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Terry's Austrian Journey Part 2

Image of Terry SmithTERRY SMITH continues his train journey through Austria, just before the lockdown.

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Click Here to read Part 1.

My week snowboarding in the Tyrol was interlaced with stories of the growing concern about COVID-19 and as I left the resort of Soll there were rumours that Innsbruck, with its closeness to the Italian border, was in quarantine and that the airport could close at any time. The next available train was not a Railjet service but the semi-fast to Innsbruck which was a on a Bombardier class 4024 EMU. The train stops at a few more stations on route compared to the Railjet and it also does not use the underground sections that the fast train uses. This adds around another 20 minutes to the journey taking around 45 minutes to reach my destination, and ultimately onward to my flight home.

Graffitied Wagons.

At Worgl station, sitting a track closer to where the lumber train was a week ago, was this huge train of heavily graffitied covered wagons. Right in the distance were two OBB Taurus locomotives waiting for the all clear.

Bombardier class 4024 EMU.

My transport back to Innsbruck, a class 4024 EMU.

Bombardier class 4024 EMU.

The inside of the 4024, very light and airy and pretty empty too - compared to the overpacked Railjet service I used a week earlier. So what if it was going to take 20 minutes longer!

Zillertalbahn.

A destination that all services stop at on this line is Jenbach, roughly halfway, which is home to the Zillertalbahn. This narrow-gauge railway takes you up into the Tyrolean mountains aboard these diminutive diesel-powered units. As plans were rejected some years ago to electrify the line due to unsightly catenary, the diesels are to be replaced with much greener Hydrogen powered units in the next few years.

Class 191 Vectron.

Also at Jenbach was this Class 191 Vectron in the livery of ELL. Typically, it snowed quite heavily overnight - just what a snowboarder needs - shame I was going home.

Nightjet.

A variation of Railjet is the Nightjet, which by its name indicates it is the OBB’s overnight premium fast service. So, do they not use these special liveried locos and stock in the daytime? Well of course they do, here’s the proof!

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Railjet.

As I alighted at Innsbruck there was a Railjet train sitting in the platform, heading towards were I just came from. Note the buildings in the background, Airliners almost skim these on their final approach to the Airport around 1km away.

Railjet Driving Van Trailer.

A clear shot of a Railjet Driving Van Trailer. The mountains in the background are snow covered which in early March is not normally the case this low down in the valley.

Stop Sign.

This guy really does not want you to cross the line, does he?

Porthole Class 1144.

An older Porthole Class 1144 loco waits in a siding at Innsbruck. Actually, the class this was based on, the 1044 is not that old at all being only introduced in 1977. They are still in common use by the OBB and were for many years the most powerful 4-axle locomotives in the world.

Taurus Locomotives.

A double header made up of two Taurus locomotives was pulling something a little special as you will see in the next photo. As an aside, and although you possibly won’t be able to see it, but just below the 6 and the F in the distance is the Ski jump used in the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics.

Panorama coach.

You don’t see these every day. This is a Swiss railway Panorama coach, just tucked behind the two Tauruses all on its own, with the rest of the train made up of standard OBB stock. So until next year...

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