Vikersund

The train is now approaching Vikersund, a town in Modum municipality with around 15 000 inhabitants. Rock carvings in the area show that people have been living here for around 6000 years. After the middle ages, there was a growth in the paper and mining industries, but today the municipality is a typical Norwegian agricultural community with several power stations which provide a good income. Vikersund is also the starting point for the romantic and charming Krødern railway line. The heritage rail line with departures to Krøderen is open during the summer months; tourists can take a ride on an old steam locomotive and experience the ambience of the railway in bygone times. Not far away is the world famous ski jumping hill Vikersundbakken. Many world records have been set here. In 2017 the Austrian Stefan Kraft jumped an amazing 253.5 metres setting a new world record. In 1808 Olaf Rye jumped 9.5 metres setting the first world record in ski jumping. Quite a development! Norwegians have a saying “It’s better to jump in than to crawl in”. Which means don’t put off doing something that is not so much fun until later, for example washing the dishes after dinner. This saying probably also applies to jumping from Vikersundbakken!