Semmering Railroad - 3

The Semmering Railroad - this is part 3 of the presentation.

Also available are from north to south part 1, part 2, part 4, part 5; anniversary 150 years and a gallery with winter images. For geographical orientation click on the area map symbol left!

This 3rd part deals with the section between Rumplergraben viaduct and Kalte Rinne viaduct.

Included are shots from many fine photo spots for railroad pictures. Starting with Weinzettlwand- and Weinzettlfeld tunnel the presentation continues with some first class photo subjects located just a few meters uphill the Breitenstein station. Scroll down and feel free browsing ...

The chain starts with the Krauselklause tunnel with its 14 m length the shortest of the whole Semmering line. Then follows the Krauselklause viaduct with 6 upper and 3 basic arches. Immediately chained on appears the Polleroswand tunnel (upper exit see above) and then the most well known building, the viaduct crossing the "Kalte Rinne".

This building with its 10 upper and 5 basic arches and a length of 184 m is the most famous of the Semmering line. Scroll down and have a lot of fun exploring more of the Semmering line now...
  From the Pfefferwand position, the Weinzettlwand is the next. The rail tracks are visible; the portal of the Weinzettlwand tunnel is located a bit left of the image center. The railroad hiking trail in this section goes along the top of the rock face. In the back right, the top of the Polleroswand is visible too (08/2005).  
  As mentioned Ghega wanted to build the line along the Weinzettlwand rock face as open track. Partly rests of construction works are visible even today. Left visible is the gallery with a train passing it. Some historical papers tell, that here was an artificial garden located, also with artificial waterfall included. As attraction the Semmering line should be built directly through, until the falling rocks accident happened ... (10/2004).  
  The gallery is located about 100 m before the uphill end of the Weinzettlwand tunnel. In 2004 workers had stubbed up the area in the close foreground. This enables shoots like this. An intercity train drives uphill (10/2004).  
  An interesting shot is possible when using the tele sniper from the tunnel's upper end. A reflection of the red loco body also colors the gallery construction a bit in red (10/2004). (top of page)
  
 

Close to the end, there is enough space to enter the tunnel without danger. In the foreground the Weinzettlwand tunnel upper exit, in the middle ground the 2004 nostalgic train approaching and in the background the portal of the Weinzettlfeld tunnel (9/2004).

  
 

The spot to take this shot was overgrown for many years. In 2004 it was usable again. By chance a railroad maintenance vehicle is approaching. Therefore the gallery is easily visible through the tunnel hole (9/2004).

  
  At about 6:06 p.m. the IC 631 Silicon Alps leaves the uphill exit of Weinzettelfeld tunnel. The three track section along the station starts here. At the right the former signal box Breitenstein east (5/2003). (top of page)  
  The freight train is leaving the area of Breitenstein and will enter the Weizettelfeld tunnel immediately. Later the Weinzettelwand tunnel will follow. At the left, the former signal box east (5/2003).  
  Position change. Photo direction uphill. The train seems to be the Inter City No. 538 ADEG, which passes here at about 3.50 p.m. The two class 1044 locos produce the typical and rather loud ventilation noise when passing (10/2001).  
  In 2004 Taurus locomotives of Gysev frequently could be seen on the Semmering. This is the Breitenstein station. In the background and on the opposite slope railroad attendant buildings are visible, indicating the inclination of the line in this section (6/2004). (top of page)  
  The Breitenstein station has long and flat rails. It is frequently used for train crossings and overtaking. The photograph shows a special train with a series 1040 loco. This series is about 50 years old and dying out rapidly
(about 1990).		  
  From an opposite outlook point the whole scenery may be observed as panorama. Down right the Krauselklause tunnel, then the viaduct with same name and the Polleroswand plus tunnel. At the left the viaduct crossing the Kalte Rinne is visible too (5/2003).  
  Using the tele sniper, more details may be fixed on celluloid. Here the formerly mentioned IC 932 Oskar Kokoschka passes the Krauselklause area. (5/2003). (top of page)  
  Single loco runs downhill are frequently seen on the mountain. Twin traction is mainly needed uphill. Therefore returning locos are either clutched to downhill trains or if not possible they return as single loco trains. This is the west end of the Breitenstein area - here the three track section ends again (5/2003).  
  For a longer period of time I had in mind to try a picture, showing all three highlights of this section. But it lasted until Sept. 19th 2004, the day when I took this shot with IC 556 Johann Nestroy on the Krauselklause viaduct (9/2004).  
  The image tells more than thousand words. Only about
14 meters is the length of the Krauselklause tunnel. The sharpest bend radius at the Semmering is 190 m. At that time class 1042 locos still headed high class trains
(about 1988). (top of page)		  
  This is IC 151 Emona, taken close before entering the Krauselklause tunnel from the opposite direction. The international train has a colorful appearance, due to carriages owned by many different companies (5/2003).  
 

A railcar unit class 4010 / 6010 going uphill using the "wrong" track. Over many years this design version was the only existing. It fits best with the appearance of that elegant units (about 1986).

Two reasons for the many images of that section. First the good accessibility from Breitenstein and second because it's one of my favourite photo locations on the Semmering.

  
  The same scenery from another position. In the background the Krauselklause tunnel and in the foreground the Krauselklause viaduct. The stopping train uses the "right" track because it is the left. The roof equipment of this 1042.5 machine complies with the expectation. Picture taken in the late 80s (about 1986). Compare with the next image, which was taken about 18 years later! (top of page)  
  This image was taken in 2004. Remarkable is the modernization of the viaduct's parapets. They have photo friendly distance to the track position. But the new earth cable strengthening, mounted half the height of the pylons, often disturb photographic activity (9/2004).  
  The next two images were taken from the opposit mountain slope. This one show a class 1042/1142 twin approaching the Krauselklause tunnel area (5/2003).  
  The Krauselklause viaduct shot from the opposite mountain. With 3 basic and 6 upper arches it is the smallest of the double storey buildings on the Semmering line. IC 557 Johann Nestroy will enter the Polleroswand tunnel immediately (10/2004). (top of page)  
  I want to start my Kalte Rinne shots with a photograph of 1988. At that time train objects like this were totally usual and absolutely nothing special. Today I'm happy to have released the shutter (1988).  
  Bird eyes view on the Kalte Rinne viaduct. It's a special satisfaction, if two trains exactly meet at this position when the camera is ready for the shot. A length of 184 meters and 10 upper plus 5 lower arches are the attributes of this building. The Polloroswand tunnel is located directly below us. The complete bend of this section embraces an 180 ° turn (5/2003).  
  When trying to include as many arches as possible on the photograph, this location is a favourite. At many other places the overwhelming vegetation always hides significant parts. We recognize 9 of 10 upper and 4 of 5 lower arches (6/2005). (top of page)  
  Today it's a tough job to find some open view to the line. This is a view from the opposite hill side compared with the image before. The fright train has one regular loco plus two returning to Gloggnitz (5/2003).  
  Some years ago, an open view to the viaduct from this area was not a problem. Today it's a tough job to find some small hole in the green mass. After plenty of trials, I finally detected a location to make the shot (9/2002).  
  This one ideally represents the famous landscape around the Semmering line. To be on time on location, I got up very early this day. And I didn't get disappointed. Sunrise was combined with long shadows. Some short time later the fitting train drive for the back light situation appears (10/2004). (top of page)  
  That's the total view of the Kalte Rinne viaduct. IC 534 Burgenstadt Friesach crosses the viaduct having Graffiti "decorated" carriages on the hook. Compared with older images also here the overgrowing of vegetation is visible (5/2003)  
 

A lot of interesting landscape gets visible, if the lens is moved to wide angle position. The Rax mountains are visible in the background and at the right the mighty Polleroswand is visible. IC 158 Croatia goes north, consisting of colorful internationally mixed carriages (10/2004).

For more information go to part 4.

  
Navigation: Rail world select - Semmering: part 1 - part 2 - part 4 - part 5 - 150 years - winter
Last Update: September 2005 - send me an email
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