Gutenstein Railway

Gutensteinerbahn (Wittmannsdorf – Gutenstein)
Multiple unit 5022 022-5 in the historically preserved Miesenbach stop
Course book route (ÖBB) :	521
Route length:	33.751 km
Gauge :	1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Maximum slope :	22  ‰
Minimum radius :	139 m
Top speed:	90 km / h
Legend - Leobersdorfer Bahn (from Leobersdorf ) - Local railway Ebenfurth – Wittmannsdorf -0.973 Wittmannsdorf 274  m above sea level A. - Leobersdorfer Bahn (to St. Pölten Hbf ) - 0.02 (Length 5.5 m) 0.000 Guard house 3 (formerly Abzw. Vd Leobersd. B. ) 0.02 (Length 10.5 m) 2.11 Hölles (formerly Conn. Wiener Neustädter Flugzeugw. ) 3.54 Südautobahn (A2) (length 43.0 m) 3.84 Matzendorf 312  m above sea level A. - Schneebergbahn (from Sollenau ) 6.16 Piesting (length 14.0 m) 6.54 (Length 9.0 m) 6.86 Steinabrückl 312  m above sea level A. - Schneebergbahn (after the fireworks station ) 7,050 End of track 7.287 Connection railway company Rütgers 7.816 Connecting railway 8.40 Südautobahn (A2) (length 50.0 m) Schneebergbahn (from Bad Fischau ) 9,070 Woellersdorf 323  m above sea level A. 9.67 (Length 5.0 m) 10.09 (Length 4.0 m) 10.200 Wöllersdorf-Marchgraben 327  m above sea level A. 10.65 (Length 2 × 3.0 m) 10.99 Piesting (length 17.5 m) 12.743 Piesting Harzwerk 336  m above sea level A. 13.675 Piesting 343  m above sea level A. 14.810 Dreistetten 344  m above sea level A. 15.42 Piesting (length 15.5 m) 15.66 (Length 2 × 4.0 m) 15.886 Ober Piesting 352  m above sea level A. 16.20 (Length 3.0 m) 16.24 (Length 3.0 m) 16.47 Piesting (length 15.4 m) 16,498 Connecting railway company Wopfinger 16,566 Connecting railway company Wopfinger 17.002 Connecting railway company Wopfinger 17.032 Connecting railway company Wopfinger 17.25 (Length 6.5 m) 17.61 (Length 6.5 m) 17.515 Wopfing 358  m above sea level A. 19.017 Waldegg 368  m above sea level A. 19.27 (Length 4.3 m) 19.30 Piesting (length 7.0 m) 19.62 Dürnbach (length 4.0 m) 19,560 Waldegg-Dürnbach 372  m above sea level A. 20.24 Piesting (length 17.6 m) 22.059 Oed 396  m above sea level A. 23,705 Miesenbach - Waidmannsfeld 399  m above sea level A. 24.54 (Length 4.0 m) 24.95 (Length 9.2 m) 25.07 Piesting (length 15.4 m) 26.58 (Length 4.0 m) 26.62 Connection railway company SCA Ortmann 26,700 Ortmann 415  m above sea level A. 27.37 Connection railway company SCA Ortmann 27,535 Pernitz Wipfelhofstrasse 423  m above sea level A. 27.92 Mirabach (length 6.0 m) 28,344 Pernitz - Muggendorf 430  m above sea level A. 29.33 Connecting line to the Hollinger sawmill 29.53 Piesting (length 10.0 m) 29,391 Pernitz Raimundviertel 443  m above sea level A. 32,557 Gutenstein 468  m above sea level A.

The Gutensteinerbahn , also commonly referred to as the Piestingtalbahn , is a railway line in southern Lower Austria . It originally ran in standard gauge (1,435 mm) from Wittmannsdorf , where it branches off the Leobersdorfer Bahn , to Gutenstein . The stretch between Wittmannsdorf and Wöllersdorf was removed in February and March 2015. Trains to Gutenstein depart from Wiener Neustadt.

The length of the Gutenstein Railway was originally 33,751 meters. In its course it overcomes 194 meters in altitude. It has the greatest gradients between km 19.0 and km 20.2, the maximum value being 24.5  ‰ .

Route description

After it leads from Wittmannsdorf to Wöllersdorf over the flat Steinfeld, from there it enters the Piestingtal, which has its narrowest area in the area from Wopfing to Ortmann . In the Piestingtal it follows the Piesting , which, due to its large catchment area and the narrowness of the valley, repeatedly leads to floods that have repeatedly caused enormous damage to the Gutensteiner line. The narrowness of the valley results in some narrow radii, the smallest of which is just 150 meters in several places.

history

The Gutensteinerbahn was originally licensed and built by the Niederösterreichische Südwestbahnen , which also operated the Leobersdorfer Bahn. On September 1, 1877, the Leobersdorfer Bahn was opened from Leobersdorf to Kaumberg . At the same time, the Gutensteinerbahn, which branched off from the former Wächterhaus 3 junction, was also opened to Gutenstein on that day. On July 5, 1878, however, the Gutenstein Railway was purchased by law from the state, which had previously refrained from building railway lines. In 1882 the Imperial and Royal Ministry of Commerce rejected a request from the municipality of Wiener Neustadt for approval of preparatory work for the construction of a standard-gauge local railway from Wiener Neustadt to Wöllersdorf.

Wöllersdorf station (around 1905)

Gutenstein station , Gutenstein-Vorderbruck (1903)

Wittmannsdorf station was only built with the construction of the Ebenfurth – Wittmannsdorf local railway, which opened on August 23, 1883 . As a result, the Gutenstein Railway was connected directly to Wittmannsdorf station on July 30, 1885, and the Wächterhaus 3 junction was closed.

With the opening of the main route of the Schneeberg Railway on April 15, 1897 from Wiener Neustadt to Puchberg am Schneeberg , the wing railway from Bad Fischau to Wöllersdorf was also opened, which linked it to the Gutenstein Railway.

After the kk priv. Eisenbahn Wien-Aspang took over the management of the Schneebergbahn on January 1st, 1899, a connecting line was built between Sollenau and the fireworks establishment, which opened on August 28th, 1900 and was linked to the Gutensteiner railway in Steinabrückl . On May 30, 1947, the Sollenau – Steinabrückl section and on May 27, 1972, the Steinabrückl – Fireworks Station section were opened again.

During the time of the Second World War, there was also a connection for the Wiener Neustädter Flugzeugwerke in Hölles at km 2.110 .

The original speed of only 12 km / h had a very negative effect on passenger traffic. The travel time for the route from Wittmannsdorf to Gutenstein was around 3 hours and 30 minutes. Over the years, the superstructure was continuously strengthened, so that the driving speed could be increased to 40 km / h from the 1930s. In 1986 the permitted axle load was 20 tons and the maximum line speed was 50 to 60 km / h.

The Gutensteinerbahn and its neighboring lines around 1915 (special map of the land survey )

On March 16, 1992, a drying cylinder was transported for the Ortmann-based company SCA Hygienepapier , which reached record dimensions with a weight of 190 tons, a length of 8 meters and a diameter of 6 meters. This freight was loaded on a 20-axle private low-loader wagon, the loading device of which was adjustable in both width and height and which had a dead weight of 159 tons and a length of 44 meters. Including the drying cylinder, the total weight of the wagon was 349 tons. The entire route (Vienna Albern Hafen - Aspangbahn - Felixdorf - Leobersdorf - Ortmann) had to be covered with a template for this transport in order to determine whether this transport could even be handled. On the basis of the calculations and the results of these measurements, extensive preparatory work had to be carried out on the Gutensteinerbahn - reinforcement of bridges, lowering of the existing track level, cabling of the previously existing overhead lines, etc. The transport itself was accompanied by numerous onlookers. It was the largest transport that had ever been handled on the ÖBB rail network up to that point in time . Incidentally, it would not have been possible to transport the dryer cylinder by road. Such heavy haulage was already a tradition on the Gutenstein Railway. As early as 1934 and 1971, drying cylinders were transported to Ortmann, which caused a sensation, but were nowhere near as large.

present

Today the Gutensteiner Railway is served from Wiener Neustadt after the passenger traffic between Wittmannsdorf and Wöllersdorf was reduced with the change of timetable in 1991 and discontinued in 1997. In the course of the establishment of the integrated interval timetable NAT '91 , a connection to the Wiener Neustadt interchange was considered to be more customer-friendly and more economical, and the direct trains to and from Vienna with locomotive changes in Wittmannsdorf or Leobersdorf were discontinued. Since the freight traffic for the Gutensteinerbahn is also served from the Wiener Neustadt station, there is no more continuous traffic in this section. Parts of the track system were removed.

There is no longer any traffic on the former main route between Wittmannsdorf and Wöllersdorf; the route was dismantled in February and March 2015. Before that, freight trains of a connecting line and occasional nostalgic trips from Vienna to Gutenstein (for example to the Ferdinand Raimund Festival ) were carried on it. These were later sold via Wiener Neustadt and are no longer offered at all.

Expansion measures

After the line was repeatedly endangered in the 1980s and 1990s, the section from Wöllersdorf to Gutenstein was renewed and modernized in 2004 and 2005 at a cost of around 20 million euros. This also enabled the maximum line speed to be increased in sections. The maximum speed is still 75 km / h and 80 km / h in two sections. In most areas, the speed is around 60 km / h due to the numerous tight radii. In cooperation with the new train control and safety technology for faster and more compact train operations, as well as the smoother crossings that this makes possible, the overall route between Wiener Neustadt and Gutenstein was reduced in travel times by up to 15 minutes.

After extensive investments in train stations, track systems, light and barrier-controlled level crossings and train protection systems totaling 20 million euros, the simplified V3 operation (formerly train control operation ) was officially put into operation on November 12, 2005 . Wöllersdorf became the train control station for the Wöllersdorf – Gutenstein section.

Freight transport

Freight train with class 2143 locomotive in Wöllersdorf

Thanks to major customers in freight transport - the SCA Hygienepapier-Ortmann in Pernitz and Wopfinger Baustoffindustrie GmbH ("baumit") in Wopfing - the Gutensteinerbahn now has the best future prospects. In the last few years the freight volume has remained constant at around 400,000 tons, a large part of which was destined for onward transport abroad. The Gutensteinerbahn saves the residents of the Piestingtal a large number of truck trips.

A special feature is that on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, a separate pair of freight trains is run on the Gutenstein Railway to cope with the freight volume of the SCA Hygienepapier-Ortmann company. A total of five pairs of freight trains run on working days.

passenger traffic

In terms of passenger transport, around 1,600 passengers currently use the Gutensteinerbahn every day, despite competing bus lines running parallel to the railways, to which, not least, the active stopping policy of the ÖBB contributed. Between 1999 and 2003, the new Wöllersdorf-Marchgraben , Piesting Harzwerk , Waldegg-Dürnbach and Pernitz Raimundviertel stops were opened in addition to the previous passenger stops .

The timetable through the ages

Since the ÖBB had no agreement with the Schneebergbahn to share the route from Wiener Neustadt to Wöllersdorf, the Gutensteinerbahn could only be operated via Wittmannsdorf until July 1, 1937. Wittmannsdorf station was also equipped with its own boiler house for this purpose. Direct trains from Wiener Neustadt to Gutenstein were only possible after the Aspangbahn and Schneebergbahn were taken over by the BBÖ.

The 1946 timetable shows a total of three daily train pairs from Wiener Neustadt to Gutenstein, while the 1950 timetable already included seven daily train pairs between Wöllersdorf and Gutenstein, three of them from Leobersdorf (with a connection to and from Wiener Neustadt) and four from Wiener Neustadt wrong. Between 1962 and 1989, eight pairs of trains ran daily on the Gutensteinerbahn.

In September 1989 an hourly service with 12 to 15 daily train pairs was introduced.

From the timetable change in December 2005, thanks to the increasing number of passengers on working days, half-hourly intervals were introduced in the morning and evening peaks.

With the 2010 summer timetable, two early trains were withdrawn, afternoon traffic switched to hourly intervals and additional repeater trains canceled due to low passenger frequencies .

Transport network

The route is operated by the Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region (VOR).

future

There were considerations to continue the already electrified Leobersdorf – Wittmannsdorf section to electrify the line to Wöllersdorf and to resume passenger traffic in the express train service between Wittmannsdorf and Wöllersdorf. To do this, however, the superstructure would have to be renewed, the level crossings technically secured and the already old electrification up to Wittmannsdorf also renewed. It didn't come to that.

The rumor that the Gutensteiner Railway should be closed has so far only been confirmed for its first section.

Driving resources

The Niederösterreichische Southwest webs (NÖSWB) added at the beginning of the following rows on the web Gutensteiner a: NÖSWB Serie A , NÖSWB series B , NÖSWB 1C , NÖSWB Serie C . The 1C used the double-decker coach to enable efficient passenger transport (see → Leobersdorfer Bahn).

After the NÖSWB was taken over by the kkStB, the above vehicles remained on the Gutensteinerbahn. The kkStB 97 and kkStB 99 series were also added .

During the time of the BBÖ , the following series are documented: BBÖ 199 , BBÖ 399 , BBÖ 229 , BBÖ 178 , BBÖ 30 (former light rail locomotive , stationed in Wittmannsdorf), BBÖ 460 and BBÖ 378 .

From 1953 the ÖBB used the following steam locomotive series on the Gutensteinerbahn: ÖBB 77 , ÖBB 91 , ÖBB 75 , ÖBB 93 , ÖBB 52 , ÖBB 152 and ÖBB 58 , which were stationed in Wiener Neustadt. The last scheduled train hauled by a steam locomotive was a freight train operated by the 152.237, which ran on May 29, 1972.

ÖBB 2045 , ÖBB 2143 , ÖBB 2062 , ÖBB 2067 , ÖBB 5041 , ÖBB 5044 , ÖBB 5144 , ÖBB 5046 and ÖBB 5080 were initially used on diesel vehicles .

present

In passenger transport, the latest generation of railcars of the ÖBB series 5022 (Desiro) and, less frequently, the older Jenbacher railcars of the ÖBB series 5047 are used. Push-pull train sets hauled by locomotives are no longer used in planned operation.

Freight trains are almost exclusively hauled by the ÖBB series 2016 (Herkules) , which has largely replaced the already outdated ÖBB series 2143 .

past

Steam locomotives

• Row 52 ,
• Row 77 (ex BBÖ 629),
• Row 91 (ex BBÖ 199 and 99),
• Row 93 (ex BBÖ 378),
• BBÖ 229 series

Diesel locomotives

• Row 2045
• 2050 series
• Row 2060
• Row 2062
• Row 2067

Railcars and multiple units

• VT 5041 ,
• VT 5042 ,
• VT 5044 ,
• VT 5144 ,
• VT 5046 ,
• VT 5146 ,
• VT 5081

gallery

• 

  Wittmannsdorf train station

• 

  Former Steinabrückl train station

• 

  Wöllersdorf train station

• 

  Wöllersdorf Marchgraben stop

• 

  Stop at Piesting Harzwerk

• 

  Piesting train station

• 

  Dreistetten stop

• 

  Ober Piesting train station

• 

  Wopfing stop

• 

  Waldegg train station

• 

  Waldegg-Dürnbach stop

• 

  Station in the Oed station

• 

  Miesenbach-Waidmannsfeld stop

• 

  Ortmann train station

• 

  Get off at Pernitz Wipfelhofstraße

• 

  Pernitz-Muggendorf train station

• 

  Stop Pernitz Raimundviertel

• 

  Miesenbach-Waidmannsfeld stop

• 

  Gutenstein train station

• 

  End of the line in Gutenstein station

literature

• Hans Sternhart, Friedrich Slezak: Lower Austrian Südwestbahnen - Leobersdorf, Hainfeld, St. Pölten, Traisen, Kernhof / Türnitz, Wittmannsdorf, Piesting, Gutenstein, Pöchlarn, Scheibbs, Kienberg-Gaming . International Archive for Locomotive History, Volume 25. Slezak Verlag, Vienna 1977, ISBN 3-900134-35-9
• 100 years of the Gutenstein Railway. Festschrift on the occasion of the anniversary . Festival committee “100 Years of the Gutenstein Railway”, Wiener Neustadt 1977
• Peter Wegenstein: Railways between Piesting and Schneeberg. This volume covers the Leobersdorf - Gutenstein, Wiener Neustadt - Puchberg am Schneeberg and Bad Fischau-Brunn - Wöllersdorf routes . Bahn im Bild, Volume 61. Pospischil Verlag, Vienna 1988
• Norbert Krausner, Manfred Dwornikowitsch: Festschrift Piestingtaler Bahnfest 25th to 27th May 1990. Festschrift on the occasion of the attractiveness of the Gutensteinerbahn . Self-published by the Festival Committee, Pernitz 1990
• 2nd Piestingtaler Bahnfest 5th and 6th September 1992. Commemorative publication on the occasion of “115 Years of the Gutensteinerbahn” . Self-published by the Festival Committee, Pernitz 1992
• Karl Flanner: Leobersdorf - Gutenstein, Leobersdorf - St. Pölten: from switching cars to diesel railcars . Documentation of the "Industrieviertel Museum" Wr. Neustadt; 72. Verlag Verein Museum u. Archive for work and Industry in the quarter under d. Wienerwald, Wr. Neustadt 1997

See also

• List of locomotives and railcars of the ÖBB

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Dismantling of the Wittmansdorf-Wöllersdorf line , accessed on March 2, 2015.
2. ↑ Volkswirthschaftliche Zeitung. Southwest Railway. In:  Das Vaterland , September 1, 1877, p. 3, bottom center. (Online at ANNO ).
3. ↑ Localbahn Wr.-Neustadt-Wöllersdorf .. In:  Badener Bezirks-Blatt , April 15, 1882, p. 4 (online at ANNO ).
4. ↑ (...) Gutenstein Railway . In: noe.orf.at , July 27, 2010, accessed on September 28, 2010.
5. ↑ Catalog list Austrian National Library
6. ↑ Permalink Austrian Library Association
7. ↑ Permalink Austrian Library Association

Web links

Commons : Gutensteinerbahn  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Current timetable of the ÖBB