"Skibladner" coming in for docking in Gjøvik, the town on the west side of the lake Mjøsa, our largest lake, situated north of the capital, Oslo. This is the day's last docking, so there is no smoke from the funnel.

(2010-07-18)

In 1854 the first railway in Norway was opened between Oslo and Eidsvoll. To bring passengers, mail, and goods further to Hamar and Lillehammer, the paddle steamer "Skibladner" was launched in 1856. When the railroad had reached Lillehammer (actually Tretten, nearly 30 km further north) in 1894, "Skibladner" continued on the route Eidsvoll–Lillehammer with intermediate stops. There has been several changes through the years, and "Skibladner" has been used more and more for pleasure trips. The lake Mjøsa, and sometimes its river outlet, Vorma, freezes over during the winter, so "Skibladner" can only sail during the summer.

"The white swan of Mjøsa" she is called, but the original colour was green and pink. She got her present colours in 1888, when she was also lengthened by 20 feet and got one smokestack instead of two. In 1920 coal heating of the boiler was replaced by oil.

(2010-07-18)

In 2001 "Skibladner" got a shelter to protect her during the winter. It was built in Gjøvik on the west side of Mjøsa and that has since been her home.

(2010-07-18)

This is Minnesund, the outlet of the lake Mjøsa, as it looked in 1954. When the ship docks at the Eidsvoll railroad station, it's about eight kilometres down the river Vorma. Behind is the railroad bridge, which was built in 1879 and is still in use. Halfway across the bridge a train, probably on its way from Trondheim to Oslo. When cars began arriving and the time for car road building started, the train bridge got a car road extension on both sides in 1925. The extension felt a bit wobbly when driving on it, and in 1959 a new road bridge was opened.

"Skibladner" spent the winters here until she got the shelter in Gjøvik (above). In March 1937 heavy snow made her capsize and slide under the ice, but she was saved and restored. In 1967 it happened again, but now she had become a national treasure, so the saving and restoration went fast.

On this picture "Skibladner" looks shorter than on the first picture above, but it is the same vessel with the same length (since 1888). Thought I'd better mention it.

(1955)

This is "Skibladner" on the river Vorma preparing to dock at the Eidsvoll train station. I took the picture the evening I left Eidsvoll after three years, when waiting for the northbound train.

"Skibladner" got its name from the ship of Frøy (also called Yngve), the god of fertility and prosperity. Skiðblaðnir can carry the whole bunch of gods over water and dry land and she always sails in a favourable wind. Afterwards she can be folded up and put in the pocket.

(1956-06-20)