Winter sports trips
The Swedish Tourism Association (STF) and SJ began a collaboration in the form of winter sports trips to Jämtland from 29 March to 7 April 1924 at half price. The following year, travellers from Malmö and Gothenburg were also able to take part in the winter trips.
At the end of 1924, the question was raised as to whether schoolchildren could benefit from a week’s change of scenery and the opportunity to practise skiing. This train trip was called Skolungdomens fjällfärder (Schoolchildren's Mountain Trip) and was launched in 1925. As the journeys were quite long, a primitive form of sleeping accommodation with dividers and corrugated cardboard was introduced in 1927.
Spreading awareness of the mountain world
This also gave rise to the idea that the mountain world was not limited to winter, snow and skiing, but also had a lot to offer in the summer. The idea was realised and the concept was called Tåghem (Train Home).
The journey up to Jämtland was made on special trains, which also served as accommodation in simple lodgings. Initially, the train consisted of two older third-class sleeper carriages and a restaurant car. Each group could accommodate up to 90 people and the stay lasted for a week.
SJ's intention was to “spread awareness of the mountain world to wider circles of the population” and that it was “necessary to promote this among young people”. These trips were also organised in collaboration with STF, which handled food, excursions and similar activities.
The different concepts were organised over a number of decades and came to an end in the late 1950s or early 1960s.