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Harz Narrow Gauge - HSB

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by Fred Kerr, Feb 12, 2017.

  1. acw71000

    acw71000 Member Friend

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    First of two videos, this one concentrates on the Brockenbahn
     
  2. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Thoroughly enjoyed your video, thanks for posting it. I see 99.222 was on the Tradzug - were none of the Mallets active? We're off to the Harz in a few days, flying to Berlin Tegel from Doncaster this time as the times were better than via LPL or MAN.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
  3. acw71000

    acw71000 Member Friend

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    Thanks Ray, only saw one Mallet, 99.5906, which we caught in the forest after Elend on its way to Gernrode to work a photo charter which will be in the next video. The other Traditionzug whilst we were there had 99.236 in charge and that had one ordinary coach in the consist.
     
  4. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

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    99.5901/5902 have both been out of use quite a time now, waiting for their turn in Westerntor for repair. 99.222 has been the usual loco on the historic train. 99.5906 is odd. It had an overhaul in Meiningen last year, ran a couple of test trips, then nothing until it was declared in need of repair and has sat in Westerntor. It suddenly reappeared on a test trip on 22nd May (at least), then took the historic train ecs to Gernrode on 25th, ran its excursion on 26th, then back ecs on 27th. 26th saw many excursions, with Brocken seeing three trains at once!

    Nice to see some video of this being posted. Thanks!
     
  5. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    At 20.00 local time the Wernigerode webcam showed 99.5906 standing on the southernmost shed road behind that little hut on the end of the platform.
    Ray.
     
  6. acw71000

    acw71000 Member Friend

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    Second video, featuring scenes on the Harzquerbahn and Selketalbahn. Includes my sole sighting of a Mallet this trip with 99.5906 taking the ecs to Gernrode for a photographers special
     
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  7. 1802

    1802 New Member

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    5901 was in use through Feb, March and into early April. 5902 was parked in the carriage shed during the same period.
     
  8. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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  9. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    You beat me to it! I was actually on that train but wasn't able to post the pics until I got back to the U.K. earlier today. The train involved was the 13.57 from Gernrode and the accident occurred at the farm occupation crossing at the top of the bank west of Stiege. As the train approached the crossing at about 15 - 20 KPH the driver of 7235 sounded the whistle several times and then made an emergency brake application as a tractor hauling round bales failed to stop at the crossing. Fortunately it was a 'soft' impact but the tractor was pushed several metres towards Hasselfelde. AFAIK nobody was injured but there was a full call out of the local volunteer feurwehr (shades of Trumpton) and the Polizei. There was only a handful of people on the train, mostly enthusiasts, and one of the firemen gave us all a lift back to Stiege in their minibus. There didn't appear to be any serious damage to the loco but the farmer wasn't best pleased with what had happened to his new Claas!
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
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  10. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    I can't get the pictures to load due to the hotel's crappy wifi - I'll try again tomorrow!
    Sorry,
    Ray.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2018
  11. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

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    Interesting statistic in one of the papers: HSB had 1 million passengers in 2017, and a turnover of EUR13 million. All that with NG trains, must be 4-5 times the passenger volume of say the SVR.
     
  12. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    I still can't get the photos to load - I give up!
    Ray.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2018
  13. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Need to point out however that the HSB operates through the (Harz) National Park where transport is restricted to pedestrian, horse-drawn wagons or HSB services. Only commercial vehicles serving the Brocken are allowed past Shierke hence the train service is the preferred mode of access.
     
  14. Trebor71

    Trebor71 New Member

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    Just got back from Wernigerode, had a day travelling up to The Brocken and thoroughly enjoyed it FB_IMG_1529080848692.jpeg

    Sent from my P00C using Tapatalk
     
  15. worldsteam

    worldsteam Member

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  16. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    When we were there for a week at the beginning of June I had to explain the 26Euro limit to an English couple who had had one ride Qued to Eisfelder on their 3 day Harz Tour Cards and they were now 'used up'. This latest information is encouraging and 44 euros for 3 days seems fair to me. Nine 2-10-2's were in daily use including 222 with one outstationed at Nordhausen and one at Gernrode. Other than these 99.5906 was in use just once on a 'driver experience' on 10/6.
    Ray.
     
  17. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

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    I'm planning on a stop off in the Harz Mountains in September - two nights in Wernigerode followed by a night in Quedlinberg. We're doing all our travelling by train and basically I reckon on having two days on the Harz railways - on the second of these we need to get to Quedlinberg.

    I'm a complete novice on the railway, indeed have never been on steam abroad. The website is useful for timetable information but I an struggling to understand practicalities. Can you just turn up and buy tickets on the day or is there a way of booking in advance? Is the timetable valid on all days of the week? And is steam reliable in terms of being on the trains listed as so on the timetable?
     
  18. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, yes and yes. It would be very unusual for a train advertised as steam hauled not to be. Occasionally a Harz Kamel and carriages substitutes for a railcar, The timetable is the same on all 7 days but a Tradzug also runs on Sats and some Weds (listed on HSB website). Ordinary tickets are available on the day from any station, train guards and even some hotels such as the Altora opposite the shed at Wernigerode. If you intend 'doing' all the lines a 3 day 'rover' ticket is available from stations or the HSB shop near the Rathaus in Wernigerode. Your hotel will give you a Hatix ticket which gives you free bus travel in the Harz so you can use this to get to Quedlinburg (hourly bus from Wernigerode bus station adjacent to DB station). Ask at the tourist info in Wernigerode Rathaus for a booklet "Mein fahrplan durch dem Harz" which has the all bus and rail timetables in it and lots of other useful info. I've been there 5 times - most recently last month so, if you need any further info, let me know.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
  19. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

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    Much appreciated - thank you!
     
  20. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    As you only have 2 days on the HSB do you really want to stay in Quedlinburg? Don't get me wrong it's a lovely town - World Heritage Site and all that but there is very little of railway interest. I love the Selketalbahn and it's easy enough to cover all the lines by steam (except Harzgerode) on a day trip from Wernigerode. That way you also see the early morning/late evening activity in Wern. I suggest getting the HVB #230 bus (free with your Hatix) from Wernigerode Bhf @8.50 (arr Qued Bhf 9.58) in time for the 10.15 arrival and 10.30 dep. to Alexisbad via Gernrode. This is now the only steam turn and it then goes Alexisbad - Gernrode (loco serviced) - Alexisbad - Stiege - Hasselfelde - Steige - Eisfelder Talmuhle - Steige (arr.17.22). You can ride it all the way back to Qued (arr. 19.28) but I usually get the bus (#260) from Stiege Denkmal (monument) about 200m up the road from the station @ 17.51 straight back to Wernigerode (arr. 1853). There's a lot to do in 2 days - I stayed 10 days the 1st time and still didn't see or do everything!
    Just to whet your appetite here's a few photos from that trip in 2007.
    Cheers,
    Ray. 44950003.JPG
     

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