St.Pölten to Mariazell - My own Pilgramages to "Mariazellerland"
which connects the Lower Austrian capital of Sankt Pölten with the Styrian Alpine pilgrimage centre of Mariazell.
The line was opened in stages between 1898 and 1907, with a now closed branch to Wieselburg an der Erlauf. The railway is currently operated by NÖVOG.
Electrification (unprecedented at the time) began in 1911 (using Alternating Current) as the route & traffic requirements were proving too arduous for the original Steam locos, 16 E series locomotives (still used today as class 1099) were delivered between 1909 and 1914.
The experience gained from the electrification proved to be the benchmark for later projects of the same kind. The locomotive design with two separate powered bogies is widespread today.
The route runs from St.Pölten to Ober-Grafendorf, the lines only major junction, where the line to Weiselburg began.
From Ober-Grafendorf you gradually start climbing up the Pielach valley, it is from Laubenbachmühle, however, that the route really starts to climb (after this point it's known as the "Mountain Line" (Bergstrecke)).
You climb to such effect that, after traversing a horseshoe curve, it's not long before you can look down & see a miniature version of Laubenbachmühle station in the valley down below, looking for all the world like a model railway layout, as you swing back along the valley above it.
The twists and turns, short & long tunnels, rushing streams and huge drops down mountain sides below that the route throws at you up here are amazing.
The lines longest tunnel, the 2-km-long Gösingtunnel, with an altitude of 891.6 m above sea level is the line's highest point. The line exits the tunnel into the Erlauf valley, which it then follows until just before the end. After the tunnel comes Gösing station, the 1893 meter-high Ötscher mountain is visible from here.
The station of Gösing marks the top of the climb, from here it's mainly gently downhill, after skirting around the Lassing Resevoir only Mitterbach station is passed before finally arriving into Mariazell.
My First Visit Tuesday 10/12/1991
I'd been advised by Peckham (Graham Belton / GB on the ERG site ) that the line up into the mountains to Mariazell behind an electric loco built in 1909 was Hellfire.
Time to give it a try, I'd arrived on an overnight from Innsbruck. (# = required loco)
1099 009# St.Polten - Mariazell 0730 St.Pölten - Mariazell 85km
1099 011# Mariazell - Kirchberg a.d.Pielach 1100 Mariazell - St.Pölten 54km
1099 016# Kirchberg a.d.Pielach - Schwarzenbach 1130 St.Pölten - Mariazell 8km
1099 003# Schwarzenbach - Ober Grafendorf 1226 Laubenbachmühle - St.Pölten 27km
2091 011# Ober Grafendorf - Ruprechtshofen 1353 Ober Grafendorf - Weiselberg 28km
2095 004# Ruprechtshofen - Ober Grafendorf 1420 Weiselberg - Ober Grafendorf 28km
1099 012# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 1426 Laubenbachmühle - St.Pölten 27km
Electric locos (built from 1909 to 1914 & rebodied in the 1960's) with Rods and also Clag - amazing! Nothing wrong with the narrow gauge 2091 & 2095 diesel's either!
Next visit Friday 17/04/1992
1099 005# St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 0730 St.Pölten - Mariazell 12km
1099 001# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0535 Mariazell - St.Pölten 12km
1099 016)# St.Pölten - Tradagist 0830 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 29km
1099 004) (on rear/DIT)
1099 011 Tradagist - St.Pölten 0752 Mariazell - St.Pölten 29km
1099 006# St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 1030 St.P - Laubenbachmühle 12km
2091 004# Ober Grafendorf - Kilb 1053 Ober Grafendorf - Wieselburg 13km
2095 011# Kilb - Ober Grafendorf 1031 Wieselburg - Ober Grafendorf 13km
1099 016 Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 1100 Laubenbachmühle - St.P 12km
1099 014# St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 1230 St.P - Laub'mühle 12km
1099 002# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 1100 Mariazell - St.P 12km
Friday 09/04/93
xxx xxx Salzburg - St.Pölten 2325 Innsbruck - Wien West 223km
My 3rd visit to the line - I was intent to try to clear the remaining 1099's that I required, as I couldn't bear the thought of missing any of these Hellfire electrics.
2143 028# St.Pölten - St.Polten Alpenbahnhof 0533 St.Pölten - Leobersdorf 2km
1099 009 St.P.Alpenbahnhof - Ober Grafendorf 0600 St.Pölten - Mariazell 10km
(1099 013 DIT on rear)
2095 004 Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0553 Weiselburg - St.Pölten 12km
1099 005 St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 0730 St.Pölten - Mariazell 12km
1099 008# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten Alpenbahnhof 0535 Mariazell - St.Pölten 10km
1099 010# St.P.Alpenbahnhof - Ober Grafendorf 0830 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 10km
(1099 014 DIT on rear)
1099 013 arrives at Ober Grafendorf on the 0800 from Laubenbachmühle
1099 013# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0800 Laubenbachmühle - St.Pölten 12km
1099 006 St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 0930 St.Pölten - Mariazell 12km
1099 012 Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0752 Mariazell - St.Pölten 12km
1099 007# (Last one!) St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 1030 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 12km
xxx xxx Salzburg - St.Pölten 2325 Innsbruck - Wien West 223km
My 3rd visit to the line - I was intent to try to clear the remaining 1099's that I required, as I couldn't bear the thought of missing any of these Hellfire electrics.
2143 028# St.Pölten - St.Polten Alpenbahnhof 0533 St.Pölten - Leobersdorf 2km
1099 009 St.P.Alpenbahnhof - Ober Grafendorf 0600 St.Pölten - Mariazell 10km
(1099 013 DIT on rear)
2095 004 Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0553 Weiselburg - St.Pölten 12km
1099 005 St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 0730 St.Pölten - Mariazell 12km
1099 008# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten Alpenbahnhof 0535 Mariazell - St.Pölten 10km
1099 010# St.P.Alpenbahnhof - Ober Grafendorf 0830 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 10km
(1099 014 DIT on rear)
1099 013# Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0800 Laubenbachmühle - St.Pölten 12km
1099 006 St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 0930 St.Pölten - Mariazell 12km
1099 012 Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 0752 Mariazell - St.Pölten 12km
1099 007# (Last one!) St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 1030 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 12km
2095 014# Ober Grafendorf - Weiselburg 1053 Ober Grafendorf - Weiselburg 39km
What's this? A Gmund allocated loco, ex-works on a Test Run & it's required! Quite jammy I must say.
The overnight being on-time gained 3 extra moves, you didn't get to the inward 2095 on the through Weiselburg otherwise. Four winner 1099's later & the class was cleared - this wouldn't stop me from revisiting this hellfire line up into the Styrian Alps many times in the future.
The overnight being on-time gained 3 extra moves, you didn't get to the inward 2095 on the through Weiselburg otherwise. Four winner 1099's later & the class was cleared - this wouldn't stop me from revisiting this hellfire line up into the Styrian Alps many times in the future.
Sunday 08/05/94
1044 247# Salzburg - St.Pölten 2310 Innsbruck - Wien West 257km
1099 009 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 0600 St.Pölten - Mariazell 49km
(1099 004 on rear / not powering?)
They would often run in this formation to/from Laubenbachmühle & split a set off here to form local services but I have never been able to figure if the rear loco is powering? There's never a driver in it. (If anyone knows better I'd have a lot more mileage please do tell!)
1099 009 Laubenbachmühle - Puchenstuben Hu 0600 St.Pölten - Mariazell 13km
1099 005 Puchenstuben Hu - Ober Grafendorf 0752 Mariazell - St.Pölten 50km
2095 007# Ober Grafendorf - Wieselburg 1053 Ober Grafendorf - Wieselburg 39km
What's this? A Gmund allocated loco, ex-works on a Test Run & it's required! Quite jammy I must say. So straight into the Wieselburger brewery tap across the road from the station to celebrate my good fortune.
Thursday 01/02/2001
A new diagram had started with a 2095 diesel booked to work the 1223 St.Pölten
to Laubenbachmühle, althought it didn't always produce one. Today it did!
2095 013 St Pölten – Laubenbachmühle 1223 St Pölten – Laubenbachmühle 6825 (load 6) 49km
1099 016) Laubenbachmühle – St Pölten Alp.1325 Mariazell – St Pölten 6806 (load 10) 47km
2095 013)
1099 016) St Polten Alpenbahnhof – St Pölten 1325 Mariazell – St Pölten 6806 (load 4) 2km
1099 001)
The 2095 was wide open most of the way up, it was a superb run with snow everywhere. On the return, the driver on the 1099 was tooting to the man in the 2095 to let him know when to power, mainly on departure from each shack. Dreadful.
Wednesday 05/06/02
1099 010 St.Pölten - Rabenstein 0825 St.Pölten - Mariazell 25km
1099 013 Rabenstein - St.Pölten 0745 Mariazell - St.Pölten 25km
The 1223 had now become a solid 2095 diagram and normally a mega thrash throughout - but we got the 2095 probably in the worst nick of the lot at this time - 006! it was a bit of a stagger.....
2095 006 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 1223 St.Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 49km
2095 006 at Laubenbachmühle off the 1223 from St.Pölten
1099 011 Laubenbachmühle - Rabenstein 1322 Mariazell - St.Pölten 24km
A very relaxed lunch & Beer break.
1099 013 Rabenstein - Frankenfels 1525 St.Pölten - Mariazell 18km
1099 010 Frankenfels - St.Pölten 1549 Mariazell - St.Pölten 43km
Friday 24/09/04
1099 016 St.Pölten - St.P.Alpenbahnhof 0725 St.Pölten - Mariazell 2km
2143 068 St.P.Alpenbahnhof - St.Pölten 0609 Leobersdorf - St.Pölten 2km
A LONG run up into the mountains behind an electric loco (that also clags), built in 1909 - & with Rods!
1099 002 St.Pölten - Mitterbach 0825 St.Pölten - Mariazell 81km
1099 016 Mitterbach - Ober Grafendorf 1057 Mariazell - St.Pölten 69km
1099 013 Ober Grafendorf - Klangen 1325 St.Pölten - Mariazell 4km
I thought I could double back & have another 1099 into St.Pölten - Oops it's a unit.
Unit Klangen - St.Polten 16km
Monday 24/10/05
With no new track available, today was about winners & doing the 2095 on the 1224 St.Pölten to Laubenbachmühle & return for the thrash & kliks.
2143 039 Waidhofen an der Thaya - Schwarzenau 0839 Waidhofen an der Thaya - Schwarzenau 10km1144 280 Schwarzenau - Absdorf-Hippersdorf 0732 Ceske Budejovice - Wien FJB 96km
1142 613# Absdorf-Hippersdorf - Krems 1000 Wien FJB - Krems 32km
Unit Krems - St.Pölten 1108 Krems - St.Pölten 31km
In inquiry the Guard said they decided to swop it today for an electric. Cheers! Much as I love these 1909 built electrics it's not what I did a 4 hour leap for.....
1099 007 St. Pölten - Frankenfels 1224 St Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 43km
At least it gave me the opportunity to leap for a nice little pub lunch with a couple of beers in Frankenfels instead of going through for the kliks.
1099 007 Frankenfels - St. Pölten 1453 Laubenbachmühle - St Pölten 43km
Then I could fit in the out & back Traisen move with a chance of 2 winning 2143's
2143 043 St.Pölten - Traisen 1623 St.Pölten - Hainfeld 19km
2143 063 Traisen - St.Pölten 1628 Hainfeld - St.Pölten 19km
Both Dud....... then good of them to put a 2095 back on the diagram on a train you can't do any mileage on!
2095 006 St.Pölten - Ober Grafendorf 1724 St Pölten - Laubenbachmühle 12km
Unit Ober Grafendorf - St.Pölten 1723 Kirchberg - St.Pölten 12km
18/04/2007
We were on our way to a M61017 tour in Hungary so I thought I'd take the wife up to Mariazell so she could experience the dramatic & scenic rail journey. This turned into a bit of a damp squib mainly due to engineering work on the line, this involved a Bus St.Pölten to Ober Grafendorf where my fears were realised as a Unit was waiting to take us up to Mariazell!
Unit Ober Grafendorf - Mariazell 1346 Ober Grafendorf - Mariazell 73km
Fortunately we had booked 1 of the 2 rooms in Brauhaus Girrer (Austria's smallest 4 star hotel) very nice & top notch food & beer too.
19/04/2007
You've guessed it - same Unit back down this morning...
Unit Mariazell - Ober Grafendorf 0747 Mariazell - Ober Grafendorf 73km
I vowed to return (when no Engineering work was on!) as I didn't want this to be my last memory of travelling the route.
10/12/2007
We were doing a trip around German & Austrian Xmas markets so I included another night in Mariazell, we couldn't afford to stay in the Girrer as their prices had rocketed since our stay in April.
1099 004 St.Pölten - Mariazell 1336 St.Pölten - Mariazell 85km
11/12/2007
1099 014 Mariazell - St.Pölten 1153 Mariazell - St.Pölten 85km
Easter Sunday 11/05/08
OBB were doing the line up in preparation to offloading it (Novog took it off them) & tried to tell the townsfolk of Mariazell it wasn't possible to run any trains over Easter, the Cathedral there is the most important pilgrimage destination in Austria and one of the most visited shrines in Europe with about a million visitors each year. It is the only church named as a national shrine of all German-speaking countries. They had managed to complete the trackwork but nowhere near the overhead wires - the solution? A pair of 2095's in Multi Easter Sunday & Monday out & back!
Me & Stewart Medhurst met at St.Pölten station, a tense few minutes before the stock appeared, propelled in from the narrow gauge depot a kilometre away, normal practise here - by the massive pair of 2095's!
Departure time came and we were off with a deafening roar from the 2 locos, in no time we were approaching St.Pölten Alpenbahnhof station with it's narrow gauge depot.
Neither of us had been past Laubenbachmühle behind a 2095, doing the "Bergstrecke" behind a pair of 2095's on full bore was nothing short of astonishing. I got my mobile phone out & recorded the deafening thrash for about ten minutes, it was no good trying to talk to Stewart at this point as the noise was too much!
By the time we got to the top of the line at Mariazell you could say we were both finished - a totally mind-blowing run.
2095 011) St.Pölten - Mariazell 6837 0835 St.Pölten - Mariazell 85km
2095 013)
(I've no photographs of this day, all unfortunately lost due to an I.T. Issue)
Six hours in Mariazell - with no other trains running, and wanting to do the pair back down later anyway, we were left with little choice other than to be outside the door of the Brauhaus Girrer once again!
We then reached another dilemma - they closed on a Sunday at 2pm, what to do until train departure time just before 5pm?
Stewart decided to ask if it was possible for us to stay on after the Brewpub closed, we would sit at a small table opposite the bar, play cards & drink beer while they cleared up? He explained that our train was still a few hours away - and Mr Girrer said "no problem!"
Excellent - a lock-in!
When it came time to leave the pub we thanked them profusely - what a result!
Back to the station where, of course, the pair awaited - it being the only train of the day they couldn't have gone on anything else.
2095 013) Mariazell - St.Pölten 6842 1657 Mariazell - St.Pölten 85km
2095 011)
I'd like to say the return trip was as hellfire as the outward, but of course being at the top of a mountainous route - it's all downhill from Mariazell! You do, of course, get the thrash out of each station stop to enjoy.
Currently this was my last trip over the route and would certainly be a fitting farewell if I'm unable to visit again.
In 2010, ÖBB transferred responsibility for the railway to NÖVOG. In December 2010, an order was placed for nine low-floor Stadler Himmelstreppe EMUs. In order to accommodate the new trains and provide a new operating centre for NÖVOG, a new station with depot and workshop was built at Laubenbachmühle between 2011 and 2013.
However it IS still possible to enjoy the route loco hauled by both 1099 & Steam Locos.
In 2026 a 1099 electric works the "Ötscherbär" service on Saturdays / Sundays & Bank Holidays from 1st May to 1st November.
Steam works services from May - October every 2nd Sunday of the month & during Advent every Sunday from 22nd November.
Comments
Post a Comment