Mur Valley Railway

The Murtalbahn is a narrow gauge railway with a track width of 760 millimeters ( Bosnian gauge), the results of Unzmarkt in the Austrian province of Styria on Malmesbury and Tamsweg to Mauterndorf in Salzburg.

The track is the second longest narrow gauge railway in Austria and is operated by Tamsweg of the Styrian Provincial Railways ( StLB ). Up there it follows the valley of the eponymous river Mur. The route to Tamsweg is incorporated into both the Salzburg transport network as well as in the traffic group Styria. The remaining portion was leased by setting the regular operation of the Taurachbahn Society. This is a sub-organization of the Club 760, where it leads a seasonal museum railway operation with its own license through. The name derives from the Southern Taurach along which the track runs in the top section.

History

In 1888, the first delegation interested in purchasing a license for a Schmarlspurbahn in appearance. 1888 failed Ing Hermann Ritter. In 1889, the construction company tried Stern & Hafferl as a concession advertisers for local railway Sankt Lambrecht -Murau - Tamsweg - Mauterndorf. But even here, the project failed due to high costs.

On March 31, 1892 Styrian Landtag for cost reasons, decided to leave the Create Murtalbahn as a narrow gauge railway. The central government in Vienna was common with many other railway projects on a track width of 760 mm. On April 7, 1893 the Styrian State Committee was the concession to build and operate the Lokahlbahn Unzmarkt - Mauterndorf approved for 90 years. The construction of the firm Stern & Hafferl was transferred. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 27, 1893 by Adolph Joseph Prince. On September 22, 1894 already the first test drives took place. On October 7, 1894, the 76.230 km long railway line from Unzmarkt was completed to Mauterndorf. The former maximum line speed was set at 30 km / h. An exception was the section Ramingstein - Thomatal - Tamsweg. Here was a line speed of 25 km / h

Even at that time were used on the Murtalbahn understanding between the stations and the terminal on the distance trains phones. The Murtalbahn was thus the first railway in Austria, conducted by the Zugmeldeverfahren by telephone.

The grand opening of Murtalbahn was celebrated on 8 October 1894, a special train from Leoben to Unzmarkt that brought nearly 200 party guests after Unzmarkt. Quote of then Mayor Joseph Mitteregger at the opening speech: "Taking part in this celebration both on the part of the population of Murau as the environment may prove which you are interested. Our long-cherished desire for a rail link is now been fulfilled, with the next train our web is used for general traffic and revitalize our quiet valley again. This is thanks to the high Styrian parliament and prominent men of the country. "

The first years of operation of the Murtalbahn ran slow. But from year to year brought the Murtalbahn more tourists to the city Murau, and in 1896 there were also significant increases in freight transport. To speed up the movement of the stops Gestüthof, Cäciliabrücke, Kendlbruck, Madling, Lintsching and stone village Faningberg were converted to required stops by October 1, 1912. In the period from 1933 to 1939, the first Austro-Daimler petrol railcars used, which reached a top speed of 60 km / h came. However, later had to be re- switched to steam, because the railcars were not going smoothly. Accidents, technical difficulties, lack of fuel and repair vulnerabilities meant that in 1939, the railcars were replaced.

On 1 July 1942, the Province of Styria took over the Murtalbahn. The corporation Murtalbahn Unzmarkt - Mauterndorf was dissolved and the assets transferred to the province of Styria. First, the Murtalbahn under the name Gaueisenbahn Unzmarkt - Mauterndorf and after the war as a national course Unzmarkt - Mauterndorf (U - M) was performed.

In the years 1964 to 1967 the first diesel-electric locomotives were purchased. With the migration to this technology, the age of steam locomotives seemed over. However, railroad lovers, train managers and tourism managers put forth one for steam locomotives. Thus, in 1968 published the steam slow trains. Since 1969, these are an integral part of the timetable Murtalbahn.

In order to draw the interest of the population in addition to the Murtalbahn, 1969, the idea of Amateurlokfahrten was born. These were compared with the steam locomotive Steinz 2, built in 1892, oldest locomotive in the Styrian Provincial Railways carried out. Since that time, everyone has the opportunity to lead once even a steam locomotive.

In March 1973, the public passenger transport on the 11 km long section Tamsweg - Mauterndorf was set in 1980 and the freight. In 2011 the building of the railway station Ramingstein - Thomatal due to high maintenance costs has been canceled. For passengers, now a shelter is built. Since 2012, steam trains of Murtalbahn go back to Wölting.

Above this terminal a museum traffic according to the 1983 already begun preliminary work by the Club 760 under the name Taurachbahn since 1988 carried out. Meanwhile, trains stop at stations between the upper end of the track and Sankt Andra im Lungau and apply something underneath it at the former Funcke connection.

One last problem with the leg - Tamsweg Mauterndorf. The 11 km long route runs in the Lungau not ideal and the stops are too far away from the places to be attractive for the population. Due to the lack of utilization eventually had to be discontinued on March 31, 1973, the public passenger transport and on September 1, 1981, the entire traffic. Thus, the official name of the Murtalbahn of Landesbahn Unzmarkt - Mauterndorf on Landesbahn Unzmarkt - Tamsweg (U -T) has been changed.

Again and again it was an attempt to relocate the passenger in full by rail to road. The decision was made in favor of rail. Then invested the Styrian Provincial Railways in new railcars. On 28 November 1980, the first railcar (VT 31) was delivered for special occasion. On 9 February in the year of the sample transport began in passenger transport. In 1981, another three railcars ( VT 32-34 ) purchased and four additional vehicles ( VS 41-44) in 1982. These vehicles are still in use there.

Operation

Today at the Murtalbahn passenger all two hours is a train. The train crossings take place for straight full hour in Murau. To use the diesel railcar VT 31-35 come, partly as multiple units and driving trailers.

Moreover, there is freight that is carried out by the 1966 -built diesel locomotives VL series 11-16.

The main workshop is located at the Murtalbahn Murau station. These Rules of the non-operational locomotives U.40, U.43 and the Stainz 2 are turned off.

The Styrian Railways invest in the operation and in the maintenance of the track infrastructure is located in a comparable standard-gauge mainline state. The continued existence of Murtalbahn was at least 2011 briefly as not secured. The reason the weak financial position of the Province of Styria was specified. Tamswegs mayor believes that the Murtalbahn whether as a part of the regional transport concept indispensable, and the Styrian Provincial Traffic Gerhard Kurz man wants to get the train, but points to the close budgetary conditions.

Rolling stock

The Murtalbahn decreed 2007

4 steam locomotives
3 diesel locomotives
5 diesel-electric railcars and 3 control car
8 normal passenger cars
2 baggage car
97 freight cars

The first four diesel-electric railcar (VT 31-34) were built 1981-1982 by the company Knotz in Vienna, the fifth (VT 35) supplied by ELIN 1999. According to their model, the series 5090, ÖBB was designed.

Steam locomotives

Mainline diesel locomotives

Verschubdiesellokomotiven

Railcar

Control car

Tourism

In the summer months the Styrian Provincial Railways steam slow trains put on the market intended for use on Tuesdays and Thursdays the most scenic section between Malmesbury and Tamsweg. In particular, the narrow valley between Madling and Tamsweg -St. Leonard is considered Section with rewarding photo opportunities. Be drawn rides of locomotives of type Bh.1 or u.11. On the line steam specials can be drawn and Amateurlokfahrten be ordered.

In Frojach - Katschtal station is located in a purpose-built vehicle from the 760 Club Hall, a narrow gauge railway museum. The Club 760, the Friends of the Murtalbahn, was founded in 1969 at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Murtalbahn. Named the club is after the track width of the Murtalbahn (760 mm).

Pictures

Dieseltriebwagenzug

Interior of the railcar

Diesel locomotive with freight train in Murau

The operation workshop in Murau, here are maintained and repaired the vehicles.

Grade (slope) Scheifling Mur (river) Teufenbach Triebendorf Stolzalpe Sankt Ruprecht-Falkendorf Stadl an der Mur Predlitz-Turrach Mariapfarr Control car (rail)

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