Mariazellerbahn

The Mariazellerbahn runs about eighty-four kilometres on a metre gauge from Sankt Pölten to Mariazell, built between 1898 and 1907 to carry pilgrims and freight into the mountains, and electrified in 1911 at 6.5 kilovolts and 25 hertz - an unusual system chosen at the time and still in use, which makes it the oldest such installation running anywhere. The line climbs some six hundred metres through twenty-one tunnels and over seventy-odd bridges and viaducts, including the Saugraben viaduct, with tight curves through the Pielach valley and up the Ötscher massif. Modern Himmelstreppe railcars run the service, with some panorama cars, and heritage trains including steam operate on set dates. The Ötscher gorge, the Erlaufsee and Mariazell's basilica are at the far end.

What you actually see

• A metre-gauge mountain line - eighty-four kilometres climbing six hundred metres.
• The 1911 electrification - the oldest system of its kind still in operation.
• Twenty-one tunnels and seventy bridges - including the Saugraben viaduct.
• Heritage trains on set dates - steam and historic stock alongside the modern railcars.

When to go

May to October; heritage dates are published. A day.

Honest expectations

The full run takes over two hours each way, so it is most of a day. Heritage trains run only on published dates. Panorama seats need booking. Winter services are reduced.

Nearby

Mariazell basilica is at the top of the line; Sankt Pölten is at the bottom.