Austrian railways

[cameronian]

Where will I get a good map of the rail network Moravia/bohemia. The later military map goes up to 1896 and I know for sure it didn't go to Opocno in 1866. In particular I want to know about the line between Brno/Brunn and Pardubice. Sorry to trouble you all, timing out here.

[Leman]

I might try googling that. I'd be interested to know whether there is anything different not shown on the Trapped Like A Fox campaign map. This map shows no lines running south betweenPilsen and Wildenschwert, although there is a line south-east from Pilsen to Budweis via Pisek.

[toxicpixie]

Os the online military map later dated?

I thought there was an 1866-ish dated one but as I think you might have linked it first I guess it's the same one...

I could have a look at the "Trapped like a fox" map if I a/ get chance to go in the loft, and b/ can then find it...

Ah, is this any use - the second and third military surveys might do it?

http://mapire.eu/en/

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

1845, so Possibly earlier than you think!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brno_hlavn%C3%AD_nádraž%C3%AD

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardubice

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Work on the railway connecting Prague and Olomouc started in 1842 and the line was finished in 1845. The construction was led by Jan Perner. A small railway station was opened on the same year, with four tracks, a roundhouse (výtopna) for eight steam locomotives and passenger hall covering two tracks. The building still exists and is used by the railway operator.

A line between Liberec and Pardubice was built during 1855–1859. In 1859, a new railway station was opened and used for both lines. A line between Pardubice and Německý Brod (now Havlíčkův Brod) was built during 1869–1871. Access to the railway turned a small town into a large industrial city.

In 1908, the station building was coupled with a glass hall over two tracks. In 1910, a locomotive repair shop was set up; it was rebuilt in 1924.

Factories in the city built industrial sidings to the main station: 37 lines had been constructed in 1908 and new ones were added after the war. Since the 1960s, this number dropped to 19 in 2000, and even these are not fully utilized.[1]

Pardubice, a city with large petrochemical factories, was bombed several times during World War II. An air raid on 24 August 1944 damaged the station. All lines were shattered and the passenger hall was destroyed. After the war, repairs started and in October 1945 traffic was restored.
From https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardubice_hlavn%C3%AD_nádraž%C3%AD

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Paradubce is one of the main stations in the country!

[Steve J]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Royal_Austrian_State_Railways#1841_railway_programme

This might be of use as well.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good timeline at the bottom of that article too!

[cameronian]

So we know Brno, Olmutz, Prague before 1866, can't find any ref to Brno - Pardubice, thanks for input all.

[mollinary]

Hi Gerry,

Had a look in my 'Little Blue Book'  Der Preussische-Osterreichische Krieg in Bohmen 1866 by Karl-Horst Bichler & Ruijun Shen. Opposite page 50 it has a map showing Corps HQs and the railway network.  Starting in Vienna, the rails head north to Lundenburg, and then split in two, one line going east to Olmutz, then to Littau, then on to rejoin the other track at Wildenschwerd. This track, having come through Brno from Lundenburg, now heads on to Pardubice, where it splits again into two. One line runs West through Kolin to Prague, and then up to Dresden, the other north through Koniggratz to Josefstadt and Koniginhof. From Josefstadt it also goes east to Skalitz, bypassing Nachod (you will recall that the spur going down into Nachod from Wysokow was not built at the time of the battle, and when they did build it they put an embankment through a mass grave with 500 bodies in it! ) and then on to Schweidnitz.  Hope this helps.

Andrew

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

So, the Railway did exist!

[cameronian]

Thanks everyone; yes Andrew I've got that map but the Brno - Pardubice line (passing to the west of the Olmutz line) is marked in faint meaning proposed, I'm trying to establish whether it was in use in 1866, I'll keep digging.

[mollinary]

Thanks everyone; yes Andrew I've got that map but the Brno - Pardubice line (passing to the west of the Olmutz line) is marked in faint meaning proposed, I'm trying to establish whether it was in use in 1866, I'll keep digging.

Not on mine it isn't. I am referring to map Abb. II-2: the line goes Bruno, Wildenschwerdt Pardubice, Koniggratz. Are you sure you are not looking at the 'Marschwege'?

What an idiot I am! If I had just turned over two more pages, as you may have done,  I would have come across Abb. II-4: Ostterreichisches Eisenbahnnetz 1866.  Under the map, it says 'Durch Kreis markiert die einzige Eisenbahnlinie von Wien nach Josefstadt. Diese Trasse stand der Nordarmee fur ihre Transporter zur Verfugung'. As far as I can see, this says that this circle (on the map) marks the single/only railway from Vienna to Josefstadt. This route was available to North Army for its transport.

Andrew

[cameronian]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Bahnkarte_Deutschland_1849.jpg

Wait until it downloads then magnify, Brno - Leomischel in use 1866 ?

Also interesting observation in Prussian GGS history of the war, Moltke says the entry of Bavaria will speed up Austrian concentration in Bohemia due to the availability of the Prague, Pilsen, Regensburg line, why ? Because it simplifies the logistics of entraining/detraining, more stations, avoids congestion in Prague, all or none of the above ?

[mollinary]

Your map is 1849.  The one I quoted is for the railways in 1866. Do you have the book I listed in my  post?  I have e mailed you with a photo and another quote from the GGS history which is highly indicative of the line from Brunn northward having been finished.  In answer to your question it gives another route into Bohemia, from Vienna via Munich and Regensburg, although I don not know of much evidence as to it being used.