User:Bleakcomb/Erzberg Railway

} The Erzbergbahn is a railway line in Upper Styria, Austrai that links the Southern Railway with the Rudolf Railway via Präbichl (1204 m). Until 1978, the middle section was operated as a cog railway. Regular shipments are taking place today only in the form of goods between Leoben and Leoben as well as Eisenerz and Krumpental Hieflau, while the mountain range serves as a Railway Museum.

History
Already in 1864 the line was to "necessarily recognized Projecten" counted.  Manfred Wehdorn, Ute-Georgeacopol Winischofer, Paul W. Roth, Elfriede Mejchar (Photo. ..):monuments of art and industry in Austria Volume 2:Styria, CarinthiaBöhlau, Vienna 1991, ISBN 3-205-05202-1, p. 22  The railway line was built initially in the form of two branch lines of Leoben by Vordernberg (opened on May 18, 1872) and by Hieflau by Eisenerz (January 6, 1873). 1881 then went to Innerberger main union in the Austrian Alpine Mining Company in 1888 and began planning and construction of the section on the Präbichl. On 10 October, the concession granted and executed the construction of May 8, 1889 joint-stock companyLocalbahn Eisenerz Vordernberg, the the Austrian Alpine Mining Company was The first section was a test track through Vordernberg. On May 25, 1891 the railway line could be opened from the Vordernberg to its summit. However, only one was driving up to about the half up (stop "Glaslbremse") because the water supply for the steam engine is not passed it. Only when in June the same year, the Water Crane was completed in Glaslbremse, the onward journey to the station Präbichl was possible. On August 18 and the northern section for Eisenerz was put into operation, on September 15, 1891 followed by the opening ceremony, being only for freight. The following summer, the passenger was taken. Already during the construction had been due to financing problems, the liquidation of the corporation and announced on 31 October 1893 was taken on the final stretch into the state grid.

From 1971, the gear operation step by step on a pure Adhäsionsbetrieb was railcar sen and diesel locomotives converted. The venture experienced a setback after November 5, 1976, the locomotive became one Erzzugs out of control, derailed and crashed over an embankment after the train had been rolled about half the distance towards the front of Präbichl downhill mountain leaderless. Nevertheless, the change has been driven, and on September 30, 1978, the last steam train ran on the ore train, on December 6, the last diesel engine with gear drive. Despite protests by railway enthusiasts, the racks along the entire route were dismantled.

In 1986, when the freight train traffic (primarily from the Erzberg ore trains to Leoben) was set on the Präbichl, it went downhill with the entire line. 1988 avalanche, which moved the railway line, was used as an opportunity to stretch Vordernberg Markt to Eisenerz. 1999, this step also for the initial leg Eisenerz Hieflau was set, where only those who operate Erzberg trains that bring the ore now Hieflau to Linz, and Selzthal and the Schoberpass to Leoben Donawitz. Finally, section 2001, the passenger in Leoben-Vordernberg Markt was completely set, it remains only a residual freight to Trofaiach. Transport initiatives such as the Club PASSENGER Graz / Styria are currently trying actively to the resumption of passenger traffic in the section between Leoben and Leoben as part of a rapid transit system in the Mur and Mürztal. The ore-haul Hieflau but has completely lost its importance and the passenger is on this section, most likely no longer be admitted, since the traffic was reduced on the subsequent Crown Prince Rudolf train to a minimum.

Founded in 1975,leadsErzbergbahn Association since June 23, 1990 Railway Museum operating through the mountain range between the Vordernberg Markt and Eisenerz. The section between the Vordernberg Markt station and the mountain railway connecting the Voestalpine in Krumpental has been leased since 1st January 1990 to the club. On 25 June 2005, the leg was retroactive to January 1, will be purchased by the club The route is travelled from early July to mid-September also on weekends from June to October special trips are possible. Since two of the ski slopes in Präbichl, cross this section, winter operation is not possible. On July 17, 2010, a section of the museum at Erzberg railway station was buried by a mudflow. Therefore, the railway line between Eisenerz and Erzberg is locked until further notice.

Economic importance
The Erzberg Railway and the special section on the Präbichl was built mainly with the aim of the Eisenerz of the Styrian ore s as easy as possible for smelting to Leoben-Donawitz or to Linz to bring. Later also came to tourist interests, since the area established by the Präbichl as hiking and skiing.

By the displacement of passenger transport on the parallel road (private car and bus lines) on the one hand and the less technically sophisticated and thus cheaper ore on Selzthal got off the train the 1980s increasingly significant, resulting in the described historical developments.

Technology

 * Originally, two stan Diger Gear drive on the system abbot over a length of nearly 20 kilometers
 * The railway overcomes maximum gradients of 71 per thousand, making it the steepest standard gauge railway in Austria.
 * Six brick viaducts (up to 32 m and 117 m length)
 * Five tunnels

Gear operation
On the Erzbergbahn were steam locomotives of the series ÖBB 97 ÖBB 197 and ÖBB 297 and the cog railway diesel locomotive 2085.01 in use.

Adhäsionsbetrieb
After the end of the gear operation were modified diesel locomotives of the series 2043.5 on the ore train.

Following the successful trial operation in 1971 railcar sen the BAT series 5081 first four sets were used in the local area of Vordernberg. As was later operated the route leading mining ore, two additional cars were purchased. Including all rail buses were equipped with an additional exhaust brake and the 5081.5 series (5081.560-565) renumbered. Four of these railcars are now in the possession of the association Erzbergbahn.

From 1972, several train pairs not only about the summit section, but of Leoben Hbf to Eisenerz, a pair of trains were run daily until Hieflau with two-piece rail bus sets.

Just before setting the control operation between Vordernberg and the front section of the Eisenerz mining market was still electrified Vordernberg to lead the regional trains from there to Leoben Hbf can. These first three railcars of the 4030 series were adapted from the middle car was taken out and the railcars inverted two-piece motor car and control car. This change ended the era of electrification of Leoben from the mountain to the front until then had been exclusively with locomotives of the series 1245 chariot drawn passenger trains between Leoben Hbf and Vordernberg.

Literature, audio, video

 * John C. Klossek:From Vordernberg for Eisenerz. The ore train in stereo. 10 Hörszenen (...). Accompanying with 20 photos.1 record, 1 booklet. Franckh, Stuttgart 1973, ISBN 3-440-03954-4.
 * Peter Pospischil:The Styrian Erzberg Railway. This volume deals with the federal railway line leading iron ore mining.First Edition. Train in the picture, volume 2 Pospischil, Vienna, 1978, ZDB 52827-4. (Revised edition 1996).
 * Wolfgang Bleiweis.The cog railway Eisenerz Vordernbergfirst Edition. Lokrundschau Association, Hamburg 1981, ISBN 3-923238-00-2.
 * Carl Asmus, John Stockklausner, Albert Ditterich.Full steam on the Erzbergbahnremake. Railway Journal, Special Issue, Volume 1993.9. Hermann flag-Verlag, Fürstenfeldbruck 1883, ISBN 3-922404-52-9.
 * 100 years Erzbergbahn Eisenerz Vordernberg. 1891 to 1991.(Gear Train Society Erzbergbahn), Vordernberg PermalinkAustrian Library Network.]
 * Gerold Stadlober:The railway line leading iron ore mining, taking into account their economic importance,thesis.. University of Graz, Graz PermalinkAustrian Library Network.]
 * Josef Högemann:Adieu ore. Steam up in the skyIn.Lok magazine. News, vehicles, history.No. 258, born 42/2003. rated nova magazine Verlag GmbH, Munich 2003, ZDB 505096-0, pp. 84-89.
 * Manfred mockery:trains on Styrian Erzberg. The history of the Styrian Erzberg, with its 300 locomotives. For the anniversary, 200 years railways in the Styrian Erzberg.Leykam Verlag, Graz 2010, ISBN 978-3-7011-7724-0.