Harz Narrow Gauge - HSB

So am thinking about a trip to the Harz next year probably to Wernigerode.

Question is how best to get there not as part of an organised trip. Are people flying (if so to where), getting the train, ferry to say Rotterdam then driving ?
Any recommendations ? Seems to be no airport reasonably close

 

I used to fly to Berlin then either get a train or drive down, it's about 2 1/2 hours by car or 3 1/2 by rail. Hanover or Leipzig are other options, about 1 hr 20 minutes drive, but flights aren't as frequent - Leipzig is only every few days, but the times are civilised. You don't need a car unless you're planning to do a lot of photography, you can usually cover the whole system by steam over about 3 or 4 days.

 

We've been independently 5 times since 2007. The closest/easiest airport is Hannover, however since the demise of FlyBe, the only direct flight from the UK is with BA from LHR. If flying into Hannover take the S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof and take a regional train (hourly?) towards Bad Harzburg changing at Goslar for Wernigerode (booked connection). Check on DB as alternate hourly trains to Halberstadt may go through Wernigerode via Goslar. The timetable has changed many times as various operators have come and gone.
The alternative is to fly to Berlin Brandenburg (the rebuilt former Schoenefeld) and take regional trains from there or Hauptbahnhof via Magdeburg and Halberstadt. I looked at flying Manchester to Frankfurt and train from there - the connections worked but it's quite a long trip by IC and regional trains via Gottingen or Halle. The first time we went we had 3 nights in Quedlinburg and 7 in Wernigerode but since then just 7 in Wernigerode each time.
The last 3 times we stayed at the Altora which, although not cheap, is very comfortable and you can watch the trains from the dining room or terrace with a beer!
The food there is OK but it there is better (and cheaper) in the Old Town 5 - 10 mins stroll away. For German food the Kohlmarkt is excellent as is Der Post and for Italian La Rustica which also does B&B which is OK but no train views. As it's your first trip you'll probably want to go all the way to the summit of the Brocken but there is a 3 day ticket for roughly half the price that covers the whole HSB except Schierke - Brocken summit. The hotel will give you a free bus pass (from the compulsory hotel tourist tax) for the whole area bounded by Quedlinburg/Bad Harzburg/Benneckenstein. We've always used it to get to Quedlinburg as it avoids changing trains in Halberstadt ... and is free. The Tradzug using vintage carriages runs on Saturdays and some Wednesdays (see HSB website - next Summer's t/t will be posted about March) On the Selketal this year there has only been one steam turn daily increased to 2 on Fri/Sats? There were always workshop tours on Friday afternoons starting from Westerntor station but check as the new workshops are across the lines from the old one. Let me know if I can be of any further help.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

I went by train, but unless you get a very early Eurostar it's a 2day journey each way - very pleasant, though. I stayed at the Altora Hotel in Wernigerode and that was very good - plenty of time to tuck into their unlimited breakfast buffet whilst watching the action in the loco yard and it will last you through the day!

 

Another vote for the Altora. Your beer is delivered to your table by model railway.

 

Man in Seat 61

https://www.seat61.com/places-of-interest/by-harz-railway-to-the-brocken.htm

 

We took the train, with an overnight stop in Cologne, to Wernigerode. Then once on the Harz system we went up the Brocken, then two trains through to Quedlinberg. One night there, then train to Berlin which didn't take too long.

Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk

 

Just to throw another idea into the mix, last time I went (11 years ago now) I flew to Dortmund, which is a massive airport with hardly any flights; at least there was no queue for customs, but there were no shops open either! Train from there is relatively straightforward, I don't remember the details but we met with other friends who flew to Hannover, in Hannover, before going on to Wernigerode.

You need to do the Brocken at least once or twice but having done that, I could personally happily spend 3 days pottering around the Selketalbahn plus the bit from Drei Annen Hohne to Elsfelder Talmühle.

 

I've read that they're running some special celebrations next year as it's 125 years since the Brockenbahn was opened. Does anyone know what's planned though? I couldn't find anything on their website.

Ron.

 

I did hear that they intend bringing one of the Mallets back for next year.
Ray.

 

99 5901 is meant to be going into the new works at Wernigerode later this year I believe.

 

The last time we did the Harz was Eurostar to Brussels - Koln. Overnight in Koln which isnt a bad city to spend a day or two in anyway. Then onto the harz. We stayed in Koln on the way back as well, with the right trains we managed to do Koln to Birmingham in a day with an hour and a half layover in Brussels.

The other thing to do in the Harz region is the Blankenburg run with the big 95 tank.

 

A few clips from our recent trip to the Harz in February 2024, featuring various 2-10-2T's between Wernigerode and The Brocken.

Video Available Here

 

Any tips and must see routes for this? Heading for a long weekend in July.

 

If you’re into thrash then the climb up the Brocken is a must. If you like a more genteel journey, then the run from Gernrode to Alexisbad and beyond is worth doing

 

Drei Annen Hohne is the junction for Brocken services whilst Schierke is the crossing point on the Brocken branch.There is also the observation platform at Wernigerode which overlooks the yard. I have created a guide to the system (link at https://www.bonusprint.co.uk/view-online-photo-book?widgetId=184cb479-0593-4407-877c-1ac17b859ec7). Since my visits I understand that the workshops at Wernigerode also offers guided tours but I have no idea of arrangements.

 

Hi Fred. Tours of the old workshops always used to be on a Friday afternoon on a 'roll up and pay on the day' basis meeting in Westerntor station booking hall.
The meeting place is unchanged for tours of the new workshops but they now have to be pre-booked https://www.hsb-wr.de/Erlebnisse/Abenteuer-Dampflok/Werkstattfuehrungen/ Can't understand why photography is no longer permitted.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

99 6001 is booked to work on the Selketalbahn on Monday 23rd September, run light to Wernigerode on the Tuesday, then come out of traffic after expiry of its boiler ticket. Overhaul isn't scheduled to start until at least the end of 2025! Expect bustitution on the Selketalbahn as they don't have enough railcars to run the service.

Quite a sad situation where they're down to around 7 big tanks and nothing else. One of the Mallets is meant to be entering the works soon but it depends the railway is very short of funds. Losing a couple of days of Brocken fares due to another forest fire the other week won't help matters either.

 

Apparently the HSB describe 99.6001 as being "conserved" pending future overhaul. Mallet 99.5906 remains "conserved" in Hasselfelde loco. shed having been withdrawn from traffic several years ago. It has been reported elsewhere that 99.5902's overhaul at Meiningen has stalled with the loco in a dismantled state. Whilst the HSB is still a very special place it has, IMO, lost something of its 'magic'. Let's hope the current financial problems are short-termed.
Ray.

 

Very sad. Last time I visited (2012, on my stag do!) we had both 99 6001 and 99 5906 working on the Selketal and had a wonderful time. I can't see myself going back there any time soon under the present circumstances.