I've just returned from a short holiday in my favourite part of Austria, the Ziller valley. I've been going there as often as I can ever since 1980, and I never tire of it.
Besides the amazing natural beauty of the Alps, the friendly people and the wonderful food, the Ziller valley is a paradise for train lovers.
Here are a few photographs from this visit.
A view of Mayrhofen from a cable car. In the lower left of the picture you can see the Zillertalbahn terminus, and there was even a steam train in the station as I took this.
One of the 0-6-2T locomotives preparing to take the train to Jenbach.
Please Mr. engine driver, can I have a go?
At Jenbach, where the OBB, Zillertalbahn and the Achenseebahn all share the station.
The Achenseebahn rack locomotive has just visited the coaling stage, and is now preparing to couple up to the carriages.
In this view, you can see the rack rail as we ascend the mountain.
At the top, we reach the Achensee and transfer to the ferry for a 2 hour cruise around the lake. Here you can see the entire train waiting for passengers to embark before it heads off back down the mountain to Jenbach.
On the journey back, I was seated next to two train enthusiast nuns. We enjoyed a lively conversation about steam trains on the journey.
At Jenbach there was an OBB freight train parked on platform 1.
With another freight train waiting just outside the station.
On the other side of the station is the Zillertalbahn terminus and main depot. Beside the regular steam service, they run a fleet of modern diesel locomotives and DMU's to provide a half hourly service along the valley.
Looking back across to the OBB platforms.
At Mayrhofen, the steam service is almost ready to depart.
This car is decorated in Swarowski crystal. It is quite an amazing sight as the light plays on the crystal ceiling and decorations.
Bachman produce models of almost all of the Zillertalbahn locomotives and stock under the Liliput brand. I have managed to collect most of them over the years. They also have this advertisement on one of the wagons, and they produce a model of this too!
The line winds its way along the valley floor from Jenbach to Mayrhofen.
On the Achenseebahn, the conductor walks along the outside of the train to check tickets.
Wonderful stuff. Mike 
