European Railroad Discussion > Pinzgauer Lokalbahn out of Zell am See, Austria

On Thursdays in the summer season, the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn runs a steam train from Zell am See to Mittersill and back. The Pinzgauer Lokalbahn is a narrow gauge line that used to go as far as Krimml but a flash flood took out the line beyond Mittersill and that portion appears to be gone now. The existing portion of the line has been rebuilt with welded rail and concrete ties and features hourly diesel-powered passenger service. Because of the good track condition, the steam engine absolutely flies down the line.

1. My first exposure to the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn was the arrival of a regularly scheduled train in push mode with a cab car on the east end. This is adjacent to the ÖBB mainline in Zell am See.

2. The business end was this attractive boxcab diesel, German-built. We will see the builders plate later. The first car behind the engine is for bicycles.

3. Another view of the Vs82. The Pinzgauer Lokalbahn takes having clean locomotives very seriously.

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4. The steam train parked at the platform at Zell am See.

5. I think easily the cleanest steam locomotive I have ever seen. A coal-burning 0-8-4T built in Linz, Austria in 1906.

6. After arrival in Mittersill the locomotive runs around its train. It was not turned.

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7. A regular passenger train has arrived at Mittersill with the steam train being serviced in the background.

8. That train departing Mittersill. The paint is a bit weathered but still clean.

9. An image of the builders plate on Vs83.

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10. Servicing complete, the steam train prepares to pull forward for boarding. Note the excellent condition of the coaches. The red car is the snack and souvenir car.

11. A profile view of the 0-8-4T locomotive.

12. Back in Zell am See we see that the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn has more than just locomotive-hauled trains as a rail diesel car departs westward. Again, clean!

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Very neat stuff - thanks for sharing!  Really need to get back to Austria (first and last time there was in 1998).