Harz Mountain Railway

Thanks to John Turnock, who contributed these photos & this feature:

2-10-2T 99 222 leaving Drei Annen Hohne with a train for Brocken in October 2010

0-4-4-0T Mallets 99 5906 and 99 5901 on shed at Wernigerode in October 2010 at sunset
(99 5906 was built in 1918 for army field use by Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft Karlsruhe)

The modern railway, the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (Harz Narrow Gauge Railway or HSB) dates from 1993 after the reunification of Germany.    Before 1990 much of the railway system was in the DDR (East Germany).  At 140 km, it is longest narrow (metre) gauge system in Europe.

(from Harz by David Longman)

A 2-10-2T climbing from Wernegerode to Drei Annen Hohne  in March 2014

The Harz system largely uses steam power, the mainstays being 2-10-2T locos, built 1954-6 by Lokomotivbau Karl Marx Babelsberg, plus 99 222 built in 1931 by Berliner Maschinenbau.  These locos can pull up to 10 carriages to the Brocken.

2-10-2T  99 7239-9 approaching Drei Annen Hohne from Wernigerode in March 2014

Brocken train headed by 7239 leaving Drei Annen Hohne in March 2014

Now for winter 2018 ......

Mallett 99 5901 in the snow at Quedlinburg in February 2018.
This is oldest loco on the system, built 1897 by Arnold Jung.

5901 on the Selketalbahn near Sternhaus Ramberg in February 2018

A 2-10-2T arriving at the Brocken in deep snow in February 2018

The line from Wernigerode to Drei Annen Hohne and Brocken is much more intensively timetabled than the rest of the system.   In good weather the trains are packed with many going walking and skiing (winter).   In winter the Brocken can be very snowy and cold, but the trains will run except in very high winds.

Mallett 5901 near Magdesprung in February 2018.
(Reminiscent of a winter scene on TR at the rock cutting in Causey Woods.)

Thanks to John Turnock, who contributed the photos & this feature.