Railfaning the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway

We included the Harz Schmalspurbahn (narrow gauge railroad) in our summer holiday. We spent several days hiking in the area around Wernigerode, Sorge, and then finally took the line all the way to Nordhausen.

The "Bahnbetriebswerk", engine servicing facility, at Wernigerode is impressive. You can really get a feel for the day to day operations of running steam as the primary motive power. The Harzbahn has graciously provided a viewing platform, and you can follow the ritual from steaming up, to coaling, lubricating, and watering the locomotive as it progresses over more than an hour.

These blue coaling cranes became common in the later days of steam in Germany. The Harzbahn never really abandoned steam. Although the former GDR (East Germany prior to reunification) had planned to dieselize the lines, this plan was stopped when the touristic value of maintaining steam operations was recognized. The Harzbahn now has a new beautiful facility for the construction and rebuilding of steam locomotives--