If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Harz in December.

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by KHARDS, Jul 27, 2013.

  1. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    47
    It's somewhat confusing as there are BIG changes from the December 14th timetable. Currently the 612s do the every two hours Hannover - Halle RE trains. These trains cease in December and I presume the 612s will be on the new Goslar - Halle RE service.

    There are various ways of getting close by loco hauled train. IC trains to Braunschweig or Magdeburg will be loco. OK the hop to Wernigerode will be DMU, but comfy trains compared to the 612s. My last trip I went on the night boat to Hook of Holland and went loco hauled: Rotterdam - Breda - Deventer - Braunschweig. The return was similar but from Magdeburg with an extra change in Hannover. The every two hours Amsterdam - Berlin IC service is useful.

    The DB planner allows you to avoid ICEs so will only look at ICs.

    David
     
  2. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    47
    Just adding to my own post, I think the Breda - Deventer (Roosendaal - Zwolle service) bit becomes tricky if not impossible from the December TT change. Can still be done using Rotterdam - Amsterdam loco hauled, then the Berlin IC.

    If going Eurostar, from the new TT you can go Brussels - Amsterdam loco, then the Berlin IC. One other obscure route is Brussels to Eupen loco, bus across border to Aachen, then RE/IC, although some of the RE routes are going EMU in this region so an itinerary would need researching.

    David
     
  3. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The party I went with a couple of weeks ago (literally - today - we were lunching opposite the Broken this time a couple of Thursdays back!) caught a loco hauled local from Hannover to Bad Harzburg, which was a set of n-wagen hauled by a rather noisy Class 218 ("rabbit"). The Class 612 service to Wernigerode calls at Bad Harzburg, so you can significantly reduce your Class 612 mileage and get some proper loco hauled while it lasts - whether that will be beyond the timetable change is hard to say, as the older stuff round Hannover is in increasingly poor external repair.

    Steven
     
  4. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    47
    No, it will not last. DB lost the contract and ERIXX takes charge of various routes in this region from the December TT. They ordered 28 new Alstom Coradia LINT- 54 DMUs for the new services.

    Changing subject back to HSB, do check if you are pondering a Nov/Dec visit. Other than Brocken and Nordhausen trams the system is closed for engineering work through much of November and even when open again, steam at Gernrode doesn't resume until mid-December,

    David
     
  5. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks David - even more glad we made the intended connection - just sorry there wasn't really the opportunity to record the loco pulling away under full power at all.

    Not a great opportunity to grab any pictures either but her is one at Bad Harzburg. I suppose the big question is will the new stock be ready or will the new operating be having to hire in to start with?

    Steven
    DSCF8442.JPG
     
  6. Sir Nigel Gresley

    Sir Nigel Gresley Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    880
    Likes Received:
    148
    Occupation:
    Retired Soldier of Fortune
    Location:
    Dorset
    Nice to see the signal gantry is still at Bad Harzburg (just visible in the foto) - I believe it is under Denkmalschuetz (preservation order)!
     
  7. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm thinking of visiting Harz, there's plenty of advice in this thread, though I've a couple of questions.
    Has anyone travelled via Hull-Rotterdam?
    How much better is the October gala, compared with normal operating days? I've looked at the online time tables and can't see much difference between the summer or winter services?

    TIA
     
  8. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    Messages:
    8,239
    Likes Received:
    5,250
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Freelance photo - journalist
    Location:
    Southport
    The gala will probably see the use of the "Traditionszug" - a rake of old stock hauled by one of the 0-4-4-0 compound Mallets that used to work the Selketal line - on a Wernigerode - Brocken service plus a couple of private (i.e. unidentified but available to join) charters operated by the Friends of the Harz. For further info try http://www.hsb-wr.de/startseite/ where an English Translation option is available
     
  9. Christoph

    Christoph New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2009
    Messages:
    157
    Likes Received:
    7
    Location:
    Germany
    Hello,

    originating from Germany, I have done Rotterdam to Hull and back on numerous occasions in the past, but by car. What exactly is the question?

    Which October gala?

    You have seven connections Wernigerode to Brocken in summer, six in winter, two of which do not run before 25 March. There are additional trains Drei Annen Hohne to Brocken alone, two in winter, three from 25 March, four in summer. Also you will find two engines in steam on the Selketalbahn from Quedlinburg Thursday to Saturday in summer, meaning that six out of seven trains between Gernrode and Alexisbad will be steam.

    Does that help?

    Kind regards

    Christoph
     
  10. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hi,
    post 68 mentions an October gala, Railtrail also market a Golden Harz Enthusiasts Festival, so I probably got it from a mix of the two.

    Thanks for all the info', my plans are now falling in to place for a visit in summer,

    Cheers, Pete
     
  11. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    Messages:
    8,239
    Likes Received:
    5,250
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Freelance photo - journalist
    Location:
    Southport
    The October "Gala" is a 3-day charter programme which is organised by the "Friends of the Harz" and which Railtrail clients join- they are NOT shown in the public timetables as they are considered as 'private charters" although HSB are much involved in their organisation and operation.

    Having been on these with Railtrail I can highly recommend them as they organise photo runpasts to suit the clients - and at locations which are normally inaccessible.
     

Share This Page