The Mariazell Railroad - 5

This gallery contains some additional shots, which I took along the Mariazellerbahn line. Shots of line details and others of the surrounding environment are presented.

They shall contribute in painting some over all ambience impression regarding the line. Some will present just small details, others may tell, how today the former line terminal Gusswerk looks like.

Also some shots of the Alpenbahnhof area are attached. Maybe this gallery will be extended in future, if required.

As already mentioned, it was one of my objectives to make BEAUTY AND CHARME OF THE MARIAZELL LINE ACCESSIBLE TO THE WIDE WEB WORLD. Therefore a typical set of ambience details is accessible here virtually.

This line presentation has 7 parts:
Part 1 and Part 2 will give impressions of the uphill drive from St. Poelten to Mariazell.
Part 3 and Part 4 change direction and guide back from Mariazell home to St. Poelten.
This Part 5 collects additional impressions from and around the line and Part 6 is dedicated to steam operated special events. Part 7 finally gives impressions of winter operation.

All photographs taken in August 2003, except otherwise stated.
I wish you a lot of fun! - and of course feedback of site visitors welcome!

 

I start again at St. Poelten main station. Right the station building with the dome roof is visible. The yellow block with the green roof in the background is a reconstructed part of the building, which was devastated in WW2. In front of this building and further to the background the Mariazell line trains departed until WW2. The street name is Khittelstrasse. After 1945 the line platforms were transferred to some elevated position which is located behind the yellow wall unit in the back.

  
Click on images to get enlarged presentation!
 

In 1909 when electric line operation was started, a hydro power plant close to the Wienerbruck station was built. But constructors did not know, if the average water inflow during the full year period would be enough for operation. Therefore they decided to install a petrol operated backup unit. This building also constructed in 1909 was home of the backup plant. During the first years of electric operation they recognized, that the backup power plant was not necessary at all, and its equipment was dismantled after some years.

  
  In the foreground the loading zone for pickaback transportation is visible. After arrival the narrow gauge carriage frame was let down to the ground. Then the rail profile of the carriage and that of the continuing fix installed rails are at the same level and pickaback standard gauge vehicles may be hauled away. In the background again the former petrol plant building is visible. (top of page)  
  At the Alpenbahnhof station train compositions are arranged and put together. Most of the vehicles are parked without any housing. Just 6 locomotives 1099 may be parked in the loco house. 6 further units are parked outside. In August 2003 they were not in use because of outdated maintenance cycles, as machinists told.  
  Behind the loco house some maintenance area is located. There I could take a picture of the 1099.002 body. It was painted using a bit different colour tone and looked good. The corresponding chassis units I did not recognize anywhere. The loco has relief style number plates and the former OeBB flying wheel logo.  
  The 1099.007 is the only engine which is painted regarding a completely different colour scheme. It is parked within the loco house with some damaged driving rod unit. The small insert image shows the bent rod. (top of page)  
  At the Ober Grafendorf station I recognized this motor vehicle. The mobile was delivered by the company Plasser & Theurer in 1986 and is marked as X 627.951. It is dedicated for line maintenance works but can also be used as driving vehicle for snow-blowers and plough units.  
 

At the Hofstetten-Gruenau station this painting of some unknown artist is presented. It shows the Klausgraben viaduct, which is the only one with just two arches. It's some type of Mariazellerbahn self advertisement.

  
  At the Tradigist station I could take a picture of another Mariazellerbahn motor vehicle. The X 629.901 was delivered in 1993 by Plasser & Theurer and pushes some class 91.200 gravel waggon. (top of page)  
 

This siding track is located at Steinschal-Tradigist. It ends close to some private property area and was not in use since long time as visible. In former times a 2 km long 600 mm gauge railway connected a cement factory with the Mariazell line. The insert informs about the track installation of 1912.

Insert source: Die Mariazellerbahn, Felsinger/Schober

  
  Along the complete line, some old fashioned telegraph equipment is installed. It is still fully in use. Such transmission lines are very rare today. I assume that just spoken data is transmitted. Advantage of private lines is the independence of public services.  
  At distance 53,8 km the former crossing station Ober Buchberg is located at the middle ramp section. From all former buildings just the one on the image is still existing. Today it is used as one-family house and impressively decorated by the owner. (top of page)  
  This buffer stop unit may be recognized at the Winterbach station. In the background the Nattersbach valley is visible and at the valley floor the Laubenbachmuehle station is located.  
  On many station buildings some information about elevation above sea level is mounted. The plate indicating 796,50 m is located at the Wienerbruck-Josefsberg station. They even used some modular construction at that time.  
  Mariazell line travellers get information about most of the larger line buildings via specific information plates. They are positioned along the rail track that way, that they are readable from window seats. The meaning of the red plates, I don't know. (top of page)  
 

A typical attribute of the Mariazell line are the both dark bands left and right beside the rails. Reason are some small oil drops, which got distributed along the line during decades of 1099 rod drive operation. At stations this about 30 cm wide phenomenon is stronger visible than on cross-country sections.

  
  Obviously railroad ties (sleepers) are marked by the year of production. The oldest ties I recognized were from 1965, the latest from 2002. The meaning of the additional 2 and 0 on the 1965 tie I do not know.  
  With regard to today's operation, single locos at line sections are totally rare. As mentioned in part 3 one day 1099.004 got defect at the Puchenstuben station. 1099.001 was sent from Mariazell to drag off this train. On its way there, I could take this picture at the Erlaufklause station. (top of page)  
  Mariazell railroad fans organized some special journey on August 30th, 2003. Images of that train are included in gallery part 1 and 2. 1099.016 was decorated with some special plate, announcing the club slogan "Voller Zug". (meaning: full train - all available seats occupied).  
  15 of the 16 formerly built engines class 1099 are still existing. They were assembled in 1911, 1912 and 1914. Between 1959 and 62 all units got newly styled body frames. The 1099 engines are the oldest electric narrow gauge locomotives world-wide, which are still used in daily regular operation. The 1099 has two chassis with 3 rod coupled axles each. Every chassis has a separate motor. Vmax is about 50 km/h.  
  This one shows how carriages are clutched. The central buffer system has some additional yoke bar which is helpful when shunting and preventing that buffers loose contact during driving. Regular clutching elements are two adjustable hook systems left and right of the central buffer. Further elements foreseen for braking and electric supply. Railcars use automatic clutching of type Scharfenberg. Photo 1999. (top of page)  
  The Gusswerk station was line's end until 1988, May 29th. On the way there the Rasing-St. Sebastian station was located quite opposite of some sawmill plant. Today the sawmill uses the rail track area for wood storage. But the former railroad equipment is still visible.  
  Gusswerk itself is today some railway biotope area. The catenary equipment is still recognizable in its former style. But at the ground just total chaos may be detected. Right the former profile check system is visible. In the background lots of de-installed rail track units are stapled…  
 

On the insert visible the former station building. At the still existing waiting area time stopped in the 80s. Some advertisement posters still propose special offers from this time… (top of page)

Complementing images of steam operation at Part 6

  
Navigation: Rail world select - Mariazell Line: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 6 - Part 7
Last Update: December 2004 - send me an email
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