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The Line of the Taurach Railway
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Opening of the crossover point from the Murtal
Railway to the Taurach Railway at kilometer 65,650 (40.79 miles)
near Tamsweg. |
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The Taurachbahn starts a few metres above the station of Tamsweg
at km 65.650 of the Murtalbahn. The line is locked at that place and
it can be unlocked only by the station supervisor of the station in
Tamsweg (StLB). The line crosses some meadows until it reaches the
former stop "St. Andrä - Wölting".
A connection to a former factory of the Princes of Schwarzenberg,
which was pulled down but the switch being left, is now used for bringing
the engine from one end of the train to the other in a rather curious
way. A new trunk rail was built, long enough to place the locomotives
there. The train arriving from Mauterndorf stops before passing the
switch. The hand breaks are fastened and the engine is taken from
the train and put to the trunk. Afterwards the hand breaks are opened
and the train rolls downhill until it passes the switch. The engine
is set on the other end of the train and the journey back can start.
After climbing a rather steep ramp and passing the fatal place with
the bridge being demolished in 1980, the train arrives at the stop
of "St. Andrä-Andlwirt".
This stop is the terminus of the passenger services from Mauterndorf.
The passengers, who arrive here have the possibility to spend the
time till the train will go back either by visiting the near restaurant
"Andlwirt, which has an excellent service and is well-known for
its Austrian cuisine, or by wandering on different ways (for example
to the former medieval place of executions) with beautiful views into
the Lungau.
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Diesel locomotive 2091.03 on the trunk rail near
St. Andrä-Wölting |
Passenger train with the steam locomotive 298.56 at the station
"St. Andrä-Andlwirt". That station was renovated
and altered in the spring 2002.
Photo: Wolfgang Hojna-Leidolf |
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Stop and railway crossing at Lintsching
Photo: Wolfgang Hojna-Leidolf
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Freight train with passenger service near Mariapfarr.
Photo: Wolfgang Hojna-Leidolf |
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| After the departure
from "St. Andrä-Andlwirt" the train passes the about
700 metres of new constructed line. Passing pastures the train is heading
for the next stop, "Lintsching".
After the stop the 1st railway level crossing follows, which is protected
by barriers. The barriers were closed and opened by the train staff.
Then going along a gravel pit, large fields and a tremendous hiking
area it leaves a chain of hills behind. Then a short time before arriving
the station of Mariapfarr the line crosses the Taurach river using a
bridge which is the longest on the line and the train reaches by going
on a large curve the station "Mariapfarr".
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Personenzug der Taurachbahn gezogen von der 298.56 auf der Taurachbrücke
bei Mariapfarr
Photo: Dr. Markus Strässle |
Station Mariapfarr with passenger train to Mauterndorf.
Photo: Wolfgang Hojna-Leidolf |
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Railway crossing at Mariapfarr
Photo: Wolfgang Hojna-Leidolf |
Special railcar of the Murtal Railway in summer 2006 at the stop
Gröbendorf.
Photo: Karlheinz Kohl khk-archiv-schienenfahrzeuge |
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| The idyllic station of "Mariapfarr"
is very typical for these type of narrow gauge branch lines. It has
two tracks and four switches, the station building and the magazine
are in a rather good and original condition. If you're standing at that
station and seing the far distance to the village you can understand
why the passenger service has had no chance on that former part of the
Murtal Railway. Mariapfarr is the oldest village of the Lungau and was
a famous place of pilgrimage in former times. The village is well-known
too because the father of Josef Mohr, who has written the lyrics of
the famous christmas song "Silent Night, Holy Night", was
born there. The house, an old farm house,is still standing there. Josef
Mohr himself was a short time pastor of Mariapfarr. After crossing the
national road (protected by barriers) the ride is going along the Taurach
river and then passes through the village of Pichl. After climbing an
other rather steep ramp it arrives at the stop in "Gröbendorf".
At this stop you have the greatest view all around the valley of the
Lungau. You can see the mountains, the village and the church of Mariapfarr)
on the opposite side. Some fish ponds full with trout (the water is
so clear, you can see them from the train!) and a children playground
are around the scenery after leaving the stop. Then the line is passing
a wild romantic mountain forest. But among the volunteers there is nothing
like romance coming up when thinking of that forest as the trees are
growing rather fast and the miraculous thing about is, the closer to
the railway they are, the faster they seem to grow! As a result there
is a lots of woodwork to do. After leaving the forest, the line passes
an other fields and pastures and soon the castle of Mauterndorf can
be seen, standing above the village. After passing the glider's shed
there is a last ramp and a bending into the terminating station of "Mauterndorf". |
Photo: Wolfgang Hojna-Leidolf |
Station Mauterndorf. Photo: Walter Strubel |
Engine Shed Mauterndorf. Photo: Walter Strubel |
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