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Some views of our adventures in Carinthia, south Austria, a paradise for fans of loco haulage, and indeed also for those who enjoy swimming in outdoor pools heated by thermal springs!
A Carinthian Weekend, November 2004
Main reason for the trip was to have a (?) final run behind a Class 2043 diesel-hydraulic, the type being slated to lose its last few remaining passenger diagrams at the 12 December timetable change. Above, 2043 008 waits at Rosenbach prior to working the three-coach 15:30 local to Klagenfurt on 22 November 2004. In the background, the line continues through the Karawanken Tunnel into Slovenia.
The other surviving 2043 diagram in Carinthia (there were a couple also left in Upper Austria) was harder to photograph as it comprises a very early morning run from Kötschach-Mauthen to Villach and the 16:21 return, seen above making a claggy start from Warmbad Villach station near our hotel as the sun sets on 23 November, with 2043 070 in charge.
We also visited the Villach - St Veit an der Glan line along the shores of the Ossiacher See, whose stopping passenger services were all entrusted to a variety of high-powered electric locomotives, each hauling just two coaches. Furthermore, a quiet road follows the line along the lake for several miles making a fine walk. Here's 1116 070, one of the latest 6400 kW 'Taurus' dual-voltage (15 / 25 kV AC) loco,built in 2002. Note that the line is completely unfenced; heavy freight trains also pass this way en route from Italy and Slovenia towards eastern Austria, one might add.
Also used in local traffic here are the 1044 class, the previous generation of OBB high-power locos. This is St Urban am Ossiachersee station, whose station building is now a cosy little pub in which to warm up whilst awaiting one's train.
A look inside one of the ÖBB's modern InterCity trains, in this case a Salzburg - Klagenfurt express after arrival at Klagenfurt, shows a considerable contrast with the cramped conditions aboard the new wave of British stock. The 'airline' seats have so much legroom I was able to put our suitcase in front of me and still have plenty of room. This is a second-class coach, by the way!
Page by Charlie Hulme, February 2007. Updated April 2011