#setskogen

These are the four steamers I've been working with this year. From top to bottom: Høland, Setskogen, Setesdalsbanens No.2 "Magdalena" and Urskog. I call them my emotional support locomotives!

I would have added Prydz and Setesdalsbanens No.6 "Lukas" too, but I haven't worked with them in quite a while. Hopefully they'll return to service soon!

Myself and my friend, Hakai Shedo visits the Urskog–Hølandsbanen, taking photos with Høland, Bingsfos and Setskogen. The latter wasn't too pleased to see me and Hakai, heh...

Hakai and Setskogen's face drawn by @sonisis

Now I’d like to share a cute little story from last Sunday with you. About a week and a half ago, I received a rather special inquiry from a concerned father. His five-year-old daughter had been frightened by Ulka at the Krøder Line and had become terrified of trains. He wondered how he could help her feel safe again and asked if I might be able to assist.

I was a guard conductor last Sunday and knew I would have my hands full with little time to give anyone special attention. But we agreed that they would come for the last departure of the day, so that they could have a tour of the engine shed once I was finished. Perhaps seeing locomotives that were not fired up would help.

After a while, I got another idea. My own daughter isn’t afraid of steam engines at all. So, I arranged with my husband, M, and my daughter, A, that they would come along too – and that A would bring her Høland plushie, which the five-year-old could borrow if she dared to ride the train.

The father and daughter stood hesitantly on the platform at the last departure, so I went over and talked to our little guest. I explained that Setskogen is so happy to go on a trip that she whistles out of pure joy – and that it’s the locomotives’ way of saying they’re glad to see you. 😉

That convinced the little girl to join the ride after all, and I guided them into the carriage where M and A were ready to welcome them.

By the end of the day, Høland – both as a locomotive and as a plushie – along with Setskogen and time spent with my family, had helped a lot! Suddenly it wasn’t scary anymore. The girl ran around greeting all the locomotives, sang a birthday song for Prydz in the carriage hall, and even dared to stand in the shed when Setskogen rolled in and released her last breaths of steam!

It was a very happy father and daughter who left us last Sunday, and the next day I received a lovely message saying that the girl had hardly talked about anything but trains at kindergarten, and he thanked us so much for the help.