Voigtland State Railway
Encyclopedia
The Voigtland State Railway was originally one of the lines of the Royal Saxon State Railways
that was built in Vogtland
, now in the German state of Saxony
and the Czech Republic
. The line began from the junction station of Herlasgrün on the Saxon-Bavarian Railway and ran via Falkenstein
, Oelsnitz
and Bad Elster
to Cheb
(then a mainly German
speaking city called Eger in the Kingdom of Bohemia
, which formed part of the Austrian Empire
). Only the Herlasgrün–Falkenstein and Oelsnitz–Cheb sections are still operating.
and Auerbach
was discussed. In 1856 proposals were developed for a branch line of the Saxon-Bavarian Railway towards Bohemia. In November 1856, a railway committee of Oelsnitz proposed a railway link through the Elster valley from Gera
via Plauen
, Adorf, Elster
and Asch
to Eger. A committee established in Auerbach, however, later proposed the variation as built from Herlasgrün.
In the autumn of 1858 the engineering work began on a railway from Plauen, which were interrupted during the Franco-Austrian War
of 1859. Only when it was known in Saxony that another project, the Hof–Eger line
was being developed in Bavaria
, did interest return to the project. Now, however, the link from Herlasgrün via Auerbach and Falkenstein was favoured. On 21 June 1861, the Saxon parliament approved construction of the Voigtland State Railway via Auerbach.
Shortly afterwards, surveying began on the new line. Major problems were experienced on the route through the Bohemian area, where the communities of Fleißen
and Wildstein
opposed the construction of the line. The necessary land was so overpriced that the route eventually chosen ran south of the Kapellenberg
(mountain) returning to Saxony for a while.
Later the town of Eger withdrew its financial commitment for the construction of the line. To minimise the cost it was ultimately decided to build a common route with the Hof–Eger line in Bohemia.
On 1 June 1863, construction began on the line with pre-construction work. On 25 November 1863, the foundation stone was laid for the Eger Viaduct. Finally, in June 1864 about 9,000 workers were employed on the project.
For the construction and operation of the section of the railway located in the territory of the Austrian Empire between Voithersreuth (Vojtanov
) and Eger and financed by the Royal Saxon Government, a treaty was signed between Austria and Saxony in Vienna on 30 November 1864 (which was ratified four weeks later), providing for a connecting with the Bohemian railway network. The treaty provided for the connection of the Voithersreuth–Cheb line with the Waldsassen-Eger line built by the Bavarian Eastern Railway Company.
On 1 November 1865, the line opened at the same time as the Hof–Eger line. The cost of the construction of the Voigtland State Railway was later given as a total of 6.1 million Vereinsthaler
s.
Especially in Plauen and Oelsnitz there were demands for more from a direct line from Plauen, as had been agreed in 1856. The Plauen city council on several occasions made petitions to the Saxon government for the construction of this line. On 7 May 1868, the Plauen–Oelsnitz line was approved by the parliament of Saxony. On 1 November 1874 the line was opened.
Royal Saxon State Railways
The Royal Saxon State Railways were the state-owned railways operating in the Kingdom of Saxony from 1869 to 1918...
that was built in Vogtland
Vogtland
The term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...
, now in the German state of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. The line began from the junction station of Herlasgrün on the Saxon-Bavarian Railway and ran via Falkenstein
Falkenstein, Saxony
Falkenstein is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 4 km southwest of Auerbach, and 17 km east of Plauen....
, Oelsnitz
Oelsnitz, Vogtland
Oelsnitz is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, south of Plauen and southwest of Zwickau.- References :...
and Bad Elster
Bad Elster
Bad Elster is a spa town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It lies on the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic in the Elster gebirge hills. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, and is protected from extremes of temperature by the surrounding wooded...
to Cheb
Cheb
Cheb is a city in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic, with about 33,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the river Ohře , at the foot of one of the spurs of the Smrčiny and near the border with Germany...
(then a mainly German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
speaking city called Eger in the Kingdom of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, which formed part of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
). Only the Herlasgrün–Falkenstein and Oelsnitz–Cheb sections are still operating.
History
During the construction of the Saxon-Bavarian Railway, a route running further south in Vogtland through LengenfeldLengenfeld
Lengenfeld is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenburg concentration camp was located here. The town is situated 19 km southwest of Zwickau, and 18 km northeast of Plauen....
and Auerbach
Auerbach (Vogtland)
Auerbach is a town in the Vogtlandkreis. It is deemed to be the centre of the east Vogtland in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. The city has a textile manufacturer and some factories including the famous machine industry....
was discussed. In 1856 proposals were developed for a branch line of the Saxon-Bavarian Railway towards Bohemia. In November 1856, a railway committee of Oelsnitz proposed a railway link through the Elster valley from Gera
Gera
Gera, the third-largest city in the German state of Thuringia , lies in east Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster, approximately 60 kilometres to the south of the city of Leipzig and 80 kilometres to the east of Erfurt...
via Plauen
Plauen
Plauen is a town in the Free State of Saxony, east-central Germany.It is the capital of the Vogtlandkreis. The town is situated near the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic.Plauen's slogan is Plauen - echt Spitze.-History:...
, Adorf, Elster
Bad Elster
Bad Elster is a spa town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It lies on the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic in the Elster gebirge hills. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, and is protected from extremes of temperature by the surrounding wooded...
and Asch
Aš
Aš is a town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic.-History:Previously uninhabited hills and swamps, the town of Asch was founded in the early 11th century by German colonists. Slavic settlements in the area are not known. The dialect spoken in the town was that of the Upper Palatinate,...
to Eger. A committee established in Auerbach, however, later proposed the variation as built from Herlasgrün.
In the autumn of 1858 the engineering work began on a railway from Plauen, which were interrupted during the Franco-Austrian War
Second Italian War of Independence
The Second War of Italian Independence, Franco-Austrian War, Austro-Sardinian War, or Austro-Piedmontese War , was fought by Napoleon III of France and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia against the Austrian Empire in 1859...
of 1859. Only when it was known in Saxony that another project, the Hof–Eger line
Cheb–Oberkotzau railway
The Cheb–Oberkotzau railway is a railway line in Bavaria, Germany, and the Czech Republic which was built as a main line. It begins in Cheb and runs via Františkovy Lázně , Aš and Selb to Oberkotzau...
was being developed in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, did interest return to the project. Now, however, the link from Herlasgrün via Auerbach and Falkenstein was favoured. On 21 June 1861, the Saxon parliament approved construction of the Voigtland State Railway via Auerbach.
Shortly afterwards, surveying began on the new line. Major problems were experienced on the route through the Bohemian area, where the communities of Fleißen
Plesná (Cheb District)
Plesná is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
and Wildstein
Skalná
Skalná ) is situated in the Czech Republic in the Karlovy Vary Region in close proximity of German border. Most of the area lies in the Cheb basin, in the nord it's located first hills of Smrčiny.-Parts:...
opposed the construction of the line. The necessary land was so overpriced that the route eventually chosen ran south of the Kapellenberg
Kapellenberg (Vogtland)
Kapellenberg is a mountain of Saxony, southeastern Germany....
(mountain) returning to Saxony for a while.
Later the town of Eger withdrew its financial commitment for the construction of the line. To minimise the cost it was ultimately decided to build a common route with the Hof–Eger line in Bohemia.
On 1 June 1863, construction began on the line with pre-construction work. On 25 November 1863, the foundation stone was laid for the Eger Viaduct. Finally, in June 1864 about 9,000 workers were employed on the project.
For the construction and operation of the section of the railway located in the territory of the Austrian Empire between Voithersreuth (Vojtanov
Vojtanov
Vojtanov is a village and municipality in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic.- Notes :...
) and Eger and financed by the Royal Saxon Government, a treaty was signed between Austria and Saxony in Vienna on 30 November 1864 (which was ratified four weeks later), providing for a connecting with the Bohemian railway network. The treaty provided for the connection of the Voithersreuth–Cheb line with the Waldsassen-Eger line built by the Bavarian Eastern Railway Company.
On 1 November 1865, the line opened at the same time as the Hof–Eger line. The cost of the construction of the Voigtland State Railway was later given as a total of 6.1 million Vereinsthaler
Vereinsthaler
The Vereinsthaler was a standard silver coin used in most German states and the Austrian Empire in the years prior to German unification.- Introduction :...
s.
Especially in Plauen and Oelsnitz there were demands for more from a direct line from Plauen, as had been agreed in 1856. The Plauen city council on several occasions made petitions to the Saxon government for the construction of this line. On 7 May 1868, the Plauen–Oelsnitz line was approved by the parliament of Saxony. On 1 November 1874 the line was opened.