Like in a fairy tale land! 2-4-0 steamlocomotive # 17 "Caroline" (built in 1861!) of the Norsk Jernbanemuseum (Norwegian Railway Museum Hamar) is leaving Hamar with a passenger extra to Elverum. The Norwegian steam locomotive series NSB Type 2a was built in 1861 in three copies by Robert Stephenson in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, with the factory numbers 1405-1407 for the Oslo-Kongsvinger railroad line (Kongsvingerbanen - KB). They were delivered between October 22 and November 8, 1861, and put into service in 1862 as # 3 to # 5. Together with the first two locomotives of the NSB Type 1a series, the five locomotives began service on the first state railroad in Norway. They partly resembled the first type NHJ A locomotives of Hovedbane, but were smaller, had no long boiler and the firebox was located between the driving axles.
As early as 1862, the numbering of the locomotives was changed, which from that time on was 2a # 15 to # 17.
As the locomotives became too weak for the increasing traffic of the Kongsvingerbahn, they were given other, lighter duties. # 17 joined the Eidsvoll-Ottabane (EOB), now integrated into the Dovre Railway, on July 23, 1896. # 15 and # 16 were transferred to Solørbane (KEB) on April 1, 1906. Locomotives # 15 and # 16 were decommissioned on April 21, 1914, and # 17 during 1920. # 15 was scrapped, but # 16 and # 17 have been preserved and are part of the holdings of the Norsk Jernbanemuseum in Hamar. # 16 is on display there, while # 17 is operational and used for tourist trains between Hamar and Elverum.
# 17 was named Caroline in connection with its restoration for the 100th anniversary of Norges Statsbaner (NSB) on January 18, 1954. The locomotive had been retired by NSB in 1920, but continued to be used by Klevfos Cellulose & Papirfabrik between 1921 and 1953. There it had the name "Klevfossmerra". The locomotive was subsequently restored to its 1900 condition, with the subsequently added cab removed. # 16 is preserved in its delivery condition and has only a windshield for the personnel. Locomotive # 17 "Caroline" is one of the oldest original operational steamlocmotives.
