[This series on Brita’s trip from Sweden to North America begins here.]
In Part 1 of this series, Brita Johansdotter left her home in Hudiksvall, Sweden for the last time on Sunday, January 22, 1893.
Four years after her husband emigrated to America.
Nine months after her son Johan died.
Five days after taking her daughter Helena to live with another family.
The first leg of her journey – from Hudiksvall to Göteborg – can only have been filled with sadness and anxiety.
And so I found myself wondering about her trip to Göteborg. What was her mode of transportation? And how long did the journey last?
After doing some research, it seems most likely she would have made the trip by train, since rail lines were well established by that time.
This map illustrates the rail lines in place by 1910. I outlined in red the route she might have travelled.
Twenty-four hours to remember all that had gone before and ponder what might lie ahead.
Depending on when she left Hudiksvall on January 22nd, Brita would have probably arrived in Göteborg on either January 23rd or 24th – assuming there were no overnight or lengthy stops along the way.
We know that her ship sailed on Friday, February 10th. So what did she do for two weeks while waiting to continue her journey?
In Part 3 of Brita’s trip from Sweden to North America, I’ll cover what I’ve learned about how she might have spent her time in Göteborg and give some detail on the next leg of her trip.
