Leafing thru some old pic files, I found the following pictures that I´d like to share with you. The pictures are taken on the HSB (Harzer Schmalspurbahnen) in northern Germany. HSB is a narrow gauge (1000 mm) line with a 70 mile network of track and daily, year-around steam operation.
Enjoy the piccies!
I have a VHS tape of steam narrow guage railroads in eastern Germany.The Harz Mountain road is one of the lines covered.Many of them are very scenic.
I've been to the HSB twice, once in 2005 and again in 2006. Covered the whole system and you better believe it is scenic! It is the main way to get to the top of the Brocken Mountain, highest point in southern Germany and this was a listening post for the East German military. This was mainly E.G. army men watching West German television! The Mallet and 2-6-2T pictured are used on special runs, most runs are covered by the common 2-10-2T types, also some diesel railcars which run on the Harzquerbahn which connects to the Nordhausen city streetcar system. The system was expanded in 2006 from Gernrode to Quedlinberg and it may expand further if the various British and German magazines are correct. There are a lot of publications avaialble in Germany for the HSB and every station on the lines sell DVDs of various aspects of it and other narrow gauge lines in eastern Germany. If you like steam, go!
... just a little further info - the 2-6-2 T 99 6001 now regularly services the line from Quedlinburg to Alexisbad, the so-called Selketalbahn. The Mallets are for railfan- and special trains, only. They were the original locos from the time the line was opended over a hundred years ago.
Germany has many narrow guage lines with regular steam service, most of the in the south-eastern part. All of them run in very scenic parts of the country and are worth a visit. Feel free to contact me, if you plan a visit.
I will be in Munich in July- are there any operating narrow gauge lines in Bavaria? I probably won't be able to get to Saxony to see the lines there but wonder what is close to Munich. I plan to see the museums in Nordlingen and Freilassing but wonder if there's any N.G. action. I'd appreciate any help, thanks.
The two Austrian lines on either side of Jenbach would be the closest to Munich. The Zillertalbahn runs east out of Jenbach, while the Achenseebahn is a steam-powered Rack Railway west up to the Achensee.
Zillertalbahn
Achenseebahn
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