"Emperor Ferdinand's Northern Railway" | 20 Euro | Silver Coin

The first railroad line in Austria

The history of the railroad in Austria began in 1836, when Emperor Ferdinand commissioned the construction of a rail line between Vienna and the coal mines in Bohemia and Moravia. Already in the following year, the inaugural journey from Vienna Floridsdorf took place with one of a total of six locomotives specially imported from London. It pulled eight cars with 164 guests of honor and reached Deutsch Wagram at a speed of 33 km/h in 24 minutes. On January 6, 1838, it was then possible for the first time to travel north across the newly built Danube Railroad Bridge. This event is captured on the second side of the coin, where people wave from the banks of the Danube and the Vienna Hausberge can be seen in the background. The first side of the coin shows in fascinating detail the steam locomotive "Austria" and the three different categories of passenger cars.

Text courtesy of Austrian Mint.