Reason to celebrate

Double anniversary for the Südbahnmuseum

The Steinbrück was painstakingly lifted onto the track in Mürzzuschlag.

(Bild: Peter Bernthaler)

There are two reasons to celebrate at the Südbahnmuseum in Mürzzuschlag this year: on the one hand, the museum itself is celebrating its 20th anniversary - and on the other, it is also celebrating 180 years of the Mürzzuschlag - Graz line. And the "present" is quite something.

The Südbahnmuseum has a year full of anniversaries ahead of it in 2024: not only is the 20th anniversary of the railroad museum itself reason enough to celebrate. The 180 years of the line connection from Mürzzuschlag to Graz should also be duly highlighted. "The line goes from Mürzzuschlag to Graz, not the other way around. Because the first kilometer is near Vienna and the railroad line leads from there to the south," explains museum director Kerstin Ogris.

Museum director Kerstin Orgis in front of the Steinbrück.

(Bild: Peter Bernthaler)

"Railway construction is and was very often determined by political decisions. At the time, the decision was made to cover the entire monarchy with a rail network from Vienna. This southern line was one of the main routes right from the start because it was the connection to Trieste and therefore to the most important port in the monarchy," Ogris explains the historical background. The "politically" safe route through Styria within the dual monarchy was probably also largely due to the efforts of Archduke Johann: From the very beginning, he had campaigned for a connection between the iron and steel industry in the Mur-Mürz furrow and the then nascent railroad transportation system.

Construction in record time
From August 1842, up to 14,000 workers were temporarily employed on the almost 95 km long line. River courses and mountain faces had to be taken into account and overcome. An incredible 4.3 million cubic meters of earth were moved and almost 590,000 cubic meters of rock were broken or blasted by hand. Nevertheless, the entire route was completed in just 66 weeks of construction, or 396 working days (with 27 rainy days)!

Renovation work on the Südbahnmuseum itself began at its current location in April 2004. Ogris, who studied art history, was on board right from the start. "Professionally, the beginning was certainly the most exciting time of my life," she recalls. Today, the museum association has ten active and 159 paying members. Around 10,000 visitors come every summer and are particularly amazed by the exhibits in the roundhouse.

On June 9, you can marvel at the "Steinbrück" and the other exhibits at the nostalgia festival.

(Bild: Peter Bernthaler)

"Steinbrück" as a new showpiece
This is now one attraction richer: in a procedure lasting a good three hours, the proud 25-ton "Steinbrück" was recently loaded from the low-loader onto its new Mürrzuschlag track. The locomotive was manufactured in 1848 by the Vienna-Gloggnitz Railway's engineering works and was in service for 66 years before being decommissioned by the Graz-Köflacher Railway in 1914. Now it is coming to the Mürztal on loan from the Vienna Technical Museum - initially for five years, but there is a good chance that its stay in the Steiemark will last longer. 

On June 9, the Steinbrück and the other exhibits of the Südbahnmuseum can be admired at the nostalgia festival.

Peter Bernthaler, "Steirerkrone"