159)
The “25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series:(ii): 2003 onwards, minted by
the Austrian Mint by using Niobium and Niobium metal insertion technology for the
first time anywhere in the World of Numismatics:
The Second coin in the Series: “150 years of Semmering Alpine Railway” issued in 2004:
The Second coin in the Series: “150 years of Semmering Alpine Railway” issued in 2004:
The Semmering Railway in
Austria built between 1848 and 1854 over high mountains at an altitude of about
460 metres is one of the greatest feats of civil engineering during the
pioneering days of railway construction.
This was the world’s first
true mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track.
Planning
& constructing the Semmering Railway Line:
In 1841, the first
plan for crossing the Semmering was shelved due to technical reasons.
In 1842, a second
plan was taken up by Carl Ritter von Ghega, Chief Inspector for the Southern
line linking Vienna and Trieste. He carried out a complete survey of the area
and several routes were studied in detail by him. He even studied the processes
abroad to find a solution to overcome the challenges of the Semmering Pass to
construct a Railroad.
In 1844, even
before his plan for constructing the Semmering railway line was accepted ,Ghega
submitted a subsidiary plan for locomotives without an extra rail for gear
wheels, which he perceived would be successful in negotiating the steep
gradients and curves of the Semmering railroad, once the Semmering Railway was
constructed. Ghega began to set in place the process which would ultimately get
the construction of these locomotives carried out.
In 1846, based on
Ghega’s detailed survey of the area, a 42 km long route with 22 major bridges
and viaducts and a tunnel 1200 m long situated just below the pass was proposed
by him in 1847, which met with immediate opposition by those who felt
that his project was doomed to failure.
Nevertheless,
as his project was the most feasible in the light of the technological
limitations of the day, particularly the lack of powerful explosives and
drilling machines for tunnelling his daring project was approved.
In August 1948, work
on Ghega’s proposal commenced. The entire stretch was divided into fourteen
sections, each one of which was entrusted to a separate firm. At the start 1007
men and 414 women were employed but the work force increased to over 20000 as
the work progressed carving out the Railroad through limestone rock.
Ghega’s vision for laying
of the Semmering Railway tracks pushed the technical boundaries during this
pioneering phase of railway construction. The track was built over a kilometre
high mountain pass, the highest altitude reached by a railway line anywhere in
the World and overcame extreme radii and upward gradients.
Meanwhile, a public
competition was conducted to manufacture a new type of locomotive to negotiate
the curves and gradient of the Railway line. Four firms participated in the
competition in 1950 but their entries, though fulfilling the conditions of the
contract, were not found up to the mark in trials. Therefore, it was decided to
incorporate the best features of all the four proposals. New technologies were
employed for the Engerth design locomotives
because the locomotives in general use at that time could not handle the
extreme gradients and turning radii.
The result was immensely
successful and 26 Engerth steam-engines
were commissioned.
On 17.07.1854, the
transport of passengers and goods commenced as the construction work on the
line and manufacture of the locomotives and rolling stock were completed on
schedule.
Karl
von Ghega was knighted for his superlative effort of engineering on the
Semmering line, hence he is addressed as “Ritter” – meaning “knight”), even
before completion of the Semmering Pass project.
The
Semmering Railway: An outstanding engineering feat:
Ghega rejected the use of
iron and steel as a matter of Principle, as such, a “bricked railway”
consisting of 65 million bricks and 80000 flagstones has come up as a result of
his vision.
The Semmering Railway
represents an outstanding technological solution to problems faced in the
construction of early Railways. The Semmering Railway has 15 tunnels, 16
viaducts (several supported by two-storey arches), over 100 curved stone
bridges and 11 small iron bridges over the course of its 42 km length
connecting the towns of Gloggnitz and Murzzuschlag. The 57 two-storeyed
attendant’s houses, stations and buildings for the supervisors etc., placed at
700 m intervals (approx) are a very characteristic feature of the Semmering
line, which were built from coursed rubble masonry with brick trimmings/waste
material produced in the course of tunnel construction. The original stations
were initially planned as relay stations and watering points, but have been
converted into more impressive buildings, as tourist traffic increased.
Most of the portals of the
tunnels are simple but monumental in design and variously ornamented. Support
structures are chiefly made of stone, but brick was used for the arches of the
viaducts and tunnel facings.
The Semmering Railway line
is part of the Sudbahn Railway that
runs between Vienna and Graz, continuing on to Maribor, Ljubljana and
eventually to Trieste. It is still fully functional as a part of the South
Railway which is operated by the Austrian Federal Railways. The Railway line
traverses over the eastern Austrian Alps before reaching the Hungarian plains.
The high standard and
quality of construction which went into the construction of the tracks,
tunnels, viaducts etc. has endured the passage of time admirably and ensured
the continuous use of the Railway line till the present times.
The
landscape along the Semmering line – both Natural & Cultural:
The Railway runs through a
spectacular mountainous landscape and many fine buildings have been designed
for leisure activities along the way which were built when the advent of the
Railway brought about commercial activity.
With the construction of
the Semmering Railway, several areas of great natural beauty became more easily
accessible and and as a result, these could be developed for residential and
recreational use, creating a new form of cultural landscape. The numerous
hotels and mansions along the rail-route, have brought about tremendous change
in the area as a tourist and winter sports destination.
The Semmering pass is well
known for the “summer architecture” of the villas and hotels that were built
for Viennese society between Gloggnitz and the small market town of Schottwien
in picturesque locations. It became one of the first artificially laid out
Alpine resorts area in the decades following the opening of the railway line.
The appearance of the villas & hotels is predominantly Gothic or Renaissance.
The steeple-gabled and ornate “Swiss Chalet” look was also favoured by many
builders.
Later the use of
traditional Alpine wooden-frame construction was patronised and the “Semmering
style” predominated in the buildings erected in the late 19th century.
The Semmering Railway is a
harmonious integration of natural landscapes and man-made cultural landscapes.
The
Semmering Line – present day:
Between 1957 and 1959,
the appearance of the whole line was significantly changed when masts were
erected to carry the contact wires needed for conversion to electrical
locomotives.
In 1959, the steam
engines that plied on the Semmering Railway were completely replaced with
electric locomotives.
Barring
this change, the Semmering line stands today more or less, as it was conceived
and built by Ghega.
The
Semmering Railway – A UNESCO World Heritage Site:
In 1998, the
Semmering Railway was designated as a World Heritage Site selected for its outstanding technological solution to a major
physical problem in the construction of early railways and also because with
the construction of the Semmering Railway, areas of great natural beauty became
more easily accessible, as a result these were developed for residential and
recreational use, creating a new form of cultural landscape.
A
parallel shorter route to navigate the Semmering Pass under construction:
On 25.04.2012,
construction has begun on a 27.30 kilometre Semmering base tunnel which will
bypass the 41 kms of the Semmeringbahn.
This shorter, new Railway track is expected to open in 2024 providing a faster
journey to the destination.
Nevertheless,
we hope that the Heritage line will continue to be used for the die-hard
romanticists of the old Semmering Railway.
The
Silver-Niobium coin titled “150 years of Semmering Alpine Railway”:
On the Obverse
of this coin, the Semmering Railway’s continued service is symbolised
by its past and present locomotives shown on this face. One can see an Engerth steam engine and an electric
engine moving along together. On the upper periphery is inscribed “Republik Osterreich” (meaning the
“Republic of Austria) and on the lower periphery is mentioned “25 Euro”. The
images of the two locomotives extend partially to the silver outer ring. The
year of issue “2004” is mentioned below the railway track bearing the steam
engine.
The
colour of the Niobium insert in the centre/core in this coin is green.
On the Reverse of this coin, the image
shows a typical Semmering view. The coin’s vivid green Niobium core mirrors the
colour of the landscape which the Semmering Railway passes through. Here an Engerth steam engine train can be seen crossing a
viaduct spanning a deep valley framed by the coin’s outer silver ring bearing
the anniversary inscription “150 Jahre”
(or “150 Years”) on the upper periphery. On the lower periphery is mentioned “SemmeringBahn” (meaning “Semmering
train”) in a slightly lop-sided way to accomodate for the railway track image
which has spilled over to the outer silver ring.
The
specifications of the coin are:
Face value: 25 Euros;
Metallic composition: Outer ring: Silver (Ag) 900 – 9 gms, Niobium 998 – 6.50 gms;
Diameter: 34 mm; Weight: 16.50 gms; Edge: smooth.
2014 - Evolution
2015 - Cosmology
Links:
1) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: First Coin: "700 Years of Hall City in Tirol or Tyrol"
For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:
The following coins have
been issued in this Series:
2003 – 700 years old city
hall in Tyrol or Tirol.
2004 – 150 years Semmering
Alpine Railway
2005 – 50 years of
Television
2006 – The European
Satellite Navigation
2007 – Austrian Aviators
2008 – Fascinating light
2009 – Year of astronomy
2010 – Renewable Energy Sources.
2011 – Robotics
2012 – Bionics
2013 – Drilling tunnels
2014 - Evolution
2015 - Cosmology
Links:
1) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: First Coin: "700 Years of Hall City in Tirol or Tyrol"
Links to posts on Federal Republic of Germany issues and other posts on this blog:
For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:
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