The History of Danish Railways 1844 - 1874

The first railroad in the kingdom of Denmark was opened September the 18th 1844.

King Christian the 8th's Railroad of The Northern Baltic was going from Kiel to Altona, both Danish cities until 1864 - today the cities are in Germany, where Altona is a surburb to Hamburg. The success of the railroad in the Danish duchies made the wish for a railroad in Denmark much stronger. The first railroad in Denmark was opened the 26th of June 1847 by king Christian 8.

It was bright summerday and there was a firing of a salute, when the king arrived to the railwaystation in Copenhagen.

At 12.45 the train began its journey to Roskilde. In an open wagon the band of the chasseurs was playing "Protect our King merciful God".

The train arrived at Roskilde 40 minutes later after a safeful trip. After the King had dined and seen the famous church in Roskilde, he returned to his castle north of Copenhagen, not by the train but by his own coaches and horses. The railroad was a 31.3 km - 19.5 miles - long section going from Copenhagen to Roskilde, and was private owned. Some parts of the railwaystation in Roskilde is from the very first station.

The Danish railway coaches are being fitted up with ashtrays, curtains, and hooks for hats and coats in 1856.

It should last 15 years before Jutland got its first railroad. In 1862, the railroad from Aarhus to Randers began its operations. The section is 59.2 km - 36.8 miles.

To connect the railroads on Funen with the railroads in Jutland a railway-ferry began sailing between Fredericia (Jutland) and Strib (Funen) in 1872.