We, the FdSTB, are an interest group with nearly 30 volunteer members who have made it our mission to keep the Sulmtalbahn, with its once cozy and attractive route between Leibnitz and Wies-Eibiswald, alive as a model railway. Unfortunately, this particular branch line was discontinued through the Sulmtal in 1967. Built in 1907 for the coal transport of the Wies coal area, there was a lively train traffic on the 30 km long route in West Styria.
Since 2015, our host, Norbert Spari, has been providing the opportunity to incorporate our project, which extends over almost 140 meters of model railway layout in highly detailed execution of all original buildings and civil engineering structures along the former 30 km long railway line in a scale of 1:87, into a permanent location. In the former Sparmarkt retail space, a unique opportunity arises to present the Sulmtalbahn model to the public on several days a year and to make it accessible for special tours. Since 2015, the layout has been continuously expanded, resulting in numerous buildings in recent years that correspond to the exact reality. All objects of the layout have been created entirely by Rupert Koch, who has tirelessly built buildings and designed the layout since 2006. At 82 years old, there is still no reason to retire from model building, as many more structures along the route await him. Notable creations include Schloss Seggauberg, Schloss Ottersbach, the wine school Silberberg with Lake Sulm, and the workers' colony Pölfing-Brunn with coal loading, alongside numerous station buildings he has constructed. A modern computer control system is responsible for the entire digital model layout technology and the control of trains using the six authentic signal boxes. The seven built-in computers monitor and control the entire scheduled operation of the approximately 40 train sets running between Leibnitz-Pölfing-Brunn and Wies-Eibiswald. The model locomotives and railcars of the Sulmtalbahn cannot be purchased off the shelf, which is why the original vehicles were created through hundreds of hours of self-construction. Other highlights of the layout include a driving simulator of the real "Red Lightning." Many original items from the operation of the Sulmtalbahn, including documents from 1907 and a film presentation as well as historical signal box technology from 1903, and a small buffet await you during a visit to us. Our visitor room in Gleinstätten (H.No. 20) is barrier-free and accessible all year round by prior arrangement. The parking lot on the premises accommodates approximately 20 cars or even coaches...
Appointment scheduling for viewings and tours at T: 0664 8310298