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The Club 760 and its history
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| At the 75th
anniversary of the Murtalbahn in the year of 1969 the Club 760 –
Verein der Freunde der Murtalbahn (Society of the friends of the Murtalbahn),
was founded. It is named after the gauge of the Austrian narrow gauge
lines, which is 760 mm (approximately 30 In.). Aim of the club first was to make the Murtalbahn, its steam engines and the steamtrains known to the public to get more passengers and to help keeping the Murtalbahn operational on its whole length from Unzmarkt to Mauterndorf. And that is still today a very important point in our club rules. When the steamtrains became more and more popular there was a lack of coaches and the Club got an other job to do starting in organizing more coaches. In 1970 the coache Bi/s 3665 was bought from the ÖBB and an other coach Bi/s 563 was bought from the Zillertalbahn (ZB). This coach has its origin at the SKGLB. Both coaches were put to the Murtal Railways disposal and today they are in use at the Taurach Railway. |
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In 1973 an other object being bought by the Club was the 699.01, a former steam locomotive of the light railways of the German Wehrmacht in WWII. In the following years the collection of narrow gauge vehicles grew and so it came that a lots of important relicts of railways history could survive. To protect all the vehicles against weather, because it all were standing outdoor, the Club 760 has rented land near the station Frojach, where a narrow gauge museum was built. |
| Today there is an interesting collection of locomotives on display (see chapter The Museum). Some of these engines have been renovated in the meantime and can be seen in a way, which every railway friend loves most, steaming and riding with its trains. It is thanks to the club 760, that for example the old steam locomotive "U11", the oldest existing engine of the Murtalbahn, had found a place in the Museum Frojach instead of being scrapped. That's the reason, that this old steam engine is riding again with steamtrains on its line, the Murtalbahn. | |
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After the close down of the Murtal Railway the part between Tamsweg and Mauterndorf in 1981 the club has its first success in renting it to operate a spacial railway there the Taurach Railway. The grand opening of the Taurach Railway on July 9th, 1988 was the absolute height in the history of the Club 760 till today. |
| An other aim is to keep narrow gauge vehicles on display or even running. All those things cost a lots and make a lots of work. Donations, the selling of postcards, books or other Souvenirs help to raise money. Never ending work is made by a lots of volunteers according to the slogan 'Our Hearts for Narrow Gauge'. | |
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Last but not least it should be mentioned, that the club has developed from a former only Austrian to a European club, where Europe is on practice now for years. On this place I want to thank our club management for all the excellent work over all the past years. The experience and competence of the management members has led to the fact, that the Club 760 originally a group of railway friends has become an institution, which is well-known beyond the borders of the Lungau and the Mur Valley. |
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All, who are interested in more informations about the Club 760 or want to support our activities, can send a letter to the following adress:. CLUB 760 - |
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