Harz Mountain Railway

[wollastonblue]

I'm planning our nect family roadtrip round Europe, and would like to take in the Harz Mountain Railway. We are travelling up from Lauterbrunnen, I was looking at a night stop in the region, spending the day on the railway, and then drive up to Hamburg.

Is this do able, and does anyone have any recommendations for towns or hotels with family rooms to stay?

[Oldddudders]

Wernigerode is the heart of the Harz system, and very tourist-orientated. Plenty of hotels walking distance from the station. 

[LNER4479]

The Altora hotel is THE place to stay in Wernigerode, right across from the Harz station and all railway themed - you even get your beer delivered by train in their restaurant!

https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/altora.en-gb.html?aid=330631;label=msn-Ctjl8Ms3sUb3hjMKWWVcfA-473474055%3Atikwd-3564588656%3Aloc-188%3Aneo%3Amte%3Adec%3Aqshotel altora wernigerode;sid=b9bd36b4981c00185db3cc87f17632ef;dest_id=-1886265;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1579269421;srpvid=e3966216465d006c;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

 

Wernigerode is a great place for all the family, lots to do, beautiful pedestrian town centre to wander round with fantastic old buildings, cafes and shops - although sounds like you're only going to whistle-stop it in this occasion. You will return for a longer trip, I'm sure!

[tetsudofan]

…. and be careful its infectious, once you get back home, you might get hooked on building something in the garden to remind you of your holiday......

 

 

 

 

As mentioned above Wernigerode is the place to be based, its a fantastic town.

 

Keith

[roundhouse]

Yes very infectious - in my case HOm. This coach is in the process of being weathered. A future layout possibly of Nordhausen station. I would require a lot more locos than the three I currently have to model Wernigerode station.

 

Wernigerode is where we have stayed in the past.

[PhilH]

The HSB has nearly 140km of track so in one day you will only be able to sample a small section of line. The favourite is of course Wernigerode to the summit of the Brocken, which is also the most expensive part. 

Well worth it though, 29km of non stop climbing going up behind one of the lines big 2-10-2 tanks, bit of a bonus if you get snow.

Edited January 17, 2020 by PhilH

[eastwestdivide]

For only 1 day, be prepared for variable weather. The Brocken summit is notorious for being shrouded in cloud. One day I was there last September, I could see the top of the mast at the summit from the bottom of Wernigerode, but by the time I got to the summit, I could only see the bottom of the mast!

Moral: if you can extend the stay, you'll have a better chance of a good weather day.

[ColinK]

Last time I was there you could have a footplate ride, but only at weekends.  Expensive but well worth doing.