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Heading for the Harzbahn


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A trip coming up

 

Staying in Wernigerode - planning to travel on the Schmallspurbahn to Brocken, Nordhausen and Quedlingburg - will have to return to Werningerode on the big railway for that last trip!

 

Any trip wisdom to be had please folks?

Phil

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Hi Phil,

 

Have been to the HSB a number of times, fantastic railway. Don't forget that (if you are into trams as well) the town system at Nordhausen runs onto the HSB using bi-mode trams.

 

Some pics from the past:

 

Harz2005-08.jpg.8fe6e4be6063dcd6a8e48c4d5b84c7bb.jpg

 

Harz2005-06.jpg.59bebc01e9b19e9eaf1bfe2d6b0e6b2f.jpg

 

Harz2005-01.jpg.4ccf948e94b6f61166ad9d97acff97d4.jpg

 

Harz2005-02.jpg.409f2ec74126dd0cc92f29545cae4d32.jpg

 

and once you are home you can start replicating the HSB in your garden:

 

HSB-2-10-2T-06.jpg.fd913025823d83dc2cbabfb3b89ea9e2.jpg

 

Enjoy!!

 

Keith

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2 hours ago, tetsudofan said:

Hi Phil,

 

Have been to the HSB a number of times, fantastic railway. Don't forget that (if you are into trams as well) the town system at Nordhausen runs onto the HSB using bi-mode trams.

 

Some pics from the past:

 

Harz2005-08.jpg.8fe6e4be6063dcd6a8e48c4d5b84c7bb.jpg

 

Harz2005-06.jpg.59bebc01e9b19e9eaf1bfe2d6b0e6b2f.jpg

 

Harz2005-01.jpg.4ccf948e94b6f61166ad9d97acff97d4.jpg

 

Harz2005-02.jpg.409f2ec74126dd0cc92f29545cae4d32.jpg

 

and once you are home you can start replicating the HSB in your garden:

 

HSB-2-10-2T-06.jpg.fd913025823d83dc2cbabfb3b89ea9e2.jpg

 

Enjoy!!

 

Keith

 

Cheers Keith! Looking good .....and the model is a great idea.....!

 

Weather looks set fair too

 

Phil

 

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The whole Harz network - 90 route miles! - is stunning, since I think every mile sees at least one steam train per day.

 

Brocken is not cheap, but if you like steam worked hard, this is the chance to savour it!

 

Check the current timetable, but Drei Annen Hohne had, the last couple of years, an afternoon sequence where locos were exchanged between two trains and then a third train ran in. The 2-10-2s may only be metre-gauge, but they are very impressive locos indeed. 

 

At Wernigerode it is permissible to climb steps onto a viewing platform adjoining the loco shed and above the turntable.

 

Highly recommended.

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5 hours ago, Bill Jamieson said:

One of the top experiences is to stand on an open balcony next to the smokebox of a 2-10-2T blasting uphill but this is only possible with the 10:24 from Nordhausen and 14:08 from Eisfelder Talmühle.

Bill

Depending which way the loco is facing, whenever I've been it's been very hit and miss. The climbs out of Eisfelder Talmühle towards Stiege and Mägdesprung towards Gernrode are pretty good too, though it seems the brake van is now next to the smoke box on the Selketalbahn. 

 

Also, recently some of the Harzkamel diesels have been out, seemingly due to staff and loco shortages, even working up to the Brocken. 13.25 Wernigerode - Brocken and 15.40 return are the usual workings, but there could be more. 

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It's a few years since I was last there and if the Nordhausen loco diagram has changed since then that could affect things. My recollection is that it worked through to the Brocken, in which case it would almost certainly be bunker first towards Wernigerode. If it now does Nordhausen - DAH - ET - DAH - Nordhausen it wouldn't matter so much which way it was facing.

Bill

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Going over later this year to get the Diesels in up the Brocken :dance_mini: We just walked round the shed at night no problems but remember to clean your shoes before going back in the hotel, don't ask how we know!

IMG_3181.JPG

Edited by brian daniels
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Thank you for all the input gentlemen. Can’t beat comments based on experience.

 

So hope the Harz system runs better than DB.... train to Magdeburg 20 down at Berlin Hbf, 28 down by Magdeburg which was our connection interval... arrived on platform having by rushed through subway and SWMBO getting bashed by a bicycle en route ... to see our connection to Wernigerode just pulling away.

 

The girl on the DB desk didn’t speak much English and my German is threadbare ... but she understood enough to proffer a complaint form...eventually. So now running an hour late although the Countryside does like rather nice in the evening sun!

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Not strictly railway but just before Nordhausen is Camp Dora where the V2 rockets were built by concentration camp labour in tunnels excavated out of the hills. This was after the bombing of Peenemunde.There are still many rusty components inside the tunnels and it is a very sobering but fascinating museum. 

Also check the Harzquerbahn timetable for the chance of riding in an open wagon. Brilliant in good weather and supplement fare was very cheap

 

Blackie

 

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Guest Jack Benson

Hi,

 

Drei Anna Hohne is a central crossing point, if you go there try Kuki's  Suppen, we always bring a couple (or more) cans home. 

 

Altora Eisenbahn Thema hotel is Wernigerode offers a railway lovers paradise of relics, excellent food and a premium room over looking the station and loco yard. 

 

 Zum Eselskrug Gasthaus in Wernigerode is conveniently situated on a road/rail crossing and serves decent liver and onions with great beer.

 

Finally, be aware that steam services could be suspended due to fire risks during continued hot/dry spells, currently it is 35+ for the past couple of weeks but thunderstorms do help the situation.

 

I spent three winters as an instructor at the Army Ski centre at Silberhutte, the Harz can be harsh in winter but wonderful in Spring and Autumn.

 

Cheers

 

Jack

 

 

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Steam today looking at the webcams! Looks very dry though. A trip in the North of Germany with 03 1010, meant to be its last tour before its certificate expires, is diesel and electric hauled today. 

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Very interested by BLK4Y's post above.

 

We visited Dora 20 years ago, sobering is a good word for it. We were the only people there. The only building that survived was the brick crematorium, the inmates huts having been burnt down on liberation because of typhus. The caves are behind very large steel doors, which were sealed when we visited. Is this still the case?

 

On a more cheery note the railway is wonderful, and anything but the idea of a dinky little trainset that "narrow gauge" can sometimes imply.

 

It's worth trying to get a good, high detail map if  you see any suitable shops as the twists and turns of the lines are quite complex.

 

Also close by is the Ruebeland Bahn, running from Blankenburg up into the mountains via Michaelstein and Elbingerode. I assume this is still electrified, although I'm not sure at what voltage as it was non- standard at 50kV. Worth a ride if you have time.

 

John.

 

 

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2 hours ago, John Tomlinson said:

 

Also close by is the Ruebeland Bahn, running from Blankenburg up into the mountains via Michaelstein and Elbingerode. I assume this is still electrified, although I'm not sure at what voltage as it was non- standard at 50kV. Worth a ride if you have time.

 

John.

 

 

Ruebeland Bahn

 

The line has undergone a number of changes in the past few years, parts of the route are still operational and the desire to run steam is strong.

 

One last gastronomic tip, try VitaCola ice-cold, if you can find the stuff. It was the GDR's answer to Coke and quite distinctive.

 

cheers

 

Jack

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Thanks again all

 

The fire brigade were out yesterday but everything that should have been steam still was.

 

And as others have said more than worth the trip! Will put together some video when home next week....

 

phil

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Too late for you trip but I think it is impossible to do the whole Had a system in one day but you can do it as a two base trip  stay at Wernigerode  and do the Broken,  try to pick a day they run their "Traditionszug" which will more than likely be one of the mallet locos or 222 on the old style coaches (mind and book in advance if possible) . Makes an excellent trip as it gets shunted at Shierke, halfway up the Broken to pass another train. 

 

At the other end oh the line, is the Selketalbahn which goes to Gernrode and Quedlinburg . Get a day ticket and it takes you all over the place including the short branches. It's a really nice, sedate way to spend a day, sometimes we had the train to ourselves. It is often where you will find the unique loco 6001, tottering around the branchlines .Best to make it an overnighter if you dont have a car handy though. 

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Guest Jack Benson

Last Sunday, Drei Annen Hohne.

 

Services, as normal, despite the tinder dry forest. Kukki's soup dragon was doing a roaring trade.

 

image.jpeg.d0dda5e7b4c58879ef2c123b1265fdab.jpeg

 

JB

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