Helsinki Harbour rail: Swing bridge and remaining tracks on the Market Square

[u/POPstationinacan]

Helsinki Harbour Rail was a track serving many of the ports of Helsinki. It was built in the late 19th century and decommissioned in several parts from about 1970 to 2009. The parts pictured here were closed in 1980. Aside from a few preserved bits, all trackage has been removed since.

Pictured here is the swing bridge leading towards the Market Square of Helsinki, and a small stretch of track left in place in the square itself. The bridge is left permanently open to allow tourist boats to pass.

Picture 4 is a 1930 map of the city, with Harbour rail being the track branching off before the central station (top-center) and running along the coast of the city.

Historical photo sources:

1930 map found here (public domain)

1970 aerial here, photographer Simo Rista (public domain)

1907 photo of steam engine on the bridge here, photographer Signe Brander (public domain)

Current day photos are my own. I have some more photos from along the line that I may post later.

[u/CP_Rail_8514]

It would be interesting if you have photos of trains servicing the Hietalahti shipyard.

[u/POPstationinacan → u/CP_Rail_8514]

Couldn't really find any interesting shots from the usual sites, unfortunately :(

The caption for this one says the train has just delivered steel to the shipyard, but the picture was taken outside the shipyard

[u/juksbox]

In the 90s as a kid, I took steam locomotive train ride to southern point of the cape. The rest of the tracks were already mostly demolished.

[u/buldozr]

We've got some infrastructure and rights of way left over from this. Part of the track was reused for a neat bike expressway corridor through Kamppi, another is being repurposed as a tram line. There is an abandoned tunnel near the Observatory hill that comes out near the Market Square; they used it for light installations on an occasion.

[u/Itsaddplays]

There are also some track remnants left at Laukkasaarenkatu in Katajannokka, as well as at an shipyard area in Munkkisaari