The Emperor’s Railroad (also referred to as Ischler Bahn) took the royals and their entourage (and the citizens) from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, the summer residence of the late Emperor Franz. In mid August Bad Ischl remembers the Emperor with the Kaiser Festival. Among the many events and stands in downtown Bad Ischl you’ll find a small tent, dedicated to the Ischler Bahn – officially the SKGLB, Salzkammergut Local Train). Salzkammergut is the area that once made Salzburg rich – through salt.

In the late 1950s the global frenzy of individual transportation with cars led to the closure of many smaller train lines and services in western and central Europe. And so the SKGLB pulled its last train in 1957, despite many local protests. The bottom line did not seem to be favorable. Meanwhile the old track disappeared as a result of other local developments.

But some hard headed and soft hearted train enthusiasts kept on fighting for the re-installation of the SKGLB (Ischler Bahn). They formed a club with the aim to reinstate the Ischler Bahn, not as a nostalgic steam puffing, bone rattling crawling event for tourists, but as a modern commuter train much needed in this part of Austria. The Club promotes its vision for a new Ischler Bahn at its own stand during the festival.

Living in St. Gilgen along that old track of the Ischler Bahn, I could not but join that club.

Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Please come and join…