The railway line through Carinthia’s Rosental valley was built at the beginning of the 20th century as a main line for international through traffic and, as the Imperial State Railway, connected the capital Vienna to the harbour of Trieste on the Adriatic. For many years, three express trains operated daily and railway stations (like the one in Maria Elend) were needed for the regional passenger rail traffic. After the First World War and the end of the Austrian empire, the line lost its former glory, and today it is only of regional importance. Built in a style typical for the period, the pretty station was the venue for quite an event in 1990 when the final scenes of the thriller “Shining Through” were filmed there over a period of 6 days. The screen hero Michael Douglas and his co-star Melanie Griffith were impressed by the rural atmosphere and the locals.
