BLS at Margarethen am Moos 20250913--096
The Branch Line Society "The Vienna Explorer" approaches Heidestraße level crossing in Margarethen am Moos, with Regiobahn-owned ex-ÖBB 2143 033-6 at the head (and 2143 062-5 on the rear). The 19.7 kilometre post is immediately south of the level crossing.
This is on the line which runs from a junction west of Fischamend on the former Preßburger Bahn (the original line from Vienna to Bratislava, now truncated at Wolfsthal) to Götzendorf on the current electrified line from Vienna to Parndorf (where it splits to go to Bratislava or into Hungary). The visit to this line was a late addition to the itinerary (after other branches were removed from it), but it was not possible to travel all the way through to Götzendorf because part of it was out of use; this is almost as far as we got.
There are two freight facilities here, and the shine on the track suggested they were both still in regular use. Slightly north of this point, on the west side of the line, is a major manufacturing plant of AB DS Smith Packaging (yes, the Austrian subsidiary of the London-based company), while just south of this level crossing a line diverges east to AB EVVA-Schmiermittel-Fabrik. After that point, the line is out of use, overgrown and, a short distance further, with a stop board in place.
This was the last of four photostops as we ran south on this line (at the third, the train was moved from just before a level crossing into the station area while most of us were trackside but the light was pretty much straight down the track, so the photos aren't up to much), and had the best light of the entire day. After time for everyone to get their shots, the train was moved over the level crossing to the furthest point south we could reach (the leading bogie of the front loco was beyond the point for the siding into AB EVVA-Schmiermittel-Fabrik), where good photos were hard to get, and we all rejoined the train for the return journey.
After this, the tour covered almost all of the curves in the Kledering area (some added to the itinerary as a result of the late cuts), as well as the Inzersdorf triangle. It then headed via the Donauuferbahn freight line and west via Tulln to Tullnerfeld (passing through only an hour or so before a heavy rain shower caused a landslide which closed the line) in order to do the freight line to Michaelhausen - the old route before the Neue Westbahn was built through here, but which involved a new connection (the bit required by me, as I'd done the old route). While there were photostops at Michaelhausen (at the end of the line, and then again at the former station), it was now extremely overcast (and about to rain). We returned to Korneuburg directly - which involved a reversal at Tullerfeld station and the Tulln and Absdorf-Hippersdorf avoiding lines (both required curves).
Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.
BLS at Margarethen am Moos 20250913--096
The Branch Line Society "The Vienna Explorer" approaches Heidestraße level crossing in Margarethen am Moos, with Regiobahn-owned ex-ÖBB 2143 033-6 at the head (and 2143 062-5 on the rear). The 19.7 kilometre post is immediately south of the level crossing.
This is on the line which runs from a junction west of Fischamend on the former Preßburger Bahn (the original line from Vienna to Bratislava, now truncated at Wolfsthal) to Götzendorf on the current electrified line from Vienna to Parndorf (where it splits to go to Bratislava or into Hungary). The visit to this line was a late addition to the itinerary (after other branches were removed from it), but it was not possible to travel all the way through to Götzendorf because part of it was out of use; this is almost as far as we got.
There are two freight facilities here, and the shine on the track suggested they were both still in regular use. Slightly north of this point, on the west side of the line, is a major manufacturing plant of AB DS Smith Packaging (yes, the Austrian subsidiary of the London-based company), while just south of this level crossing a line diverges east to AB EVVA-Schmiermittel-Fabrik. After that point, the line is out of use, overgrown and, a short distance further, with a stop board in place.
This was the last of four photostops as we ran south on this line (at the third, the train was moved from just before a level crossing into the station area while most of us were trackside but the light was pretty much straight down the track, so the photos aren't up to much), and had the best light of the entire day. After time for everyone to get their shots, the train was moved over the level crossing to the furthest point south we could reach (the leading bogie of the front loco was beyond the point for the siding into AB EVVA-Schmiermittel-Fabrik), where good photos were hard to get, and we all rejoined the train for the return journey.
After this, the tour covered almost all of the curves in the Kledering area (some added to the itinerary as a result of the late cuts), as well as the Inzersdorf triangle. It then headed via the Donauuferbahn freight line and west via Tulln to Tullnerfeld (passing through only an hour or so before a heavy rain shower caused a landslide which closed the line) in order to do the freight line to Michaelhausen - the old route before the Neue Westbahn was built through here, but which involved a new connection (the bit required by me, as I'd done the old route). While there were photostops at Michaelhausen (at the end of the line, and then again at the former station), it was now extremely overcast (and about to rain). We returned to Korneuburg directly - which involved a reversal at Tullerfeld station and the Tulln and Absdorf-Hippersdorf avoiding lines (both required curves).
Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.