Achenseebahn

The Achenseebahn is a convert|6.78|km|mi long metre gauge railway running between Jenbach and Seespitz on Lake Achensee in the Tyrol area of Austria. Some sections are so steep that it is necessary for a rack to be utilised making it Europe's oldest steam operated cog railway.cite web|url=http://www.traintraveling.com/europe/europe_tourist.shtml |title=scenic train trips, steam train rides & dinner trains in europe|publisher=Traintraveling.com |accessdate=2008-08-31] Within its length it rises some convert|440|m|ft in height. The steeper sections use the Riggenbach rack system.

History

In 1886, Theodor Friedrich Freiherr von Dreifuss proposed to connect Jenbach to the Achensee. Despite concerns by villagers in the area, the proposal was supported by the monastry at Fiecht, which owned the Achensee and ran steam boats on the lake.cite journal |last= Williamson|first= Kenneth G|authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2008|month= September|title= "Once upon a line:" Achenseebahn|journal= Continental Modeller|volume= Volume 30|issue= Number 9|pages= p558-563|id= ISSN 0955 1298|url= |accessdate= |quote= ]

Consent to build the line was given on 1 August 1888 by Emperor Franz Josef. The line was constructed by the Soenderop Company of Berlin. The official opening of the line was on 8 June 1889. The line originally ended a short distance short of the pier for the steamboats as it was intended to run a luggage service between Seespitz station and the pier at an extra charge. The railway was extended to a new station serving the steamboats in 1916.

The railway carried its highest numbers of passengers during World War Two and after the war the railway was an important method of supplying the region with goods and materials. In 1950, the Tirolean Water Company (TIWAG) acquired a majority of the shares in the railway, passing them to the villages of Achenkirch, Maurach and Eben in 1979. Carriage of freight ceased in 1973. The railway was remodelled with support from TIWAG, the Federal Government and State Government.

On 16 May 2008, the engine shed at Jenbach was destroyed in a fire. Locomotives No.1 and No.2 were damaged, but will be restored, as will the engine shed.

Rolling stock

team locomotives

All steam locomotives are 0-4-0RT engines.

Passenger stock

The Achenseebahn has four open and two closed four-wheel coaches. The open coaches dated from 1889 and were built by Graz. The closed coaches date from 1903 and 1907 and were built by Esslingen.

Freight stock

The Achenseebahn had four lowside open wagons, one highside open wagon and one van on opening. Three more lowsides were acquired new in 1926. These three vehicles were in service until 1973, the others were withdrawn in 1955.

External links

* [http://www.achenseebahn.at/ Homepage of the Achenseebahn]

References