The salt trade connected much of old Europe. Transylvania, a beautiful region in today's Romania,
is bordered by the South and East Carpathian Mountains. Between the Carpathians and the
Transylvanian Highlands is a wealth of gorgeous valleys, among them the Depresiuena Odorhei
(Oderhellener Senke), the Fâgârs (Fogarascher), the Depresiuena Subiului (Hermannstädter Senke)
and the Apoldu de Sus (Großpold). Large salt deposits are found in some of these depressions and in
the Somesu High Country. For thousands of years these deposits have been mined near "Salzdorf",
"Salzmarkt", Turda (Thorenburg), Ocna Sibiului (Salzburg) and Praid. Salt here was in high demand
even in prehistoric times. The Praid is one of the most important localities from the "Salt Zone" and
of the county of Harghita.
is bordered by the South and East Carpathian Mountains. Between the Carpathians and the
Transylvanian Highlands is a wealth of gorgeous valleys, among them the Depresiuena Odorhei
(Oderhellener Senke), the Fâgârs (Fogarascher), the Depresiuena Subiului (Hermannstädter Senke)
and the Apoldu de Sus (Großpold). Large salt deposits are found in some of these depressions and in
the Somesu High Country. For thousands of years these deposits have been mined near "Salzdorf",
"Salzmarkt", Turda (Thorenburg), Ocna Sibiului (Salzburg) and Praid. Salt here was in high demand
even in prehistoric times. The Praid is one of the most important localities from the "Salt Zone" and
of the county of Harghita.
| The Horse in Salt Country |
The salt mine from Praid is one of the most important salt mines of
the Transylvanian Plateau and the settlement was inhabited back to
Roman times, although the first written record of the locality date
back to 1567. In the Middle Ages, in the 1200's, the Praid mine was
trading salt. In 1762, under the leadership of the Austrian engineer
Frendl, the Jozsef mine was opened, which had the shape of a bell,
and in which the first elevator drawn by horses was installed, called
the "horse lift". Systematic mining was established after the year
1787, when the mine from Praid became the property of the Treasury
from Vienna. The Habsburgs established the Blaj-Sovata-Praid
railway and of the narrow railway Praid-Sovata-Miercurea Nirajului-
Tg.Mures to facilitated the transport of the salt, which until then had
been handled by hand carts.
the Transylvanian Plateau and the settlement was inhabited back to
Roman times, although the first written record of the locality date
back to 1567. In the Middle Ages, in the 1200's, the Praid mine was
trading salt. In 1762, under the leadership of the Austrian engineer
Frendl, the Jozsef mine was opened, which had the shape of a bell,
and in which the first elevator drawn by horses was installed, called
the "horse lift". Systematic mining was established after the year
1787, when the mine from Praid became the property of the Treasury
from Vienna. The Habsburgs established the Blaj-Sovata-Praid
railway and of the narrow railway Praid-Sovata-Miercurea Nirajului-
Tg.Mures to facilitated the transport of the salt, which until then had
been handled by hand carts.
Hermannstadt (Sibiu) in the 12th century was on the trade route through the Olt valley and was the
site of the Roman city of Caedonia and the first reference to the German settlement refers to
Praepositum Cibin (Hungarian: Nagyszeben). It was the most important city of the Transylvanian
Saxons during the middle ages. It is one of the seven major Saxon cities that gave Transylvania its
German name, Siebenbürgen, Land des Segens. The Germans here were expelled after 1945.
site of the Roman city of Caedonia and the first reference to the German settlement refers to
Praepositum Cibin (Hungarian: Nagyszeben). It was the most important city of the Transylvanian
Saxons during the middle ages. It is one of the seven major Saxon cities that gave Transylvania its
German name, Siebenbürgen, Land des Segens. The Germans here were expelled after 1945.
The Norik Horse, left
For 2000 years, the Norik Horse ( Noriker, Norisches Kaltbult, or Pinzgauer) has lived in Austria.
Named after the Roman province of Noricum, they descend from an ancient Celtic horse that bred
with heavy Roman draught horses. The breeding of Norik horses flourished under Charlemagne in
the 8th century. The first stud farm that bred Norik horses was not opened until 1576 near Hallein
and was under the control of the Salzburg Archbishops who bred the Noriks primarily as ceremonial
or parade horses, with the colorful specimens especially popular.
Named after the Roman province of Noricum, they descend from an ancient Celtic horse that bred
with heavy Roman draught horses. The breeding of Norik horses flourished under Charlemagne in
the 8th century. The first stud farm that bred Norik horses was not opened until 1576 near Hallein
and was under the control of the Salzburg Archbishops who bred the Noriks primarily as ceremonial
or parade horses, with the colorful specimens especially popular.
The frescos in Salzburg of the
"Pferdeschwemme" portray similar
horses. For the construction of the
Salzburg cathedral, rocks had been
cut out from the Moenchsberg
mountain. In 1693, Archbishop
Johann Ernst von Thun decided to
use this cavity in the mountain, and
he had a riding school built in which
tournaments were held. According
to plans by Fischer von Erlach, it
included 36 boxes for guests and the
Archbishops, and it was also used
as an open-air theater.
"Pferdeschwemme" portray similar
horses. For the construction of the
Salzburg cathedral, rocks had been
cut out from the Moenchsberg
mountain. In 1693, Archbishop
Johann Ernst von Thun decided to
use this cavity in the mountain, and
he had a riding school built in which
tournaments were held. According
to plans by Fischer von Erlach, it
included 36 boxes for guests and the
Archbishops, and it was also used
as an open-air theater.
In 1820, the breeding programs were secularized and state-owned stud farms were built in Salzburg. After this,
other heavy breeds including Clydesdales, Belgians, Oldenburgs, Holsteins, Spaniards and Neapolitans were
introduced to the breed, with Burgundy stallions often used due to a lack of studs. By 1885, new inspection
regulations counteracted the interbreeding with other races and an underlying goal was to apply strict selection
criteria in order to achieve a pure breed and improve the declining quality of the Norik horses. At the end of the
19th century the first registry was established. By 1903, 135 stallions and 1081 mares were registered. World
Wars I and II greatly reduced the horse population. However, in the 1990's various breeding groups began to
revive the breed as the number of Noriks dropped rapidly in the 1960’s and 1970s from 34,510 to 9,599.
other heavy breeds including Clydesdales, Belgians, Oldenburgs, Holsteins, Spaniards and Neapolitans were
introduced to the breed, with Burgundy stallions often used due to a lack of studs. By 1885, new inspection
regulations counteracted the interbreeding with other races and an underlying goal was to apply strict selection
criteria in order to achieve a pure breed and improve the declining quality of the Norik horses. At the end of the
19th century the first registry was established. By 1903, 135 stallions and 1081 mares were registered. World
Wars I and II greatly reduced the horse population. However, in the 1990's various breeding groups began to
revive the breed as the number of Noriks dropped rapidly in the 1960’s and 1970s from 34,510 to 9,599.
Noriks today are very large, with mares averaging between 15.2 and 16 hands and stallions between
16 and 17 hands. They have a straight profile with wide nostrils and medium sized eyes. The neck is
medium length and has a thick mane. The chest is deep and broad. They are a very muscular,
powerful animal. Most Noriks today are bay, brown or chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail, with the
blacks, bays and chestnuts making up about 90% of the Noriks. Later interbreeding with the
Mediterranean races led to unusual coloration such as Isabels, dappled horses, rare leopards and blue
roans which explains the colors which make up the remaining 10%. The Noriker became also known
as the “Pinzgau Horse” because only the Pinzgau Norik kept the purest and most massive forms as
he was bred in remote valleys far from the main connecting roads between the north and south.
When breeders consolidated the breed, the Pinzgauer Noriker was chosen as the prototype.
Unfortunately, while a very strong and hardy breed, they are not very fertile.
16 and 17 hands. They have a straight profile with wide nostrils and medium sized eyes. The neck is
medium length and has a thick mane. The chest is deep and broad. They are a very muscular,
powerful animal. Most Noriks today are bay, brown or chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail, with the
blacks, bays and chestnuts making up about 90% of the Noriks. Later interbreeding with the
Mediterranean races led to unusual coloration such as Isabels, dappled horses, rare leopards and blue
roans which explains the colors which make up the remaining 10%. The Noriker became also known
as the “Pinzgau Horse” because only the Pinzgau Norik kept the purest and most massive forms as
he was bred in remote valleys far from the main connecting roads between the north and south.
When breeders consolidated the breed, the Pinzgauer Noriker was chosen as the prototype.
Unfortunately, while a very strong and hardy breed, they are not very fertile.
It continued in use for sport, dance and theater performances since the 18th century. The Horse
Pond next to it was built in 1695 by von Erlach as a watering place for the Archbishop's riding
stables.By the 18th century, Norik horses, excepting those horses which had been interbred with
riding horses by the Archbishops, became important as work animals for farmers, and the more
common type of less temperamental, heavy work horses were preferred in difficult terrain.
Pond next to it was built in 1695 by von Erlach as a watering place for the Archbishop's riding
stables.By the 18th century, Norik horses, excepting those horses which had been interbred with
riding horses by the Archbishops, became important as work animals for farmers, and the more
common type of less temperamental, heavy work horses were preferred in difficult terrain.
| The Horse Lift |
In time, these useful animals which had served as a riding and carriage horse
for knights and merchants in the Middle Ages as well as a work horse for
farmers, evolved into the heavy alpine Norik horse, some of which would
one day depart with their banished Protestant owners, bound for a long trek
into unfamiliar lands.
for knights and merchants in the Middle Ages as well as a work horse for
farmers, evolved into the heavy alpine Norik horse, some of which would
one day depart with their banished Protestant owners, bound for a long trek
into unfamiliar lands.
| The Noric Horse |
The canal enabled lumber from the mountains to be transported by water from southern Bohemia to
Vienna. Within two years, the 40-kilometre long navigational canal had been carved out of the rugged
mountains, but that was the end of it. The Napoleonic Wars brought grand projects and progress to a
halt as the European world froze impotent at the feet of the French. It was the demand for salt and a
more economical method of shipping it that revived the canal idea at the dawn of the Industrial
Revolution. Continental Europe was reawakened and ambitious.
Vienna. Within two years, the 40-kilometre long navigational canal had been carved out of the rugged
mountains, but that was the end of it. The Napoleonic Wars brought grand projects and progress to a
halt as the European world froze impotent at the feet of the French. It was the demand for salt and a
more economical method of shipping it that revived the canal idea at the dawn of the Industrial
Revolution. Continental Europe was reawakened and ambitious.
Since the Danube River in Hungary had been successfully linked to other
important waterways, Austrian Dr. Franz Josef von Gerstner, Professor of
Mathematics in the University of Prague, was choosen to study the canal idea.
He found construction of a Canal was not feasible with its estimated need of
290 locks! However, he proposed the construction of a railway line, a transport
medium of which he had heard about from England, and he advocated a horse
railway from Linz to Joachimsmühle in 1807, but he left the project in the hands
of his son, Franz Anton Gerstner, himself a professor of engineering in Vienna.
important waterways, Austrian Dr. Franz Josef von Gerstner, Professor of
Mathematics in the University of Prague, was choosen to study the canal idea.
He found construction of a Canal was not feasible with its estimated need of
290 locks! However, he proposed the construction of a railway line, a transport
medium of which he had heard about from England, and he advocated a horse
railway from Linz to Joachimsmühle in 1807, but he left the project in the hands
of his son, Franz Anton Gerstner, himself a professor of engineering in Vienna.
| The First Railway in Continental Europe: The Pferdeeisenbahn |
In the 14th century, ambitious and enterprising Emperor Karl
IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia not only
designed trade routes, but also envisioned a canal system which
would link the major rivers of Bohemia with the Dunabe, but
high mountains proved to be an obstacle, and the only project
along those lines that was realized was completed much later
with the construction of the unique Scwarzenberg Canal, built
through the mountains to transport timber in 1789.
IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia not only
designed trade routes, but also envisioned a canal system which
would link the major rivers of Bohemia with the Dunabe, but
high mountains proved to be an obstacle, and the only project
along those lines that was realized was completed much later
with the construction of the unique Scwarzenberg Canal, built
through the mountains to transport timber in 1789.
The young Gerstner built a model which he brought to the Royal Palace in Vienna where Emperor
Franz I granted him the exclusive right to start work, and in September, 1824, the building of a wood
and iron road between Mauthausen on the Danube and Budweis, situated on the Moldau. The First
Austrian Railway Company was formed, the old Salt Route becoming an integral part of the new
horse-drawn railway.
Franz I granted him the exclusive right to start work, and in September, 1824, the building of a wood
and iron road between Mauthausen on the Danube and Budweis, situated on the Moldau. The First
Austrian Railway Company was formed, the old Salt Route becoming an integral part of the new
horse-drawn railway.
In April, 1829 after almost four years, the enterprise was extended from Budweis to Pramhöf, and
then later, from Pramhöf to Urfahr. The historic horse-drawn railroad, which linked Gmunden to
Budweis in the 1830s was the first railway on the European continent, and was built with the main
purpose of facilitating and enhancing the transportation of salt from Upper Austria to Bohemia.
However, the railway was used by passengers as well.
then later, from Pramhöf to Urfahr. The historic horse-drawn railroad, which linked Gmunden to
Budweis in the 1830s was the first railway on the European continent, and was built with the main
purpose of facilitating and enhancing the transportation of salt from Upper Austria to Bohemia.
However, the railway was used by passengers as well.
The first passenger cars were both open and covered and had
up to 24 seats. They were divided into three classes with
names. Passengers could even transport their own horses on
special cars. On July 21,1832, Kaiser Franz I. and Kaiserine
Karoline Augusta arrived in an open car at Magdalena,
described in 19th century guides as "one of the most graceful
places to recommend, with beautiful, steep mountains in the midst of
the most sumptuous vegetation, a place under the fair shade of the
largest lime tree, where one finds all kinds of refreshments.”
up to 24 seats. They were divided into three classes with
names. Passengers could even transport their own horses on
special cars. On July 21,1832, Kaiser Franz I. and Kaiserine
Karoline Augusta arrived in an open car at Magdalena,
described in 19th century guides as "one of the most graceful
places to recommend, with beautiful, steep mountains in the midst of
the most sumptuous vegetation, a place under the fair shade of the
largest lime tree, where one finds all kinds of refreshments.”
By the spring of 1835, the tracks crossed over the wooden Danube bridge from Urfahr connecting to
Linz, and the horse railway from Budweis Urfahr was connected with the Linz line, already in
construction. The horse railway used around the 600 horses, from which most were sturdy, rugged
and well-tempered Norik horses. They were bedecked with bells to herald their arrival. One horse
generally drew two or three carriages.
Linz, and the horse railway from Budweis Urfahr was connected with the Linz line, already in
construction. The horse railway used around the 600 horses, from which most were sturdy, rugged
and well-tempered Norik horses. They were bedecked with bells to herald their arrival. One horse
generally drew two or three carriages.
Gerstner built lighter cars for the horses to pull than those used in England, and he suggested that
wood wheels with iron hubs and bearings be used in place of heavy cast-iron wheels. Thus the Norik
mastered a outstanding daily performance of 40 km. and at greater speed with less stress.
wood wheels with iron hubs and bearings be used in place of heavy cast-iron wheels. Thus the Norik
mastered a outstanding daily performance of 40 km. and at greater speed with less stress.
Gerstner had run well over budget on the project, and unwilling to
compromise with the project financiers, he was fired and left for
Russia, where he could build his railroads in relative peace. Once
in Russia, von Gerstner pushed through his proposal to build the
St. Petersburg-Tsarskoe Selo Railway in 1836. This inaugurated
the start of railways in Russia.
compromise with the project financiers, he was fired and left for
Russia, where he could build his railroads in relative peace. Once
in Russia, von Gerstner pushed through his proposal to build the
St. Petersburg-Tsarskoe Selo Railway in 1836. This inaugurated
the start of railways in Russia.
By 1857, the railroad owned 96 passenger vehicles. After a time, employees wore hats and badges
and kept bottles of liquor, lanterns, and tools for horse fitting and quick repairs. Farmhands soon
discovered it was to their benefit to be polite and even entertain travelers, and some became rather
well-known for their singing and musical performances. One farmhand became famous after he
amassed a fortune amusing and entertaining passengers.
and kept bottles of liquor, lanterns, and tools for horse fitting and quick repairs. Farmhands soon
discovered it was to their benefit to be polite and even entertain travelers, and some became rather
well-known for their singing and musical performances. One farmhand became famous after he
amassed a fortune amusing and entertaining passengers.
| 5 o'clock Linz 5:30 o'clock pc. Magdalena 12 o'clock arrival in Kerschbaum Lunch time 13 o'clock departure of Kerschbaum 19 o'clock Budweis 5 o'clock Budweis 12 o'clock arrival in Kerschbaum Lunch time 1 o'clock departure of Kerschbaum 6:30 o'clock pc. Magdalena 19 o'clock Linz |
From an 1858 timetable:
The building of the horse railway was a pioneering technical achievement. Carrying 190,000 persons
and 100,000 tons of goods in those years was unique for its time. Around 1855, however, the
passenger trains changed over from horses to steam engines, although the horse line continued with
other duties until it became impractical. The last regular course drawn by horses operated on
December 15, 1872.
and 100,000 tons of goods in those years was unique for its time. Around 1855, however, the
passenger trains changed over from horses to steam engines, although the horse line continued with
other duties until it became impractical. The last regular course drawn by horses operated on
December 15, 1872.
Franz Gerstner
On July 28,1825 in Böhemia near Netrobitz, the work began.
The establishment of a railway was a new idea and great
difficulties arose from the beginning, but in September, 1827
the first trains ran between Trojern and Budweis, and the 129
kilometre journey could now be completed in 14 hours,
instead of three days. The horse-railway could handle loads
three-times heavier than could normal roads and it was solid
enough to be adapted for use by the steam-engine trains later.
The establishment of a railway was a new idea and great
difficulties arose from the beginning, but in September, 1827
the first trains ran between Trojern and Budweis, and the 129
kilometre journey could now be completed in 14 hours,
instead of three days. The horse-railway could handle loads
three-times heavier than could normal roads and it was solid
enough to be adapted for use by the steam-engine trains later.
The Austrian built Horse Railway was so successful that Vienna
wanted its own, and soon the Viennese Tramway developed and
in the following years dominated the transport enterprise of
Vienna. Lines and stations were constructed all over the city, and
people enthusiastically travelled in style.
wanted its own, and soon the Viennese Tramway developed and
in the following years dominated the transport enterprise of
Vienna. Lines and stations were constructed all over the city, and
people enthusiastically travelled in style.
The company owned about 1000 trucks with a load weight
amounting to 2.5 to 3.5 tons. The main freight was salt with an
average of 40 barrels. Stations maintained stables for 25 to 100
horses, blacksmiths and other workshops. In addition there was
usually a restaurant for passengers.
amounting to 2.5 to 3.5 tons. The main freight was salt with an
average of 40 barrels. Stations maintained stables for 25 to 100
horses, blacksmiths and other workshops. In addition there was
usually a restaurant for passengers.