Harz Autumn Steam Gala.

[45669]

Evening All,

I know that it's a long way in the future, but if anyone interested in visiting the Harz in the Autumn they might be interested in the Autumn Steam Gala next October :

Harz Autumn Gala 2013

I went on one of these trips a few years ago and enjoyed every minute of it.

 

[33056]

I'll second that, just come back from a trip there ( photos ). If you just want the Harz bit rather than the whole 8 day trip then try contacting IG-HSB .

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I think Railtrail and one or two other firms also do trips to the Harz for that.

I went on a tour a couple of years ago that went on all the Harz Lines, mainly all steam hauled, it was fantastic.

 

[eMeS]

I'll second that, just come back from a trip there ( photos ). If you just want the Harz bit rather than the whole 8 day trip then try contacting IG-HSB .

Your photos look fantastic!
My brother was out there a few days later than you, and he said the weather was dull, overcast and wet - every day, I understand, so he's not a happy bunny.

 

[33056]

Thanks eMeS, we were quite lucky with the weather, the worst bit was the mist on top of the Brocken. It would probably have cleared if we stuck around but it was freezing up there and we wanted to catch the Eisfelder Talmühle train so couldn't hang around.

Reference my earlier post about booking the tours with the IG-HSB, I should point out that any arrangement with them will be for the special trains only and you will have to find your own way there and accommodation. Can recommend the Hotel Altora which is right opposite the HSB shed, you can book a room with a view of the railway and have your drinks brought by train (model!) in the restaurant!

 

[hughesfowler]

Thanks eMeS, we were quite lucky with the weather, the worst bit was the mist on top of the Brocken. It would probably have cleared if we stuck around but it was freezing up there and we wanted to catch the Eisfelder Talmühle train so couldn't hang around.

Reference my earlier post about booking the tours with the IG-HSB, I should point out that any arrangement with them will be for the special trains only and you will have to find your own way there and accommodation. Can recommend the Hotel Altora which is right opposite the HSB shed, you can book a room with a view of the railway and have your drinks brought by train (model!) in the restaurant!

Yup the trains brink your drinks unless some over lubricated brits try sending it the wrong way the story going to be legend from now on. Was there a couple of weeks ago, weather mixed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hughesfowler/sets/72157632833983886/ for day 3, days one and two in the sets before that.

Went in 2012, 2008 and 2007 can highly recomend it but can be doen for a whole lot less with a hire car, book the easyjets flights early and stay slightly out of town.

We stay at The Penzion Am Zillerbache on the Elbingerode road just outside town. Basic but very clean and welcoming accomodation

 

[gordonthemoron]

I'm not sure about stopping in Aachen, but otherwise that looks really good.

However, aside from the Schweberbahn, Wuppertal is a bit of a dump. Still it's only 15 mins on the s-bahn to Dusseldorf

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Good option are cheap flights to Hannover (from say Stansted) and a 2 hour-ish train ride (diesel - 175 clone !) to Wernigerode (passes through interesting off track German scenery with a decent amount of semaphore signalling)

Went week before Xmas - freezing with snow and (alas) heavy mist on the Brocken - thank God the train was toasty warm and a small hip flask to hand)

 

[30907]

I'm not sure about stopping in Aachen.
However, aside from the Schwebebahn, Wuppertal is a bit of a dump

Aachen - convenient for timetable (I assume they use the early Brussels-Koeln for the next stage), and hotel close to Hbf.
Wuppertal - there's the trolleybus to Soligen as well, and the Muengstener Bruecke if it's open to trains.

More generally re the Harz lines, if anyone wants a DIY trip:

The stopping trains Hannover-Bad Harzburg are still class 218-hauled AFAIK, but not for too much longer. Worth a extra hour's travel to use one! Unfortunately Wernigerode is just "off the map" for the Niedersachsen-ticket.

The local tourist and transport authority do a HarzTourCard valid for 3 days on pretty much all local public transport including the whole of the HSB except Schierke-Brocken itself (obviously no good on the specials) - very useful, eg to get to or from the Selketalbahn at Quedlinburg. The Brocken timetable allows a day return from the Selketalbahn or Nordhausen as well as Wernigerode.