The rationale for building a railway through Solør was first and foremost tied to the large lumber resources in the area, especially in Finnskogen. Engebret Soot proposed in 1851 that Glomma be connected to the Swedish canal network. It was mostly technical difficulties which resulted in the plans being shelved. Glomma would need to receive several parallel canals and locks. The river is iced half the year and there are shifting sandbanks. The interest for a railway arose with the construction of the Kongsvinger Line, approved in 1857 and completed in 1862.