Wernigerode & the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen in 1996
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Tuesday April 16
My last day in the Harz, and the last full day of my holiday, was planned to allow me to get some photographs of the HSB trains. However before I could do this I had to check out of the 'Schweizer Hof' and slowly walked down to the DB station. This walk was very slow. The weight of my backpack had gradually increased during the trip along with the PKP loco plates which had really starting to make their weight felt. Having also to carry my heavy camera was starting to get too much ! Once I made it I gladly put the backpack in one of the large left luggage lockers where it stayed until I returned in the evening.
I took the 09:37 Brocken bound train from Westerntor to Drei Annen Hohne which I used as my base for the morning. Being on foot severely limited my options but having carefully watched from the trains I knew where a few reasonably good and easy to get to locations were. On arrival at Drei Annen Hohne a quick walk got me in position to photograph the Brocken train heading away in to the forest.
99 7240-7 heads away from Drei Annen Hohne towards the level crossing with the main road on the 09:37 Wernigerode - Brocken train. April 16 1996
After taking the above shot I headed the other way from the station down the main road towards Wernigerode. My destination was the well known horseshoe on the line that conveniently coincides with a recently cleared area of forestry. I knew this was going to be a longish walk - however I didn't expect it to take me 45 minutes. That would be fine but remember I was carrying my heavy camera bag on one shoulder. Despite the distance the location was easy to get at. From the level crossing I walked more or less parallel to the line along forest tracks until I made it to the clearing. There was also a useful map at the start of the track to reassure me I was going the right way !! I got there with time to spare and was glad that I had the opportunity to enjoy the area before the train came.
99 7237-3 climbs around the horseshoe curve below Drei Annen Hohne on the 11:30 from Wernigerode to Nordhausen service. April 16 1996
Once the train had passed I set off back from Drei Annen Hohne station. Given the distance I wasn't going to make it back before the next Wernigerode bound train left so I stopped along the way to get a shot of it.
99 7240-7 crosses the main road near Drei Annen Hohne hotel with the 11:27 from Brocken to Wernigerode. April 16 1996
After seeing the train from the Brocken I walked back to Drei Annen Hohne station for lunch and to await the next bit of activity. Having enjoyed the trip to Brocken so much I decided to take the afternoon train to the summit to get some more shots and get a final deafening from the HSB tanks.
99 7240-7 arrives at Drei Annen Hohne on the 14:15 ex Wernigerode Brocken bound service. April 16 1996
As on the previous day from Brocken I travelled back in to Wernigerode. Once back at the end of the line I said my goodbyes to the HSB and made my way in to town for some food before heading to Magdeburg and the overnight train to Brussels.
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99
7240-7 dropping down towards Steinerne-Renne station on the 16:42 from
Brocken to Wernigerode. April 16 1996 |
I caught the 19:37 from Wernigerode for the trip as far as Halberstadt. From there I took the 20:15 through to Magdeburg for overnight train number 242, the 22:25 departure. As on the way out I was booked in a couchette and did manage to get a decent amount of sleep despite some rough shunting along the way !
April 17 1996
On arrival at Bruxelles Midi station I transferred across to the Eurostar side of the station for the 07:31 to London Waterloo. From Waterloo it was across London by tube and on to a late running HST back to Bath and, the next day, work !
Back to April 15 or April 14 or April 13 or April 12 1996