Wernigerode & the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen in 1996

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Sunday April 14

An early start was needed on April 14. I travelled the HSB in the reverse direction to the day before but without a trip to Nordhausen. To do this I had to be on the 07:27 from Wernigerode to Halberstadt. As with the journey in the reverse direction the connections were not great but at least they enabled be to get to Gernrode for train 8955, the 10:34 departure, with plenty of time to spare. Thankfully the cloud and cold of the previous day was replaced by a very nice sunny day.

Looking east at Halberstadt station. April 14 1996

Looking east at Halberstadt station. April 14 1996

On arrival at Gernrode I found 2-10-2t 99 7233-2 on shed being prepared for the day. I had hoped the Mallet would have been the loco in use but this sadly wasn't to be. However as the loco wasn't on shed it must have gone somewhere !

99 7233-2 on shed at Gernrode before taking up her duties for the day. April 14 1996
99 7233-2 on shed at Gernrode before taking up her duties for the day. April 14 1996

99 7233-2 simmers outside the shed at Gernrode before taking up her duties for the day. April 14 1996

99 7233-2 simmers outside the shed at Gernrode before taking up her duties for the day. April 14 1996

At about 10:30 Mallet 99 5906-5 arrived with the early morning service it had taken to Harzgerode and back.

Mallet 0-4-4-0t 99 5906-5 pulls out of Gernrode station towards the yard having arrived from Harzgerode April 14 1996

Mallet 0-4-4-0t 99 5906-5 pulls out of Gernrode station towards the yard having arrived from Harzgerode April 14 1996

Once the Mallet had pulled out of the single narrow gauge platform at Gernrode the 2-10-2t pulled in with the train to take me to Eisfelder Talmühle, train 8955. This train covered the Harzgerode branch but not the Hasselfelde line on the way to Eisfelder Talmühle. Given the state of the track and the painfully slow progress thus required I was happy to miss out the Hasselfelde line !

99 7233-2 climbs along the branchline from Alexisbad to Harzgerode. April 14 1996
99 7233-2 climbs along the branchline from Alexisbad to Harzgerode. April 14 1996

99 7233-2 runs round at Harzgerode. April 14 1996

99 7233-2 runs round at Harzgerode. April 14 1996

After the quick trip to Harzgerode the train returned to Alexisbad where we crossed the late running 09:55 from Hasselfelde. This train had actually originated in Nordhausen as the 08:14, train 8970. I was not expecting to see a diesel hauling the train and to this day I have been unable to find out any information on this loco. If you can help please

Back at Alexisbad the 99 tank crossed this interesting historic diesel locomotive hauling train 8962. April 14 1996

Back at Alexisbad the 99 tank crossed this interesting historic diesel locomotive hauling train 8962. April 14 1996

From Alexisbad the 2-10-2t continued to Stiege. Here the loco ran round and continued bunker first to Eisfelder Talmühle, arriving here about 13:32. This enabled me to get back to Wernigerode on train 8906, the 12:56 from Nordhausen and 13:41 from Eisfelder Talmühle. A nice, noisy, run back to Wernigerode behind 99 7231-6 got me back to the town nice and early at 15:55. This allowed me to walk out of town a little way alongside the railway to get a picture of the 16:55 to Nordhausen. I was expecting one of the 'normal' 2-10-2ts to be at the head of the train, however I got a nice surprise as train 8907 came in to view around a corner.

One off 2-6-2t 99 6001-4 heads the 16:55 from Wernigerode towards a level crossing between Westerntor and Kirchstrasse stations. April 14 1996
One off 2-6-2t 99 6001-4 heads the 16:55 from Wernigerode towards a level crossing between Westerntor and Kirchstrasse stations. April 14 1996

Once this train had headed past I went to get a bite to eat and have an early night !

Click here for what I did on the penultimate day of my holiday.
Back to April 13 or April 12 1996

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