Bohinj railway tunnel at Savica river - Slovenia
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member GT.US
N 46° 17.564 E 013° 47.813
33T E 407332 N 5127276
This section of the Bohinje railway tunnel is no longer used.
Waymark Code: WM4KZK
Location: Slovenia
Date Posted: 09/04/2008
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Crystal Sound
Views: 181

This section of tunnel was used in the construction of the Dam on the Savice river, and was a utility section used in construction of the Bohinje railway. Today, it is not accessable, but a nice view is had from the waterfall lookout. The only way to get to the lookout is to pay the fee to view the waterfall. Coordinates are from the lookout.

The sign at the waterfall says, "below the pool there is a dam for the Ukanc power plant, which was built during the construction of the Bohinj railway tunnel."

The following is from an article on the Bohinj railway at (visit link) :

"In 1906, the Bohinj Tunnel, one of the most important tunnels in the new railway line that connected Central Europe with Trieste, was ceremoniously opened by the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand. The line was a great acquirement for the whole monarchy of that time. It opened a window to the world to the people of Bohinj and offered them new development possibilities, mainly in the area of tourism, after the economic catastrophe they were faced with when the ironworks in Bohinjska Bistrica burned to the ground.

Soon after the first railway connection between Vienna and Trieste (the Southern Railway) was built in the middle of the 19th century, the court in Vienna came up with an idea about a new railway line that would connect Trieste with Central Europe. Not until after 30 years of thinking, at the end of the 19th century, the court decided for the railway line through the Karavanken Mountains and Bohinj that proved most favourable, both economically and strategically. In 1901, the Vienna parliament passed the act on Transalpina (the railway connection between the Czech Republic and Trieste) - its final section between Jesenice and Trieste was named the Bohinj Railway.
The making of the railway in Bohinj was a very complicated project, since many tunnels, bridges, etc. had to be built. One of the major construction challenges was the building of the Bohinj and Karavanken Tunnel. Preparation and construction work began in 1900, and in 1902 a company managed by the well-experienced Giacomo Ceconi, who was awarded a noble title for the construction on the Arlberg tunnel, was chosen to do the job. Tiresome work, accompanied by water invasions, came to an end when the tunnel, permanently connecting the two sides of the Alps, was finally bored through on 31 May 1904. The last few meters were blown up by the archduke Leopold Salvator von Habsburg himself. The work continued and on 1 March 1905 the first test drive was made.

Finishing took place in 1906. On 19 July the inauguration ceremony, which was also attended by the heir presumptive to throne Franz Ferdinand, was held and the railway line from Jesenice to Trieste was opened to traffic.
At the time of the opening, the tunnel was 6339 m long. Due to events during the end of World War II, it was unfortunately shortened for 12 m and left without the mighty portal on the northern side."
Construction: Natural - No lining

Condition: Good

Rail Status: No

Current status: Unused & Hazardous

Original Use: Passenger Train

Terrain:

Website: [Web Link]

Date Built: 1909

Date Abandoned: unknown

The "Other End": Not Listed

Tunnel Length: Not Listed

Suggested Parking Area: Not Listed

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