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

The Murtalbahn (literally translated, the Mur Valley Railway) is a 760 mm (2 ft 5+15⁄16 in) narrow-gauge railway largely located in the state of Styria in Austria. The line runs along the valley of the River Mur, from the market town of Unzmarkt through Murau to Tamsweg, which is just over the Styrian border in the state of Salzburg. The railway is operated by Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (STLB), which is owned by the state of Styria. With a total length of 76.1 km (47.3 mi), it is the fourth-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 service on the section between Tamsweg and Mauterndorf was closed. That section is operated today as a museum railway by Club 760, under the name Taurachbahn.

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

Accidents and incidents

On 9 July 2021, railcar VT 32 was derailed due to a fallen tree, with one carriage ending up on its side in the Mur. Seventeen people, mostly young school-age children, were injured.[1][2]

Operation

Diesel locomotive VL13 at Murau in 2006.

Five diesel-electric railcars, introduced in 1981, are used to operate a service over the line every two hours. 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, hauled by diesel locomotives VL 14 and 15, built in 1966. Timber and petroleum are the major goods transported.

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

Museum

Club 760 maintains a museum in the locomotive shed at Frojach Katschtal station.

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

  1. ↑ "Murtalbahn derailed in Lungau and crashed into the river – "Children have had guardian angels"". Archyde. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Zugunglück in Österreich: Waggon wegen entwurzeltem Baum entgleist - 17 Verletzte" [Train accident in Austria: Wagon derailed due to uprooted tree - 17 injured]. rosenheim24.de (in German). 9 July 2021.

Sources

  • 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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