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Month: October 2016

Alpine High Speed Rail

Alpine High Speed Rail

Rail jets (RJ) are the Austrian contribution to European high speed rail travel. The train’s seven coaches are coupled to class 1116 and 1216 electro locomotives and operated by the Austrian Federal Railway- ÖBB in a push-pull mode on major routes in Austria as well as neighboring countries. 140 mph (230 km/h) top speed enable swift hops on new built lines between major cities in Middle Europe although there are still good chances to enjoy cruising historic tracks at a lower pace across mountain passes in these state…

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Climbing the “Schafberg”

Climbing the “Schafberg”

Another famous Austrian cog-railway was target of my recent train watching trip in the beautiful “Salzkammergut” region at the border of Upper Austria and Salzburg. This line climbs from St. Wolfgang at the lake called (surprise!) Wolfgangsee up to the top of the mountain called “Schafberg” (Mount Sheep). It is the steepest of all Austrian cog lines and was opened in 1893. The railway still runs the original steam engines on Sundays in Summer but the daily, on nice days…

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