Harz Mountains, Germany

[stuartmoss]

Hi All, I'm planning on a trip up to the Brocken in mid to late November. I will either be flying to Berlin, Frankfurt or Leipzig. This will depend on which day I can go, but I am wondering which mainline station would be best to travel to in order to meet up with the preserved line...any advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[gordonthemoron]

Wernigerode, which has a better Harz Railway service, especially steam, than the alternative Nordhausen. Nordhausen has some benefits, in that it has a relatively attractive centre and a reasonable mainline service, plus it has a tram train and is close to the remains of the underground V2 rocket factory which can be visited. However Wernigerode is much closer to the Brocken and looks pretty in pictures.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks Gordon, I will have 2 days there so it seems that both locations could be in order! Regards.

 

[30907]

I assume you're aiming to stay in the area?

From Frankfurt, Nordhausen is the easiest to reach but otherwise I would advise against it as a base, because NDH-Eisfelder Talmuehle is the least interesting bit of the whole system (despite the tram-trains). From Berlin, it's the least easy by some way.

The alternative to Wernigerode is Quedlinburg (UNESCO World Heritage site but not as touristy) for the Selketalbahn which you should on no account miss scenically and operationally. Halberstadt (a 5-way junction) might also be a useful base and it has a (struggling) tram system of its own.

All these 3 are easily reached from Leipzig/Halle and reasonably easily from the Berlin airports.

A Harz Tour ticket will cover you for 3 days local public transport including the whole of the HSB except the Brocken itself.

Enjoy!

PS Bear in mind that you have limited daylight in mid November!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Cheap flights to Hannover and a direct 2 hourly service to Wernigerode ( a very attractive little town with the operating base for added interest) - nice run from Hannover with diesel operations and semaphore signalling for part of the route.

 

[theageofthetra]

Having been there twice I would definitely recommend staying in Wernigerode. I would also suggest staying at least 3 nights so you get 2 whole days to do as much of the system as possible. The timetables and system are extensive and need good research. In particular get used to the symbols and German for things like " runs only on workdays" or "runs only on school days" I would also be cautious about going in November as it is likely to be too early for nice snow and it will be dark very early. Try and go before the clocks go back or leave a month or so for when snow is more likely. Any time near Halloween gets all the black magic types heading the area and accommodation is hard to find. The real joy of the Harz is to get up early and enjoy the atmosphere of a large steam shed getting ready or heading back from one of Wernigerode's excellent bars after dark and seeing the engines simmering after a days work. It is truly magical. Enjoy!

 

[181]

Another thing to bear in mind is that, at least in this winter's timetable (which I think is similar to previous years), the Selketalbahn has no steam workings for most of November and significant parts of December.

The railway's website is at http://www.hsb-wr.de, if you haven't found it already.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks for your advice all, lots for me to consider and research. I'm afraid I'm stuck with the dates as I'm working in Ilmenau on 11th November, so am trying to plan the Harz visit for a couple of days before, either flying out on the 6th or 7th. I'll just have to put up with the short days.

 

[30907]

Sorry, hadn't picked up about the Selketalbahn in November - would ignore Quedlinburg/Halberstadt as a base therefore (leave it for another visit....) and go for Wernigerode for the steam shed. Plenty of hotels not too far from Westerntor.

Nothing to do with railways but 10th November (the Sunday of your visit) is St Martin's Eve (Martini/Martinstag) which is a significant folk religious festival in parts of Germany (the birth of Martin Luther as well as the French saint).
In particular there is a visually impressive all-age openair gathering in Erfurt on the Domplatz (Cathedral Square) at 6pm for 1/2 hour (be early!).
You might see the last Tatra trams in service because of the crowds as well as the "historic" vehicles.
Erfurt is right on your way from Nordhausen, and the event is not too late for getting to Ilmenau.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks 30907, I know Erfurt well, so will add this to my itinerary.

Just booked my flight out from Leeds to Berlin on the 7th, lands at 11:20am and was the bargain price of £47.50 all in with Jet2. Going to have Thursday in Berlin, and leave Berlin very early on the 8th, to get to Wernigerode for lunch time.

 

[185]

Be aware of the ticketing if using Veolia HEX (Harz-Elbe Express). For some reason several tickets don't seem to be valid on their service, had numerous problems in recent years.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Be aware of the ticketing if using Veolia HEX (Harz-Elbe Express). For some reason several tickets don't seem to be valid on their service, had numerous problems in recent years.

according to their website, you can buy tickets from vending machines on the train or DB Travel Centre Magdeburg (there are other places but if coming from Berlin, that's where you change onto HEX).

Or you can purchase a €37,70 single ticket from Berlin which is valid according to DB website from Berlin to Wernigerode via Magdeburg

 

[maxiboy]

Except for the Berlin-Genthin branch, all Verkehrsverbund (= PTE) and DB tickets are valid on the HEX as it is a subsidised and franchised local service.

The Berlin-Genthin branch of the HEX however is an open access operation where only "Harz-Berlin-Express" tickets are accepted! => http://www.harz-berlin-express.de/tickets/index.html
You can however travel on Deutsche Bahn's RE1 services with a regular DB ticket instead as they do Berlin-Genthin-Magdeburg as well.

Welcome to Germany, where competition on the rails is extremely weak but there is ironically a multitude of tickets valid for different operators

 

[Zamracene749]

To add to what Chiefplanner has posted, according to v160.de if you can travel via Hannover the service as far as Bad Harzburg is still operated by 218s and fresh air stock.
This is something you are most unlikely to be able to experience again after this year on this line, so possibly worth diverting for?
Departures are at 48 minutes past the odd hour from Hannover, 45 past the even hour from Bad Harzburg.

HTIOU

 

[DiscoStu]

I remember bashing in Germany in the early 90's and doing an out and back on an electric railway in the Harz mountains - I don't have my moves books any more so can't remember where it was, or what class the locos were ..... does that railway still exist? and do the loco's still operate it?

 

[30907]

Guess you mean the 25kV Ruebelandbahn? - it no longer carries regular passenger services.

 

[33056]

I remember bashing in Germany in the early 90's and doing an out and back on an electric railway in the Harz mountains - I don't have my moves books any more so can't remember where it was, or what class the locos were ..... does that railway still exist? and do the loco's still operate it?

Sounds like Blankenburg to Königshütte with class 171s. Line now freight only and ends at Hornberg.

Reference the 218s, catch one to Bad Harzburg, where they terminate, then have a wander round the town for an hour until the rancid 612 unit on the Hannover to Halle RE service catches up.

 

[DiscoStu]

Yes, that's the one. That was a great railway.

 

[blackfive460]

Guess you mean the 25kV Ruebelandbahn? - it no longer carries regular passenger services.

But it does see occasional passenger services...
Rübelandbahn web site (in German)