Trains and other things: Hällnäs, Ekträsk, Bastuträsk, Skellefteå

During the next two days, I will continue my journey further north along Stambanan genom övre Norrland (Main Line through upper Northland). Today I will travel from Umeå to Skellefteå.

First stop is Tväråbäck

Next is Vindeln. There is a platform here for long distance and regional passenger trains.

Train 41919 "Arctic Rail Express"

Traxx F140 AC2 from Railpool, hired to CargoNet

Book station

At Hällnäs, there is a whole bunch of trains.

Here is Hector Rail 941 001 "Morricone" manufactured by Vossloh and named Vossloh G2000 BB

Another diesel locomotive here in Hällnäs is TMZ 1408 from BLS Rail

These diesel locomotives are transporting freight trains along Hällnäs-Storuman railway

Hector Rail is switching from diesel to electric locomotive here in Hällnäs for the timber freight transport

Hector Rail Vectron AC DPM 243 103 and 243 111

A view from a little bit south of Hällnäs

Train 6186 from Vännäs to Storuman

Green Cargo Td 406 and TdE 364

TdE 364 is manufactured in 1976, now it is equipped with ERTMS

Norrtåg 7490 from Umeå Östra to Hällnäs

X62 005

Last time I visited Hällnäs was in 2016, back then the station was empty, now all 4 tracks are occupied with trains.

Also, on this day 1st of July, there is an event "Motorträff" at the station.

Hällnäs sanatorium built in 1926

"Hällnäs historia" community was organising trips with heritage railcars during summer of 2013

Next is Yttersjön

Ekträsk station built in 1894

The station is designed by Adolf W. Edelsvärd and it is identical to 9 other stations, built in so called "Byskemodellen".

View from the street

Hector Rail Vectron locomotives I saw earlier in Hällnäs, have collected the timber freight and now heading north as train 41876

The train is heading to SCA paper industry in Munksund outside Piteå

I'm trying to visit all operation sites (Driftplats) along this line, now I've reached Lubboträsk. The map of all "driftplats" sites is available here.

Next is Åsträsk

Åsträsk station is identical with Ekträsk

Kattisträsk

Watch out for snakes

The roads are straight and empty here in the north

Bastuträsk station

The station opened in 1894, but the current building is from the 60's

Inside there is a waiting hall with free internet, and a second hand shop

The station has its own website and a Facebook page

Books for sale. The buyer is deciding the price

The old ticket counter

There is a camera outside the station. Live pictures are available here

This is me

Bastuträsk has 369 residents according to Wikipedia

#Bastuträsklever (Bastuträsk is alive)

The night train from Stockholm to Luleå/Boden stops here early in the morning, the night train back late in the evening. During the day, there is a Norrtåg service between Umeå and Luleå.

Here is service 7123 from Luleå. The trip with train takes 3h40min. There is a more frequent bus service between Luleå and Umeå, which takes 4h40min, but on the other hand it is covering larger towns like Skellefteå and Piteå on its way. Once Norrbotniabanan railway is completed, the route will have frequent train services.

Operated with Norrtåg X52 9034

Ashtray

The long platform for the night train

Green cargo train 4371 from Gällivare to Skelleftehamns övre. This freight train operates every day and it is a cooperation with Boliden company. Aitik shuttle transports copper concentrates from the Aitik mine in Gällivare.