Pöstlingbergbahn (Narrow-Gauge Railway), Linz (must see)

Postlingbergbahn is a narrow-gauge electric tramway connecting the Main Square of Linz with the neighborhood of Postlingberg. The tramway was opened in 1898. It ran from the terminal in the Urfahr neighborhood to Postlingberg. In 2008 the line was extended to reach the Main Square.

Postlingberg sits on a respectable hill requiring a steep adhesion railway. Postlingbergbahn has the steepest grade of any railway in Austria, but the trams can handle it.

In the 18th century Postlingberg was a pilgrim destination. It had a chapel in 1720 and a church in 1748. After the top of the hill had been cleared in the 1830s the area became popular with hikers. The construction of a railway was a timely idea. The abandoned fort on the crest of the hill was purchased to be the Postlingberg station.

There is a museum at the lower station in Urfahr. The museum has exhibits about the history of the tramway line, technologies involved and the vehicles themselves. There are exhibits of rails, photographs, braking systems, and some original open carriages.