Mur Valley Railway

Murtalbahn railcar VT31 and steam engine U11 at Ramingstein-Thomatal station in 2005.

The Mur Valley Railway (German: Murtalbahn) is a 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) narrow-gauge railway which runs along the valley of the River Mur from the market town of Unzmarkt through Murau to Tamsweg in the Austrian state of Styria although Tamsweg is just inside the federal state of Salzburg. The railway is operated by ''Steiermärkische Landesbahnen'' (a railway operator owned by the Bundesland Styria) and at 76.1 km (47.3 mi) is the second longest narrow-gauge railway in Austria.

History

The railway line between Unzmarkt and Mauterndorf was opened in October 1894.

In March 1973 the public passenger traffic was stopped on the section between Tamsweg and Mauterndorf. This section is operated today by Club 760 under the name Taurachbahn as a museum railway.

Special steam trains and amateur locomotive trips still operate over the route.

Operation

Diesel locomotive VL13 at Murau in 2006.

Five diesel-electric railcars, introduced in 1981, are used to operate a service every two hours over the Mur Valley Railway. In the summer months the STLB operates weekend steam-hauled services between Murau, where the main workshop are, and Tamsweg.

Goods trains still operate on the railway, with trains hauled by diesel locomotives VL 14 and 15, built in 1966. Timber and petroleum tankers are the major goods transported.

The STLB invested in the railway, and the infrastructure is maintained to the standard of standard gauge mainline routes. There are good positions for photography by railway enthusiasts along the whole route, particularly in the valley between Madling and Tamsweg.

Museum

A museum is maintained in the locomotive shed at Frojach Katschtal station by Club 760.

Fleet

NumberBuiltBuilderWheel arrangement
Steam locomotives
Stainz 21892Krauss0-4-0T
U 111894Krauss0-6-2T
Bh11905Krauss0-6-2T
U 401908Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik0-6-2T
U 431913Krauss0-6-2T
Diesel Locomotives
VL 51938DemagB
VL 61959Orenstein & KoppelB
VL 71940GmeinderB
VL 121966ÖMAGB-B
VL 131967ÖMAGB-B
VL 161967ÖMAGB-B
Diesel Railcars and Trailers
VT 311980Knotz
VT 321981Knotz
VT 331981Knotz
VT 341981Knotz
VT 351998Jenbacher Werke
VS 411982Knotz
VS 421982Knotz
VS 431982Knotz/BBC
VS 441982Knotz/BBC

References

  • Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (Herausgeber): Das Buch der Murtalbahn. Eigenverlag, 1994, ISBN 3-901474-02-1
  • Walter Kroboth, J.O.Slezak, H.Sternhart: Schmalspurig durch Österreich. Slezak, Wien 41991, ISBN 3-85416-095-X
  • Joseph O. Slezak, Hans Sternhart: Renaissance der Schmalspurbahn in Österreich. Slezak, Wien 1986, ISBN 3-85416-097-6
  • Markus Strässle: Schmalspurbahn-Aktivitäten in Österreich. Slezak, Wien 1997, ISBN 3-85416-184-0
  • Markus Strässle: Lokalbahnen in der Steiermark. Zeunert, Gifhorn 1995, ISBN 3-924335-17-6


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