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Location notes
The Falkensteinbrücke, near the small village of Oberfalkenstein in Austria's Carinthia (Kärnten) region, is on the Tauernbahn - one of the main Transalpine rail links between the North Sea & the Mediterranean.
396 metres long, and ascending a northbound gradient of 1 in 36.2 (2.76%), it is the Tauenbahn's longest bridge
Niederfalkenstein Castle (Schloss Niederfalkenstein) is situated below, in the valley.
396 metres long, and ascending a northbound gradient of 1 in 36.2 (2.76%), it is the Tauenbahn's longest bridge
Niederfalkenstein Castle (Schloss Niederfalkenstein) is situated below, in the valley.
Railway type and traffic
Traffic on the line is fairly varied. InterCity & EuroCity services use the viaduct, with DB using BR 101s and ÖBB using Tauri (1016s/1116s/1216s). ÖBB's "Railjet" services also operate on the route, mainly running between Salzburg & Villach/Klagenfurt.
Local ÖBB services, usually formed of Rh 1144s & CityShuttle coaches or Rh 4024 "Talent" EMUs, cross the viaduct around twice a day each way.
Transalpine freight is big here, with electric locos from various leasing co's leased to various freight operators using the line every day, alongside Rail Cargo Austria (ÖBB's freight arm) services.
Local ÖBB services, usually formed of Rh 1144s & CityShuttle coaches or Rh 4024 "Talent" EMUs, cross the viaduct around twice a day each way.
Transalpine freight is big here, with electric locos from various leasing co's leased to various freight operators using the line every day, alongside Rail Cargo Austria (ÖBB's freight arm) services.
Environment
The location mentioned is on an outcrop overlooking the viaduct, sloping towards a sheer precipice. To access it, you will need to leave the main mountain route, and fight your way through undergrowth.
The point to turn off is a meadow, steeply graded, below the track just after the station.
Another location can be found if you follow the road down towards the outcrop of houses below the viaduct to the east; this affords a shot of traffic running sideways over the bridge.
The point to turn off is a meadow, steeply graded, below the track just after the station.
Another location can be found if you follow the road down towards the outcrop of houses below the viaduct to the east; this affords a shot of traffic running sideways over the bridge.
Road directions
The road up to the site is a narrow mountain track, accessible by most cars. Its entrance can be found off the Mölltal Straße (Road 106).
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Falkensteinbrücke map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Falkensteinbrücke map co-ordinates
Parking
As mentioned above, most cars can access the route; a gate may sometimes be in position. If the gate is down, parking your car in a secure spot should be fine.
Public transport
Oberfalkenstein is the nearest station on the route; its services are fairly sparse. The majority of the passengers using the station are school students, so the trains stop only during weekdays and Saturdays in the early morning and early evening.
Currently (2018) the trains serving the station are:
Southbound:
R 4933 (0647 dep. Mallnitz-Obervellach, 0717 arr. Spittal-Millstättersee) R 4939 (1800 dep. Mallnitz-Obervellach, 1830 arr. Spittal-Millstättersee)
Northbound:
S1/R 4930 (0529 dep. Villach Hbf, 0633 arr. Mallnitz-Obervellach) R 4936 (1524 dep. Lienz, 1714 arr. Mallnitz-Obervellach)
A bus also runs on the Mölltal Straße, but they won't go up the mountainside!
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Currently (2018) the trains serving the station are:
Southbound:
Northbound:
A bus also runs on the Mölltal Straße, but they won't go up the mountainside!
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Amenities are fairly sparse. If planning an extended stay here, it's best to buy food and drink in advance.
In high summer, small bugs and insects can be found everywhere, so packing insect repellent and sun cream would be highly advisable.
In high summer, small bugs and insects can be found everywhere, so packing insect repellent and sun cream would be highly advisable.
Accommodation
Two hotels are near the location.
The Gasthaus zur Burg Falkenstein is ideal if you want to make a stay of the location.
The slightly pricier Erlibnis Hotel is slightly more authentic, and is a bit further up the mountainside.
The Gasthaus zur Burg Falkenstein is ideal if you want to make a stay of the location.
The slightly pricier Erlibnis Hotel is slightly more authentic, and is a bit further up the mountainside.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Falkensteinbrücke
Streetmap links
Falkensteinbrücke general view map
Falkensteinbrücke close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Falkensteinbrücke
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Falkensteinbrücke
Googly map
Falkensteinbrücke general view map
Falkensteinbrücke close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Falkensteinbrücke
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Photographic notes
Since this is a south-east facing shot, you will want to get there for the afternoon if it is a sunny day. If you want to shoot trains heading SE rather than NW, you should head to the bridge above the station and shoot from there.
Links to photographs at this location
Facing SW from the village mentioned above
Like the fig1, but with morning fog in the valley.
General views - All photographs © Cosmo Graham unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south east
Facing south east with Schloss Niederfalkenstein in the background and the valley below
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
