No.3 March 2010 - Intercity Railway Society

Railway Globetrotters
by Ray Smith
Around Jenbach, Austria:
Jenbach, in the Austrian Tirol (it can also be spelt Tyrol) is a good location for train observations. It is 20
minutes east of Innsbruck and it has more freight activity. Not only is it on the east-west main line, it is
also on the German – Italian freight corridor which bypasses Innsbruck. It is a busy station and is also
the termini for two narrow gauge railways. At the southern side is the Zillertahlbahn line to Mayrhofen
and on the northern side is the Achenseebahn to Seespitz (see below). It is the only place in Austria
where three different gauges can be found at the same location.
The station only has 3 platforms with only 2 and 3 in use for passenger trains. On platform 1, there is a
small buffet/bar with tables on the platform. However, my preference is another buffet/bar near to the
Achenseebahn platforms that has outside tables and is a wonderful place to sit on a sunny day (with a
beer) watching the trains. Apart from all of the Austrian trains German, Italian and some private
locomotives can also be seen.
2043 057, a class on its way out, at Jenbach
31 January 2006
to shunt the timber traffic, 2068 034 stands at
Jenbach, 31 January 2007
The Achenseebahn: (railway to lake Achen) was opened in 1889. It is meter gauge. The lake, which is
the largest and deepest in the Tirol, 9.4 km long and 1km (at its widest point) and 133m deep was
already a tourist attraction with the first steamship operating in 1887. Today the circular boat tour takes 2
hours. The water in the lake is almost drinking quality. The lake is 929 metres above sea level. In 1889 a
second steamboat entered service.
The line from Jenback to Seespitz is 6.36km long and the journey time up is 45 minutes and 40 minutes
down. In 1916 the line was extended to the boat station bringing its current length to 6.76km. The line is
rack from Jenback to Eben, which is its highest point at 970 metres above sea level. It is then adhesion
into Seespitz. The locomotives push the train up and haul it down. On the uphill journey the locomotive
runs to the front of the train to haul it into Seespitz.
The locomotives, numbers 1, 2 and 3, named Eben am Achensee, Jenbach and Achenkirch were built in
1888/9 in Florisdorf and are the world’s oldest cog-wheel steam locomotives in service. They use the
Riggenbach rack system. At the height of the season all 3 locomotives are in action so it was decided to
construct another using some spare components and many new parts. Completed in 2004, number 4
was completed in time for the 2005 season. Sadly, in 2008 a fire seriously damaged number 1 so the
company still has only 3 active locomotives. In 1995 it was decided to add a diesel shunter to the fleet.
This was to save steaming a locomotive up for yard shunting and maintenance work. This became D1.
The railway does not operate in the winter. There are two reasons. The water level in the lake becomes
very low. This is due to the water being used to generate electricity in the hydro-electric power stations
and also prevents the boats coming anywhere near some jetty’s. Seespitz can be completely dry! The
lake needs the spring thaw to fill it up again. Also the snow blocks the line. This is a good time for
maintenance.
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