The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen at Payerbach-Reichenau Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 09:42:10 Tags: Payerbach-Reichenau 202 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

In my album KISSing Goodbye , in March, I stated that probably I was going to be away from railfanning and photographing trains for a long time; it is a good thing it did not end up like that. I had to go on a few trips, all without any human contact, for work-related reasons, but I did not ride an actual train until the events depicted in this travelogue, our two visits to the Höllentalbahn. The name (Hell-valley Railway) accurately depicts the year 2020. The album is going to contain three videos, one of the depot, one of the power station of the line, and one showing interior and exterior shots of the railway itself. If you are more into videos, you can find these clips here on YouTube (please subscribe!), but most of the historical and local information will be written in this article.

In this gallery I could use photos taken by Viktor Székely and Norbert Horváth, that I would like to thank again here. Since this means a lot of photos, some detail shots are missing from this collection. If you do not want to miss anything, please click All photos in the top-right corner of this page.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen at Payerbach-Reichenau - the photo shows a railjet train bound for Vienna (Wien Hauptbahnhof) from the driver's cab of the narrow-gauge railcar Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 10:12:33 Tags: Payerbach-Reichenau 202 219 railjet Ausztria railjet

At the foot of the Semmering Railway (Semmeringbahn) , the little railcar is waiting patiently for a connection, as it had done for about half a century in its golden age. Nowadays railjet trains do not stop here, but prior, due to the valley locomotives being changed to mountain locos, all trains could stop. Still, the Höllentalbahn, forking away from the Südbahn at Payerbach-Reichenau station, was not originally concieved for passenger traffic.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen between Kurhaus and Reichenau an der Rax Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 10:34:51 Tags: Reichenau Reichenau an der Rax Kurhaus 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

The Hirschwang paper mill opened its electrified narrow-gauge industrial railway in 1918 with the 1903 locomotives used on the construction of the Karawanken-Tunnel. These are considered to be the oldest electric locomotives to be in service nowadays. The mining railway body was extended to form today's rolling garden-sheds.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen at Hirschwang Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 10:49:50 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

We arrived by car to Hirschwang, the current terminus of the narrow gauge railway. This is where you can find the depot. It connects to the line with an interesting set of points. The industrial railway was expanded when the Raxseilbahn between Raxalpe and Hirschwang was completed in 1926.

L.B.P.-H., that is: Lokal Bahn Payerbach - Reichenau, the original name of the Höllentalbahn Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 10:54:05 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

As it is usual with Alpine railway construction, there were numerous plans and ideas for the construction of a railway line in the area. The Firma Neusiedler AG planned to build a standard-gauge railway from the Südbahn to Hirschwang and a branch line to the village of Prien, and to support the construction work a material railway of 76-cm-gauge was built. Some of the embankments of the standard-gauge railway, as well as the boring of the 428 m long Artzbergtunnel were finished during World War 1, but the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy made it imposible to continue. Of the tunnel, only the lower part of the arch was finished, but the tunnel was closed and filled, the legend holds, that with military equipment still sheltered inside.

The depot of the Höllentalbahn at Hirschwang, Austria Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 11:02:57 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

Originally the material railway was built with a temporary, 3 m high catenary. As the line was converted into a local railway the overhead wires were completely rebuilt and to a greater height. The three locomotives used were similar to those used in mines and came from the construction of the Karawanken-tunnel, a railway tunnel between the regions of Carinthia and Carniola (currently: Jesenice, Slovenia). The locomotives were modified for the higher overhead wire and served the paper mill built by the forestry with 24 freight cars acquired from the military narrow-gauge railways (Heeresfeldbahnen). Some time later, for the purpose of tourist traffic, two railcars and four trailers were bought from the Grazer Waggonfabrik; timetabled passenger services started in September, 1926.

The stored, bad condition carriages at Hirschwang Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 11:03:24 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

Originally the material railway was built with a temporary, 3 m high catenary. As the line was converted into a local railway the overhead wires were completely rebuilt and to a greater height. The three locomotives used were similar to those used in mines and came from the construction of the Karawanken-tunnel, a railway tunnel between the regions of Carinthia and Carniola (currently: Jesenice, Slovenia). The locomotives were modified for the higher overhead wire and served the paper mill built by the forestry with 24 freight cars acquired from the military narrow-gauge railways (Heeresfeldbahnen). Some time later, for the purpose of tourist traffic, two railcars and four trailers were bought from the Grazer Waggonfabrik; timetabled passenger services started in September, 1926.

The workshop at Hirschwang Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 11:20:36 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

The old machines work perfectly well and they are started for the interested visitors of the first train of the day.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen at Reichenau an der Rax railway station Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 11:51:14 Tags: Reichenau Reichenau an der Rax 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

In 1964 the TW1 and TW2, with the trailers, was given over to the Zillertalbahn , but in 2003 TW1 and a trailer retorned to the hollental. Since the Zillertalbahn used all cars as trailers, an excessive rebuilding was necessary.

The Höllentalbahn (Lokalbahn Payerbach-Hirschwang) TW 1 seen between Haaberg and Reichenau Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 13:25:10 Tags: Haaberg Reichenau Reichenau an der Rax 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

After visiting the depot and the electric plant (Umformerwerk) we set out to take photos of the railcar along the track. First on the promenade section on the banks of the Schwarza river, where the green beauty caught the attention of the locals as well.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen between Haaberg and Reichenau Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 13:27:09 Tags: Haaberg Reichenau Reichenau an der Rax 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

As the train arrives into Reichenau an der Rax, the track goes on in a nice street-running fashion between the road and the fences of the houses.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen between Haaberg and Reichenau Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 13:28:55 Tags: Haaberg Reichenau Reichenau an der Rax 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

The photo was taken from the Schwarza road bridge.

The ÖBB 1144 220, the 1016 021 and the 1144 208 seen between Küb and Payerbach-Reichenau Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 13:34:28 Tags: Schwarzatal-Viadukt Küb Payerbach-Reichenau 202 1044 (ÖBB) villanymozdony Ausztria elofogat Semmeringbahn

It is often seen nowadays that a second front helper is used instead of banking the medium-heavy freight trains on the Semmering Railway. Banking did not completely disappear though.

The Höllentalbahn TW 1 seen between Kurhaus and Payerbach-Reichenau (Payerbach Lokalbahnhof) in the horseshoe of the Steinhofgraben (Steinhofgrabenschleife) Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:06:28 13:40:14 Tags: Kurhaus Payerbach-Reichenau 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

The dirt road leading here from Payerbach is extremely difficult to ride and the overpass above the railway is closed for safety reasons. It is advised to arrive here from Reichenau, that little detour is a lot better, paved and convenient road.

The Höllentalbahn EI seen at Hirschwang Photographed by: Székely Viktor Captured at: 2020:07:12 08:50:22 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

On our next visit we arrived on a day when the morning train went with motor+trailer, and the rest of the trains with the old EI electric locomotive.

The Höllentalbahn EI seen at Hirschwang Photographed by: Székely Viktor Captured at: 2020:07:12 11:34:03 Tags: Hirschwang 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

The 117-year-old, wonderful Rolling Gardenshed finally got on the front of the train and with an original-state Lokalbahn Payerbach-Hirschwang car, the trailer no. 11.

The Höllentalbahn 1116 231-2 A1-Werbelok seen between Payerbach-Reichenau and Küb Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:07:12 10:54:11 Tags: Schwarzatal-Viadukt Küb Payerbach-Reichenau 202 Werbelok Ausztria villanymozdony Semmeringbahn

The Taurus locomotive, wearing the A1 5G-eht Los advertising livery, is hauling a Railjet train across the bridge also known as the Schwarza-Viadukt, the Northernmost and longest viaduct on the Semmerginbahn. The embankment of the Höllentalbahn is well visible above the train.

The Wiener Lokalbahnen AG's MRCE-Dispolok X 4 E - 605 Siemens Vectron is seen passing through the freight train through track of Payerbach-Reichenau station Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:07:12 13:55:33 Tags: ES64 U2

You can see the 6020 239-7 next to it.

The ÖBB 1144 095 and the 1144 245 are seen hauling an InnoFreight goods train at Payerbach-Reichenau station lying at the feet of the Semmering pass Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:07:12 13:57:32 Tags: Payerbach-Reichenau 202 219 1044 (ÖBB) villanymozdony Ausztria elofogat Semmeringbahn

You can see the 6020 239-7 next to it, waiting to depart to Mürzzuschlag.

The ÖBB 4744 521 seen between Sopron and Baumgarten/Schattendorf Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: 2020:07:12 15:25:21 Tags: Sopronkertes Baumgarten/Schattendorf Sopron 8 CityJet

We managed to take this many photos at our second take at photographing the Höllentalbahn. I would like to thank to Mr Norbert Horváth and Mr Viktor Székely for providing photos and videos for this travelogue, as well as the ÖGLB volunteer crews of the railway for giving out information, telling us where it is best to go and helping out in the production of all this imagery immensely. The fact that they spoke English, as our German is unfortunately quite poor, is something we can be really grateful for.

If you would like to help out the ÖGLB in maintaining their two narrow-gauge heritage railways, you can send money to the following account: Bankverbindung: Raiffeisenbank Region Eisenwurzen Bankleitzahl: 32939 Kontonummer: 621 003 BIC: RLNWATWW939 IBAN: AT 72 32939 000 00621 003.

The Höllentalbahn EI seen at Payerbach-Reichenau Photographed by: Horváth Norbert Captured at: 2020:07:12 14:12:40 Tags: Payerbach-Reichenau 202 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

Before leaving this awsome railway entirely let's have a look at the external video shots on the trains running on the Höllentalbahn. If so far you haven't started to like the route, the sound of the railcar going nye-nye-nye-nye-nye is definitely going to do the magic...

[VIDEO] The Höllentalbahn on exterior shots both with the TW1 railcar and the EI locomotive Photographed by: Takács Bence Captured at: unknown Tags: Kurhaus Payerbach-Reichenau 219 Höllentalbahn Ausztria kisvasút

You can only find selected photos in the travelogue, but if you are interested in all the photos taken on the Höllentalbahn you can see them here:

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