Of all the exhibits featured in the collection, the railway vehicles are by far the most fascinating. Four particularly impressive vehicles are exhibited around the large central hall on level 2 (E2) of the Technisches Museum. Thematically, they are part not just of the Mobility, but also of the Energy exhibition areas.
Coal and steel from Moravia were once transported on the Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway Line. The steam locomotive Ajax, which operated on that line, bears witness to this bygone era. By its very nature, it is also an example of an end product of heavy industry.
Following the end of the Habsburg monarchy and the loss of the coal regions, hydropower was used to generate the electricity needed to supply Austria’s railways with domestic energy. The electrification of Austria’s railways did not run entirely smoothly. One of the most impressive locomotives ion display is the 12.10. As the largest and heaviest steam locomotive ever built in Austria, it also tells of the challenges encountered in the transition from coal to electricity as the railway’s source of energy.
Drive systems powered by electricity are as predominant today for the railways as steam power was in the early 20th century. A remarkable steam locomotive – the 1.20 of the Imperial and Royal Austrian State Railways – highlights the connection to the Energy exhibition area. And it can even be admired in motion! It has been cut open to provide a view of the locomotive’s inner workings, enabling visitors to admire the interplay of cylinders and linkages during the demonstrations.
Make sure you also visit our Mobility exhibition on Level E4, featuring other original vehicles and our special exhibition marking 200 years of train travel Under the Spell of the Railway (level E3).
Teenagers & Adults
Impressions
