Pferdeeisenbahn-Museum

About the museum

The idea of connecting the Moldau and the Danube by rail, to ease the transport of salt from the Salzkammergut to Bohemia, came from Franz Josef von Gerstner, and it began the railway history of Austria in 1807. After long construction delays, the Bohemian section opened in 1827, the line reached Linz in 1832, and from 1836 salt could be transported by rail all the way from Gmunden to Budweis. Horses pulled the trains until 1872.

Kerschbaum was the summit station exactly in the middle of the route and at its highest point. Here the passenger trains from Linz and Budweis crossed at midday, the teams of horses were exchanged, and travelers refreshed themselves at the station restaurant. The station site had stables, fodder stores, a forge and a leased inn.

The museum is housed in the former vaulted stables of the horse-drawn station today. It tells the story of the railway's technology, of the life of the first railway workers, and of railway relics along the line; guided tours are led by Biedermeier ladies. The association Freunde der Pferdeeisenbahn (Friends of the Horse Railway) maintains the station, offers nostalgic rides in horse-drawn carriages and runs a café in the historic dining rooms.

Highlights

• Museum in the vaulted stables of the former Kerschbaum summit station
• Nostalgic ride in a horse-drawn carriage on a section of the historic line
• Guided tours by Biedermeier ladies in historic costume
• Kutscher-Stub'n and Biedermeier-Stüberl as the "first railway restaurant on the continent"
• Horse railway hiking trail with bridges, embankments and other railway relics

Permanent exhibition

• Pferdeeisenbahn-Museum – The history of the Linz–Budweis horse railway, its technology, buildings and vehicles, and the life of its first railway workers, in the vaulted stables.

Operated by

Verein Freunde der Pferdeeisenbahn

Admission & discounts

Admission includes a ride, the museum visit and a guided tour. Package deals (Packerl) and the guided hike are offered for groups of at least 15 adults or 30 children (up to age 15).

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Family ticket "Familienhit"; children under 6 ride for free. For groups there are packages with the "Kutschi-Maus" for children.

Getting there & parking

The Kerschbaum station site is about 6 km north of Freistadt; from Linz it is about 46 km via the Mühlkreis Autobahn (A7) and the Mühlviertler Straße (B310).

Amenities & dining

• Café

Horse railway café with the Kutscher-Stub'n (40 seats) and the Biedermeier-Stüberl (20 seats), open during guided tours; specialties are Rossknödel and Kutscher-Küsschen.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 500 guests.

The attic (900 m²) holds up to 500 guests at events and up to 250 for weddings; the horse stable accommodates up to 80 guests. Rental terms are handled by the municipal office of Rainbach im Mühlkreis.

Plan your visit