[Photoplug] Narrow gauge steam and snow in Austria

Here are albums of steam charters on two 76cm gauge lines in Austria. They were taken during an excellent Railway Touring Co trip to the Czech Republic and Austria.

The first album records a visit to the Mariazell Railway. This electrified 84km narrow gauge railway runs south from St Polten, on the Vienna - Linz main line, to the important pilgrimage centre of Mariazell. It is single track, and has two distinct sections. From St Polten to Kirchberg an der Pielach (31km) it follows the valley floor as it climbs from 273 to 372m. South of there it becomes a real mountain railway, steeply graded and sharply curved, with viaducts, tunnels and horseshoes. It reaches a summit of 891m at Gosing (67km) before descending to Mariazell (849m). The railway opened in 1907 using steam traction. It was electrified as early as 1911. Our charter used one of the class Mh 0-8+4 locos built for the railway in 1907.

http://andrewstransport.smugmug.com...-2015/47548473_8cB8RQ#!i=3882727327&k=s2dDJ3d

The second visit was to the Pinzgauer Railway. It runs from Zell am See up the Salzach valley to Krimml, and is 53km long. Our charter used another class Mh 0-8+4.

http://andrewstransport.smugmug.com...-2015/47633574_dhrckf#!i=3891139509&k=pcdfjqR

Cheers

Andrew N

 

I never saw them that clean when they were running as ÖBB 399s at Gmünd!