The station of Schwarzenau (sea level 498 m) which is the crossing-point between the Franz Josef’s railway and the local railway to Zwettl and Martinsberg is our starting point. The station used to be called “Schwarzenau-Zwettl” before the local railway to Zwettl existed.
In a close left bow the rail to Zwettl branches off the main course and constantly rises up to the stop of Bernschlag. This is the part of the track where a small load is required because of many sharp curves and the steepest rise of the whole track. The highest gradient amounts 29 ‰.
From the stop Bernschlag (sea level 604 m) the rail runs evenly and later rises slightly into a forest. Then, after a petty decline of the course and a right curve, we reach the station of Hörmanns. 20 years ago there was a station with a loading rail and a side track. For the near future a new siding is planned for a better coverage of the commercial transport.
Right after leaving the stop of Hörmanns the railway crosses the street, declines slightly and then rises with an average of 15 ‰. Now the track are in a forest until the stop of Groß Globnitz. The former station of Groß Globnitz is the highest point of the course (sea level 636 m) and has one loading rail. The station building still exists but is in a bad condition.
From here the track declines with approximately 17 ‰ and runs parallel to the street B36. Then there is a left curve and a short straight line and after 300 meters you reach the stop of Groß Haslau. After two successive double curves there is the stop Gerotten. Right after the stop the rail crosses the B36 with an underpass and falls with 23 ‰. |
the station of Schwarzenau - 21st of August 1975
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The so called “Devil’s bow” (Teufelsbogen), an almost 180° curve, was feared by the steam engine drivers, who had to drive a heavy freight train or a GmP towards Schwarzenau. Especially if the caterpillars of the cabbage butterfly crept over the rails, the engine drivers often had problems with this part of the course. Because if they drove over some of these insects, a soap-similar liquid made the train hurling until it had to stop. And if even a new try with sand didn’t bring success, the train had to return to Zwettl and had to uncouple some wagons.
The last part before the station of Zwettl leads through a forest and parallel to a small creek called Gradnitzbach. The station of Zwettl (sea level 535 m) is equipped with two traffic rails, two loading rails and a heating house with two garages. This heating house is property of the MLV as garage for the vehicles and as headquarters of the club.
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map of the line - click to enlarge!
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