History
The main industries of the Steyr valley were forestry and metalworking. Timber obtained in the area was of a quality useful only for building and firewood or for the charcoal or paper production. Road transport was too expensive, and rail transport was required so the timber could be harvested profitably. In 1868 the Rudolf Railway (''Rudolfsbahn'') connected the city ofDevelopments up to 1918
Apart from some early setbacks traffic on the Steyr Valley Railway developed positively. There was an operating surplus and even a modest dividend could always be paid. Growth in the railway was financed by capital increases. Large shareholders in the company included the Steyr armaments company, the Steyr savings bank. and finally also the State of Upper Austria and city of Steyr for construction of the section Agonitz to Klaus. In the First World War the line was important in providing transportation for armament makers between Steyr and Letten. A temporaryDevelopments up to 1945
The end of the First World War saw economically difficult times began for the Steyr Valley Railway. Motor buses became a serious competitor, with motorbus lines between Steyr and Bad Hall, and Steyr to Grünburg. Particularly badly hit was the Bad Hall branch, where a connection existed to the Krems Valley Railway, and a majority of the passengers moved to the motorbus. All redevelopment efforts failed and in 1931 the railway was taken over by the Austrian Federal Railways (BBÖ). The branch line to Bad Hall remained unprofitable under the BBÖ, and the section Sierning to Bad Hall was closed in 1933 and dismantled at the beginning of the 'forties. After the Anschluss and the incorporation of Austria into Germany, the Steyr Valley Railway became part of the German National Railways ( Deutsche Reichsbahn or DR). The Steyr Valley Railway Company was dissolved in 1940, the railway lines became the property of the DR and thus after 1945 the property of the ÖBB.Development after 1945
The Steyr Valley Railway got through the Second World War without damage, nevertheless rebuilding the track was necessary. This was not done however, as there was war damage in other areas to repair first. The light track prevented the employment of the new narrow gauge diesel locomotives (class 2095) which were introduced from 1958, so that the railway continued to operate exclusively with steam engines. Further attempts to reduce costs led in 1967 to the closure of the remaining section of the branch line, while in 1968 road buses replaced passenger trains on the section between Klaus and Molln. On 14 March 1980 a rock slide blocked the line between Leonstein and Haunoldmühle. The next day the line was cleared and services started up again. 14 days later however a commission came to the conclusion that trains could not work the route reliability. As a result, the section Grünburg to Molln was closed. Two years later the remaining line to Grünburg was closed.Locomotives
For the opening of the line Krauss built three saturated steam 0-6-2T locomotives. Three further locomotives were built in 1914. The locomotives are regarded as the precursors of the famous U class.Steyrtalbahn after the shutdown
The Austrian Society for Railway History (ÖGEG) took over the line from Steyr to Grünburg and have operated it since 1985 as museum railway with steam locomotives. Museum operations are on Saturdays and Sundays from the beginning of June to the end of September with special trains at any time. All other remaining railway tracks were dismantled, with much of the route converted to a bicycle path.References
*Christian Hager, Peter Wegenstein: Steyrtalbahn. Schmalspurstrecken Garsten–Steyr–Klaus und Pergern–Bad Hall Verlag Denkmayr, Linz1988, *Walter Kroboth, J.O.Slezak, H.Sternhart: Schmalspurig durch Österreich. Slezak, Wien 41991, *Elmar Oberegger: Die Steyrtalbahn. Garsten-Steyr Lokalbahnhof-Pergern-Bad Hall/Klaus, Sattledt 2007(Veröffentlichungen des Info-Büros für österreichische Eisenbahngeschichte 14). :''Information in this article is taken from the German Wikipedia article on this subject.'' {{coord, 48, 02, 25, N, 14, 23, 10, E, type:landmark_region:AT-4_source:dewiki, display=title Heritage railways in Austria Railway lines opened in 1889 760 mm gauge railways in Austria