About Östra Södermanlands Järnväg (ÖSlJ)

The Society is a voluntary society, dedicated to collect and preserve engines and wagons from the countries smallest railways, those with only 600 mm gauge, and to show them in active traffic service. You have the possibility of becoming a member, eather active or just supporting.

The gauge, 600 mm, is the most narrow used for common passenger and freight traffic.
In Sweden there have been seven railway companies that have used this guage for common traffic. They were built between 1891 and 1909. The rollingstock and other materials from these small railways represent an older railway technology then those with a wider guage, because they were closed down early, most of them during the 1930’s. Fortunatly, a lot of the rolling stock was sold to industrial railways, that still had them running up until the 1960’s. It’s because of this, that ÖSlJ has managed to build it’s historical vehicle collection. 
 
The main goal for the railway society ÖSlJ is to show a live narrow guage railway as it could operate during the first half of the 19th Century. We have therefore, both a cultural and historic goal – to show the public that railways of this small size could actually work as an important commen carrier for the local areas they served in. 
Our economy is completely dependent upon our visitors/travelers, as the railway's costs have to be supported by tickets and sales.
 
The work on the railway is made voluntary by the society members, without any economical compensation. Out of the societies roughly 1000 members, there are about a 100 of them active in the practical operation of our live railway.

The railway ÖSlJ is by law, completely compatible to all other railways. The society is therefore under the watchful eye of the Swedish transport agency (Transportstyrelsen), who review and accept our regulations, internal norms and educational schedules for our staff.

Become a member
As a member of our society you are entitled to free trips in 3rd Class and you will receive our societies newsletter “ÖSlJ-nytt” 4 times per year. Please note that the newsletter is written in Swedish.

Membership fees

Single member 300:-/year
+ grown family member 150:-/year
+ child family member
6-16 years of age
75:-/year
Company membership 3500:-/year
Life membership 3000:-

 
For family membership the following rules apply: One member pays the full price, every family member after that, pays a discounted price (marked with a + in the list above)

A small piece of ÖSlJ history

1959
”Östra Södermanlands Järnväg” started in 1959 with shy resources on a railway in connection to Lina brickworks just outside of Södertälje.  

1965
ÖSlJ managed to receive the line between Mariefred and Läggesta, when SJ shut down its traffic.

1970
600-mm track is laid down to the steamboat quay and therefore a stable traffic cooperation is established with local steamboat  “S/S Mariefred”.

1973
The line extension is established to ”Läggesta Södra” giving ÖSlJ its own station in Läggesta, although nothing more than a small shed-ilke building was built as a station building.

2011
In May the rail line between Läggesta and Taxinge-Näsby is opened by His royal highness the King of Sweden.  Therefore we managed to complete our 11,2 km line: Mariefreds Ångbåtsstation- Mariefred - Läggesta Nedre – Taxinge Näsby. 

Always something going on or planned within ÖSlJ
Here we have only mentioned some of the major events in our history. Vehicles are constantly being renovated (we have even been able to find old wagons during the 21st Century). Vehicles, tracks, and buildings undergo continuous maintenance. Work is done with planning timetables, economy, marketing, and showcasing. In our Café we sell refreshments and railway related items.