now being restored at Mariefred shops - probably the oldest tender in the world on this gauge!
A well-illustrated history of the KLJ is available from us - see The Bookshop
The KLJ locomotive No 2 "Lessebo" is now at ÖSlJ in Mariefred on a longterm deposit from the national railway museum, read more	Locomotive No 4 "Pysen"