Trains - Austria: Illustrated Books - Rail Routes and Stations

175 Jahre Eisenbahn in Simmering - Eine nostalgische Bilderreise

Around 160 historical photographs, with competent and entertaining commentary by Johannes Hradecky, document the entire history of rail transport and the stations in Simmering for the 175th anniversary, from the tram to the local railways to the legendary Eastern Railway and from the first reception buildings to today's main station.

Product details

Author:	Johannes Hradecky
Details:	128 pages, 9 x 6.7 in (24 x 17 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	160 photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Sutton Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783963032325

Brennerbahn und Pustertalbahn - Auf den Spuren der Südbahngesellschaft in Tirol

Crossing the Alps by rail was and is an engineering feat. The Brenner Railway also changed the landscape for good. The division of Tyrol created a technical border. Today, the question of a new challenge arises: the Brenner Base Tunnel.

This illustrated book presents the comprehensive history of the Brenner Railway and the Puster Valley Railway in historical and current images from 1864 to the present day.

Product details

Author:	Günter Denoth
Details:	128 pages, 9 x 6.7 in (24 x 17 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	160 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Sutton Verlag (D, 2016)
ISBN:	9783954006625

Brennerbahn: Seit mehr als 150 jahren die niedrigste Alpenquarung: Rückblick, Einblick, Ausblick

It is considered one of the most fascinating railway lines of all: the Brenner Railway. Opened in 1867, it runs over the Brenner Pass to Bolzano. It is the highest standard gauge railway in Europe, crossing a 1370 m high pass without a tunnel. Construction has been underway since 2007 on the Brenner Base Tunnel, which will be 55 km long.

The Austrian journalist, author and photographer Markus Inderst has been working on the Brenner Railway for many years. He is now presenting his research and photographs in book form. Looking back, he traces the history of this railway line.

The insight, the most extensive chapter of the book, shows and describes the Brenner Railway as it has appeared in recent years: the stations, the locomotives, the trains and the indescribably beautiful and wild landscape.
The outlook takes a close look at the future of the railway: the expansion and development plans with the base tunnel, which are intended to bring about a significant increase in capacity and speed.

Product details

Author:	Markus Inderst
Details:	160 pages, 11 x 8.25 in (28 x 21 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	380 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Verlag Podszun (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783861339434

Die Bregenzerwaldbahn - Gestern und Heute

During the journey on the route from Bregenz to Bezau in the Bregenz Forest, the viewer experiences the change in tunnels, bridges and vehicles between Bregenz, Egg, Andelsbuch, Bersbuch and Bezau in comparisons.
In an exciting comparison of then and now, Norbert Fink shows what is left of the Wälderbähnle: route areas reclaimed by nature, beautifully laid out cycle paths, repaired original locomotives and newly built passenger carriages.

Product details

Author:	Norbert Fink, Peter Balmer
Details:	128 pages, 9 x 6.7 in (24 x 17 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	110 photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Sutton Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783963031489

Die Geschichte der Bregenzerwaldbahn - Fotografien von 1902 bis 1983

Around 160 impressive, partly unpublished photographs document the eventful history of the Bregenzerwaldbahn between 1902 and 1983. The unique photo treasures show the entire history of the Wälderbahn and recall the route, the rolling stock, accidents and the development after it was closed down. A must for all railway fans.

Pages of the book "Die Geschichte der Bregenzerwaldbahn - Fotografien von 1902 bis 1983"

Product details

Author:	Norbert Fink, Peter Balmer
Details:	128 pages, 9 x 6.5 x 0.63 in (24 x 16.5 x 1.6 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	160 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Sutton Verlag (D, 2021)
ISBN:	9783963033148

Tauernbahn - Bedeutend für den Balkanverkehr

Under the slogan "New Alpine Railways", the Tauernbahn was created as a rival line to the Südbahn. It was designed to facilitate traffic to the port of Trieste. The northern ramp was opened in 1905, and the remaining section in 1909. The core of the line is the 8.5 km long, double-track Tauern Tunnel.
Due to the increasing traffic to the Balkan states with holiday and guest worker trains, a double-track expansion was carried out selectively between 1969 and 2016.

The Austrian journalist, author and photographer Markus Inderst traces the exciting history of the Tauern Railway. He shows and describes the route, the stations, the locomotives, the trains and the indescribably beautiful landscape.

Product details

Author:	Markus Inderst
Details:	168 pages, 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.79 in (28.5 x 22 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	480 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Verlag Podszun (D, 2022)
ISBN:	9783751610346

Unterwegs auf der Franz-Josefs-Bahn - Magistrale zwischen Wien, Waldviertel und Böhmen

In this book railway expert Paul G. Liebhart presents around 220 mostly unpublished photographs that invite you to take a short journey into the past of the railway line between Vienna and Gmünd.
In addition to the route, the focus is on the vehicles used and the changes over the last few decades. A must for all railway enthusiasts and technology fans.

Product details

Author:	Paul Gregor Liebhart
Details:	168 pages, 10.6 x 8.9 in (27 x 22.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	220 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Sutton Verlag (D, 2019)
ISBN:	9783963030239

Verkehrsknoten Wien

As the centre of the Habsburg Empire, the Danube metropolis of Vienna was an outstanding destination and an important intersection of Central and Eastern European transport routes for centuries. With the construction of the mighty Ringstrasse after 1857, Vienna developed into a glamorous cosmopolitan city that today captivates millions of visitors.

In long-distance and local rail transport, Vienna became the starting and destination point for numerous railway lines, various railway companies and legendary trains such as the Orient Express.
A huge network of suburban, underground and tram lines and currently over 140 bus lines are also inextricably linked to the city. Vienna is a mecca for trams and has the sixth largest tram network in the world, with a network length of over 170 km and almost 30 lines.

Selected treasure troves of images from the Austro-Hungarian era to the post-war period by Viennese master photographers such as Alfred Luft and Harald Navé allow us to immerse ourselves in the unique transport situation on rail, road and the Danube. Images that are still fascinating today.

Product details

Author:	Lothar Rihosek
Details:	112 pages, 8.7 x 11.6 x 0.59 in (22 x 29.5 x 1.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	165 photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	EK-Verlag GmbH (D, 2016)
ISBN:	9783844662122

Wege aus Eisen im Mostviertel: Zur Geschichte der Eisenbahnen im Viertel ober dem Wienerwald

In the 19th century, the Weinviertel and Waldviertel were crossed by a fairly impressive network of railway lines. After the First World War, the Western Railway became the most important main line in Austria, and has now been expanded into a modern high-speed line. At the same time, however, many branch lines were closed and the railway facilities were dismantled.
In this book, Peter Wegenstein pays attention to the history of the main lines as well as to the local railway lines and trams that have disappeared.

The author examines in detail the history of the railways in the Mostviertel and the Vienna Woods and their stations, documenting the creation, prosperity and decline of the railways. He looks at the development of the speed and travel times of express trains on the Western Railway line - and some special features such as the history of the Purkersdorf Rattenloch, which made negative headlines for many years, are also documented in the book.

Like his two previously published books, this volume is also characterized by its extensive and lavish illustrations.
The book shows trains on the Western Railway line as well as on the section of the Franz Josef Railway from Vienna to Tulln and on all branch lines such as the Ybbstal, Erlauftal and Mariazell Railway.

Product details

Author:	Peter Wegenstein
Details:	124 pages, 8.1 x 9 x 0.67 in (20.5 x 24 x 1.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Winkler-Hermaden (A, 2015)
ISBN:	9783950395297

Wege aus Eisen im Waldviertel - Zur Geschichte der Eisenbahnen im Viertel ober dem Manhartsberg

In 1914 the Waldviertel was criss-crossed by a fairly impressive network of railway lines. In addition to the Franz Josef Railway, which began operations on 1 November 1869 from Eggenburg to the current state border and further to Budweis, the branch line to Absdorf-Hippersdorf was opened three years later.
In addition, the connections from Hadersdorf am Kamp to Sigmundsherberg and further to Zellerndorf in the Weinviertel are particularly worth mentioning, but also smaller standard gauge lines that no longer exist today, such as those to Martinsberg-Gutenbrunn, Zlabings or Raabs.

In this book, Peter Wegenstein pays attention to the history of the main lines as well as to the local railway lines that have disappeared. The author examines in detail the history of the Waldviertel railway lines and their stations, documenting the creation, prosperity and decline of the railways.
The history of the narrow-gauge lines from Gmünd to Groß Gerungs and from Gmünd to Litschau and Heidenreichstein is also presented in detail.

Peter Wegenstein also deals with special topics of Waldviertel railway history such as the divided railway town of Gmünd, the "Bridge of Sighs" on the Franz Josef Railway between Hötzelsdorf-Geras and Irnfritz and the so-called "Teufelsbruckn" in front of Schwarzenau.
More than 100 historical and current photos show the trains on all routes with a wide variety of vehicles, but also what is left of some of the branch lines. Reports recall the time when the railways were private railways and made a net profit.

Product details

Author:	Peter Wegenstein
Details:	120 pages, 8.1 x 9 x 0.59 in (20.5 x 24 x 1.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	100+ b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Winkler-Hermaden (A, 2014)
ISBN:	9783950373929

Wege aus Eisen im Weinviertel - Zur Geschichte der Eisenbahnen zwischen Manhartsberg und March

Agriculture dominates the Weinviertel, and in large parts of it the winegrowing that gives the region its name. Nevertheless, Austria's first steam train ran in the Weinviertel in 1838, on the route from Vienna to Gänserndorf (test runs from Floridsdorf to Deutsch-Wagram from 1837).
Peter Wegenstein has described why this is the case in this book, as well as the history of the Weinviertel's railway lines and their stations. The author also discusses some of their special features.

More than 100 historical and current photos show the trains on all routes with a wide variety of vehicles, but also what is left of some of the branch lines. Documents recall the time when the railways were privately owned and made a profit.
Images of tickets, which have long since been replaced by computer printouts, allow us to look back to a time when there were still conductors and station staff.

In the book, Peter Wegenstein documents the creation, the heyday and the partial decline of the railways in the Weinviertel. In particular, the dense network of branch lines, which ran through the eastern Weinviertel in particular, is presented in detail.

Product details

Author:	Peter Wegenstein
Details:	120 pages, 8.1 x 9 x 0.67 in (20.5 x 24 x 1.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	136 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Winkler-Hermaden (A, 2012)
ISBN:	9783950337839

Wege aus Eisen in der Steiermark - Zur Geschichte der Eisenbahn in der grünen Mark

Styria needed an efficient means of transport in the mining and industrial regions. Therefore, efforts were made to route the railway line planned from the north of the monarchy to the south via Vienna through Styria.
1844 was the birth year of the railway in Styria, when the Mürzzuschlag-Graz line was opened. This was followed by other main lines, such as the extension of the Southern Railway through Lower Styria to Trieste and the opening of the Crown Prince Rudolf Railway from the Western Railway through Styria to Carinthia.
The development of the Erzberg region by railway was also important, and many notable branch lines were built to supply the region.

Due to changes in industry and for economic reasons, individual lines were discontinued from 1959 onwards, such as the routes from Birkfeld to Ratten, from Kapfenberg to Au-Seewiesen and from Mürzzuschlag to Neuberg. Today, two high-voltage lines are under construction: the Semmering Base Tunnel and the Koralm Railway.

In this book, Peter Wegenstein pays attention to the history of the main lines as well as the local railway lines that have disappeared and the Graz tram. The author documents the creation, prosperity and decline of the railways. More than 100 photos show the trains on all routes with a wide variety of vehicles. Individual documents and old tickets complement the book.

Product details

Author:	Peter Wegenstein
Details:	132 pages, 7.9 x 9 x 0.67 in (20 x 24 x 1.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	100+ b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Winkler-Hermaden (A, 2019)
ISBN:	9783950472059

Wege aus Eisen in Oberösterreich - Zur Geschichte der Eisenbahn im Land ob der Enns

In Upper Austria, the first railway in the monarchy, the horse-drawn tram, was built in September 1827. It was the second railway in Europe; the horse-drawn tram from Saint Étienne to Andrézieux (France) had already been put into operation on June 1, 1827.
In the following decades, a considerable rail network was built, which included the Western Railway, the most important main line in Austria. The Crown Prince Rudolf Railway, the Kremstal Railway and the Pyhrn Railway, as well as the Salzkammergut Railway and the Passau Railway, to name just a few, are presented in detail.

The branch lines that are so characteristic of Upper Austria complete the rail network. Many of these branch lines have been electrified for decades. The focus is on the branch lines and trams operated by the Stern & Hafferl company. In Linz, the Pöstlingbergbahn was built as one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world.
Economic reasons led to the first branch lines being closed down and the railway facilities being dismantled from the 1930s onwards. Particularly noteworthy is the construction of a new branch line in 2014 in the south-western Innviertel, from Trimmelkam to Ostermiething.

Peter Wegenstein examines the history of these lines in detail, documenting their creation, prosperity and (partial) decline. More than 100 photos show the trains on all routes with a wide variety of vehicles. Old tickets and route sketches complement the book.

Product details

Author:	Peter Wegenstein
Details:	132 pages, 8.1 x 9.25 x 0.67 in (20.5 x 23.5 x 1.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	100+ photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Winkler-Hermaden (A, 2020)
ISBN:	9783951980416

Wege aus Eisen in Wien - Zur Geschichte der Eisenbahnen in der Haupt- und Residenzstadt und Bundeshauptstadt Wien

In this book, Peter Wegenstein documents the development of the Vienna railway network, its beginnings, heyday and changes. It all began in 1837 with the first trains on the Northern Railway. A little later, the Southern Railway, Eastern Railway and finally the Western Railway, Franz Josef Railway and Northwest Railway were added. The development was completed with the Aspang Railway, the local railway to Baden and the Pressburger Railway in 1914.

The ongoing changes to the route network, for example through the construction of the city railway, the shunting yards and the main station in Vienna, are another topic of the book. The author also sheds light on the construction history of the large Viennese railway stations.

As in his other books, Peter Wegenstein has also paid great attention to this volume on largely previously unpublished and unknown photos on the history of the railways in Vienna. The volume features rare images from his own extensive photo archive as well as from leading Austrian railway photographers.

Product details

Author:	Peter Wegenstein
Details:	132 pages, 7.9 x 9.25 in (20 x 23.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Edition Winkler-Hermaden (A, 2017)
ISBN:	9783950438352

Weltkulturerbe Semmeringbahn - Offizieller Führer zur ersten Unesco-Eisenbahn-Welterbestätte der Welt

It is the first high mountain railway in the world and one of the most beautiful scenic railways in Europe. Built between 1848 and 1854 under the direction of Carl Ritter von Ghega, it was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1998 on the initiative of the nature, culture and landscape protection organization "Alliance For Nature".
Since then it has been under the protection of the international community, but its continued existence is once again threatened due to the Semmering Base Tunnel project.

Product details

Author:	Christian Schuhböck
Details:	180 pages, 8.5 x 4.9 in (21.5 x 12.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	German
Publisher:	Kral Verlag (A, 2014)
ISBN:	9783902447708