Murtalbahn (Narrow-Gauge)

Murtalbahn (Narrow-Gauge)

The Murtalbahn is literally translated, the Mur Valley Railway, is a 760 mm (2 ft 5+15/16 in) narrow-gauge railway largely located in the state of Styria in Austria. The line runs along the valley of the River Mur from the market town of Unzmarkt through Murau to Tamsweg, which is just over the Styrian border in the state of Salzburg. The railway is operated by Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (a railway operator owned by the state of Styria) and, with a total length of 76.1 km (47.3 mi), it is the fourth-longest narrow-gauge railway in Austria.

Murtalbahn History

The railway line between Unzmarkt and Mauterndorf was opened in October 1894.

In March 1973 the public passenger traffic was stopped on the section between Tamsweg and Mauterndorf. This section is operated today by Club 760 under the name Taurachbahn as a museum railway.

Special steam trains and amateur locomotive trips still operate over the route.

Murtalbahn Accidents and Incidents

On 9 July 2021, railcar VT 32 was derailed due to a fallen tree, with one carriage ending up on its side in the Mur. Seventeen people, mostly young school-age children, were injured.

Murtalbahn Operation

Five diesel-electric railcars, introduced in 1981, are used to operate a service every two hours over the line. In the summer months the STLB operates weekend steam-hauled services between Murau, where the main workshop are, and Tam45sweg. Goods trains still operate on the railway, with trains hauled by diesel locomotives VL 14 and 15, built in 1966. Timber and petroleum tankers are the major goods transported.

The STLB invested in the railway, and the infrastructure is maintained to the standard of standard gauge mainline routes. There are good positions for photography by railway enthusiasts along the whole route, particularly in the valley between Madling and Tamsweg.

Murtalbahn Museum

A museum is maintained in the locomotive shed at Frojach Katschtal station by Club 760.

Murtalbahn Fleet

Murtalbahn Steam Locomotives
Number Built	Builder	Wheel Arrangement
Stainz 2 1892	Krauss	0-4-0T
U 11 1894	Krauss	0-6-2T
Bh1 1905	Krauss	0-6-2T
U 40 1908	Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik	0-6-2T
U 43 1913	Krauss	0-6-2T

Murtalbahn Diesel Locomotives
Number Built	Builder	Wheel Arrangement
VL 5 1938	Demag	B
VL 6 1959	Orenstein & Koppel	B
VL 7 1940	Gmeinder	B
VL 12 1966	ÖMAG	B-B
VL 13 1967	ÖMAG	B-B
VL 16 1967	ÖMAG	B-B

Murtalbahn Diesel Railcars and Trailers
Number Built	Builder	Wheel Arrangement
VT 31 1980	Knotz
VT 32 1981	Knotz
VT 33 1981	Knotz
VT 34 1981	Knotz
VT 35 1998	Jenbacher Werke
VS 41 1982	Knotz
VS 42 1982	Knotz
VS 43 1982	Knotz/BBC
VS 44 1982	Knotz/BBC

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