The gardens of the railway
From the outset, various types of plantings were incorporated into the construction plans for the railway, for both utility and decorative purposes. The main aim of this was to restore the area around the railway stations after the construction work, but the plantings would also convey the 19th century ideals of the structure, order and character of a modern society.
Parks and decorative plantings were created around the stations. Along the tracks, hedges and trees were planted to protect against any sparks from steam locomotives that could ignite surrounding buildings. Plantings to meet household needs were also an important component, so berry bushes, fruit trees and kitchen gardens were planted at track tender’s cabins and other staff quarters.
A landscaper in each district
In the beginning, local landscapers took care of the plantings. When the Western Main Line (Västra Stambanan) was opened for traffic in 1864, more long-term planning for plantings around the railway stations began. Olof Eneroth was hired as landscape director at SJ to lead the work. The role of the landscape director was to lead and supervise the planting work. He was assisted by a landscaper in each district.
Hallsberg railway station, 1910
In 1879, regulations were drawn up for how Statens Järnvägar’s land was to be used. Much care was taken to design beautiful plantings of foliage and flowers in the form of what was called tapestry groups. A tapestry group was a group of plants arranged in a set pattern that was common at the railway stations.
Nurseries and depots
Early on, SJ had its own nurseries that supplied all railway parks and gardens with trees, shrubs and flowers. The gardens around the staff quarters also received plants from the nursery.
In 1931, there were five main depots for plants – in Värtan, Alingsås, Hässleholm, Östersund and Boden. There was a landscaper at each depot. In addition, there were 25 garden foremen posted at the plant depots and along the lines around the districts.
In 1972, Statens Järnvägar decided to discontinue the planting system, and the following year a 100-year-long activity at SJ came to an end.
Examples of seedlings and plants SJ’s plant stocks in 1866:
- 52 fruit trees
- 188 grafted fruit tree cuttings
- 3,600 rootstocks for fruit trees
- 48 gooseberry and currant bushes
- 118 raspberry bushes
- 12,300 hedge plants
- 6,630 park and decorative bushes
- 1,100 border plants
- 2,760 greenhouse plants
- 620 perennial flower plants
- 700 thorn bush stems