Ratakatu street 5, Old Station, Kuutostiimi Gift & Souvenir Store, window on the porch, first window on the left when viewed from the yard
The last passenger train from Raahe to Tuomioja departed on September 24, 1966, at 9:45 p.m. An estimated 1,500 people from the town and surrounding area had gathered to say goodbye.
“Passenger traffic to bilingual Raahe was quite busy on the railways in the early 20th century. Often, the arrivals were familiar and expected but not always.
Once in the 1920s, a man who was on his way to a meeting at the Kauppaklubi (Trade Club) was left behind by the train. When he couldn't get a ride from the station, he decided to walk. At the station, he was instructed to walk straight to Rantakatu street and continue from there.
No one came along the street. Only a cat darted across the road. Near Rantakatu street, a man was shoveling snow. The visitor asked him for directions to Kauppakerho (Trade Club).
“I don’t understand what you mean”, the snowplow driver muttered in reply.
As the visitor still did not know the exact address, he continued on his way. At the edge of the market square, he met a woman and asked her for directions to the Kauppakerho (Trade Club).
Yes, Kauppakerho is far away on the hill, the woman explained. The answer did not help the visitor much.
Finally, a man who spoke clear Finnish came along and took the visitor to the meeting place, where he was welcomed by Mrs. Montin, the Swedish-speaking hostess of the club.
After considering the matter, it was concluded that the aforementioned Swedish-speaking residents of Raahe would have understood the word "club," but Kauppakerho was an unfamiliar place to them.” (Paul Sovio: Komppakujalta Katinhäntään)
Since then, the Swedish-speaking population of Raahe has dwindled to almost nothing.
Discontinuation of passenger transport
The last passenger train from Raahe to Tuomioja departed on September 24, 1966, at 9:45 p.m. An estimated 1,500 people from the town and surrounding area had gathered to say goodbye. The Raahe Business and Trade School Guild and the seminar student council organized a procession, which departed from the town library courtyard at 8:30 p.m.
Carrying tar torches and chanting slogans, the students followed the police car-led procession through Pekkatori square to Reiponkatu street and on from Härkätori square via Sovionkatu street to Asemakatu street and the railway station. The procession was followed by a large crowd, and even more people were waiting at the station.
The program was hosted by Urpo Kytökangas, a student at the commercial college. The television cameras' dazzling spotlights kept the excitement high.
A tear or two may have been shed, even though up until then everyone had been laughing and singing along to the humorous plan devised by the young people. Very serious faces peered curiously out of the carriage windows at the huge crowd.
Standing on a platform made of boxes, Esko Koskela, a student at the business school, gave a blessing speech for the last train. Students Ulla Aurio, Marita Pehkonen, and Esko Koskela placed a wreath made of white chrysanthemums and blue irises on the front of the rail bus.
Seminar student Seppo Jussila tied the wreath securely to the front of the train so that some of it would still be left when it arrived in Tuomioja.
The Raahe March was played and then it quietly chugged into motion. The escorts shouted to their last train, and the train shouted back, long and shrill, and then it disappeared into the distance for the last time. (Raahen Seutu newspaper, September 27, 1966)
The window decorations were created by Kuutostiimi, a craft and gift shop.
More information
Paul Sovio: Text from Komppakuja to Katinhäntä – in the book
Raahen Seutu newspaper 27.9.1966
Back to the front page of the Old Town Raahe Advent Calendar