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Pflegeheim Lainz
Vienna

 
Gauge : 500mm
Status : Ceased 2011
(click on photos to enlarge)

 
Pflegeheim Lainz  

By the time these photos were taken, the old people's home in the outskirts of Vienna was unique. The railway was connected to the kitchens and then to all the major buildings on the site and delivered meals twice a day.

 

Date: September 2000

Date: September 2000

Date: September 2000

THe first 9 pictures are from Adrian Foster. Pictured by the loco sheds are a couple of 15hp Jenbach locos, No.I and No.II. These locos came from the system at Lainz hospital next door.

Loco II pictured outside the loco shed.

In the early 1980s, three Struppe battery locos were obtained. these have been the mainstay of the small loco fleet in recent years. No.6 pictured here was built in 1983.

 

Date: September 2000

Date: September 2000

Date: September 2000

When the railway burst into life, much activity was centred round the kitchens, with the rakes of small wagons either being taken from the kichens, or being brought back after each meal. Loco No.1 (AEG 358) built in 1957, and No.7 (Struppe), are seen by the entrance to the kichens. Two locos were normally in use.

Struppe No.7.

Loco No.1 coming down one of the typical tracks alongside the internal roads of the old peoples home. Each one of the 4 wheeled wagons carried 2 food containers, which were wheeled on and off the wagons at a raised platfrom by each of the buildings served by the railway.

Date: September 2000

Date: September 2000

Date: September 2000

A certain amount of gravity working was employed, especially around the area of the kichens, and a raised handbrake on each wagon allowed some control by the brakesman.

There were originally 4 AEG locos. No.1 is seen again, this time in front of one of the raised point levers for the railway.

A driver and a brakesman, were required on each train. The brakesman was responsible for dropping off or coupling up the wagons at each stop. This process was carried out at considerable speed, and the trains also moved quite rapidly, bearing in mind that all the trackwork shared the internal road with road traffic, and inhabitants of the home.

Date: May 1996

May 1996

May 1996

Plinthed near the main gate is the earliest of the original battery locos, No.4, AEG 169.

Looking down the tracks away from the loco sheds.

Struppe No6 waiting outside the kitchens with a train of empty meal containers due to be unloaded.

 
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© Steve Thomason 2019
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