Hell

If I went to Hell, what transport system would I find there?

Might it look like this?

a postcard from Hell

I can answer that question.  I have been to Hell (and back!) 

Hell is a small Norwegian village, about 30 kilometres east of Trondheim.  According to Wikipedia, the name "Hell" is derived from "Hellir" in the old Norse language, meaning overhang or cliff cave.  With around 300 inhabitants, it will probably be the smallest place I ever include on this blog.



Regular buses pass through Hell, heading to and from Trondheim.  The green livery indicates that they are operated as part of the AtB network, covering Trondheim and the surrounding area.  In the background of the image above is Trondheim (Værnes) Airport.

There are further buses operated by Nettbuss (website in Norwegian only), operating a more limited service to Hell.

This image of one of Hell's bus stops was taken in April 2013.  Thawing snow clearly indicates that, during the winter months, Hell does freeze!







Hell's railway station is worth a look.

The station lies at a junction.  The line north to Bodø, within the Arctic Circle, splits from the line heading east to Storlien just over the border in Sweden.

Although the station is still open to passengers, the station building is no longer in public use.

The goods shed at the eastern end of the platform carries an intriguing (and doubtlessly much-photographed) sign.



Train services to Hell are operated by Norwegian national operator NSB.

Most of the trains calling at Hell are local services between Trondheim and nearby Stjørdal.  The service generally runs hourly on Mondays to Fridays, every 2 hours at weekends.  Trains stop at Hell only on request.




Two trains a day call at Hell on their way to or from Storlien, with connections into and out of places further into Sweden.  Trains to and from Bodø pass through Hell without stopping.

This is an image of Hell itself.



The village lies on the south bank of the Stjørdalselva river.  Hell Bridge carries the road north across the river.


The image below was taken from the bridge, looking west over Trondheimsfjord.

The bridge in the foreground carries the railway, in the background is a second bridge carrying the trunk road.  Prior to that bridge being opened, the trunk road crossed Hell Bridge.

On the north side of the bridge is the Hell shopping centre.  Strictly speaking it isn't in Hell, which lies on the other side of the river.

In the background is the control tower of Trondheim Værnes Airport.






 

Back across the river, the Hell Grill is rather more appropriately named as it is in Hell.

Should you go to Hell, it is worth stopping off at this petrol station which also serves as the village post office.  Here you can buy postcards such as the one at the top of this article and, if you ask, the postmaster will happily make sure it carries a "Hell" postmark.

I can't resist finishing this article with some evidence of a "train journey from Hell", the half-hour journey to Trondheim.  Quite pleasant it was too!