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▫ part 1: start + Faak am See - Rosenbach
▫ part 2: Rosenbach - Weizelsdorf - Ferlach
▪ part 3: Ferlach - Weizelsdorf - Rosenbach + end

 
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steam train

 Faak am See - Ferlach

  
   
 

Photo report - part 3

  
 
 
A few ours later the train and I are still at the station of Ferlach. According to the timetable the train should now start its return-journey, but couldn't because the locomotive still had not returned. I began to worry about my connection at Faak am See and at Villach, because I had to get there on time*.
After a long wait the locomotive finally arrived at the station of Ferlach.

Picture 39 and picture 40: The steam locomotive slowly comes nearer the rest of the train.
Picture 41 and picture 42: I tried to take pictures of the mechanism of the steam locomotive. The smoke makes the pictures a little hazy. The loc is at picture 42 a little closer.
As soon as the locomotive has 'kissed' the wagon they can both coupled to each other.

Picture 43 (left): A crewmember is coupling the locomotive to the train.

Picture 44 (below): A close-up of the mechanism of the steam locomotive.
After the locomotive had coupled and everyone was on board the train could finally depart from Ferlach. I got a place on the balcony of the last wagon with a view over the track and everything else behind the train. From here I took pictures of the line and the surroundings.

After the train left Ferlach it goes through the woods.

Picture 45: All I can see is rails and woods (and some mountains). After a straight section the train comes into a curve.

Picture 46: Just before the railway crossing with an important road (see picture 35 (part 2)) the train passes a goods shed.

The goods shed was probably in use in before the line went out of normal service. The railway line is now a museum line. The building is still in good condition.

Update 2007: This building belonged to a station/stop called Unterbergen, which used to be here.

Picture 47: A long and straight rail section with mountains in the background.

We have arrived back in Weizelsdorf. The train stops here for a moment.

Picture 48: View from the train in easterly direction with a part of the Weizelsdorf station yard (with signal box).

On this picture you can see behind the signals two railway lines: The main line to Klagenfurt continues on the right of the signal box, the branch line to Ferlach starts on the left of the signal box.

The track outermost right (before the signals) is a side track to a shed, which is behind me.
Picture 49 en picture 50: On the just mentioned (outermost right) side track some rolling stock is parked, like the rail bus (mentioned at picture 34 (part 2)).
Picture 51: A final glance on the Weizelsdorf station yard (with exit signal).

We are now heading for Rosenbach.

After leaving Weizelsdorf station the train continues with full speed.

Picture 52: The train enters a corner.
Picture 53: On this picture you can see a round sign with a yellow with black and white edge. this is a pre-signal of the Weizelsdorf station entrance signal. Unfortunately I missed the entrance signal itself to take a picture from it (that picture could haven been between picture 51 and picture 52).

The track looks well maintained. It has even got concrete sleepers. The line (Klagenfurt - Rosenbach) is still in normal use.
Picture 54: We are passing a stop.

After another straight section we approach the edges of the mountains.
Picture 55: Here we are passing a station which is the same as picture 32 (see part 2). The picture has been taken in easterly direction. On this side of the station are (of course) also mechanical signals.

Update 2007: This station is called Feistritz.
Picture 56 (left): Another straight rail section. I tried to get the surroundings into the picture.

I like the scenery.

Picture 57 (below): The train is back into the woods.
Picture 58: We passed a bridge. I am too late to take a picture of the river/valley it crosses.

Update 2007: This bridge is called the Small Suchagraben bridge.
Picture 59: Another bridge and again too late to take a picture of the valley, but in time for the bridge itself. This is the same bridge like picture 27 and picture 28 (see part 2).

Update 2007: This bridge is called the Large Suchagraben bridge.
Picture 60: Now we are passing the station we saw on picture 25 and picture 26 (called Maria Elend, see part 2).
Picture 61: Another bridge and again too late to take a picture of the valley, but in time for the bridge itself.

Update 2007: This bridge is called the Radischgraben bridge.
Picture 62 (left): The train now travels over the long bridge (the same as picture 23, see part 2). This is the view of the valley on my right side.

Update 2007: This bridge is called the Rosenbach viaduct.

Picture 63: Another picture from the same side like picture 62.
Picture 64: A picture of the valley on my left side. You can see a (probably dry) riverbed (like picture 23, see part 2).
Picture 65: Here you can see the entire bridge (with surroundings) we have just crossed.

This picture could be nice for your desktop.

I took this picture just before a tunnel.
Picture 66 (left): Immediately after the bridge we entered a tunnel ...

Update 2007: This tunnel is called the Lessach tunnel.

Picture 67 (below): ... and soon got out again.
Picture 68: We are approaching Rosenbach station. On the picture is on the left side of the track the entrance signal (a light signal). On the right side of the track is a stop sign for shunting locomotives.
Picture 69: And here is the catenary start/end.

The sign on the mast means that electric locomotives can't go any further with their pantographs up.
Picture 70: Here we enter the Rosenbach station yard. The railway line from/to Villach (on the left side of this picture) starts/ends here.
Picture 71 and picture 72: The yard is still getting wider.
Picture 73: We have passed the exit signal for the track we have arrived on.
The train stopped soon after picture 73 had been taken. I can get out of the train and make some pictures.

At the station I could see the timetable for my connection back to Villach and found out that the best way was to leave the train and go with a different train to Villach. Now I didn't have to worry about that anymore.
Picture 74: The locomotive has to refuel for its last stage to Faak am See.
Picture 75: Another close-up of the mechanism of the locomotive.
Picture 76: An overview picture with the train at Rosenbach station.
Picture 77 en picture 78: Some pictures of the steam locomotive.
Picture 79: After the steam locomotive had been refilled it could shunt to get to the (new) front of the train, which will head for Faak am See.
Picture 80: Here it passes us (on a different track).
Picture 81 and picture 82: After the locomotive had shunted and coupled back to the wagons the train had to wait for the departure signal. This took a couple of minutes.
Picture 83: The train has got the signal and can now depart. Here I said goodbye to the train.

 
After the train had left the station I had to wait a couple or more minutes for the intercity to Villach.
Picture 84: A beautiful 1016/1116 electric locomotive pulls the intercity to Villach into the station.
After I arrived at Villach station I said goodbye to the Englishman I met in Faak am See when I boarded the steam train and the people who I met on the intercity.

This is the end of my report

(*)► In this region the public transport in the summer holidays is very scarce. The frequency of busses was sometimes once every two ours, sometimes less than that. The bus that I had to take at Villach station to my final destination near Ossiach had a frequency of four or five times a day. The last bus left at 18:00 from Villach, which I couldn't miss.

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