Wälderbähnle: die Bregenzerwaldbahn

German Version

Original German text by courtesy of Mag. Markus Tabanser (Bregenzerwald Museumsbahn).

The Bregenzerwald Railway Line

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Bregenzerwaldbahn (BWB) was one of the 760mm narrow-gauge ("Bosnian gauge") railway lines typical of Austria. Starting out from Bregenz, the capital of the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, the line crossed the suburban area on its way to Kennelbach, where it entered a 19 km stretch of narrow valley cut by the Bregenzerache river. The scenery along this part of the river is both rough and romantic, with the railway being the only means of transport. The villages served by the railway stations along the line were located at a distance of several kilometres. Some of the halts were accessible only by narrow footpaths.

At the end of the Ach valley, the railway line reached Egg, the largest village of Bregenzerwald. From there, the line continued to Andelsbuch and through the Bersbuch forest, at the far end of which is located the Bersbuch terminus of today's Bregenzerwald Museumsbahn - a preserved section of the railway. After the next stop - Schwarzenbach - the line descends, crossing Bregenzerach at Sporenegg by way of a 31-metre plate girder bridge. The line then passes through woodland to the Reuthe halt. The building there is still preserved in its original form. The line then continues through meadows, crossing Bregenzerache once again and, after another kilometre or so, reaching the Bezau terminus.

From the very outset, Bregenzerwaldbahn operated locos of the successful U class. Locos of other classes (Uv, Bh and Uh) were placed in service after World War I. In 1937, class 2041/s diesel electrics (today's 2091) were based in Bregenz. After World War II, a number of former Heeresfeldbahn (military) locos were retained in Bregenz.

In the early sixties, the locos 2095.04 - 07 finally replaced the "steamers" and class 2091 engines. Class 2095 continued to be based there until the line was finally closed.

Throughout its operating days, the railway section in the narrow valley of Bregenzerache was exposed to the wild forces of nature, often taking the form of land- and mudslides. One major landslide at km 7.1 in July 1980 was the final reason for termination of rail service on the Kennelbach - Egg section. In October of that year, the stretch between Egg and Bezau was also closed down for safety reasons. On the 4.7 km section between Bregenz and Kennelbach train service continued until January 9, 1983, when it was replaced by road coach services.

The Association running "Bregenzerwaldbahn-Museumsbahn" was founded in November 1985 with the aim of re-opening operations on preserved track out of Bezau. On May 18, 1987, the club's first loco, D1 "Hilde", was placed in service. The rolling stock consists of converted 1.000 mm material from the Innsbruck - Fulpmes (Stubaitalbahn) line. At that time, trains could only be pushed in the direction of Schwarzenberg as the station had been inaccessible after a level crossing had been filled in with tar.

On May 13, 1989, this obstacle was removed. Since that date, trains have been running as far as the Bersbuch stop (km 6.1).

On August 17, 1990, the first steam loco arrived at Bezau, on loan from collector Walter Seidensticker. This steam loco, numbered 798.101, had already been operated on BWB by ÖBB (the Austrian state railways). It was a former Heeresfeldbahn engine (Henschel 25892/1941). This machine had to be returned to its owner at the end of the 1992 season. Another loco was therefore leased for the summer of 1993, namely the Polish-built Px 48-1913 / Chrzanów 3247/1953), which helped to bridge the time until the arrival of U 25, the Association's first own steam loco. This engine was finally received at Bezau on July 30, 1993 and has since been hauling the Museumsbahn steam trains. In order to be able to offer original-type coaches, a passenger coach was rebuilt in 1995 to plans from 1898, on a freight car chassis. Two additional coaches of the same type followed in later years.

The first original diesel loco placed in service was No. 2091.08, a first-generation diesel-electric engine. Since 1997, No. 2091.08 has been providing regular Museumsbahn diesel train service.

The club's near-term plans foresee restoration of Uh 102, the last steam loco built in Austria for the Bosnian gauge and, if possible, extension of the railway line to Andelsbuch. This latter project, however, is heavily dependent on the good will of politicians. With more than 40,000 passengers per year, however, the Museumsbahn can put forward good arguments in favour of an extension of Austria's westernmost 760 mm narrow gauge railway line.

Museumsbahn motive power (as at October 31, 1997):

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D1 "Hilde"

This loco was built as type HK 130 C for the military colonial railways, i.e. for variable gauges up to 1,067 mm. After completion of its military service, the engine was taken over by Deutsche Baryt Industrie at Bad Lauterberg and, later on, sold to Höllentalbahn (Payerbach-Reichenau - Hirschwang) in Austria. It finally ended up with Steiermärkische Landesbahnen at Weiz, for use as a source of spare parts. From there, the BWB-Museumsbahnverein finally acquired it, thereby saving it from scrapping. Today, D 1 "Hilde" serves on the preserved railway mostly as a work train engine.

D2 "Margreth"

This loco was built by Gmeinder in 1961. It originally operated on the Budenheim cement railway line and, in 1986, was moved to the Warthausen - Ochsenhausen preserved railway in Baden-Württemberg. Bought in April 1989, it was stored at Bezau for several years before resuming service hauling special trains and substituting for No. 2091.08.

D3

Built by the Jenbacher works, the loco initially served on an industrial line at Ternitz. In October 1988 it was transferred to Bezau. Because of its limited motive power, it is used only on the work train or in double-headed operation. It is currently based at Bezau while waiting for a new buyer.

U 25 "Bezau"

U 25, numbered StEG 2998/1902, was built for the inauguration of Bregenzerwaldbahn and served on this line until 1938. This was followed by service on the Pinzgauer local line, on Zillertalbahn, and on Steyrtalbahn. After the closure of Steyrtalbahn it was returned to the Pinzgauer local line in 1982 to haul passenger steam trains from Zell am See to Krimml.

On expiry of the boiler operating permit in 1986, it was set up as a memorial loco at Eichgraben in Lower Austria.

Since the early days of the Museumsbahn Association, efforts had been undertaken to acquire the last original Bregenzerwald loco. In 1992, the U25 was exchanged for the Yv 1, which is now on display at Eichgraben.

The U 25 was restored in the workshops of Zillertalbahn and transferred to Bezau on August 14, 1993. Since that date, the loco has been hauling the Museumsbahn steam trains.

2091.08

From 1936 to 1940, a total of twelve of these railcars - originally called "Gepäcktriebwagen" -were placed in operation. Since 1937, these units have been operating on Bregenzerwaldbahn. Their moderate power of just 210 hp, however, was not enough to render steam service completely obsolete. This happened only when the 2095 class (600 hp) was placed in service in the early sixties. Following this, the 2091 was no longer needed on Bregenzerwaldbahn and transferred to other ÖBB narrow-gauge lines.

In November 1995, Museumsbahn was offered the opportunity of acquiring No. 2091.08 together with 2091.04 (as a source of spare parts). Since the 1997 season, No. 2091.08 has been hauling all of the regular Museumsbahn diesel trains.

Uh 102

Uh 102 (ÖBB classification 498.08) was the last steam loco built in Austria for the Bosnian gauge. Manufactured by Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf, it was based at St. Pölten, Zell am See, and Garsten. The first locos of the Uh class were fitted with a highly failure-prone Caprotti valve control system.

The Uh 100 class was then fitted with the more reliable Lentz valve control. The Museum Association is planning to restore the Uh 102 using spare parts taken from the Uh 3 memorial loco (498.03) on display at Bezau and to return it to active service.

Important Telephone Numbers:

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The Museumsbahn operates from Whitsuntide to mid October. During this time, regular train service is provided on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. During the July and August high season, regular train service is also available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Special trains may be booked at any time (Office phone number).

One train accommodates about 280 passengers.

Hotels and Restaurants at Bezau

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Hotel Gams, Platz 44, 6870 Bezau, phone +43 (5514) 2220; Fax +43 (5514) 2220-24
Hotel Post, Brugg 35, 6870 Bezau, phone +43 (5514) 2207; Fax +43 (5514) 2207-22

Gasthof Bezauer Hof, Bahnhof 142, 6870 Bezau, phone +43 (5514) 2214
Gasthof Engel, Platz 29, 6870 Bezau, phone +43 (5514) 2203
Gasthof Hirschen, Platz 40, 6870 Bezau, phone +43 (5514) 2382; Fax +43 (5514) 3470
Gasthof Sonne, Kriechere 66, 6870 Bezau, phone +43 (5514) 2262; Fax +43 (5514) 2912

Traffic links

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Bezau can be reached by public transport from Dornbirn and Bregenz. On weekdays, the railway and postal coach lines run at one-hour intervals, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at least every two hours.

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