The Murtalbahn (literally translated, the Mur Valley Railway) is a narrow-gauge railway largely located in the state of Styria in Austria. The line runs along the valley of the River Mur, from the market town of Unzmarkt through Murau to Tamsweg, which is just over the Styrian border in the state of Salzburg. The railway is operated by Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (STLB), which is owned by the state of Styria. With a total length of 76.1km (47.3miles), it is the fourth-longest narrow-gauge railway in Austria.
The railway line between Unzmarkt and Mauterndorf was opened in October 1894.
In March 1973, the public passenger service on the section between Tamsweg and Mauterndorf was closed. That section is operated today as a museum railway by Club 760, under the name Taurachbahn.
Special steam trains and amateur locomotive trips still operate over the route.
On 9 July 2021, railcar VT 32 was derailed due to a fallen tree, with one carriage ending up on its side in the Mur. Seventeen people, mostly young school-age children, were injured.[1] [2]
Five diesel-electric railcars, introduced in 1981, are used to operate a service over the line every two hours. In the summer months, the STLB operates weekend steam-hauled services between Murau, where the main workshop are, and Tamsweg. Goods trains still operate on the railway, hauled by diesel locomotives VL 14 and 15, built in 1966. Timber and petroleum are the major goods transported.
The STLB has invested in the railway, and the infrastructure is maintained to the standard of mainline standard gauge routes. There are good positions for photography by railway enthusiasts along the whole route, particularly in the valley between Madling and Tamsweg.
Club 760 maintains a museum in the locomotive shed at Frojach Katschtal station.
| Number | Built | Builder | Wheel arrangement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam locomotives | ||||
| Stainz 2 | 1892 | 0-4-0T | ||
| U 11 | 1894 | Krauss | 0-6-2T | |
| Bh1 | 1905 | Krauss | 0-6-2T | |
| U 40 | 1908 | 0-6-2T | ||
| U 43 | 1913 | Krauss | 0-6-2T | |
| Diesel Locomotives | ||||
| VL 5 | 1938 | B | ||
| VL 6 | 1959 | B | ||
| VL 7 | 1940 | B | ||
| VL 12 | 1966 | ÖMAG | B-B | |
| VL 13 | 1967 | ÖMAG | B-B | |
| VL 16 | 1967 | ÖMAG | B-B | |
| Diesel Railcars and Trailers | ||||
| VT 31 | 1980 | Knotz | ||
| VT 32 | 1981 | Knotz | ||
| VT 33 | 1981 | Knotz | ||
| VT 34 | 1981 | Knotz | ||
| VT 35 | 1998 | |||
| VS 41 | 1982 | Knotz | ||
| VS 42 | 1982 | Knotz | ||
| VS 43 | 1982 | Knotz/BBC | ||
| VS 44 | 1982 | Knotz/BBC | ||