Our just deserts: At this point for most it was job done and back to the bright lights of Vienna but, for some of us, the dessert course was yet to be served. Weeks before the tour, plans were hatched to make it possible to cover the whole branch to Ernstbrunn (once a through route to Mistelbach), nearly 30km away and 20km further than where we had joined the tour this morning about 12 hours previously.

This is where the stock for this tour is based so it had to return there. However, even if it was on time there were no buses, so our international taxi procurement expert Ken Strong found a (fairly) local firm and contacted them using his excellent German. After a bit of a pause, they sprang into highly responsive life and it turned out they would have an 8-seater waiting at Ernstbrunn for our arrival and escape to the nearest S-Bahn station at Ladendorf some 10 km distant. So, once it was known to be an 8-seater, a few swift emails drummed up more interest, filling the taxi, also making it a cheap fare back to civilisation! It also meant, despite running an hour late, we were able to amend the arrangements without difficulty.

So, at 19.30, we keenly awaited the signal at the end of Korneuburg platform to let us go up the branch. There were no conflicting moves, so frustratingly we sat and sat as the light faded. Even the staff couldn't understand the hiatus and they wanted to go home too! Finally, the signal changed, the staff waved and blew whistles then we powered out almost immediately leaving the main line and back onto the single track non-electrified branch line. Continental rolling stock of this vintage often has two superb features, fully opening windows and lights that can be switched off. This created a dark open view, ideal for these marginal hours added on to the main tour and allowed for a fully unimpeded audiovisual experience as the loco blared its horn at every crossing, roaring up the grades and away from the open crossings.

We initially retraced our steps to Ruckersdorf-Hermansdorf and, by the time we passed there, it was becoming very gloomy but the headlight on the locomotive itself lit up the route ahead like a searchlight and it was possible to rest on the window and watch ahead in the increasingly chilly evening air. We could count off the km posts as we thrashed along with the occasional slack meaning we had to accelerate away. Cue more thrash. Perversely, our glowing light attracted animals from all around. Hares darted and raced across our path and deer were on the track as we approached but didn't elect to simply dive off into the ample countryside but ran frantically before us. Luckily for them, the driver seemed uninterested in a harvest of venison as it would probably (literally) have scratched the loco!

In the gathering dark, it was easy to see why ÖBB was probably quite pleased to let this line become a bus service as few lights could be seen for miles across the countryside on either side, even where the original station sites were passed, so where did any custom come from? We did pass a large al fresco barn-like eatery where our passing caught the diners attention. We waved at them and they waved back, some with beer stein mugs in hand as we plunged back into the night. What was obvious was that the line had been laid cheaply as it ran up and down the contours with only minor earthworks to take out the main wrinkles. Coming around a fairly sharp right hand bend, the bright lights … well, light … of Ernstbrunn could be seen across the now darkened landscape. We finally swept into the station area, locomotives and rolling stock suddenly appearing on both sides, horn blaring in a combination of triumph and relief to come to a stand, 75 down on schedule. The tour, starter, main course, and dessert was done!

After a few quick photographs, we made our way to the front of the station and our taxi turned up right on cue. The driver had brought his wife with him, so we were technically a seat short and your correspondent sat with her bunched up on the front seat, while Ken related what we had done all day (auf Deutsch = in German) as we duly arrived at Ladendorf in time for the 20.47 back to Wien.

Epilogue: (Not the Petit Fours.) A late revelation was that there had been a landslip (which closed the line until 02.00 next morning) blocking our route near Klosterneuburg only 30 minutes after we had passed through. Despite this, and against all the odds, including all the imposed revisions, deletions and additions, opportunities were seized and a very full day of track and traction (for which some from UK came especially to ride behind!) was achieved. Hearty congratulations to Peter and Paul; Helmuth would have approved. Here's hoping we can do it all again, with all the bits we missed this time … and more!

The landslide near Klosterneuburg which extended over the Franz-Josefs-Bahn tracks closing the line until 02.00 next day. Our Vienna explorer had passed here 30 minutes before this.