Folder 100 Jahre KWB EN

Technical information

Josef Riehl

The Karwendelbahn railway was the first electric standard-gauge railway (1,435 mm) in the AustroHungarian Empire. A hydro-electric power station was specially built at the Ruetzsbach stream in the Stubaital valley to supply the Karwendelbahn railway line with AC power.

Born on 31st August 1842 in Bozen Pupil at the humanist grammar school in Bozen Degree at the technical universities of Karlsruhe and Munich

The series 1060 locomotives of the Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways used on the Karwendelbahn railway were the first standard-gauge electric locomotives with alternating current drives: 15,000 volts with 15 Hertz up until 1923, thereafter 15,000 volts with 16 2/3 or 16.7 Hertz which was precedent-setting on an international scale.

Technical highlights: Maximum gradient of 36.5‰ with an elevation difference of 603 m.

16 tunnels covering a total distance of 4.4 km, 18 bridges and viaducts covering a total distance of approx.

900 m. Highlights include the Martinswand Tunnel which is 1,810 metres in length and the Schlossbach Bridge (Tyrol’s second-highest railway bridge) with a span of over 67 m. It underwent a full refurbishment in 2012.

1864: Assisted in the supervision of the construction of the Brennerbahn railway, studies in railway construction 1870: Founded the road and rail construction company “J. Riehl für Strassen- und Bahnbau” Extensively involved in the construction of railways in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

1873: After the stock market crash and the resulting severe economic crisis, railway construction came to a standstill Until 1879: Ran quarries in South Tyrol and Trentino From 1880: Economic upswing and the beginning of Alpine tourism: construction of roads leading to tourist destinations and remote areas Construction of torrent control and river regulating structures Construction of several hydro-electric power stations 1894: Moved from Bozen to Innsbruck Took over a number of honorary offices 1895: As a result of the new Reich law, permission to construct narrow-gauge and local railways: Extensive work in railway construction 1916: Sold his construction company On 17th February 1917, Josef Riehl died in Innsbruck.

Tributes: Knight of the Order of Franz Josef, honorary title of Chief Government Building Officer, Honorary Doctorate from Vienna University of Technology, honorary citizenships, grave of honour, naming of streets in his honour

Railways in the construction of which Josef Riehl was involved, or which he himself planned and constructed: 1898 1900 1902 1903 1904 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1912

1913

100 years 'Karwendelbahn' from 1912 to 2012

Überetscher Bahn Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn Zillertalbahn Mendelbahn Stubaitalbahn A.G. Innsbrucker Straßenbahn Montafonerbahn A.G. Hungerburg-Standseilbahn Rittner Bahn Tauferer Bahn Mittenwaldbahn including the Karwendelbahn and Ausserfernbahn sections on the Austrian side Außerfernbahn

Railway lines which were planned by Josef Riehl and ultimately completed:

from Innsbruck to the Austrian/German border near Scharnitz

1906 Lana-Meraner-Bahn 1909 Mendel-Fondo-Dermulio-Bahn 1909 Nonstalbahn 1909 Bozner Straßenbahn to Leifers 1916 Grödnerbahn 1917/21 Dolomitenbahn 1918 Fleimstalbahn 1928 Nordkettenbahn

Josef Riehl planned many more railway lines which were never, however, constructed.

Train with Loc 1060 at Allerheiligenhöfe

Text: Seefelder Kulturring, Gerhard Sailer | Grafics: TVB Olympiaregion Seefeld, Ines Steindl | Sources: Werner Schröter, Tiroler Bahnarchiv 1912 – 2012; 100 Jahre Karwendelbahn (Publisher: ARGE 100 Jahre Karwendelbahn, c/o ESV Innsbruck Sektion Modellbau, Innsbruck, www.bahnarchiv.net)

Schlossbachbrücke (bridge)

The railway line route Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) formerly “Südbahnhof” -1.7 km, 582 m Innsbruck Westbahnhof (West Station) formerly “Staatsbahnhof“, junction to the Arlberg railway, chainage start point, 0.0 km, 583 m Innsbruck Hötting interchange station, 1.8 km, 586 m Allerheiligenhöfe stopping point, 3.7 km, 631 m Kranebitten stopping point, 5.7 km, 697 m Martinswand depot with junction track, 7.2 km Hochzirl interchange station, 12.7 km, 922 m Leithen stopping point, 16.8 km, 1,054 m Reith interchange station, 18.8 km, 1,120 m Highest point 1,184.7 m Seefeld interchange station, 22.4 km, 1,181 m Former Seefeld Playcastle stopping point between 15.05.1999 and 31.10.2000, 24.9 km Former Ankerschlag stop for pit men working in oil shale mining which came to an end in 1964. 26.3 km Giessenbach stopping point with loading track for tank wagons, 29.2 km, 1.019 m

Viaduct Hechenberg

Scharnitz interchange station, border railway station, 32.5 km, 964 m Austrian/German border 33.1 km

Significant decisions and events From 1901: Planning of the “Mittenwaldbahn” railway by Josef Riehl. Sections: 1) Innsbruck – Scharnitz (Karwendelbahn railway), 2) Section crossing Bavarian territory, 3) Griesen – Reutte in Tyrol (Ausserfernbahn railway) 22.11.1904: Treaty with Bavaria regarding operating procedures and the apportionment of funding 1908 to 1909: Project planning by Josef Riehl and Wilhelm von Doderer 10.03.1910: Ground-breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of the construction of the Martinswand tunnel 04.05.1912: Connecting of the railway tracks on border between the Tyrol and Bavaria near Scharnitz 28.10.1912: Opening of the section between Wilten (Innsbruck) and Scharnitz with series 1060 electric locomotives.

1926: Commencement of the use of series 1070 locomotives 01.01.1935: Passing of ownership of the Karwendelbahn and Ausserfernbahn railways to the Austrian Federal Railways (BBÖ) 1938: Integration of the Austrian Federal Railways (BBÖ) into the German State Railways (Deutsche Reichsbahn) March and April 1945: Bombs dropped onto the Gur-

Viaduct Gurgelbach in Reith near Seefeld

gelbach Viaduct in Reith and the Karwendel Bridge in Innsbruck.

During the 2nd century AD, the Romans developed the transit route over the Brenner pass and on to Scharnitz.

1947: Re-establishment of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)

After the so-called “Miracle of the Host” in 1384, Seefeld became a famous place of pilgrimage. First contact with “strangers”.

18.10.1963: Opening of the new railway station in Seefeld built on account of the Winter Olympic Games in 1964 From 1971: Joint running of the railway by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) 1986: Commencement of the use of series 4020 railcars 1995: Commencement of the use of push-pull trains by German Railways 12th October 2000: The Mittenwaldbahn railway receives listed status From 13th October 2002: Train control system on the Karwendelbahn railway 4th December 2006 Commencement of the use of series 4024 “Talent” railcars From 2009/2010 ICE-T (tilting high-speed train run by German Railways) services from Stralsund and Berlin to Seefeld.

Seefeld is home to Europe’s highest Intercity Express (ICE) station!

The “Seefelder Sattel” mountain saddle and changes caused by the Karwendelbahn railway The Seefelder Sattel has served as a crossing place for some 4,000 years.

ICE-T 411 direction Stralsund

Tourism as an industry in its own right began in the Tyrol in the middle of the 19th century with the central focus on mountain climbing and spa treatments - the fundamental focus, therefore, has remained the same to the present day.

When made accessible by the Karwendelbahn railway in 1912, the Seefeld Plateau, likewise, adopted tourism as a new way of earning a living.

It was not long before farmhouses and inns were remodelled and hotels were built.

Workers moved to Seefeld and settled there.

Owing to the improved accessibility afforded by the Karwendelbahn railway, the district court was moved in 1925 from Telfs to Innsbruck.

Up until the 1950s public transport on the railway and, to a lesser extent, on the post buses, was the main mode of travel. It was only then that private transport and the expanding of road networks took off.

Before the construction of the secondary school in Seefeld in 1959, pupils travelled by rail to the secondary school in Hötting. Today, alongside tourists, occasional travellers, students and grammar school pupils, the Karwendelbahn railway is also used by hundreds of commuters.

Soaring fuel costs and significant improvements in public transport have resulted in railways and buses currently enjoying a renaissance.

Seefeld’s hotels offer special packages which include rail travel to and from the area.

Loc 1145 ÖBB and E10 DB in 1976