Semmering railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Semmeringbahn |
|
|---|---|
A modern train on the Semmering Railway
|
|
| Overview | |
| Owner | Austrian Federal Railways |
| Service | |
| Operator(s) | Austrian Federal Railways |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 41 km (25.5 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Minimum radius | 190 m (623 ft) |
| Electrification | 15 kV, 16⅔ Hz Overhead line |
| Maximum incline | 2.5 % |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv |
| Inscription | 1998 (22nd Session) |
| Area | 156.18 ha |
| Buffer zone | 8,581.21 ha |
The Semmering railway is a famous train line in Austria. It connects the towns of Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag. This railway is special because it was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track.
It is often called the world's first true mountain railway. This is because it crosses very difficult land with big changes in height. Even today, it is still used as an important part of the South railway system.
Contents
Building the Semmering Railway
The Semmering railway was built a long time ago, between 1848 and 1854. This was a huge project for its time. About 20,000 workers helped to build this amazing railway.
The main person in charge of building it was an engineer named Carl von Ghega. He had to find clever ways to build a railway through mountains. The workers built 14 tunnels through solid rock. They also built 16 large viaducts, which are like long bridges that carry the railway over valleys.
There are also more than 100 curved stone bridges and 11 smaller iron bridges. These structures show how skilled the engineers and workers were.
Why the Semmering Railway is Special
The Semmering railway is famous for several reasons. It was a big step forward in railway engineering. Before this, building railways over high mountains was thought to be impossible.
The railway climbs to a height of 898 meters (2,946 feet) above sea level. This was a huge challenge for trains in the 1800s. The track has many sharp turns and steep slopes.
The railway was designed to handle these difficult conditions. It proved that trains could travel safely through mountainous areas. This opened up new possibilities for travel and trade.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1998, the Semmering railway was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. This means it is considered very important to the world's history and culture.
UNESCO recognized the railway for its amazing engineering and its beautiful design. It blends in well with the natural mountain scenery. The railway is a symbol of human achievement and how we can overcome natural challenges.
Images for kids
-
Semmering railway at Mürzzuschlag, around 1900
-
An international express train on the Semmeringbahn (2004)
-
The Krausel Klause viaduct
-
The Kalte Rinne viaduct
-
The "Bavaria" locomotive, an early design
-
The "Neustadt" locomotive, another early design
-
The "Seraing" locomotive from an 1851 design
See also
In Spanish: Ferrocarril de Semmering para niños
