The Railway through the "Hell Valley"
In 1917 a 5 km normal gauge connection from the Semmeringbahn at Payerbach to the little industry village Hirschwang should be built including a tunnel. The civil work company used a railway with 760 mm narrow gauge for material transportation with locomotives built 1903 and formerly used for construction of the Karawanken-tunnel. One year later, after end of World War I, the constructions were stopped and the tunnel was abandoned.
The industry in Hirschwang was furtheron linked by this little material railway and its funny electric locos only, until 1926, when Austria's first gondola ropeway to the Rax was opened. The material railway was reinforced and extended. Huge, then ultra-modern 4-axle motorcars with trailers were purchased. The so called "LBP-H" (Lokalbahnn Payerbach-Hirschwang) hauled millions of wanderers, ski-tourists, schoolkids and industry workers until 1963, when it was replaced by a bus line following those time's fashions.
In 1977 the "Austrian Light Rail Association" (OeGLB) was founded and established a museum railway service at the line, with freight trains still in service till the early 1980s.
Some technical data:
length: 5 km
gauge: 760 mm (so called "bosnian gauge")
max. gradient: 2.5 %
min. curve radius: 60 m
max. service speed: 20 km/h
catenary voltage: 550 V DC
energy supply: rotating and static AC-DC transformers
- E-loco E 1 built 1903, 2 axles, 2 x 18 kW
- EMU vehicle TW 1 built 1926, 4 axles, 4 x 28 kW
- 2 diesel locos and some motor railcars
- original EMU trailers 11 and 12
- self-adapted trailer 21 (from normal gauge trailer)
- many freight wagons used for internal transports
Today, the railway is maintained and operated by a small group of volunteers in their freetime and service is thus limited to sundays and holydays during summer. In addition to the train rides, guided tours show vehicles and technical devices as well as the work of the volunteers from the backstage view.
Enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year, the Hoellentalbahnis a lovingly preserved technical monument, while at the same time operatingthrough delightful scenery.
Enjoy yourself!
Timetable 2012
Days of service every Sunday and Holiday from June 24th till October 14th
| Connecting trains from the OeBB Bahnhof Payerbach-Reichenau |
| from Vienna / Wr. Neustadt |
9 30 |
12 30 |
14 30 |
17 30 |
| from Semmering / Bruck an der Mur |
|
12 21 |
14 21 |
17 21 |
|
Train 1 |
Train 3 |
Train 5 |
Train 7 |
| Payerbach |
dep |
10 00 |
13 00 |
15 00 |
17 35 |
| Kurhaus |
|
10 08 |
13 08 |
15 08 |
17 43 |
| Reichenau |
arr |
10 12 |
13 12 |
15 12 |
17 47 |
| dep |
10 15 |
13 15 |
15 15 |
17 55 |
| Haaberg |
|
10 21 |
13 21 |
15 21 |
18 01 |
| Hirschwang |
arr |
 10 24 |
13 24 |
15 24 |
18 04 |
|
Event Train |
|
Event Train |
|
|
Train 2 |
Train 4 |
Train 6 |
|
| Hirschwang |
dep |
11 10 |
13 35 |
16 10 |
|
| Haaberg |
|
11 13 |
13 38 |
16 13 |
|
| Reichenau |
arr |
11 19 |
13 44 |
16 19 |
|
| dep |
11 50 |
13 50 |
16 50 |
|
| Kurhaus |
|
11 54 |
13 54 |
16 54 |
|
| Payerbach |
arr |
12 02 |
14 02 |
17 02 |
|
| to Vienna / Wr. Neustadt |
12 24 |
14 24 |
17 24 |
|
| to Semmering / Bruck an der Mur |
12 34 |
15 34 |
17 34 |
|
Service at every weather but not duty-bound. All data is subject to change without notice.
We are pleased to take bicycles onboard the trains if there's enough space left.
Event Trains
Event Trains will include guided tours giving you the possibility to get informed about the railway and the work of the volunteers in detail.
Guided Tours
- depot and workshop Hirschwang (approx.. 40 min)
- electric substation Reichenau (approx. 20 min)
Special Events 2012
On these days special timetables and fares may apply.
season opening
on June 23d 2012
"Zweizugsamstag"
("Two-Train-Service Saturday")- on July 14th and September 15th 2012
On this day all regular trains will be hauled by locos E 1 and V 2, changing in Reichenau.
"Moonvine" Events
on August 4th and September 1st 2012
The moonvine event links the adventure of travelling at night with our train and the experience of good vines inside the famous viaduct of the Semmering railway.
"Long Night of Museums"
begin of October 2012
Fares
return: € 9,-
single: € 5,-
half way: € 3,-
one stop only: € 2,-
children till 6 years are free,
children till 15 years per direction: € 3,-
dai ticket: € 11,-
You will get the tickets from the conductor onboard the train.
Family Reduction
2 adults and 1 child till 15 years together:
return: 18,-
single: 11,-
(no half way tickets available)
Group Reduction
with obligatory seat reservation:
Return: more than 20 pers.: 10%, more than 50 pers.: 20%.
Single: more than 20 pers.: 5%, more than 50 pers.: 10%.
How to find us
By public transport
OeBB South-Line to "Payerbach-Reichenau", please go to the left after leaving the train and look for the signs CAUTION! Don't cross the tracks, please use the underpass!
By car
A2 south-highway, B6 Semmering-highway till exit "Gloggnitz", look for signs to "Hoellental". In Payerbach look for the sign right hand, after passing the traffic-light (Baurat Schneider Street). You can alternatively go further on to Reichenau. At the main junction (crystal spring) go to the right and then over the bridge directly to our station.
Contact us
For reservations, hiring of a special train or any further informations please don't hesitate to contact us. If you plan a ride with more than 10 persons please make a seat reservation in advance, which can be made per phone or mail free of charge.
Please note that due to rail maintenance it is not possible to run special services till early 2012.
Tourism Office Payerbach:
Tel.: +43 2666 / 52423-12
Mon-Fri: 8-12am and 2 -5pm, Sat 8-12am
Tourism Office Reichenau:
Tel.: +43 2666 / 52 8 65
Mon-Fri: 9-12am and 3-5pm, Sat: 9-12am
E-Mail: info@lokalbahnen.at
