|
 Once upon a time there was a man who worked as a fireman on a steam train. After 25 years of loyal service for the Austrian Rail Company this ambitious train lover had become a proud steam train driver. However, this still wasn't enough, he dreamt of driving a train like the ones used by the Austrian Emperor and his entourage, a train with carriages as luxurious and elegant as those used in imperial days long past.
Not every story that begins with the words "Once upon a time" is a fairy tail. The train driver in question really exists and his name is Gottfried Rieck. Not only that, the train that he and his wife, Sibylle Rieck, dreamt of their entire life became reality and has been steaming its way through the Austrian countyside for the last 10 years bearing the proud name "Majestic Imerpator". On May 19th 1998 this splendidly restored luxury train with six carriages was festively christened by Maria Christina Habsburg-Lothringen, the youngest living descendent of Kaiser Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth.
Since then the train's popularity has grown steadily and its passengers experience a truly lasting and very "Austrian" experience, a highlight of their holiday memories.
Gottfried Rieck's creativity, which has helped him to realize his dreams, is also reflected in the programme of events and journeys that can be enjoyed aboard this luxury train. Take the special trip in 2009 commemorating the Year of Haydn for example. Every Wednesday the general public can board the Imperial Dinner Train in Vienna, where Haydn sang as a choir boy in St. Stephen's Cathedral in his youth, and enjoy travelling in style to Eisenstadt where most of Haydn's works were written.
Having arrived in Eisenstadt the first stop is Esterházy Palace where a tour of the "Haydn Phenomena" exhibition in the palace's state apartments aspires to give visitors more insight into the life and times of his musical genius. Fittingly the evening excursion is accompanied by the immortal music of this great composer and the four-course meal is cooked by celebrity chef Reinhard Gerer and served by the Palazzo-Team. The luxury train arrives back in Vienna at around 11 pm.
For those who are looking for something more than an excursion and want to go on a real journey, every Thursday the Majestic Imperator runs from Vienna to Munich true to Empress Elisabeth's motto "Destinations are only worth reaching because of the journey that takes you there..." The slightly indirect route from Vienna's Westbahnhof train station via Melk, Linz, Salzburg, Prien by Chiemsee, Innsbruck, Seefeld, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and then Munich-Starnberg ensures that passengers will enjoy eleven hours of imperial and scenic rail travel. The return journey is offered on Saturdays.
An even wider range of extraordinary excursions and trips is offered to organised groups. For groups of 40 persons the Imperial Vienna Wine Train offer passengers an exquisite 3-hour city tour by train where they are taken right across Vienna visiting Beethoven House and a typical Viennese wine tavern in Grinzing along the way. Also available to groups of 40 upwards is the Majestic Mystery City Tour following the section of track once used by the former k.u.k. Monarchy. Each place of interesting plays its role in the informative narrative that accompanies this unique Viennese tour. Historical criminal cases catch up with murdering countesses - moritat singers, coach men, rogues and wenches disclose long-forgotten secrets. For guests who would prefer a musical rendition over a narrative the Magical Music City Tour is also available.
An exciting and diversified future for musical train rides in imperial fashion is guaranteed thanks to composers like Gustav Mahler. In 2010 the city of Vienna will be celebrating the 150th birthday of one of its greatest musical sons and in 2011 the anniversary of his death. Appropriately Mahler was director of the Royal Opera for ten years during Kaiser Franz Joseph's reign, an era in which the imperial train proudly travelled through his realm.
| 
