THE DIGITAL STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

Digitization of a steam locomotive:
The SchafbergBahn

“Did you know that the digital steam locomotive can talk”?

All you need is a great love for old treasures and modern, intelligent technologies such as sensors, smartRAIL, the internet and the cloud.
This is extremely important and beneficial for saving oil, protecting the environment, preventing accidents and providing rapid assistance if problems occur.

The SchafbergBahn has been Austria's steepest steam cog railroad
since 1893. With gradients of up to 255%, it covers a difference in altitude of 1190 meters from the valley station to the mountain station in 35 minutes. This is at an impressive 1732 meters above sea level.

In a picturesque idyll, the steam-powered red train conveys pure nostalgia.

The digitalization of the characteristic “rack” enables operational optimization and potential savings. Mario Mischelin, Managing Director of SchafbergBahn  / Salzburg AG Tourismus GmbH, Bernhard Knapp, Managing Director of Zugkraft-kN and Jens-Achim Kessel, co-founder and partner of optiMEAS GmbH, joined forces for this project.

Detailed case study
on the SchafbergBahn 

Digital Upgrade for the
Nostalgic Steam Locomotive

The fleet of Austria’s steepest cogwheel railway consists of steam and diesel locomotives. An oil-fired new-build steam locomotive has been digitally upgraded with IoT technology by optiMEAS, enhancing its traction capabilities. The data collected from the locomotive’s interior is a crucial step toward advanced, data-driven maintenance. The Zugkraft-kN specializes in customized solutions for railway maintenance, servicing, and fleet management. 
Together with optiMEAS, it supports the historic SchafbergBahn operated by Salzburg AG Tourismus.

This transformation from traditional steam locomotives to data-driven, digitally enhanced engines represents a fascinating intersection of history and modern technology. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask! 😊

Would you like to read the report by Dr. Jens-Achim Kessel in the Railway Gazette - April 2024 issue?

Would you like more information?

 " IoT tools help to ensure a rapid response " 
by Dr. Jens-Achim Kessel

Alea
Children's book “Digi ... what?

"Hello, my name is Alea and I love asking questions about the world."

In the new optiMEAS children's book “Digi ... what?” you can learn with me and my dad what digitalization means.

We talk about the language of numbers 'machinic', invisible nets, sweating excavators and clever cupboard clouds, but also about nature, compassion and dealing with technology.

Competition for kids 

Do you already know the digital steam locomotive?“

Puzzle & Win with Alea

Have you already been on a discovery tour here in the ErlebnisQuartier at the valley station? Then you're probably already a real expert on the SchafbergBahn and the digitized steam locomotive. You can show that now.   

I've come up with a competition for you. If you answer all the questions correctly, you will receive my book "Digi... who what?".

Pick it up at the checkout 😉 or answer the questions below and we'll send it to your home. In it, I explain to you in more detail what digitalization means.

So here we go. Make an effort! 

A little tip: The leaflet "Do you already know the digital steam locomotive? It's called ‘Z12’. Come with me, I'll show you!‘’ with all the tips and answers can be picked up at the ticket office or downloaded here, or the ‘display stand’ and a discovery tour through the adventure quarter can help you find the right answers.

Have fun and see you soon!

Your Alea

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