Semmeringbahn railroad
Semmering Railway is the world’s first mountain railroad. The oldest section, 42 km long, built in 1848-54, runs through the Semmering Pass between Mürzuschlag and Gloggnitz in the highlands. Considering the very difficult terrain and significant elevation differences, the Semmering Railroad is one of the outstanding achievements of nineteenth-century civil engineering. The road is still a fully functioning part of the Austrian Southern Railway.
General information
The Semmering Railway is laid at an altitude of 985 meters in a very scenic mountainous area. 20,000 people were involved in its construction, and the architect Karl von Gega, who created the project, strove to achieve the best possible harmony between technology and nature.
The difficult mountainous terrain caused the construction of more than one hundred stone bridges, 16 viaducts (some of them double-decker) and 11 small iron bridges on the railroad’s path. In addition, 14 tunnels had to be bored. Interestingly, the waste rock obtained during the tunneling was used for the construction of some railway stations and administrative buildings.
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In total, the Semmering railroad has a height difference of about 460 meters and an average steepness of 20-25%. For these extreme conditions, a new locomotive design has been developed, as well as new tools and equipment for the operation of the railway.
Beautiful nature
The beautiful nature surrounding the railroad caused the development of tourism and recreational infrastructure along it, starting in the second half of the 19th century. Numerous hotels and mansions as well as the popular ski resort of Semmering are proof of this. In 1998, the Semmering Railway was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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