ÖBB 1142.694 - Breitenstein am Semmering
The 50 years old machines of the 1042-series and the modernized 1142-series were still unreplaceable on the Austrian Railways. Its simple electrics and robust mechanics made these locomotives practically undestructible. Some of them were put back into service after withdrawal because of their reliability and the curious fact that they are cheaper in maintenance that their sisters of the 1044/1144-series.
They were used in light passenger service and mixed freight services within Austria. They can be found on the Salzkammergutbahn, The Phyrnbahn and, of course, the first alpine railway pass: The Semmeringbahn. The Machines are fully compatible for mixed traction, combinations between 1142+1144 and 1142+1116/1016 are possible. In this picture the 1142.694 and the 1144.265 are descending the eastern ramp with a mixed freight to Wien.
