Os on Rusken: Ohsabanan and village history

Os and Ohs on Rusken

Os lies at the southern end of Lake Rusken; Ohs is the oldest recorded form of the place name. Ohs is also a small village. According to the municipality, around 200 people live in the village and the surrounding rural area; this is an estimate and may change over time. So getting your bearings starts with two specific features: its location at the southern end of the lake and a small rural settlement. For travellers, the Ohsabanan railway, woodland scenery and local history appeal to different interests. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Os, you can first consider what you would like to focus on: a train ride, cultural history, or time by the water and on walking trails. This lets you choose the area based on the kind of stay you have planned, rather than deciding solely by the name of the destination.

The Ohsabanan: woodland scenery and railway engineering

The Ohsabanan is a heritage railway in Ohs, where you can ride the train as people did in the past. The journey passes through woodland. The railway has been preserved at almost its original length of 15 kilometres, and Ohs Bruk is its main station. This brings together two distinct features: a journey through the forest and a preserved railway. The track gauge is 600 millimetres, the narrowest gauge used for passenger traffic in Sweden. Track gauge is the distance between the rails. This measurement also gives the journey a tangible technical dimension. For railway enthusiasts, this offers a different perspective from the woodland scenery: one is about the experience of travelling, the other about a precise feature of the railway.

Seasonal rides and local history

You can ride the Ohsabanan steam train in summer and at Christmas. These two seasonal periods provide a clear framework for planning your trip; check the operator’s information for current services. The Jernvägscaféet in Ohs also opens in summer in connection with Ohsabanan train services. If you would like to combine a ride with a visit to the café, check the latest information about both in advance.

The Ohs Bruksmuseum houses the archive of the former ironworks and numerous historical everyday objects. This adds another facet to the railway: the former ironworks and objects from daily life. If you are interested in technical and everyday history, you can consider these topics separately or together when planning your trip.

More activities in the village

Leisure facilities in Ohs include a swimming area, walking trails, boat moorings, a slipway for recreational boats, a barbecue area and a football pitch. The swimming area and boating facilities draw attention to the water; the walking trails and barbecue area offer other ways to spend time outdoors. The football pitch adds another leisure option to the list. Alongside the railway and museum, water, trails and activities in the village offer different possibilities for your trip.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment, the kind of trip you want is a good place to start. Railways and technology, village and everyday history, and water and walking trails offer different focuses for your stay. Consider which of these topics interests you most, and check whether Os suits the trip you are planning.

Discover more destinations: Gällaryd, Tallberga, Forsheda, Värnamo, Nydala, Bredaryd, Rydaholm, Horda.

Go to the broader travel guide: Värnamo.