Opened in September 1891 as a rack railroad and operated as such with steam locomotives until 1978, the Erzbergbahn is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful railroad lines in Austria. The fact that it is also the steepest standard gauge railroad in the European Union adds to its appeal.
Railroad enthusiasts from all over the world know the Erzbergbahn from the time when it provided ore transport from the Styrian Erzberg to the blast furnaces in Vordernberg and Donawitz near Leoben under the most difficult conditions.
After the discontinuation of this transport service, the line was closed down by the Austrian Federal Railways in May 1988 and leased to the Erzbergbahn Association for the operation of a museum railroad. In 2003, the association purchased the railroad line, as well as the train haulage station Vordernberg and the station Erzberg from the ÖBB. Thus, even today, the blue rail buses of the 5081.500 series travel from Vordernberg over the Präbichl to Eisenerz, past an impressive mountain backdrop.
The route is truly unique: over eight brick viaducts - up to 32 meters high and 117 meters long - and through five tunnels with a total length of 2.5 kilometers, the railroad winds around and through the Styrian Erzberg with gradients of up to 71 per thousand. High above the roofs of the villages and almost everywhere far away from public roads. The highest railroad station in Styria, the Präbichl station at 1204 meters above sea level, is touched by the Erzbergbahn, as is the Raumsauklamm gorge near Eisenerz. Unimagined views of the Styrian Erzberg as well as the mountains of the Eisenerz Alps and the Northern Limestone Alps arise during the ride on the rail bus.
The landscape and the rich mining and metallurgical tradition of the Erzberg region are unmistakable. The centuries-long interplay of nature and technology has shaped an area that is equally suitable for adventure and recreation vacations like hardly any other. The Erzbergbahn is the right start for your very personal journey of discovery!