Steyrtalbahn
Encyclopedia
The Steyrtalbahn was a narrow gauge
railway in Upper Austria
, which ran from Garsten
through Steyr
, Grünburg
and Molln
to Klaus
, with a branchline to Sierning
and Bad Hall
. A section of the line has been retained as a museum railway.
In 1868 the Rudolfsbahn connected the city of Steyr
to the Eisenbahnnetz. By 1887 the Kremstalbahn reached Bad Hall and Klaus. In 1888 Josef Ritter von Wenusch received a concession for a narrow-gauge railway from Garsten to Grünburg, with a possible extension to Klaus. In the same year the Steyrtalbahn AG was created and started building the railway.
1889 saw the opening of the railway to Grünburg, one year later the line was extended to Agonitz. The extension of the line to Klaus was resisted by the Kremstalbahn company, who were afraid of losing a part their traffic to the Steyrtalbahn. The Steyrtalbahn therefore concentrated on building the branch line from Pergern to Bad Hall, which was opened 1891.
After the nationalization of the Kremstalbahn in 1902, the extension of the line to Klaus was again taken up. Construction commenced in 1908 and the extension opened in 1909. Thus the Steyrtalbahn network achieved its largest expansion (55 km).
and even a modest dividend could always be paid. Growth in the railway was financed by capital increases. Large shareholders in the company included the Steyr armaments company, the Steyr savings bank. and finally also the State of Upper Austria and city of Steyr for construction of the section Agonitz to Klaus.
In the First World War the line was important in providing transportation for armament makers between Steyr and Letten. A temporary roll-block
wagon transfer system was provided to Letten from 1916 to 1918.
After the Anschluss
and the incorporation of Austria into Germany
, the Steyrtalbahn became part of the German National Railways (Deutsche Reichsbahn
or DR). The Steyrtalbahn AG was dissolved in 1940, the railway lines became the property of the DR and thus after 1945 the property of the ÖBB
.
Further attempts to reduce costs led in 1967 to the closure of the remaining section of the branch line, while in 1968 road buses replaced passenger trains on the section between Klaus and Molln.
On the 14th March 1980 a rock slide blocked the line between Leonstein and Haunoldmühle. The next day the line was cleared and services started up again. 14 days later however a commission came to the conclusion that trains could not work the route reliability. As a result the section Grünburg to Molln was closed. Two years later the remaining line to Grünburg was closed.
built three saturated steam 0-6-2T locomotives. Three further locomotives were built in 1914. The locomotives are regarded as the precursors of the famous U class.
All other remaining railway tracks were dismantled, with much of the route converted to a bicycle path.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
railway in Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
, which ran from Garsten
Garsten
Garsten is a municipality in the district of Steyr-Land in Upper Austria, Austria....
through Steyr
Steyr
Steyr is a town, located in the Austrian federal state of Upper Austria. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Steyr and Enns. Steyr is Austria's 12th most populated town and simultaneously the 3rd largest town in Upper Austria....
, Grünburg
Grünburg
Grünburg is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in Upper Austria, Austria.-References:...
and Molln
Molln
Molln is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in Upper Austria, Austria.-References:...
to Klaus
Klaus
Klaus is a German given name and surname. It originated as a short form of Nikolaus, a German form of the given name Nicholas.-Notable persons whose family name is Klaus:*Billy Klaus, baseball player.*Chris Klaus, entrepreneur....
, with a branchline to Sierning
Sierning
Sierning is a municipality in the district of Steyr-Land in Upper Austria, Austria. As of 2009 estimates, there are 9.071 people living in the market town of Sierning, in an area of 38,2 km². Geographically, it is located between the city of Steyr and the health resort Bad Hall....
and Bad Hall
Bad Hall
Bad Hall is a market town in the Steyr-Land district in central Upper Austria, Austria. It has 5,200 inhabitants, as of 2006 estimates, in an area of 13.38 km². Its name, Bad Hall, means "Bath salt", a reference to its long history of baths and spas....
. A section of the line has been retained as a museum railway.
History
The main industries of the Steyrtals were forestry and metalworking. Timber obtained in the area was of a quality useful only for building and firewood or for the charcoal or paper production. Road transport was too expensive, and rail transport was required so the timber could be harvested profitably.In 1868 the Rudolfsbahn connected the city of Steyr
Steyr
Steyr is a town, located in the Austrian federal state of Upper Austria. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Steyr and Enns. Steyr is Austria's 12th most populated town and simultaneously the 3rd largest town in Upper Austria....
to the Eisenbahnnetz. By 1887 the Kremstalbahn reached Bad Hall and Klaus. In 1888 Josef Ritter von Wenusch received a concession for a narrow-gauge railway from Garsten to Grünburg, with a possible extension to Klaus. In the same year the Steyrtalbahn AG was created and started building the railway.
1889 saw the opening of the railway to Grünburg, one year later the line was extended to Agonitz. The extension of the line to Klaus was resisted by the Kremstalbahn company, who were afraid of losing a part their traffic to the Steyrtalbahn. The Steyrtalbahn therefore concentrated on building the branch line from Pergern to Bad Hall, which was opened 1891.
After the nationalization of the Kremstalbahn in 1902, the extension of the line to Klaus was again taken up. Construction commenced in 1908 and the extension opened in 1909. Thus the Steyrtalbahn network achieved its largest expansion (55 km).
Developments up to 1918
Apart from some early setbacks traffic on the Steyrtalbahn developed positively. There was an operating surplusOperating surplus
Operating surplus is an accounting concept used in national accounts statistics Operating surplus is an accounting concept used in national accounts statistics Operating surplus is an accounting concept used in national accounts statistics (such as United Nations System of National Accounts (UNSNA)...
and even a modest dividend could always be paid. Growth in the railway was financed by capital increases. Large shareholders in the company included the Steyr armaments company, the Steyr savings bank. and finally also the State of Upper Austria and city of Steyr for construction of the section Agonitz to Klaus.
In the First World War the line was important in providing transportation for armament makers between Steyr and Letten. A temporary roll-block
Roll-block
The Rollbock system allows a coupled train of standard gauge wagons to be automatically loaded or rolled onto pre-coupled narrow gauge transporter trucks or bogies so that the train can then continue through a change of gauge...
wagon transfer system was provided to Letten from 1916 to 1918.
Developments up to 1945
The end of the First World War saw economically difficult times began for the Steyrtalbahn. Motor buses became a serious competitor, with motorbus lines between Steyr and Bad Hall, and Steyr to Grünburg. Particularly badly hit was the Bad Hall branch, where a connection existed to the Kremstalbahn, and a majority of the passengers moved to the motorbus. All redevelopment efforts failed and in 1931 the railway was taken over by the Austrian Federal Railways (BBÖ). The branch line to Bad Hall remained unprofitable under the BBÖ, and the section Sierning to Bad Hall was closed in 1933 and dismantled at the beginning of the 'forties.After the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
and the incorporation of Austria into Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the Steyrtalbahn became part of the German National Railways (Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
or DR). The Steyrtalbahn AG was dissolved in 1940, the railway lines became the property of the DR and thus after 1945 the property of the ÖBB
ÖBB
The Austrian Federal Railways is the national railway system of Austria, and the administrators of Liechtenstein's railways...
.
Development after 1945
The Steyrtalbahn got through the Second World War without damage, nevertheless rebuilding the track was necessary. This was not done however, as there was war damage in other areas to repair first. The light track prevented the employment of the new narrow gauge diesel locomotives (class 2095) which were introduced from 1958, so that the railway continued to operate exclusively with steam engines.Further attempts to reduce costs led in 1967 to the closure of the remaining section of the branch line, while in 1968 road buses replaced passenger trains on the section between Klaus and Molln.
On the 14th March 1980 a rock slide blocked the line between Leonstein and Haunoldmühle. The next day the line was cleared and services started up again. 14 days later however a commission came to the conclusion that trains could not work the route reliability. As a result the section Grünburg to Molln was closed. Two years later the remaining line to Grünburg was closed.
Locomotives
For the opening of the line KraussKrauss
Krauss is a German language surname meaning "curly", and may refer to:* Alison Krauss, an American bluegrass musician* Clemens Krauss, an Austrian conductor...
built three saturated steam 0-6-2T locomotives. Three further locomotives were built in 1914. The locomotives are regarded as the precursors of the famous U class.
Steyrtalbahn after the shutdown
The Austrian Society for Railway History (ÖGEG) took over the line from Steyr to Grünburg and have operated it since 1985 as museum railway with steam locomotives. Museum operations are on Saturdays and Sundays from the beginning of June to the end of September with special trains at any time.All other remaining railway tracks were dismantled, with much of the route converted to a bicycle path.