Thörlerbahn

The Thörlerbahn, in official parlance Lokalbahn Kapfenberg -Au - Seewiesen, was operated by the Styrian Provincial Railways narrow gauge railway with 760 mm gauge. She joined the region around Aflenz in Upper Styria with the Southern Railway in Kapfenberg.

History

Originally planned as a section of a planned rail link from Muerztal to Mariazell, the narrow-gauge railway was opened in 1893. The railway brought the region mainly by freight economic boom, especially the iron industry benefited from the then contemporary transport. In passenger route never attained great importance, as the bigger places like Aflenz or Turnau were located away from the track and also the further connection was never realized to Mariazell Railway.

On March 15, 1959, the passenger has been set, the section from Seebach Turnau to Au - Seewiesen was completely set and removed in 1964. The freight for the iron industry to Thoerl However, there was positive, the operation was converted in the 1960s to diesel traction, procured modern freight cars, adapted to the superstructure to the increased loads and finally the early 1990s, was at Kapfenberg country station nor a modern outbuildings - workshops and buildings erected.

The section of Aflenz to Seebach - Turnau on which only sporadically wood was transported, was set in late 1990. The association Thörlerbahn, who had taken on the task of preserving the stretch before the ablation, 1991, a vintage train - trial operation with borrowed vehicles. This offer was accepted very positive so that in the following years, an initially promising Museum rail project could be built: passenger cars were built according to the historical model on freight car chassis and the last original steam locomotive no. 6 Thoerl, at the same time the last existing machine with a series of closely related Z series could be rented and reactivated by the Club 760.

However, a bank failure led 1995, the local iron industry into bankruptcy, so that the country's railways were forced after the abolition of the biggest ( and practically only) freight customers to cease operation. By the end of the season 1997, the club was allowed to ride the whole way, a complete takeover of the 20 km route was not possible for financial reasons. Lack support in the region, here rather the use of the railway line was welcomed as a bike path and to widen the highway, the club announced after loss of the season at the 1998 bankruptcy. The vehicles were sold or returned to their owners. On 31 October 1999, the Thörlerbahn is frequented for the last time with a handcar.

2003 and 2004, the tracks were removed.

The Shoo building and the goods Magazine of the station Thoerl are under monument protection.

Former railway station building of Au Seewiesen (1991 )

Thoerl Station (formerly Aflenz ) after removal of the tracks (Aug. 2003)