2015-09-29 Harz - Harzquerbahn

During our 2015 visit to the Harz, Gemany, I travelled all three constituent lines of the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen.
This album covers my journey on the Harzquerbahn, the section from Nordhausen to Drei Annen Hohne.
Map-Harzer-Schmalspurbahnen2  The  Harzquerbahn , the blue line, runs through the Harz form Nordhausen via Drei Annen Hohne to Wernigerode. Once a vital impulse to the economy of the area it is now mainly a tourist line. The summer's timetable list one steam hauled train pair from Nordhausen per day. Other services are diesel railcars. DSC04102  I came by car and had only minutes to spare when a arrived at the platform. DSC04103  so I only had time for a few quick shots and off we went. DSC04105
DSC04113  The first part of the line runs through open rather flat land, through urban area. But soon this makes place for the hills of the Harz. DSC04114  And then the curving starts again. DSC04125  Beautiful wooded hills where the autumn is slowly getting hold. DSC04126  At Eisfelder Talmühle the line branches to the Selketalbahn. This diminutive railcar is waiting for what little passengers come to take them over that line.
DSC04127  A railcar to Nordhausen was also waiting. So it was busy in the station!! This railcar from 1954 was lovingly nick named "Fischstäbchen" or "fish stick". DSC04130  It was a cold autumn day. The steam heating in the carriages was not superfluous. DSC04128  I started wondering why it took us so long to depart, so I went to have a look. DSC04132  Ah, she needs a drink
DSC04142  and some TLC DSC04133  On the other side I found a block train of Fccpps's of Dutch origin, propped up on narrow gauge trolleys. DSC04145  Yes, there are diesels too. They do the lower profile tasks. DSC04148  The whole train
DSC04171  Every trolley carries one axle of the standard gauge (1435mm) car, effectively converting it to narrow gauge (1000mm) DSC04157 DSC04193  Before long we reached Benneckenstein. In the DDR days this area was in a limited zone: being too close to the inner German border you should have a permit to be here at all. DSC04195
DSC04207  Two old freight cars from the old days DSC04213  Autumn is coming DSC04215  Sorge, meaning Sorrow, testifies by its name that living here hasn't always been attractive DSC04222  Oopsy
DSC04243  The next village's name isn't much happier (Elend = Misery) DSC04250 DSC04254 DSC04258  Near Drei Annen Hohne.  The top track leads to the Brocken
DSC04270  Getting from Nordhausen to Drei Annen Hohne takes just short of two hours. DSC04277  The loco would run round and take this train to the Brocken. Having been there just the day before, I was due to return to Nordhausen, a service which would be steam hauled to Eisfelder Talmühle. DSC04283 DSC04290  Not without a refill of course
DSC04301 DSC04308 DSC04321 DSC04336
DSC04345 DSC04363  A train arrived from Wernigerode and people changed trains here DSC04364  A lot of ambition in this livery there is: Trans Europ Express colours! DSC04371  An image that quickly dissipates when you enter ;-)
DSC04387  Again three trains in the station, this time all three steam hauled. Every day again and again. Where do you still find that, anywhere in the world? DSC04398  And before long I was on my way back to Eisfelder Talmühle DSC04407  Passing the same stations in reverse DSC04410
DSC04424  The autums sun plays in the steam clouds drifting by DSC04441  Soon we were back in the woods DSC04455  and through an absolutely glorious landscape DSC04462
DSC04456 DSC04467 DSC04477 DSC04494  Some station buildings are truly humble
DSC04496  Back in Eisfelder Talmühle, the steam train prepared to return to Drei Annen Hohne. DSC04500 DSC04510 DSC04505  I changed trains and continued in this railcar.
DSC04495  This one is a somewhat modernised version of the "fish stick" and dates from 1996 DSC04520 DSC04528  Yet another railcar, the most recent addition to the fleet, dating from 1999. DSC04517  The loco running round
DSC04532  Now it was our turn to leave DSC04534  My connecting railcar took me as far as Niedersachsenwerfen Ost, a suburb of Nordhausen DSC04540  Where I had to stare at, well just about anything, until a connecting service would take me the final leg to Nordhausen DSC04543
DSC04548  But surprise! An even more modern railcar appeared, a DUO, a double powered tram. Diesel electric on unpowered lines and purely electric under overhead wire! DSC04555  The same tram in Nordhausen, now under electric power. DSC04556b  The impressive station building of the HSB, dreaming of times gone by when hopes were high and profits worth working. DSC04663b2  I conclude this fifth and last photo report with an autumn shot of the sole surviving pre-cursor of the Brocken Class, taking water at Drei Annen Hohne. The Harz railways are most interesting. Go see them if you can. And the Harz itself is a great place to spend a holiday.