In addition to having extensive general coverage of Austria, I also have extensive coverage of railroads in Austria, particularly of the Austrian Federal Railways (Österreichische Bundesbahnen or ÖBB). In many ways the ÖBB is typical of railway operations in Europe.
Though without the dedicated high-speed passenger lines of France and Germany, the ÖBB faces most of the same challenges as other European countries in efficiently transporting both passengers and freight on lines that are both scenic and difficult at the same time, with many crossing severe Alpine passes.
Austria is at the crossroads of Europe, with former East Bloc countries to the east, Switzerland to the west, Germany to the north, and Italy to the south. Traffic to and from Mediterranean ports to Germany flows through Austria, as does traffic from Hungary, Slovakia, and former Yugoslavia.
Without the financial resources of larger countries like Germany and France, Austria's railroads are still at the forefront of railroad technology, with Austrian equipment frequently operating on through trains into other countries.
Coverage of Austrian railways ranges back into the 1970s and comes from many trips, often with access behind the scenes. This page features mostly subjects from my May, 2000, trip, including both technical and travel images.
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000761 New class 1016 Austrian electric locomotive. |
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000767 New class 1016 Austrian electric locomotive. |
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000751 Cab console of new class 1016 Austrian electric locomotive. |
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000781 A dispatcher at Innsbruck's main control tower uses state of the art computer equipment to monitor and manage train traffic through the Innsbruck station and yards. |
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000825 Well-maintained track on the Arlberg line between Innsbruck and the Swiss border. |
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000289 Passengers on platform at Landeck, Austria, with international express train with Swiss first class panorama car passing in background. |
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000986 Class 4020 electric multiple-unit set providing commuter service on the Brenner line near Innsbruck, Austria. |
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000831 Railroad container terminal, Bludenz, Austria. |
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000884 Container stacker loading swap-body onto railroad car at Hall in Tirol, Austria. |
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000313 Freight train crossing the Trisana Bridge in western Austria. (View from the south side of the bridge, with Wiesburg Castle.) |
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000367 Freight train crossing the Trisana Bridge in western Austria. (View from the north side of the bridge, with Wiesburg Castle.) |
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000922 Loading of "Rolling Highway" (Rollende Landstrasse in German, or RoLa for short) intermodal train at Brennersee, Austria, near the Italian border. |
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001025 RoadRailer® train on the Brenner Pass line in Austria. |
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000957 Engineer worstation at the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) electric power generation and distribution management center in Innsbruck. |
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000278 Long-distance passenger train making station stop at Imst in western Austria. |
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011761 Can you say cold? The buffers, coupling, and connecting hoses on the 6010 cab control car of this class 4010 trainset are seriously iced up--and this is the back of the train. But, in all but the worst winter weather, the trains still run on time. |
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011789 A 1016 electric locomotive sends snow flying as it brings a long-distance express train into Attnang-Puchheim. |
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911150 A
classic ÖBB view: An early morning view of an
Innsbruck's main station finds a class 1044 electric
locomotive ready to depart westbound with a local train
while a catenary maintenance vehicle is on the track to
the left. The class 1044 four-axle electrics, first introduced in the late 1970s, were the mainstay of main line electric motive power for both passenger and freight trains of all types. Most locomotives of this series are still in service in the early 21st century. The diesel-powered catenary maintenance vehicle has raised its pantograph to ensure that the catenary on its track is grounded before work is done on the wires. The Nordkette mountains provide the backdrop, with snow-covered tops in early October. |
Keep in mind these images are only samples. Many more images of additional subjects are available.
For a page featuring older and historic OBB equipment, click here.
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