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The Mur Valley Railway (German: Murtalbahn) is a 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) narrow-gauge railway which runs along the valley of the River Mur from the market town of Unzmarkt through Murau to Tamsweg in the Austrian state of Styria although Tamsweg is just inside the federal state of Salzburg. The railway is operated by Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (a railway operator owned by the Bundesland Styria) and at 76.1 km (47.3 mi) is the second longest narrow-gauge railway in Austria.
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History
The railway line between Unzmarkt and Mauterndorf was opened in October 1894.
In March 1973 the public passenger traffic was stopped on the section between Tamsweg and Mauterndorf. This section is operated today by Club 760 under the name Taurachbahn as a museum railway.
Special steam trains and amateur locomotive trips still operate over the route.
Operation
Five diesel-electric railcars, introduced in 1981, are used to operate a service every two hours over the Mur Valley Railway. 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, with trains hauled by diesel locomotives VL 14 and 15, built in 1966. Timber and petroleum tankers are the major goods transported.
The STLB invested in the railway, and the infrastructure is maintained to the standard of standard gauge mainline routes. There are good positions for photography by railway enthusiasts along the whole route, particularly in the valley between Madling and Tamsweg.
Museum
A museum is maintained in the locomotive shed at Frojach Katschtal station by Club 760.