Driver's Eye View - Steam on the Waldviertelbahn - Litschau to Gmund (Austria)

A number of commentators have expressed a preference for “Driver’s Eye View” versions of the trips I make without line-side and passenger views. I've posted this version of the scenic ride from Litschau to Gmund to meet their requests – feedback is always welcome. Steam and diesel locomotives have puffed and rumbled their way between Gmünd, Groß Gerungs and Litschau for over 115 years. Apart from mountain rack railways, the narrow-gauge lines of the Waldviertel were the last bastion of regular steam operated service trains in Austria, lasting until 1996, after which they were run by ÖBB's as part of their nostalgia operation. From 1986 onward, special trains chartered by the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway association (WSV) ran on the northern branches. These trains, along with the driver were hired from ÖBB, the rest of the train staff being supplied by the club. The Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway association (WSV) took over the route from Alt Nagelberg to Heidenreichstein in 1992 operating the line as a museum railway using their own locomotives and rolling stock. From the 10th January, 2001, all traffic between Litschau and Gmünd ceased after the last timber train operated to Litchau the day before. With the last scheduled passenger services to Weitra and Groß Gerungs ending with the timetable changes of the 9th June 2001, regular ÖBB narrow-gauge train operations ceased. On 7th July 7 2001, the state of Lower Austria, represented by the regional transport organization NÖVOG, made money available to introduce tourist trains on the " Narrow ". Short term agreements allowed trains to run during the summer months, until 1st January 2012 when the "Waldviertelbahn", as the Waldviertler narrow-gauge railways are now called by the NÖVOG, began operating the lines using their own staff. Since the creation of the "Waldviertelbahn" many improvements have been implemented including the building of a smart new station to serve Gmünd.