On Sunday, 7 Aug 2016, at the Jenbach station we had a very special treat, a ride on the Achenseebahn.
 
The original 6.35 kilometre line opened in 1889 but since 1916 the 6.76 kilometre long route has carried passengers through the mountainous and picturesque landscape of the Tirol on a maximum gradient of 16 percent.
 
In that same year, 1889, the four cog wheel locomotives type Bzn2t (formerly Bzt-n2) were also built at the Floridsdorf locomotive factory in Vienna.
 
Since then, only the names have changed.
 
We were pulled by locomotive number 4, which was originally called "Carl", until it was taken out of service in 1956.
 
It has been operating again since 2008 but under the name "Hannah".
 
The ride behind the 127-year-old rack railway locomotive was an impressive experience for Pascal.
 
Also interesting was the change in feeling and tempo after the end of the rack section at Eben.
 
One German vacationer did not want to believe that we would come to such a big lake after we had climbed so far up the mountain.
 
When starting at Jenbach the locomotive pushes the cars from behind.
 
At Eben it moves forward at this stop in order to pull the carriages to Achensee Seespitz (lake point).
 
There it returns to the end of the track to be at the opposite end in the correct position to take water and to then pull the train on the next downhill ride from the front for braking purposes.
 
Watering the locomotive at Seespitz is a special spectacle as lake water from the Achensee is pumped into the side tanks.
 
The descent can be somewhat bumpy, especially on the steeper slope.
 
However, again and again a splendid panorama compensates for this little inconvenience.
 
Watching the gymnastics of the conductor who carried out his task through the windows from the outside carriage walkways was very entertaining.
 
Conclusion, a recommended experience for young and old!
 
Author unknown - Loosely translated with Google.