Harz Narrow Gauge - HSB

99 6001 worked back to Wernigerode last night, complete with the stock, so that's it for steam on the Selketalbahn for the foreseeable.

 

Are you sure about that?

There's a special timetable for September 30-Novermber 3 during which the line is closed south of Alexisbad. I presume therefore that whatever is at Gernrode during this time is trapped on the Selketalbahn. And this timetable shows steam - in fact it has four steam departures from Harzgerode most days (if I'm understanding the notes correctly), which must be unprecedented in recent times.

333_30.09.2024-03.11.2024_Herbst.pdf (hsb-wr.de)

(Harzgerode is a nice little station, but there is so much redundant siding space there, it's a shame they don't do something with it. They could build a lovely museum to put some of the long-stored locos on display. But I digress.)

 

On the German Bimmelbahn-Forum in the thread "Betrieb der Harrzer Schmalpurbahnen (HSB) 2024" on page 170 there is a post #1.696 from Monday at 16:47 that says that 99 7240 has replaced 99 6001. I find the Bimmelbahn-Forum is a mine of information on German and other countries railways both current and historical.

 

https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sach...QX0f06FlSmGjw_aem_ubByzoWCmHAEtL735uBb6A#Doch

€5.6m losses last year! Not looking good sadly. Lack of overhauls over the last few years is catching up with them as well.

Benneckenstein station building is also due to be demolished shortly as well due to dry rot. The building was leased to another company a few years ago who went bust, but the railway have only just been able to take back control of the building.

https://www.lok-report.de/news/deut...arzer-schmalspurbahnen-in-benneckenstein.html

 

Sad. If that was in Britan a supporter group would rally round and erect a replica building. It's not all that big, and made of wood, how hard could it be?
I remember it described in a British video as 'Ben Eckenstine'....

 

https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/thue...eCmPgCQrFf2nuyDRWg_aem_QVRi2K7q9JanYyhfANT5kg

Nordhausen have said they're not giving any money to HSB next year.

In other news, only steam 5 locos available for traffic - 3 in Wernigerode, one at Nordhausen and the last at Gernrode.

 

So more Red Camels on pax I should imagine.

 

A few clips from our trip to the Harz last month, filmed between the 3rd and 8th February 2025.

Video Available Here

 

HSB steam fleet currently stands at 6, with 2 pretty imminent for return. 7239 returned from Meinegen last month, but during test runs had issues so is under repair, 7245 returned today from Meinegen.

7244 is still at Meinegen becoming 0244 as it’ll be an oil firer, 7238 at Wernigerode waiting new boiler from Meinegen.

Hopefully a much needed corner being turned.

 

Thanks for the update. Which 6 are in traffic? All 2-10-2Ts at present?
EDIT: Can glean 222, 236, 7232 & 7237 from the link in the earlier post. So, which other two?

 

222, 232, 236, 237, 240, 243

Theory would now suggest you could add 239 and 245 to the list of “in traffic” although they aren’t formally signed off for use yet.

I was there with Simon in Feb when he got the above footage. Speaking to the Workshop Manager on a tour we had of Westerntor, I gathered (Through very bad translation) 222 is living on a bit of an extension and needs to return to Meinegen when space is available to have a thorough job done, so that may well be off soon. 234/235 live in the Carriage Shed, and are not currently in line to go. 238 will await new boiler and then be put back together at Westerntor. 244 is a long term oil fire job at Meinegen, but I suspect that might speed up with the return of 239/245. 6001 needs an assesment at Westerntor to put a programme off work together before it does go.

What was interesting in Feb was nobody could really give any detail about Mallett 5902. It went to Meinegen and has been seen in bits there, but nobody really knew anything. It was almost as if it didn’t exist, which makes me think Meinegen have boxed it in one corner and aren’t currently doing anything to it.

 

Fyi its: Meiningen

 

Thanks! I can never remember and my phone auto type picked up the version I’d be using.

 

I thought that the new works at Westerntor was supposed to take over the heavy overhauls from Meiningen. What has happened?
Pat

 

They can’t do everything at Westerntor and not the extent Meiningen can. Plus boiler work is still, will likely be for a long time Meiningen work.

 

I'm not 100% sure (my records are all over the place) but I don't think I've seen 5902 on any of my three trips to the Harz. The other three Malletts I have seen in steam at various points (including a wonderful trip behind 5906 on the Selketalbahn in 2012 - standing on the end verandah right by the smokebox while it hammered through the woods - something I won't forget!).
What's the status of the two 0-6-0Ts? I presume they're not in traffic, but is there any plan for them or are they just dumped in long-term storage?

 

Both 6101 and 6102 are stored. 01 is at Wernigerode in the Carriage Shed and 02 at Gernrode

 

This was 6102 at Gernrode last year.

 

99 5902 has been at Meiningen for a couple of years (moved two years ago tomorrow), having come out of traffic in 2017. Considering there have been a couple of open days since it arrived, I can't a single photo online of it at Meiningen! The other three Mallets are stored on or near the railway (I think @2857Harry has previously posted photos of some of the stored locos). The two small tanks are also stored.

The loco situation is getting better but the financial situation isn't, so I doubt any of the more interesting locos will appear any time soon.

 

I think you probably saw 5901/2 & 6 as all 3 were in service in June 2012. We were lucky as the works tour guide was enthusiastic and took us to see long stored 5903 in one of the small, normally out of bounds, sheds at Westerntor. The last time I saw all 3 in service was in June 2016.
Ray.