Steam and snow in the Harz (Germany)

Hello all,

my wife and I had a nice day on the Harz narrow-gauge lines yesterday, full of steam action. We went from Nordhausen Nord in the south to Drei Annen Hohne, the hub of steam action, changed there and went to Schierke. From there we walked back to Drei Annen Hohne and took the train back to Nordhausen.

The sight at Drei Annen Hohne might make this the steam capital of Europe:

12:15: We arrive on track 3 with train 8920 (the 10:16 from Nordhausen Nord) hauled by 99 7238. Train 8941, the 12:35 to Brocken, is already sitting in track 2 with 99 7240 at the front.
12:17: A relief train from Wernigerode to Brocken arrives on track 1, hauled by 99 7232
12:27: The relief departs after taking water
12:33: Train 8903 Wernigerode - Eisfelder Talmühle arrives on track 1 hauled by 99 7243 (4th steam loco in less than 20 minutes)
12:35: 99 7240 departs taking us to Schierke.
12:56: we arrive at Schierke a few minutes late at the relief with 99 7232 had to clear the station. Here we pass train 8932 to Wernigerode with 99 7234 at the front.

The sight at Drei Annen Hohne had a repeat performance later in the afternoon:

15:15: 99 7243 returns from Eisfelder Talmühle with train 8904 to Wernigerode
15:30: 99 7240 returns from Brocken forming a downhill relief train to Wernigerode
15:33: 99 7238 returns from Wernigerode at the head of train 8929 to Nordhausen
15:35: The relief departs Drei Annen Hohne
15:38: Train 8944 from Brocken arrives with 99 7241 at the front. This is the sixth 2-10-2T steam loco in operation on that day.
15:45: We leave aboard train 8929. At Eisfelder Talmühle we meet train 8967 from Harzgerode, the only steam working along the entire length of the Selketalbahn. This is hauled by the unique 2-6-2T 99 6001. We could have gotten another 2 hours behind 99 6001 but we wanted to get back to Nordhausen to travel home (by car).

So if you are into steam, like to have a look beyond the British Isles and have not been to the Harz make sure you go there. You will not be disappointed.

And finally two sample pictures to enjoy:


99 7232 departs Drei Annen Hohne with the 12:27 relief to Brocken


99 7243 pulls into Drei Annen Hohne heading the 12:40 to Eisfelder Talmühle while 99 7240 waits to take the 12:35 to Brocken.

Kind regards, happy new year

Christoph

 

Thanks for this report Christoph. The Harz system is truly wonderful and I must make another visit soon as it's been almost six years since my last one.

 

Great to see that passenger numbers mean that reliefs have to be run. Good news for all.