During April 1892, construction of the Schafberg Railway commenced. It was built by a mostly Italian workforce numbering roughly 350, while virtually all materials, including tools and living supplies, were transported via mules, which reportedly performed in excess of 6,000 trips to the various work sites during the line's construction. The work continued throughout the winter of 1892/93, being only suspended briefly during the most extreme weather conditions. The trackbed had to be carved out of the mountain side along with numerous cuttings, culverts, and bridges; major civil engineering features include a 24 metre long viaduct, several arched stone bridges, rock cuttings, and a pair of tunnels, the longest having a length of 91 metres. Despite the challenge of the work and the often impressive civil engineering incorporated into the line, construction proceeded at a relatively fast rate.