Harz Narrow Gauge - HSB

Thanks. Yes, it's possible; the 2012 trip is one where both the notes and photos are currently eluding me. 5906 is the only one I've travelled behind, however.

 

7245 has been out on test this week. All looking good from what Social Media suggests. Would imagine once passed fit it will become the Nordhausen regular again

 

https://bahnblogstelle.com/237929/h...BnN20zdR0Cwk4NZJvo_aem_1Bx2R-Thtr_KAJAqDSZh5g

Basically it says the network is chronically underfunded and has been since since the early 1990s, so much so that €544m of investment will be required over the next decade to make it profitable again. That's in addition to the running costs of €253m.

Services on the route between Wernigerode and the Brocken bring in 96% of ticket sales! 1m passengers per year, income of €15.5m, yet the railway lost €5.6m last year. Steam on the Selketalbahn in the future sounds unlikely except for railtours.

Makes the NYMR's woes sound trivial.

 

Perhaps, but the NYMR does not have similar extensive support from local municipalities as the HSB.

 

Although in reality regardless of which line you look at be it a Heritage Railway or our national network, underfunding, back log of major infrastructure work and fares that do not cover the costs apply to virtually all of them.

 

Which would be an awful shame, as the Sekletalbahn is the best bit, and certainly the bit with the most potential for development. Harzgerode from memory is a lovely little station with a nice cafe, and a huge unused piece of land next to it which could easily be developed with a museum of some sort, where some of the long-stopped locos could be put on display. And yet hardly any trains go there, and the site sits undeveloped.

I've long thought that they need to try to run it slightly less like a municipal transport network and slightly more like a tourist attraction... but I doubt they will.

 

Just be careful what you say about "development" in case they read it, or next time you visit it will be covered in newly built houses or factory units!

 

It's a real mess around the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways. There isn't just a shortage of steam locomotives, there is also a shortage of signalmen and luggage cars. A few weeks ago, the salon coach was in the consist of the "Nordhauser" as a replacement for a luggage car. There are just the 2-10-2 99.23-24 class in service. I think it's the first time since decades, there are no other steam locomotives classes around the network. No Mallets, little engines and even 99 222 isn't in service yet.

The Selketalbahn will be closed at the end of next year due to the construction of flood protection around Straßberg. They said it will be closed for at least five years. Some rumours say it will never reopen again.

 

November is traditionally quiet in the Harz, but Monday to Thursday only sees two locos in steam on the whole network, and no trains up the Brocken! Even Friday - Sunday only sees three locos and five trips up to the top. No steam out of Nordhausen, and no services at all between Illfeld, DAH and the whole of the Selketalbahn.

 

What a sad state of affairs since my regular visits a long time ago. The amount of Euros being mentioned as needed is incredible.

Very, very unlikely I will visit again. If I ever decide to add to my very high number of trips to Germany for steam, it will be for such as a 'main line' run on decent timings behind a 38 class 4-6-0 or a 78 class 4-6-4 tank. And I imagine the chances of timing one of those at 100 km/h is very low indeed.

Bryan

 

I’m struggling a little to imagine how you could spend 800 million Euros short of completely building the railway afresh. It is a staggering amount of money to the point where I wonder if the purpose of the report is to provide ammunition to close the lines that they don’t want to keep.

 

Tbh it’s fairly obvious. They don’t have the facilities. They can’t carry out major repair and rebuild on locos and coaches due to a severe lack of space. Every coach pretty has to be taken to Halberstat, every loco to Meinegen. They’ve had a rough deal with nearly every loco recently where it’s needed so much doing to it.

The track takes so much keeping up with. It’s such a vast route, with so much terrain and weather change that they simply have to renew a lot of track a lot of the time.

The railcars are outdated and need serious attention. As does much of the heritage stuff really. Using them on the heavy basis they do it’s no wonder they fail regular. It’s like running a 121 bubblecar on the West Highland Mainline every day without fail, sooner or later it will give way.

They’ll be lucky to be able to close lines. They get so much funding from towns like Quednlingburg, Hasselfelde, Nordhausen, etc they are almost duty bound to serve them.

I’d very much see a regular Diesel hauled service being introduced on the Selkelt, with steam on special days/special trips. Nordhausen I reckon will keep their steam diagram, but loose the more regular Railcar services. I think Brocken will see an increase to 4 regular steam, but also a regular diesel path.