Nostalgia on rails: The Innsbruck Local Railway Museum starts the new season

15 May 2025

Post originally written in: Deutsch

Historic streetcars in Innsbruck: these old treasures make us nostalgic! The history of the Tyrolean local streetcars comes to life at the historic Stubai Valley station in Wilten - a must for train enthusiasts and anyone interested in regional transport history. At the beginning of May 2025 the Tiroler MuseumsBahnen local railway museum in Innsbruck opened its doors to visitors.

Experience historic vehicles up close

The museum houses an impressive collection of around 25 historic rail vehicles that document the development of local railroads in northern, southern and western Tyrol. The highlights include

Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn railcars: these vehicles commemorate the connection between Innsbruck and the surrounding low mountain villages.
Railcars of the Stubaitalbahn: Insights into the history of the line that connects Innsbruck with the Stubaital.
Rittner Bahn railcar: including the only operational cogwheel locomotive on this line.
Railcars of the Innsbruck-Hall local line in Tyrol: An important piece of regional transport history.

Many of these vehicles have been lovingly restored and some are over 100 years old. They offer an authentic insight into the technology and design of times gone by.

Railcars 53 and 54: contemporary witnesses of Innsbruck's streetcar history

Historic railcars 53 and 54 were in use at the opening - both over 100 years old and lovingly restored.

Railcar 53: Built in 1909, this car was converted from railcar 51 in 1946 and served as a rail grinding car from 1961. Today it presents itself in the condition of the 1940s with side battening.
Railcar 54: Also built in 1909, it was given the superstructure of railcar 40 in 1944 and was used as a shunting car until 1972. It has been excellently restored and operational on the TMB museum line since 2003.

Both vehicles are important contemporary witnesses to Innsbruck's streetcar history and a highlight for visitors to the museum.

Travel in comfort with the nostalgia train - this summer on a special route

On opening days, a historic feeder train runs from the city center directly to the museum. This journey on a nostalgic streetcar is not only a practical means of transportation, but also an experience in itself - and this summer it is even a special feature.

Due to construction work on the Südring, this year the feeder line will run for several weeks along the picturesque route of the Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn. The journey offers magnificent views: on the route through wooded heights, the view sweeps over Ambras Castle, the city of Innsbruck, the tranquil Tummelplatz forest cemetery and the idyllic Lanser See lake.

A special experience awaits passengers at the Tantegert turnout, where the historic vehicle makes a brief stop to allow the modern streetcar to pass on the single-track line. The charming little station house at Tantegert provides an atmospheric backdrop for this encounter between old and new.

The ticket for the museum is also valid as a ticket for the feeder train - an ideal way to elegantly combine travel and nostalgia.

Historic streetcars in the local railway museum

The Tiroler MuseumsBahnen local railway museum houses an impressive collection of historic streetcars that document the development of public transport in Tyrol. The special exhibits include:

Railcar 83: A six-axle articulated railcar from Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe, built in 1960 by DUEWAG with electrical components from Kiepe. After being taken out of service in 2009, it was taken over by the Tiroler MuseumsBahnen and extensively restored between 2021 and 2024. It has been operational again since 2024 and presents itself in its 2009 condition.
Railcar 61: A four-axle large-capacity railcar built by Lohner in Vienna in 1960 with electrical equipment from Kiepe. It was in service until 1988 and is now a highlight of the museum line, which runs through Innsbruck on Saturdays.
Railcar 60 "Mailänder": This railcar was built by Breda in Milan in 1943 and put into service in Innsbruck in 1944. Repaired after bomb damage in 1946, it was in service until 1977. in 1990, it was bought back by the Carinthian Museum Railways and restored. It has been operational again since 2008 and is a unique example of Italian streetcar technology in Austria.