Bregenzerwaldbahn, Heritage railway in Vorarlberg, Austria
The Bregenz Forest Railway is a narrow-gauge line in Vorarlberg that connects Bezau with Schwarzenberg through the western Alpine mountains. The route passes through forested slopes and small villages with traditional architecture.
The line opened on 15 September 1902, linking Bregenz on Lake Constance with Bezau over 35.5 km and climbing 244 metres. It closed in 1980 (some sources say 1983). In 1985 the Bregenz Forest Railway Society was founded, and heritage trains began running in 1987 between Bezau and Schwarzenberg.
Locals call the line Wälderbähnle, and since 1985 the Bregenz Forest Railway Society has run it with borrowed stock: a regauged trailer car from the Stubai Valley Railway and a lorry converted into a railbus. Passenger coaches were built on goods-wagon chassis, and the 1993 restoration of locomotive U.25 brought back a Class U engine from the original line.
The railway operates during the warmer months with regular service and several departures throughout the day. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and prepare for cooler temperatures at higher elevations.
The route climbs about 240 meters over its short distance and historically faced frequent landslides and rockfalls along the tracks. This engineering challenge made the railway a notable achievement for early mountain railway construction.
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