Information about the Schafberg Railway
The SchafbergBahn is the steepest cogwheel railway in Austria. Since 1893 mighty steam locomitives have powered their way from the lake-side base station at Wolfgang to the 1783 m high summit of the Schafberg. The SchafbergBahn allows every visitor to conquer the mountain in comfort and style, making the entire journey an unforgettable experience! Trains are in service from the end of April through to October.
Once on the top, magnificent Alpine views and warm Austrian hospitality beckon. Visit the Hotel Schafsbergspitze, Austria’s oldest mountain inn, originally dating from 1862. From the top you may see numerous Alpine lakes and the Dachstein glacier. In 2012 the Hotel Schafbergspitze celebrated its proud 150th anniversary!
The trip to the top of the Schafberg starts at the lake-side base station in St. Wolfgang. After a few minutes, the track crosses the provincial border between Salzburg and Oberösterreich, before continuing its steep ascent through lush fields and green forests. At Dorneralm (1015m/3330ft above sea level) the first crossing point is reached. This is where the historic steam locomitives pause to take water. The next stop is the quaint station of Schafbergalpe at 1363 m (4472 ft). From there it takes another 10 minutes for the train to reach the summit. This segment is probably the most spectacular and already offers impressive views in multiple directions.