Semmeringbahn: How Austria Got Trains Over The Alps Before Cars Were Even Invented 

As a resident of Basingstoke I’d just like to say: “yeah, OK. Fair enough”

I currently live in Vienna but I was born in Basingstoke... and your opening statement felt like you were targeting me personally 😂

RU-vid must have surfaced you. You came up in my recommends. And in past 20 hours you have added over 2k subscribers. Good.

Was about to say "So an albanian born in italy built the line in austria" when i then remembered Venice was still part of Austria back then. And Italy still wasn't a thing yet

I hate how hard I laughed at this. Thank god I live alone and no one knows I’m laughing at train spotters paradise...

I don't know why i've stumbled upon this channel only now, but seeing many others in the comments makes me believe RU-vid is finally giving this channel the attention it deserves. Keep up the great content!

I live in Vienna, and I've taken this train (it goes to Graz) on several occasions. In summer, it is even more breathtaking. You will be glued to the window the entire time. For best views, I recommend sitting on the left side of the train on the Vienna-Graz trip and the right side on the return trip.

youtube algorithms bringing me the good stuff

Five years after Tim's vid, I finally walked the Bahnwanderweg myself last week. It was flipping brilliant (better weather as well). The Kalte Rinne is covered in scaffolding which is a shame, and That Football Pitch has been taken over for the contractors works yard so the moles will have had to move as well... Thanks for the initial inspiration, Tim.

"I'm a bit jealous of the people living in Vienna. Not only is it a fantastic city, but you can hop on a train, head southwest for just 45 minutes and you're here" As someone who used to live in Vienna, I agree.

@6:32 A Police Officer questioning some eyewitnesses of a car hit-and-run: -So you're saying the car was a red Fiat Panda? -No! It was blue!

Without realising until much later, I first travelled along this line back in December 2013. I used to live in Graz and still like to visit once or twice a year, as Austria is such a wonderful place. As RyanAir had stopped doing direct flights to Graz from UK, I had to get a flight to a near(ish) city and go from there. I flew to Vienna, had a look around and got blown away by the places then stayed the night. Next day, I walked to "Hauptbahnhof", as I thought I knew better than the receptionist at the hotel, who had told me to go to Wien Meidling. However, when I got to Hauptbahnhof, I saw that it was still a building site [ The former Südbhanhof, a terminal station of two lines had been demolished and a new through-station, Hauptbahnhof, was being built, so you could travel from Budapest to Munich without changing at Vienna ]. Having taken an S-Bahn to Meidling, I got the train to Graz and was very much impressed by the views, especially at Semmering and took lots of photos from the charming old Polish train that I was on. Subsequent years, when Hauptbahnhof was finished, I saw trains from all countries coming and going into the station and so then did a few Euro train holidays ! This is what stood nearby what is now Vienna Hauptbahnhof until 2009: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zvu7Q1FK7xU.html

I literally stumbled upon this channel about one hour ago and saw its subscriber count climb from 5k to 5.19k. And I'm binge watching it. Good channel. Immensely enjoyable.

Patrick: Are trains musical instruments? Squidward: No Patrick Me: Are you sure about that....00:58

"Born to Albanian parents" Of course Austria was able to build that railway so early since they had access to Albanian mode

0:57 a the classical sound of a Taurus locomotive beginning to role. To bad the have removed this "feature" from newer models.

Great video. Just discovered your channel, which I like a lot. No mention, however, of the Semmering Railway’s importance as part of the Southern Railway linking Vienna, Graz & Ljubljana to the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s biggest seaport, Trieste, allowing exotic products such as coffee and chocolate to reach Viennese coffee houses.

I live in Vienna and have done several hikes in and around Semmering, including the exact path you took from Semmering to Breitenstein. It's pretty lovely, and you captured it very well.

"Unfortunately the weather isn't great today, it's a bit grey and misty ..." So you got the exact 20-Schilling-Blick!

5:30 does anyone appreciate the work that mule has done on that football field?

Been spendin' most their lives, livin' in a train spotter's paradise...

1848, Napoléon III* came to power. Ol Bonie's nephew. Great channel though, keep it up. My Mom grew up in Listowel, now passed. Your video on Lartigue Monorail filled my heart with joy! Ty Tim

Everybody gangsta until Tim drops his lines of 'Train Spotters Paradise' 👊

1:53 Dude, your rapping is priceless!!

I have used this train so many times to go to Vienna from Graz and I never thought that the Semmering was particularly special. It's nice to see your home through the eyes of a traveller.

This railway is litteraly as old as the idea of Germany

Hi Tim, Thanks for your great video's. Glad someone put you on Dumpert and revealed those hidden gems. You made your self a new Fan!

Your "Gangsta's Paradise" itself deserve 2 thumbs up.

Viennese here, and honestly, this is an AMAZING video. Also, you're not too bad at rapping (which isn't actually easy at all) and the entire time I have been laughing because your sense of humour is amazing too XDDD

You were recommended in the comment section of a Tom Scott video. And I am very grateful for that. I love you videos. They are interesting and the humor is perfect in my eyes.

As someone who frequently took the Train over the Semmering (For skiing i just go for 5 days - always from Vienna to Mürzzuschlag) I really appreciate this documentary. It surely is a Train fan's paradise as your unexpected Music choice perfectly fits :3

The sound of train brakes squealing on a mountain track is the most heady and romantic thing i know!

so now, I'm going to go buy a backpack. Thanks Tim for these excellent videos 👍👍

Like a lot of other people here I've only just come across your channel and am absolutely loving it! Keep up the good work! Can't wait to get cracking through your back catalogue.

I'm from Vienna originally and had never heard of the 20 Schilling Blick (I remember the Schilling well but not quite what was on the note) - thank you for this fab video, a trip to the Semmering will go on my to do list for my next visit home (weather permitting). 👍👍👍

This is my favourite video on this channel and I am watching it on a regular basis. I am form Vienna, and I believe the Semmeringbahn is the most beautiful railways in the world. But I hardly ever go there even though it's just 60 minutes from my doorstep away. I will to this next spring.

Fantastically well edited, beautifully crafted video!

I really enjoyed those 7 minutes, so yeah, I subbed too! I live on the banks of the river Danube near the Austrian border, and this area is just beautiful. The lakes in Salzkammergut, the Bavarian Forest that transforms into Bohemian hills on the Tchech side, the Alps all year round. Europe has so many wonderful places to explore, and most only a short train or car drive away, rich history and pretty towns and different landscapes. Thank you for these 7 minutes!

A fantastic video! Beauty all around despite the weather - and great views of a beautiful railroad line and it's trains. I never heard of this line before, and will take a note of it for my next trip to visit family in Europe. Thanks for posting!

This video is pure gold. You have absolutely earned my subscription

Just discovering your channel, and LOVING your videos! Thanks!

Top notch Nerdism. Super! Smashing! Marvellous! More please!

Laughed so hard at this. You sir are a great teacher! Delivering interesting information in a non boring way

Ok, I’ve been binge watching your videos and I don’t know if you’ve already noticed it but there is a train in The Netherlands that sounds really musical too. You’ve got to be fast to record it because they are planning to retire them: it’s the IC3 we also called ‘koploper’ (head walker) because the head of the train could be attached to another and you cou walk through it. Very cool as a kid because it was aluminium teardrop plated and it had something futuristic as a small boy. Anyway, back to the subject of sound: that train makes a sound resembling a cello, with first a low note when just driving away, followed by an octave + fifth that slowly fades when it picks up speed. You can hear it inside (when on top of the high voltage converters) but I prefer to hear it outside, not muffled and in all of its musical glory. Please take a ride with one of them, they can take you close to Urk anyway, and if you do, step outside, find the high voltage converter and enjoy the sound when it drives off. Sweet!

I love your video`s. The humor in them, the content. Just great

Great video. Love your channel. I must say this has to be one of the best train watching sites in the world.

Hello Tim! Absolutely loved this 5 years ago, and when I booked a last-minute trip through Vienna I decided to stay an extra day for Semmering. Easily thr best decision of the trip. Unfortunately Breitenstein station isn't open during the winter months so I didn't manage to go as far. The scenery though, I would probably remember for the rest of my life. Now wherever I go I always search "The Tim Traveller + place name" first lmao

Hey Tim stumbled onto your channel today you earned a sub!

This channel is so fun, im so happy this was suggested to me

I'm surprised that so much was invested in an engineering marvel that initially benefited a relatively small number of people. Both the scenery and the viaducts are spectacularly beautiful.

I so enjoy listening to this channel while I am between calls and minecrafting. Thank you for the company and some times inspiration.

Thank you so much for this lovely video! I live in Vienna and as a kid, my mom and I often visited her parents by train. They lived in Bruck an der Mur which is right behind the Semmering, so needless to say, I had the privilege of experiencing those beautiful and stunning views along the Semmeringbahn on a regular basis!!

And because conquering the Alps in the 1840s seems to have been not enough of a challenge, the Austrians are now building a new line beneath the old one (keeping the old one open) - a Semmering Base Tunnel. The absolute madmen...

Thank you very much for this video Mister Tim (and for you entier channel as a manner or fact!)! You opened my horizon: I never thought about going to Austria. Warm hugs from the Province of Québec, Canada!

Very impressed to see Tim replying/commenting on year+ old videos. Work ethic level: top professional.

Yet again another amazing insight into international engineering and transportation. Well done!

I saw this video for the first time in 2018. At the end of 2019 I decided to go to Vienna in 2020 (because of this video) and do a one-day trip to the 20-Schilling-Blick. Unfortunately COVID-19 got in the way and I had to cancel the whole trip. In early 2023 I decided to plan another trip to Vienna. I just got back from the trip and had a great time. Thanks for the great recommendation! And to all the train lovers out there: I agree with Tim, bring a spare pair of underpants, you will need it!

These videos make my feet itchy! Beautiful!

Great video - most enjoyable and fun. Thank you for making it.

I've been subscribed for months and RU-vid finally told me about this one. Very nice.

Many thanks for posting this. I first saw the video early this year, and immediately decided the Bahnwanderweg was something I really had to do. In September, I was fortunate enough to get out to Austria and actually do it. The views are spectacular, and the railway engineering is fascinating. The only down side was that it was perhaps all too fascinating, and I had to give up the last section of the walk to make sure I got to Breitenstein in time for my train back. I will know better for next time, and in the meantime the video now recalls happy memories for me.

The enthusiasm and zest in your explanation is admirable sir

Your videos are great, as they not only involve trains but also are informative and entertaining. You're now, officially, one of my favorite RU-vidrs.

I have only seen 3 or 4 videos of yours and I already love your introductions.

RU-vid Spams my homepage with your videos and I love it

This would have to be my favourite video of yours!

Your videos are epic, amazing, refreshing and knowledge enriching, Very Informative and yet lighthearted

Your channel is lowkey fire it deserves more recognition

Just found this..... Love it!

The transition between trainspotting paradise and the narration with the horn was brilliant

I really enjoyed this tour! I had the privilege of crossing the Semmeringbahn on the way to Graz in 2014. I hope to make it back to see it again before they finished the bypass tunnel.

All the gratuitous train shots are what I subbed for. Thank you, really.

First video of yours I’ve seen but that train watchers paradise reference was amazing

Amazing video!! You’re talking as if you’re reading my mind! Great landscapes, great concept and great production! I can’t wait to see more! If you ever want to make something like this in Greece, you know who to ask 😉

Well produced, fantastic!

Great! I had just about beaten back the urge to set up my model railroad again!

I laughed so much at the Train Paradise and the horse joke. Thank you and as always, superb video.

Great video Tim, hope you keep them coming

"We've been spending most our lives, living in a trainspotter's paradise. I camped a crossing once or twice, living in a trainspotter's paradise. Those tri-horn tones just sound so nice, living in a trainspotter's paradise. See the flashing end device, living in a trainspotter's paradise."

Thanks for a new idea for the next hiking day!

I’ve seen a couple of your videos and really enjoyed them. Your rewritten Gangsta’s Paradise convinced me to subscribe. Love it!

This is video that made me sub, that train spotters paradise bit was inspired. Well done!

just discovered your channel, amazing production quality really good stuff

Thank you so much for this wonderfull vidéos .

The main aim of building this railway was a connection to the port of Trieste, back then Austria's access to the sea. It was expedited by the 1848 revolution in an attempt to disperse rebellious workers and get them out of Vienna. Breitenstein will probably remind me of a nasty accident in 2015, which luckily didn't cause any deaths but considerable damage. As far as I remember the story, a goods train broke down in Breitenstein with a second goods train stuck behind it, patiently waiting at a signal. Eventually, the decision was made to dispatch another loco from Breitenstein to Semmering and back up to the second train and pull that train back into Semmering station. The engineer of the stuck train apparently fell asleep while waiting for the loco, awoke with a jolt, thought the loco had already been coupled to his train and released the brakes without bothering to check if the loco had actually been there. It hadn't, so the train started rolling downhill towards the loco, eventually meeting it in the Pollereswand tunnel 1.1 km down the line. Both the trains and the tunnel suffered extensive damage and the engineer on the second locomotive was mildly injured in the crash. The line was closed for almost two weeks while emergency repairs were made. The carnage was moved to a siding in Breitenstein and sat there for several weeks. The Ghega Museum has some pictures at the bottom of the page: www.ghega-museum.at/galerie-15.html

Wow that is so beautiful, great weather for the scenery!

This is your best vid for humour, so gooood!

Whilst looking at the wunderbah viaduct my eyes were also drawn to the mole attacked football pitch, ah the love of the game never leaves you even in old age, love your series keep them coming

As a finnish person, i am in love with the available captions

This is actually very useful!! A good way to help me visualize and organize my trips (I'm a young Travel Designer) 😊🙏 thank you for your video and your sense of humor!! The revisited Gangsta's Paradise was very funny 😜

Most excellent! You are a breath of fresh air.

Omg this channel is so great and underrated, I hope you get more subscribers! The trainspotters paradise is the best thing ever I smiled so much

Gosh....your videos are very intresting and addictive. 🍻

Just discovered your channel, I’ll bet you reach 100k subs very soon. Love your vids keep it up

The June 2024 edition of "Today's Railways Europe" magazine letters page brought me here. It mentions this excellent video.

I lost it when you started rapping, new favorite channel for sure!

👍 Love the choice of sign-along music 😉

Yay - you showed one of my favourite hiking trails. I live in Vienna and every year, usually in the Spring, i walk the "Bahnwanderweg" :-))

Hi Tim , good to see your video.

Just discovered your vids. You, sir, are a genius.