Germany

Leaving a trail of exhaust across the Saltzburgerstrasse road crossing and partially hiding the Western Gate Tower, Class 99-23 2-10-2T 99 7234-4 of the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen runs through Wernigerode town with the 08.55 train en route to Drei Annen Hohne and the Brocken.

The 08.55 train from Wernigerode HSB to the Brocken pulled by metre gauge 2-10-2T 99 7234-0 leaves a smokescreen as it curves away from the main line and approaches Wernigerode Westerntor station off left. The former East German Brocken listening station & towers are on the mountain summit above the train. The Brocken station is adjacent and lies at 1125m, so the train faces a climb of 890m from this point to arrive at the top at 10.36.

Passing narrow gauge trains at Drei Annen Hohne station on the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen. On the left HSB Class 99-23 2-10-2T 99 7243-1 arrives from the Brocken while 99 7247-2 is taking water after arriving from Wernigerode. A third 2-10-2T was behind the camera, 99 7245-6, and this engine replaced 7247-2 before taking our train onward to Eisfelder Talmuelde.

These Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG) vehicules built by Alstom RegioCitadis in 2004 are dual voltage DC/AC tram-trains for use on the electrified network in and outside of Kassel. RBK712 & RBK714 are both heading away from Kassel Hauptbahnhof while the two units on the left are stabled in the sidings. The steep gradient down to the lower level and tunnel through onto the city centre streets is obvious.

The day's action is over and HSB (Harzer Schmalspurbahnen) Class 99-23 2-10-2T 99 7241-5 is back on shed in Wernigerode as the sun sets behind.

HSB narrow gauge 2-6-2T 99 6001 enters Alexisbad from Gernrode on the Selketalbahn past a beautiful wooden building which houses the Elysium Cafe & Restaurant. Just visible on the right is the River Selke from which the railway takes its name.

The Harz Mountains and the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen - narrow gauge (metre) steam. Staying in Wernigerode we drove to Drei Annen Hohne station and took the train south to Eisfelder Talmühle on the line to Nordhausen. We were pulled there and back by 2-10-2T 99 7245-6 and this shot was taken while taking water before the engine ran round. The engines of DR Class 99.23 are metre gauge steam locomotives, that were procured by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) in East Germany from 1954 to 1956. When they entered service they had operating numbers 99 231–99 247. Today they are numbered 99 7231–99 7247.

Climbing up the mountain out of Schierke on the Brocken line of the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen the train winds through thick pine forest with only occasional clearings where there is enough light for a decent on-train shot of the engine: 2-10-2T 99 7243-1.

In the beautiful forest setting of Steinerne-Renne station HSB Class 99 7239 barks away from its station stop on the 09.40 Wernigerode to Brocken service.