Campo Tures
The Aurina Valley Railway: A Story to Discover
Do you like the idea of traveling back in time and discovering stories from the past? Then you will fall in love with the Brunico-Campo Tures railway, also known as the Aurina Valley Railway. This railway line, built in the early 20th century, connected the picturesque and popular village of Campo Tures to the Brunico station.
The History
The construction of the railway was born from the idea of Dr. Hans Leiter and local industrialist Josef Beikircher. Their promotional committee obtained authorization and state funding for the construction of the line. In 1908, the railway was inaugurated and until the end of World War I, the management of the line was entrusted to the Südbahn. With the passage into Italian territory, management passed to Ferrovie dello Stato, but the development process of the line stopped. In 1957, the railway service was replaced by bus services and rolling stock was demolished in 1958.
Characteristics
The Aurina Valley Railway was a single-track railway with a gauge of 1435 mm, electrified with direct current at 800 V. The 15,240 km route had a maximum gradient of 18 per thousand and curves with a minimum radius of 80 meters. The track allowed an axle load of only 10 tonnes. The electric power for the line was supplied by the Rio Molino – Mühlbach hydroelectric power plant via an overhead line in alternating current that fed the electrical substation of Villa Ottone.
The End of the Railway
The Aurina Valley Railway was dismantled following the advent of road transport and due to the precarious state of the traction material and the line itself. Studies for its reconstruction have not yet led to concrete results. Today, the Alto Adige cycle path partially follows the original route.
If you want to learn more about the Aurina Valley Railway, you can visit local museums that have preserved evidence and artifacts, such as the engine room in Campo Tures, or follow the Alto Adige cycle path route. You will discover that the Aurina Valley Railway was much more than a simple railway line, but a real adventure for its passengers and a treasure for the culture and history of the Aurina Valley.
