Trådrullatåget

In 1894, the Jönköping–Gripenberg railway opened, popularly known as Trådrullatåget (“the Cotton Reel Train”). The narrow-gauge railway was originally intended to run between Jönköping and Gripenberg but never made it further than the village of Vireda.

The Early Days

The first sod was turned in early 1893. The initiative came from Count James Hamilton of Lyckås Manor. At first, it was difficult to gain support for building the railway, but when Wilhelm Tham joined the project, construction finally began. In April 1894, the first section between Jönköping and Huskvarna was inaugurated by King Oscar II. Later the line was extended to Drättinge, then to Lyckås, which remained the terminus until 1900 when the final stretch to Vireda was completed.

To cut costs, the track was made a narrow gauge of only 60 cm, instead of the standard 143 cm used today. Another cost-saving measure was to end the line in Vireda instead of Gripenberg as originally planned. Large freight trains stopped in Gripenberg, so goods had to be transported by other means between Gripenberg and Vireda.

Use and Route

The railway was meant to serve many needs. Husqvarna Arms Factory wanted to use it for freight transport and would have preferred a standard-gauge track, while landowners and the rural population mainly required simpler means of transport.

The line began in Jönköping, at the site where Erik Dahlberg Upper Secondary School stands today, and ran via Huskvarna, Vistakullevägen, Drättinge, Lyckås, Bunn, and Stora Hultrum to the terminus in Vireda.

The train earned its nickname Trådrullatåget because the wheels resembled tiny cotton reels. It became a popular excursion train, particularly to Vista kulle. On Sundays, people would ride it to climb the hill or travel to the lakes Landsjön and Bunn for bathing. The narrow carriages had passengers sitting face-to-face, and at times the train needed help getting up the hill at Gisebo—passengers would step out and give it a push.

In 1935, the line was closed due to poor profitability and growing competition from cars and buses. Within just a few years, all traces of it were gone.

The Cotton Reel Train Today

Today, nothing remains of the tracks. However, between Gisebo and Kaxholmen, you can walk or cycle along the old railway embankment, passing the rock wall and Vista kulle. The station building still stands but is now a private home, as is the case with many of the old stations.

At one end of Vistakullevägen lies Skärstad Museum. Until 2006, it housed Locomotive No. 9—the last train to run on the Gripenberg line—built in 1915 at Motala Works. Today, Locomotive No. 9 is preserved and still in use in Mariefred. At the museum, you can explore photographs, timetables, and other artefacts from the days when the railway ran right outside.