The Class U was the ubiquitous Austrian narrow-gauge steam locomotive. Examples were operated by both the state railway system and private railways.

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www.austrian-railways.org

The yellow and silver engines of the traction hire company, Dispolok, are becoming another feature of the Austrian railway scene.

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www.austrian-railways.org

www.austrian-railways.org

Innsbruck, capital of the Tirol, posesses one of the most dramatic backdrops to any city - or, for that matter, any railway station! The massive wall of the Nordketten rises behind the city and provides an ever-changing face to add variety to any view.

These photographs not only show the physical infrastructure of railway installations in Innsbruck, but also depict the railway in relationship to the mountains.

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The Achenseebahn is a metre-gauge rack-and-adhesion line that runs from the main-line station at Jenbach (between Innsbruck and Wörgl) to the lake steamer station on the Achensee.

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www.austrian-railways.org

www.austrian-railways.org

www.austrian-railways.org

Otherwise known as the Krimml branch, this 760mm gauge line runs from Zell am See, on the inland route between Innsbruck and Salzburg, to Krimml, location of Europe's highest waterfall. It is operated by ÖBB, but steam tourist trains operate in the summer months.

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The Stubaitalbahn runs from Innsbruck (where it is connected into the city's tram network) to Fulpmes. It is a metre-gauge line and is notable for some complex lattice-work viaducts along its route.

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The Zillertalbahn (ZB) is a 760mm line that runs from Jenbach (between Innsbruck and Wörgl) along the Ziller valley to Mayrhofen, a noted winter sports venue. The ZB operates passenger and freight services, plus regular steam services during the tourist season. they also operate a number of connecting bus services.

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The ÖBB had a variety of snowploughs; some rotary types, others Klima types built on the frames of old steam locomotives. The unidentified example seen at Strasshof in this collection is one such. Later, class 52 'Kriegsloks' were extensively used; the whole process from withdrawal to transformation to entering service appears to have taken about two years in each case. Although some have been withdrawn in recent years, others can still be seen in use in the Austrian winter, often propelled by the most modern traction the ÖBB has to offer, 'Taurus' class electric locomotives - ironic, given that the frames of these snowploughs are about 60 years old!

Once considered to be the second largest tramway system in Europe (after St.Petersberg), the Viennese network has contracted in recent years as new U-Bahn lines come into service and tram routes are superceded. But there is still much to see, and new low-floor trams are being brought into service. And the system is quick and inexpensive, too!

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German locomotives often work far into Austria; indeed, international services to Vienna have been hauled throughout by DB locomotives for some time, both via the Westbahn and the Passau - Linz route. Other German workings run into Innsbruck, either via Rosenheim - Kufstein, via the Karwändelbahn, or from Lindau and over the Arlberg route.

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There is only direct connection between the Swiss and Austrian systems at one place - Lindau (in Germany!), on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). Locomotives are usually changed at the border. However, Swiss rolling stock works through to Vienna from Zurich regularly, including the SBB's 'Panorama' coaches.

This collection also includes pictures of Swiss locomotives preserved in Austria.

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Austrian locomotives at large in Germany.

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The post-war era - steam locomotives (although ÖBB standard gauge steam lasted up to 1976 and narrow gauge up to 1982 if not later), green diesels and electrics, and the transition into the 'blood orange' livery. (If anyone has pictures taken in Austria in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, we'd be delighted to hear from you with a view to getting more contemporary material up on this gallery.)

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Epoch 4 covers the change from the Tannengrün livery, first to Blutorange, and then to Traffic red; the change in logo to the stylised 'S'; and the introduction of standard locomotive types, such as the 1044s.

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Where does yesterday finish and today begin? Part of the charm of the OeBB is the fact that travellers can often come across the old and the new side-by-side. The 'modern era' for the OeBB could be said to start with the introduction of the Class 1014 in the mid-1990s, and accelerated with the introduction of the Class 1016 'Taurus', the new generation of diesel locomotives and the Bombardier 'Talent' dmus. With these new classes and the liberalised railway with new (and sometimes old!) private-owner locomotives, the modern scene has a lot of interest.

www.austrian-railways.org

www.austrian-railways.org

Some reference pictures of current ÖBB signal installations. For more information, see the Group's publication 'ÖBB Signalling, part 1' (available from the Secretary).

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