Small Railway Blues - Tracking the Past

Small Railway Blues - Tracking the Past

There are things in life that can be very upsetting. And, the closing-down of a railway is just one of these things. And, the following story happened just about 5 years ago. A field railway in Vienna put its engines and wagons away for the very last time. It was as if someone had died! With a very deep feeling of sadness, the driver uncoupled the wagons for the very last time, and, as the power was switched off, a speech telling of the once golden days of this narrow gauge beauty was delivered in a very nostalgic and tear laden voice. And, the story began a long time ago.

This small railway was built about 100 years ago in the grounds of Lainz, a very large hospital on the edge of Vienna. And, the job of this little train was to transport hospital meals from a central kitchen to the wards which were housed in separate pavilions. And, not even once, despite two terrible world wars, did these hospital meals of great taste ever fail to show up! This train was very reliable.

But sadly, the hospital decided that other methods of meals on wheels were better, and so came the close! But, for this little train there is a life after death! The engines and trucks, now lovingly restored, have taken their place alongside other greats of the tracks in a railway museum.

And this is the point. Things from the past have a definite interest. And, even though, we never used them, or travelled in them, or flew in them, we miss them badly when they're no longer here! But, many still are.

And, it's all thanks to the very many enthusiasts who have both talent and time to keep the past still alive! These are the heroes of life. It is they who make sure we never forget.

There are things in life that can move people to tears, and the closing of a railway is just one of these things. Railways, it seems, have a life of their own. We don't want them to die.

Tracking the Past – A railway that's no longer with us!

 

Small Railway Blues - Tracking the Past

There are things in life that can be very upsetting. And, the closing-down of a railway is just one of these things. And, the following story happened just about 5 years ago. A field railway in Vienna put its engines and wagons away for the very last time. It was as if someone had died! With a very deep feeling of sadness, the driver uncoupled the wagons for the very last time, and, as the power was switched off, a speech telling of the once golden days of this narrow gauge beauty was delivered in a very nostalgic and tear laden voice. And, the story began a long time ago.

This small railway was built about 100 years ago in the grounds of Lainz, a very large hospital on the edge of Vienna. And, the job of this little train was to transport hospital meals from a central kitchen to the wards which were housed in separate pavilions. And, not even once, despite two terrible world wars, did these hospital meals of great taste ever fail to show up! This train was very reliable.

But sadly, the hospital decided that other methods of meals on wheels were better, and so came the close! But, for this little train there is a life after death! The engines and trucks, now lovingly restored, have taken their place alongside other greats of the tracks in a railway museum.

And this is the point. Things from the past have a definite interest. And, even though, we never used them, or travelled in them, or flew in them, we miss them badly when they're no longer here! But, many still are.

And, it's all thanks to the very many enthusiasts who have both talent and time to keep the past still alive! These are the heroes of life. It is they who make sure we never forget.

There are things in life that can move people to tears, and the closing of a railway is just one of these things. Railways, it seems, have a life of their own. We don't want them to die.

Tracking the Past – A railway that's no longer with us!

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Eisenbahnblues - Essen auf Rädern

Es gibt Dinge im Leben, die sehr traurig sein können. Und, die Schließung einer Eisenbahn ist genau so eines dieser Dinge. Die folgende Geschichte ereignete sich vor mehr als 10 Jahren. Eine Kleinbahn in Wien stellte ihre Lokomotive und Waggon zum letzten Mal ab. 

Es war, als ob jemand gestorben wäre! In tiefer Trauer kuppelte der Lokführer den Wagon zum letzten Mal ab und hielt  eine Rede über die einst goldenen Tage dieses Schmalspurwunders.

Und, die Geschichte dieser Schmalspurbahn begann vor mehr als 100 Jahren auf dem Gelände   eines sehr großen Krankenhauses in Wien. Das Krankenhaus Lainz.  Und, die Aufgabe dieser kleinen Bahn war es das Essen zu den Krankenstationen zu transportieren, die in separaten Pavillons untergebracht waren. Und kein einziges Mal ist die schmackhafte sehr beliebte Krankenhausverpflegung ausgefallen! Dieser Zug war sehr zuverlässig.

Aber leider entschied sich das Krankenhaus für eine andere Art des Essens auf Rädern. Und so kam das Ende! Aber für diesen kleinen Zug gibt es ein Leben nach dem Tod! Die Lokomotive  und Waggon wurden liebevoll restauriert und stehen voller Stolz neben anderen großartigen Zügen in einem Museum.

Und genau das ist der Punkt. Dinge aus der Vergangenheit haben einen gewissen Reiz. Und auch wenn wir sie nie benutzt haben, nie mit ihnen gereist oder geflogen sind, vermissen wir sie sehr, wenn sie nicht mehr da sind! Aber viele sind noch da.

Und das verdanken wir den vielen Enthusiasten, die sowohl Talent als auch Zeit haben, um die Vergangenheit am Leben zu erhalten! Sie sind die Helden des Lebens. Sie sind es, die dafür sorgen, dass wir nie vergessen.

Es gibt Dinge im Leben, die die Menschen zu Tränen rühren können, und die Schließung einer Eisenbahn ist eine davon. Eisenbahnen, so scheint es, haben ein Eigenleben. Wir wollen nicht, dass sie sterben.

Auf den Spuren der Vergangenheit - Eine Eisenbahn, die nicht mehr unter uns weilt!

 

Eisenbahnblues, Essen auf Rädern,  geschrieben und gelesen von Nigel A. JAMES