 
Lovable, scenic and and unique!
Running
through the picturesque Ziller Valley in a high amenity rural
area, the line is much appreciated by tourists but is also
well used as an ordinary transport method by local people. The
terminus is at Mayrhofen, the highly poular Tyrolean mountain
resort, the track then runs 32km to the depot at Jenbach
station. Railway enthusiasts are attracted to it because of
its regular use of steam engines and its unusually
small track gauge of 760mm
The line was opened on 31st July 1902 serving the needs of
residents of the upper Ziller Valley and giving them access to
the railway junction at Jenbach and hence the main line
through the Inn valley. At this time the railway had two steam
locomotives as well as 10 passenger wagons, and 22 goods and
mail wagons. The line was used extensively for carrying
magnesium ore mined in the Tux region at the head of the
valley from 1928. By 1956 the company was using diesels in its
fleet and had also taken over a local bus company. Today the
Zillertalbahn runs an extensive road and rail transport
network in the valley. There is also chance to drive their
"hobby steam train" on summer fridays!
 
The
Swarovski Crystal
wagon!
The Hobby train
Zillertal
steam locomotive fleet
You can email us at:
grindelwald_prods@lycos.com
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The World’s oldest steam cog locomotives
In
1888 Austrian Emperor Kaiser Franz Josef I gave his consent to
the construction of the narrow gauge steam cog railway, and
since 1889 the Achenseebahn has been transporting
holiday-makers and day trippers from he Austrian railway town
of Jenbach to the boat station of Seespitz at the southern
shore of the Achensee. In those days, the construction of the
railway and the track required a high level of pioneering
spirit and many at the time were sceptical about this
revolutionary means of transport.
Nowadays, not just railway enthusiasts are thrilled by the
pure nostalgia of the four perfectly restored and maintained
180 HP locomotives. The little trains huff and puff up the
steep mountain with a maximum incline of 160 per thousand –
an impressive 7 km in 45 minutes. This highly nostalgic and
romantic journey takes you along lush meadows and through
alpine forests – you may well get carried away by the
impressive views of the Tyrolean Alps and the silvery path of
the river Inn –and the promise of more to come. At the end
of the line a lake steamer greets you for a relaxing ride on
the beautiful Achensee.
 
Thoroughly recommended!
www.achenseebahn.at/en/home.html
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