Harz photo locations

Im thinking of taking in the Harz system & the plandampf in Apri, from a photographic point of view (& also the last Phantoms at Wittmund)

Does anyone know of a website which details good photolocations on the Harz system, or could provide any recommendations.

Its 20 years since Ive done the Harz, and so my knowledge of the area is now almost forgotten.

 

Endless number of locations in the Harz so difficult to know where to start. Are you thinking of concentrating on the Wernigerode - Brocken section or will you look at doing south of Drei Anne Hohne and the Selketal? Sadly I don't have enough time to include Wittmundhafen into my trip.

 

I am in the Harz,have just done 3 days of charters and will post details on my return home after my visit to Poland.

 

Spamcan81, ideally Id like to to a day on teh Wernigerode-Broken section and then a day trying to cover as much of the rest of the system as possible - but 2 days on the Harz is dependant on how much F4 (&A4) activity I see up at Wittmund, if there isnt too much then Ill do an extra day up there and cut down on the Harz, which will still be there next year.

Paul42, much appreciated if you could post any details on your return.

 

Quite agree with your prioritising Wittmundhafen. Once the F4s are gone, they're gone but the Harz will still be there.
The shed at Werhigerode is always worth a visit, especially at night. Next location worth doing is the undated crossing right through the middle of the crossroads at Wernigerode-Westerntor. Next there is the short section of road running at Kirchstrasse. Next there is a roadside section along Wustenteichen. Some people then go to the station at Steinerne Renne but I continue to the old loading pint at Thumkulenthal. Park at the monument on the road side and walk up the forestry track - marked on some maps as Thumkulenstrasse - until you get to the railway bridge. Location is up to the right by the old stone hut. There's also an exit shot at the nearby Thumkulenkopf tunnel. Much improved since recent tree felling. Access via forestry tracks - I recommend a good walking map of the Brocken area for this. Between here and the road crossing at Drein Annen (not Drei Annen Hohne - that's a bit further on) there are views of the line but these come and go with tree felling and planting. There was a big horse shoe curve but I'm not sure that it's still on.) Next there is a shot emerging from the trees by the Drei Annen Hotel and between there and Drei Annen Hohne the line is crossed by a couple of forestry tracks and shots are available from them. Fianl shot before Drei Annen Hohne is by the car park on the approach.
Off to work now so I'll post more info later. If I get time I'll try and upload some examples.

 

Thanks very much Spamcan, an evening with Googe Earth and my map may be in order

 

Are you chasing by train or by car? The Selketalbahn can be chased quite easily by car. Half a dozen shots possible. There's a footpath down from the Brocken that follows the line, plus there's some shots from the top looking down. There's a couple of spots near Schierke too, but they're quite a walk. I'll post some photos from last week later this evening. As they're on Flickr you can see on the map where they are.

 

Paul - who did you do the charters with?

 

I am on Railtrail holiday. 2 arranged by Hsb - not just us, some had booked independantly.1 by Railtrail

 

The charters were organised by IG-HSB - InteressenGemeinschaft Harzer SchmalspurBahnen the enthusiast group for the railway. Click on Termine on the link and it shows the rest of their plans for the year, including photo freights in October.

 

Here's a selection of photo points between Wernigerode and the Brocken taken between 1990 and 2011. Some are decidedly average but they'll give you an idea about the locations. I've done them in journey order from Wernigerode. Part two in the next post.


HSB01 Wernigerode Shed by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB02 Westerntor Crossing by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB02a Westerntor (An der Malzmühle) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB03 Kirchstrasse by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB04 Wüstenteichen by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB05 Thumkuhlental Loading Point by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB06 Thumkuhlenkopf Tunnel by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr

 

HSB06a Thumkuhlenkopf (from valley floor) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HS07 Drei Annen by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB07a Drei Annen (road crossing) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB07b Drei Annen (forestry crossing) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB08 Drei Annen Hohne (arrival) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr

 

Part three.


HSB08 Drei Annen Hohne (downhill departure) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB08a Drei Annen Hohne (uphill departure 1) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB08b Drei Annen Hohne (uphill departure 2) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB08c Drei Annen Hohne (uphill departure 3) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB08d Drei Annen Hohne (uphill departure 4) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr

 

Part four.


HSB09-Schierke by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB10-Brocken(AlteBobbahn) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB10a Brocken (Brockenstraße lower crossing) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB10b Brocken(Götheweg siding) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB10c-Brocken(serviceroaduppercrossing) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB10d Brocken (summit 1) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr


HSB10e Brocken (summit 2) by King Cobra F2A, on Flickr

 

For a first move try a look at Alles ber Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB) - Alles ueber Europas groesztes Dampfeisenbahnnetz and translate this into English. Be aware however that the Brocken is unpredictable and averages only 4 - 5 clear days per month; during the recent Railtrail tour (which I was also on) the conditions at the summit were 10 metres visibility; MINUS 10 degrees centigrade temperature and 60 centimetres of snow - so little chance og decent summit images on this occasion !

If you want more info feel free to contact me by PPM

 

Only part of the curve see my my photo from 2011 Zenfolio | Paul Simpson | Steam and Christmas Markets in the Harz Mountains | Photo 35 and more limited when the sun is out as I found out last Monday.

 

I have now created my first online book using Tesco Photo creator to show 44 images from the latest Railtrail tour of the Harz railways. This tour was geared to joining the private tours of the Harz enthusiasts group but the expected locomotive availability (of prototype 99 222 and of the Selketal locos 99 6001 / 6102) fell through for various reasons. As compensation Railtrail owner Dave Felstead paid for a private charter with 99 5901 on 11/02 from Wernigerode to Benneckenstein for tour participants only after which they retiurned to Drei Annen Hohne on the normal service train with the option of staying there or taking a train to the summit.

During the tour I managed to take over 600 images and from this have selected 44 which have beeb created in a personal book which can be viewed at [http://tesco.albumprinter.com/view-online-photo-book/7871f740-2ecf-4676-982d-25a8453c6ed2
share-online-photo-book[/url] any comments welcome

 

Thanks for posting that Fred - a lovely set of photos. I have only been to the Harz in Summer so it was interesting to see how the same locations looked so different in the snow. Regards Ray.

 

Some stuff from the Selketalbahn. Pretty easy to chase by car.

Quedlinburg at Night | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Dual Gauge | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Bad Suderode | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Runpast at Sternhaus Haferfeld | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Roadside at Drahtzug | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Drahtzug | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Gloomy Alexisbad | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Silberhütte Departure | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Disused Factory | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Brockenlok at Straßberg | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Walkers | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Güntersberge | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Steige In The Snow | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Thanks everyone for the info in this thread, its most useful, and some lovely photos to boot