Harz Narrow Gauge - HSB

Many thanks for the information, I think we’re going to try and travel on each other lines from the end point each day, making use of the car, to fit in the most steam possible.

Will make sure to get the 3 day rover, and take lots of pictures!

Thanks.


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I try to reply but the fxxxing adverts make my screen leap about. Odd that adverts drive you away from a site and I wonder if the advertisers know they are wasting their money?

I see I posted last October that HSB was under stress and if anything it has got worse. We assume it is staff shortage. At least one duty is diesel daily and with the full summer timetable from 25th May, it looks like that is solved by cancelling a duty completely. Alas the commercial department at HSB looks like it doesn't understand what operations is doing and messages on TT changes are often wrong.

I am not going this summer as if using the cheaper 3-day ticket you are stuffed at Schierke by the Kamel (diesel) and even if you try to work around, the 'emergency' TT changes probably stuff plan A. OK, pay the top price for Brocken but I'm not one for incessantly going there.

 

We usually do a 'T.T. escape' to the HSB but are also giving it a miss this year for a couple of reasons. Flybe are no longer operating the very convenient flight from Doncaster to Berlin Tegel and with only 2-10-2T action last year I found the lack of variety a bit boring. It wasn't helped by HSB killing off the Harz Tour Card. Maybe next year.....
Ray.

 

An example of the dire situation HSB is in is tomorrow 28th, with two duties Kamel and one duty axed completely.

Today saw two duties diesel, although they seemed to manage a full service. An oddity today was the Nordhausen loco going to Brocken, with the diesel working throughout from Wernigerode to Eiselder T. & back.

 

A press report suggests the diesel substitution is a loco shortage, although staff shortages remain an issue. Currently, there seem to be two duties each day made Kamel.

With the two at 2-10-2T at Meiningen, I think 12 useable locos are at Wernigerode, but:

5906 – can only take four coaches and useless in summer, except at Gernrode, to where they no longer send it.
7237 – not seen since its catastrophic failure in January.

= 10 locos to be used of which 6001 is very limited and often needs a 2-10-2T substitute.

Summer needs:

5 – Brocken
1 – Gernrode
1 – Nordhausen
1 – Standby
= 8 locos

Add the Tradzug gives 9 locos needed. If an extra special was booked on a Tradzug day you need 10 locos, 100% availability of serviceable fleet! So washouts, general maintenance, light overhauls becomes impossible unless Kamels are used.

Even with the Meiningen locos back home, they are still very tight for power.

 

Curious, isn’t the Nordhausen loco usually facing the other way? Did it go up bunker first?

By the way how many of the diesels are operable? Last time I was there I got the distinct impression some were just parts donors.


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The Nordhausen loco faces the preferred way of the driver and is generally chimney first out of NDH but not always. With the current complex workings it is facing the right way to go up Brocken. And I would say the right way to enjoy the thrash on the front balcony out of Eisfelder T. This is an example of where HSB fails miserably to capture the enthusiast market by tweaks that offer so much to those bashing and most of the time, for thrash, the loco is the 'wrong' way.

There are three working diesels. 861 has a steam boiler and covers the advertised diesel duty to Brocken where it can still be chilly! 872/874 share Wernigerode pilot and the second diesel duty on the line.

My post earlier was quite a coincidence. I see the new Steam Railway covers this partially. Then today there were TWO extras, it being a holiday in Germany. A 2-10-2T covered the usual Tradzug from Wernigerode to Brocken. Plus 5906 was on a special from Gernrode to ? Not to Brocken. The Mallet went out ecs p.m. on 29th.

The ecs is another example of is HSB capitalising on its assets? 29th saw much diesel action as we know, yet a 'secret' ecs hauled by a Mallet runs Wernigerode - Gernrode. Hush don't tell anyone! I dare say it goes back tomorrow, secretly, ecs. I do wonder if the HSB managers understand anything of the enthusiast market.

 

It depends on the driver I believe. Generally the Nordhausen loco faces south, but I understand there is one driver who prefers the loco to face north. Or it might be the other way round!

 

Other way round, I think! It has always faced out of Nordhausen when I have been there, unless I have always had the same driver! I always find it confusing that Nordhausen is at the south end of the Trans-Harz Railway!

Steven

 

That does sound correct actually.

 

Despite some apparent loco shortages last weekend I had a great 3 days in the Harz mountains.

We flew into Bremen airport from Stansted (about £30 return) and made a 2.5 hour drive to Wernigerode, to catch the penultimate train to Broken behind one of the 2-10-2s.

The next day was spent on the Selke Valley line with the whole day behind 99 6001, in my opinion it’s by far the most impressive bit of the line and there’s something lovely about sitting on a train for the whole day as it goes up and down the line and branch lines.

On the 3rd day we drove to Drei Annen Holne, send back up to Brocken again, before returning to Drei Annen Holne changing trains to Eiselder T’ and back. Before driving back to Bremen for the flight home.

Despite what has been said about apparent loco shortages. I didn’t see a Diesel in use once. There can’t be many places where you can still travel 300km behind timetables NG steam working flat out in 3 days.

I’ll definitely be back!


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Oh come on. Those locos aren't exactly long so the thrash is pretty good whichever way round they are and I can't see which way they face discouraging that many "enthusiasts". My biggest gripe is not being able to stand on the very front verandah up the Brocken but it still doesn't stop me making the trip.

 

Seems they're currently down to four 2-10-2T, 99 6001 and 99 5906, nowhere near enough to cover the service. A railcar has been out on the Selketalbahn recently covering the steam diagram, and there are a lot of cancellations and diesel substitutions as well.

 

Im slowly drawing together a Harz trip and while powering through the German series I posted the other day, I saw this on what I assume is the Harz system and am curious where it is if anyone more knowledgeable on the Harz (8:06 if it doesnt link)

 

Don't think this is the Harz system. I think it is the Wolkenstein to Johstadt line, part of which is preserved. Wrong class of loco for Harz system.

 

The Sachsen IVK on the mixed is on what is now the Pressnitztalbahn but the VIIK on pax is the the Cranzahl to Oberwiesenthal line. The Zittau system is also featured.

 

The video starts with the 750mm gauge lines in Saxony. The location at 8:06 is passing the old sawmill at Hammerunterwiesenthal on the line from Cranzahl to Kurort Oberwiesenthal. Further viewing has revealed the 900mm "Mollibahn" on the Baltic coast at Bad Doberan including the street running section. Harz coverage starts at 13:56. At 17:26 we return to Saxony on the Zittau system and it's well known "Doppelausfahrt" at Bertsdorf. At 20:24 we leave Germany for what I think is Austria. 21:08 is the Cumbres and Toltec in the USA. 23:10 is back in Europe and possibly Poland but I can't be sure.

 

Agreed - 99.1590 is one of the Johstadt line locos.

 

Thank you everyone. My knowledge when it comes to German NG is if nothing, weak.

 

We all have to start somewhere. You'll soon get to know more.