Steam Charter Trains in Austria for Photographers and Video Film Makers

On this trip, we want to turn a unique standard-gauge steam dream into a reality. One which will probably never be possible again in this form. It is a miracle in itself that it is again possible to run steam trains over the fantastic viaducts of the Rosental Railway (Rose Valley Railway) as the original extension of the bridge certificates expired at the end of 2024. The great news is that the operator of the line has been able to obtain another special exemption, allowing us to travel on this uniquely beautiful line to beyond Feistritz.

Also, it’s hardly surprising that anyone will want to go through the massive effort of transferring locomotives and wagons again, which pushed us to our limits financially, logistically and in terms of personnel. But thanks to these transfers we’ll be able to spend two days steaming through the vineyards of the Wachau.

Another highlight of the tour is the famous double departure from Alt Nagelberg, our only narrow-gauge day of the trip. While it was not possible to do this last year due to a damaged locomotive, this year the transfer of the second locomotive to the Meiningen workshop is being delayed so that two operational locomotives are available at the same time in order to be able to offer this extraordinary event.

That’s not all – we will send about 15 four-wheel open freight wagons to a workshop for a technical overhaul which means we probably won’t suffer from the ravages of the graffiti “artists”. These wagons will come from abroad to our destination. Their journey over several hundred kilometres will add to the tour price, but will make a fantastic sight when seen behind a fabulous Prussian G10!!

The day travelling with the only standard-gauge and operational two-cylinder compound locomotive that I know will particularly fascinate steam-technology enthusiasts. We will also experience a locomotive with valve gear and of course – we are in Austria after all – the Giesl flat ejector.

When organising this trip, we were aware that some people might not be able to afford the price. Nevertheless, we decided to set off this “fire-cracker” of photographic opportunities and to maximise what is currently possible. We can say with the utmost conviction that this will never again be possible at this price. To make this happen, we need at least 29 paying customers. The goal is ambitious, but achievable, especially when you consider that a comparable trip in Bulgaria, for example, would cost almost twice as much nowadays.

Good hotels, good food, hospitality and a high level of safety round off the picture. Only evil tongues claim that Austria is the perfect destination for pensioners!

We want to run largely authentic special trains on lines between Carinthia and the Waldviertel, just as they might have looked in the days of ÖBB genuine steam.

Itinerary

The journey begins in Linz on the Danube, where we will board our charter bus on 11 October at 5 pm. Linz can be reached by 17.00 with through trains from Vienna Airport as well as from Berlin Central Station or Munich East, for example.

On 18 October 2025, our journey ends at 13:30 at Klagenfurt main station, where you can easily catch the train to Vienna (13:39 – 17:36) and 13:50 at Klagenfurt airport, enough time to catch the flight to Vienna at 15:00. Flights and train tickets can be conveniently booked online.

The following railway lines are on the programme:

Krems – Spitz – Emmersdorf – Weitenegg with the locomotives 77.28 (4-6-2 tank Krauss & Co. Linz 1927) and 657.2770 (0-10-0, Malaxa 1938):

Zwettl – Waldhausen – Schwarzenau with the two-cylinder compound, saturated steam locomotive 92.2271 (0-8-0 tank, Krauss & Co. Linz 1919):

Weizelsdorf – tunnel before Rosenbach – Weizelsdorf with the valve-geared 93.1332 (2-8-2 tank, Wiener Lokomotivfabrik 1927)

Gmünd – Alt Nagelberg – Gmünd – Weitra with locomotives 399.01 and 399.04 (both Engerth 0-8+2 Kraus & Co. Linz 1906)

As it is to be feared that free riders will want to take advantage in this journey free of charge, the exact days of operation and lines will only be given to the honest participants of this journey after payment. This at least makes it more difficult to locate our trains, which may also be decorated with unphotogenic stuff in sections where we do not want to take photographs.

The bold written locomotive numbers are the engines with a Giesl flat ejector. The other locomotives have a standard draught system with a round chimney.

Line description

The Rosental Railway is flanked by the Karawanken Mountains, which required many engineering structures such as high bridges and a tunnel on the section we will use. It is therefore also blessed with numerous great photo opportunities.

In the Wachau between Krems and Weitenegg, the railway runs very close to the Danube in places. It runs along rock faces and under imposing castles, through vineyards, through tunnels and under photogenic bridges. We can only stop and reverse the train in a very few sections here, which is why we have planned two days for this spectacular railway. The pictures du not show the rolling stock we're using, but the line.

The line from Retz winds its way into the hills immediately after the station and has to climb over 170 metres in altitude on the first ten kilometres. We will spend much time on this very steep section of the railway. Due to many curves it’s possible to photograph our train coming out of the rising sun as well as with the city panorama in the background.

The Waldviertel with the Waldviertel Railway and the line from Zwettl is hilly and offers numerous beautiful photo opportunities in an undulating agricultural and forestry landscape.

A cable runs along the track on some sections in Lower Austria. We are aware of this, but we are not allowed to remove it. Travelling on other lines was also examined, but rejected due to costly and labour-intensive logistics. The planned use of the class 52 failed for the same reasons. We have examined a many options, but with the limited availability of loco crews, the logistical challenges (e.g. watering facilities) and in view of the escalating costs, the variant that has been worked out is the optimum of what is economically feasible. I would therefore ask you to refrain from the usual numerous enquiries: ‘But why didn't you do this and that there or somewhere else …? The reason is simply that I am unable to sell a tour for a price of several tens of thousands of Pounds per participant in sufficient numbers. We are therefore trying to organise a larger group at a price that will hopefully still be of interest to a large number of people.

Small Print

Austria is an easy country to travel through with high standards, also in terms of safety. The locomotives and carriages are in good condition, but this does not mean that one or other of the planned locomotives may not break down. Natural events can also cause damage to the railway lines. As usual, locomotives and lines cannot be guaranteed. However, we have alternative options available so that we can offer alternatives in the unlikely event that rolling stock or railway lines are not usable. Nevertheless, you should expect cancellations that cannot be compensated for financially or by another railway. However, in Austria, we expect a financial compensation payment in the event of a service cancellation – but this is of no use at all if the operating association goes bankrupt as a result of such a payment. Therefore, when you register for a tour, you automatically accept uncompensated cancellations of locomotives, wagons and railway lines. Anyone who cannot accept this must not take part in this journey.

The weather can be cool and wet in autumn, but also warm, sunny and dry. To choose the right clothing, you should definitely check the weather forecast shortly before travelling. However, the weather can change quickly in the mountains. You should therefore be prepared.

The price of the tour includes breakfast and dinner. Alcoholic and drinks with added sugar or sweetener are not included in the price. The trains are generally not catered. However, we will organise something on some trains, including lunch, which must be paid for on the spot.

The only real health risk is the careless use of the railway. Jumping on or off moving trains is not permitted. Boarding, disembarking and travelling on the trains is at your own risk. Common sense and caution are required! We expressly draw your attention to the dangers that can arise when using and staying in the vicinity of the railway and other means of transport.

We will only be travelling in passenger or luggage carriages, but not on or in goods wagons. In some cases, we will accompany the trains by charter bus.

Austria is a member of the Schengen area. For EU citizens, it is sufficient to carry an identity card.

Price

Austria
Standard Gauge Steam in Autumn Colours	35 to 50 participants	£3,920
11.10.2025 – 18.10.2025	29 to 34 participants	£4,290
	Single room surcharge	£370
Registration Deadline: 31.07.2025

Alpine steam in autumn colours

Austria 11/10 – 18/10/2025: Steam over Carinthia’s viaducts, a two-cylinder compound and a double departure on the Waldviertel railway, vineyards in the Wachau region

Itinerary

The following railway lines are on the programme:

Line description

Small Print

Price