Achensee railway line, Rack railway in Jenbach, Tyrol, Austria
The Achensee Railway is a 6.78 km metre-gauge line from Jenbach to Seespitz on Lake Achen, rising about 440 metres. Between Jenbach and Eben it uses the Riggenbach rack system; uphill trains push to Eben, where the engine runs round and hauls the coaches to the lake. The train in the photograph has a black steam locomotive, a red coach with open end platforms and an open coach with red bench seats under a curved roof.
The railway was planned in the 1880s and opened in 1889, giving people their first regular access to the mountain region around the lake. The line has continued to run with little change ever since, keeping its original route and technology in active use.
The railway takes its name from the lake it reaches, and for many locals it remains a symbol of how the valley and the mountains belong together. Passengers notice the gradual shift from the valley floor through dense forests to open mountain slopes as the train nears the water.
The journey from Jenbach lasts about an hour and climbs continuously, so warmer clothing is a good idea even in summer. It is worth checking the timetable in advance since only a few trains run each day, and planning the return trip with some extra time is advisable.
The line is Europe's oldest cog railway still worked by steam. Its 0-4-0RT locomotives climb the Riggenbach rack section from Jenbach to Eben, and on the way up the engine propels the coaches to Eben, where it runs round and hauls them on to the Achensee terminal.
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