Austria: Red Lightning in Styria

Last Monday I got two postcards from Austria.

The second one shows a lovely little train connecting Graz and Köflach in the Austrian State of Styria. Originally approved to transport coal, the railway line between Graz and Köflach started its public transport in 1860. Until 1978 goods were transported on the line by steam locomotives, but as passenger volume decreased in the 1950s, similar rail buses to the one on the card were introduced. They proved to be popular due to their cushioned seats and good view from the roundly glazed waggons and because of their velocity and red colour they soon became known as Red Lightning. Still today they are used for retro journeys, regularly used they were however only until the 1990s.

The card was sent with a great matching stamp (issued 08-05-2020) and its First Day Special Postmark. Railway stamps like this one are now already issued for some years in Austria. As long as I see the first one is from 2014. In my collection I also have the ones about the Semmering Railway, the Stainz Railway and the Brenner Railway.

Thank You very much Anita!