Tiroler MuseumsBahnen (TMB)

Tyrol is a region in the Alps that boasts a rich and diverse railway history. From the majestic mountain railways to the urban tramways, Tyrol’s local railroads have played a vital role in the economic, social, and cultural development of the region. However, many of these historic railroads and rail carriages have faced the threat of extinction due to modernization, electrification, and competition. Fortunately, there is an organization that is dedicated to the preservation and/or documentation of Tyrol’s historically significant local railroads and rail carriages: the Tiroler MuseumsBahnen (TMB).

The term “Tyrolean museum railways” refers to three distinct areas: the Tyrolean Localbahn Museum in Innsbruck, a vehicle collection that includes some of the most historically valuable vehicles of the Tyrolean local railways, and an association whose members look after the local railway museum on a voluntary basis, restore and overhaul historic vehicles and organize special trips with the operational vehicles and publish the magazine “Lyra” every six months.

The Tyrolean Localbahn Museum in Innsbruck

The Tyrolean Localbahn Museum in Innsbruck is the main attraction of the TMB. It is housed at the former Stubai train station at the foot of the Bergisel, near to the Innsbruck transport company’s current depot. It opened in 1985, after the Stubaitalbahn was switched to direct current and the dispatcher and waiting room facilities were no longer required. Since then, the local railway museum has become a popular destination for railway aficionados from all over the world.

The museum exhibits a variety of items related to the history and operation of the Tyrolean local railways, such as maps, models, photographs, documents, uniforms, tickets, signs, and tools. The museum also features a simulator that allows visitors to experience driving a historic tram or train. The museum is open on Sundays and public holidays from April to October, and on request for groups.

During the summer, a museum shuttle with a rotating fleet of historic cars travels between the museum and the city center. The museum ticket also serves as the shuttle ticket, allowing visitors to enjoy a nostalgic ride through the streets of Innsbruck. The shuttle operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from May to October, and on special occasions.

The Vehicle Collection

The vehicle collection is situated in the historic Stubai Valley Railway depot in Innsbruck. While the collection began in 1983 with merely parked cars from the Stubai Valley Railway, it has grown over time. Vehicles from other local lines were purchased and returned to Innsbruck. The collection had 27 vehicles (11 locomotives, 10 sidecars, 4 freight cars, and 2 snow sweepers) from four municipal railways and one tram operator by the end of 2017.

The vehicle collection includes some of the most historically valuable vehicles of the Tyrolean local railways, such as:

The oldest electric locomotive in Austria, built in 1908 for the Stubaitalbahn
The last surviving steam locomotive of the Innsbruck tramway, built in 1891
The only remaining articulated tram of the Innsbruck tramway, built in 1939
The first electric locomotive of the Zillertalbahn, built in 1929
The last operational diesel locomotive of the Achenseebahn, built in 1930
The only preserved electric railcar of the Mittenwaldbahn, built in 1925

The vehicle collection is not open to the public, but can be visited by appointment or during special events. The vehicles are also used for special trips on various local lines, such as the Stubaitalbahn, the Zillertalbahn, the Achenseebahn, and the Mittenwaldbahn. These trips offer a unique opportunity to experience the charm and beauty of the Tyrolean railways in their original setting.

The Association

The association is the backbone of the TMB. It is composed of volunteers who share a passion for the Tyrolean local railways and their preservation. The association was founded in 1983 as a non-profit organization with the aim of supporting the local railway museum and the vehicle collection. The association has about 300 members, who contribute to the TMB in various ways, such as:

Looking after the local railway museum and guiding visitors
Restoring and overhauling historic vehicles and maintaining them in working order
Organizing special trips with the operational vehicles and promoting them to the public
Publishing the magazine “Lyra” every six months, which contains articles, news, and information about the TMB and the Tyrolean local railways
Cooperating with other railway museums and associations in Austria and abroad
Raising funds and seeking sponsors for the TMB’s projects and activities

The association welcomes new members who are interested in joining the TMB’s efforts to preserve and celebrate Tyrol’s railway heritage. The membership fee is 30 euros per year, which includes a free admission to the local railway museum and a subscription to the magazine “Lyra”. The association also offers various benefits and discounts to its members, such as reduced fares for special trips and access to the vehicle collection.

Innsbruck, Austria