RTC’s “ Steam & Christmas Markets in the Harz Mountains”

Earlier this month I went on an RTC’s “ Steam & Christmas Markets in the Harz Mountains” (in association with Steam Railway Magazine)

Day 1 St Pancras to Berlin

Day 2 Berlin Ost Bahnhof to Radebeul hauled by DR Pacific 03.10.10 - 2 built in 1940. Train consisted 4 carriages 2 standard class, 1 First class and 1 Restaurant Car (for use by both classes).
A return journey on the Radebeul – Radeburg Railway 750mm gauge line. Train hauled by 2-10-2 T nr 99 1761-8.
Evening photo shoot at Dresden-Altstadt depot (An addition to the advertised tour, organised by Tony Streeter. David Wilcock took charge of the shoot).

Day 3 Dresden - Freital Hainsberg hauled by DR Pacific 03.10.10 - 2 (Train as above). A return journey on the Weiseritz Valley Railway 750mm gauge line hauled by 0-4-4-0 T 99.1608-1.
Freital Hainsberg - Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf hauled by DR Pacific 03.10.10 - 2. The line has a section of 1 in 39 (cannot remember length between 5 & 8 miles). For a couple of miles from - Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf the Saxon Railway Museums 35.1097-1 banked us to the museum. After our visit we returned to Dresden hauled by 03.10.10 tender first (Too long for turntable).

Day 4 Dresden - Wernigerode hauled by DR Pacific 03.10.10 - 2 (Train as above) with a water stop at Halle. Wernigerode – Brocken and return on the Harzquerbahn and Brockenbahn hauled by 99.6101 with vintage coaches
and a couple of photo run pasts. We arrived in a blizzard at Brocken.

Day 5 Selketalbahn Quedlingburg- Alexisbad-Harzgerode- Alexisbad-Steige-Hasselfelde hauled by Mallet 0-4-4-0 T 99-5902 with vintage coaches and wagons with three photo run pasts.
Rubelandbahn (Standard gauge line) Blankenburg- Rubeland and return hauled 2-10-2T 95.1027. The steepest section of the line is 1 in 16.6.
Blankenburg – Halberstadt hauled 2-10-2T 95.1027.

Day 6 Harzquerbahn Wernigerode -Eisfelder Talmuhle hauled by Mallet 0-4-4-0 T 99-5906 with Vintage coaches and wagons with three photo run pasts.

Eisfelder Talmuhle- Steige- Eisfelder Talmuhle- Norhausen Nord hauled by 2-10-2 T nr 99-7235 with Vintage coaches and transporter wagons with four photo run pasts.

Day 7 Wernigerode – Berlin hauled by DR Pacific 03.10.10 - 2 (Train as above) with a visit to the Stassfurt Heritage loco depot. Our train carry out a couple of run past in the depot sidings.

Day 8 Berlin to St Pancras

Thanks to RTC, Steam Railway and all the railways/Steam depots etc for a great trip and in particular Lowri Coulten Tour Manager and Tony Streeter.

A selection of photos is available at Zenfolio | Paul Simpson | Steam and Christmas Markets in the Harz Mountains.
I will be adding captions.

 

Sounds pretty amazing. Must shake the old piggy bank after Christmas and see how much is in it - I believe that trips go out to the Harz in February/ March in the hope of getting snow and steam.

 

Crackin stuff - really must do this!

 

I understand you have more chance of sun( which we did not see much of ) in February.

The Standard gauge Rubelandbahn in the Harz is a must, for the thrash up the steep gradients, up to 1 in 16.6 ( loco plus 2 coaches) .The pictures do not do it justice.Note: Can be closed in bad weather.

 

If you only want to do the Harz then this can be done a lot cheaper as a self organised visit.

 

Couldn't agree more. Self organised visits are more flexible too but you can miss out on the special trains that some groups book. It's worth studying the HSB's web site for any dates when Sonderzügen are booked to run. Whilst these will be those organised by HSB themselves as opposed to those organised by private groups, they can be worked by the Mallets as opposed to the usual 2-10-02Ts and give something extra to film or travel behind.

 

I've been to the Harz twice in February now. First time it didn't stop snowing for a week! Second time there was no snow on the ground but plenty of sun.

Like Ian says, there are tours listed on the HSB website. Keep an eye out this year, it's the 125th anniversary of Gernrode to Mägdesprung so expect something to happen for that.

 

Time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted!