Harz Mountain Railway - February 2015

My wife and I paid our second visit to the Harz Mountains during the last week of February 2015 and after quite warm conditions in 2014, this time the weather was much colder and snow from earlier in the month was still on the ground at the higher levels. Snow fell again when we were there which made for near perfect conditions.
This video includes scenes filmed over the week between Wernigerode, Drei Annen Hohne, Schierke and the Brocken and includes two special trains hauled by 99 6001 and Mallet 99 5906 as well as the normal service trains hauled by the 99 72xx 2-10-2 locomotives. Final scenes back at the shed in Wernigerode.
For my video of the Harzquerbahn and Selketalbahn click here
• Harzquerbahn and Selke...

[@wabisabi6875]

Wonderful footage, thanks for sharing!

[@acw71000]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The scenery in that area is wonderful

[@stewarthughesstewart]

I rode this train in July. Fabulous. I too was amazed to see narrow gauge 2-10-2 locos, lots of them, and they make them work hard on the way to the top of the mountain. Werningerode is a lovely town too.

[@acw71000]

I do love Wernigerode and it makes an excellent base to explore the railway system. After two winter visits we are going in May next year. Many thanks for watching.

[@PhilbruProduction]

Beautiful video of high quality. As always your shots are exceptional. Thank you Austin. Philippe

[@julianwalker1546]

Yet another cracking video Austin, many thanks and look forward to part 2!

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Julian, glad you enjoyed it.

[@robmasterman]

That year has passed by very quickly Austin. ..More superb footage in this first part....those are powerful locos for their size. I remember seeing several uploads of this line from a local man that I subscribed to a few years back now, and if I remember correctly, these services run throughout the year......excellent work as always...Bob

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Bob and yes they run all year round. The 2-10-2's are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. It was truly a week we won't forget

[@FeckHallBahn]

Oh wow - absolutely wonderful. Hoping to visit in 2021 (with a group of Ravenglass and Eskdale volunteers)

[@acw71000]

You'll have a wonderful time Nigel, nowhere quite like the Harz. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the video

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Wonderful sights and sounds. Thanks for sharing

[@acw71000]

Thanks for your much appreciated comments. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@981smithy]

Austin I can only add to all the other excellent comments that give this production justice. Superb scenes in stunning locations and the sheer power of the locomotives making to a most enjoyable 26 minutes..... Thanks for sharing..............Regards Phil.

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much Phil, the Harz really is a fabulous place and those locos work hard day after day. I can thoroughly recommend a visit if you get the opportunity

[@TheStephengthompson]

Fantastic Austin, all round cracking video from start to finish . I loved the shot at 18-40 and the fox in the snow particularly .

[@acw71000]

Cheers Steve, the fox always seems to come out to meet the train at the Brocken, quite tame and seems to love having his photo taken. The shot at 18.40 is taken from the balcony of the rear coach of the train we were travelling down on. They have to go into a siding to allow the up train to pass so its an extra photo opportunity

[@rab4472]

What a wonderful mix of locations Austin, superbly filmed. Looking forward to part 2 regards Mike

[@acw71000]

Thanks Mike, the benefit of our experience in 2014 this time and we planned the locations better

[@TheWesternExplorer]

Beautifully filmed video Austin. Very enjoyable. Cheers, Dave.

[@acw71000]

Thanks for watching Dave, glad you enjoyed it

[@skylilly1]

Really enjoyed the video! I liked the way you closed it out, too!

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much, the shed is a great place to visit in the evening, very atmospheric

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Cracking coverage, Austin. Some great sights and sounds. Must be nice to be spoilt for choice, with so many locations and angles to film from, and not having to worry about being on the wrong side of the fence. Thanks for sharing your holiday. Regards, Liam

[@acw71000]

Thanks Liam, the Harz really is a rail enthusiasts paradise, plenty of easy accessible locations and always great performances from the locos

[@TheMendipman]

Great video Austin. What a change it makes to see trains and people in a natural relationship rather than being fenced off so that you can barely see them as in this country. Noel

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much Noel. It seems that much of mainland Europe still has common sense and knows that the railway can be a dangerous place without being fenced off from it

[@Maglona]

Sir, truely wonderful! I don't usually go in for 'foreign stuff', but this is exceptional. I always look out for your work. Thank you so much.

[@acw71000]

Thanks for watching and for your very kind comments which are much appreciated

[@Hornhausen]

Awesome video.

[@acw71000]

Thank you, the Harz is a wonderful system

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

I remember last years videos very well Austin and this is in the same class. Great shots of hard working steam locos in lots of snow and great scenery! Going by the amount of snow lying in the clips among the trees, they must have very heavy snowfalls in Germany as the trees generally speaking tend to shelter the ground beneath them. Great viewing and thanks for sharing it! Ken

[@acw71000]

I was quite surprised like you mention Ken at the amount of snow that fell around those very tall trees. There was a heavy fall early in February and then one while we were there to top it up nicely

[@jean-pierrepodik9638]

Von Nord Franckreich Dank sehr fur die schonnen Bild. ich mak sehr die Dampf Lokomotiv in der Wald mit Schnee.

[@acw71000]

Merci, je suis content que vous ayez apprécié la vidéo

[@EMuksteam]

Superb video Austin. You captured the stunning scenery over there. A brilliant place for a holiday with the snow around. C&A

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much, we were very lucky with the snow, a new fall while we were there freshened things up a bit

[@balmesh]

Wow! You have excelled yourself here, Austin. What a plateful of delicacies? The guy on the bike timed his visit well, eh? And the sure-footed start on the grade . . . . It's all first-class! . . . . . . Alan

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Alan, a fabulous week in a fabulous place. As you know there is nothing like it. We're going in May next year to get the Springtime views

[@Titan12328]

Awesome!

[@nigelvalentine8110]

Great video, we were there from 6th Feb for a week. Our 6th visit and we had good deep snow and freezing temps. Like you we were there in Feb 2014 which as you say was very mild. Feb 2013 was very snowy but Feb 2012 was amazing as we had minus 30 at top of Brocken. It sure is an amazing place Nigel

[@acw71000]

Cheers Nigel, the only problem with the Harz is coming back here and not getting the storming performances you get over there. It spoils you! Very much enjoyed your photos from this year on Flickr

[@jamespavitt3814]

Professional standard stuff - I did the same trip many years ago. Wonderful.

[@acw71000]

Many thanks for your kind comments. It is a wonderful area as I'm sure you'd agree

[@efbeVideo]

Really great footage with these powerful locos! Nice shoots next to the tracks, especially with the Fox:-) Hope, you enjoyed your hike up to the mountain! I have been taking for 25 years trips to the HSB and it is always worth a trip! Thanks for sharing and thumbs up!

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Frank, how I envy you all those visits. It is a magical area that you can never tire of. We are going again next year, in May this time as the scenery should look nice in springtime.

[@deanimran7938]

Pro tip : you can watch movies at Flixzone. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies these days.

[@bryceskyler9615]

@Dean Imran yup, I've been watching on flixzone for years myself =)

[@kamerondesmond942]

@Dean Imran definitely, I've been using Flixzone for years myself :D

[@locomotive67]

Brilliant Austin Great compilation well done..Dave

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Dave, much appreciated

[@locomotive67]

Hi Austin, your welcome,takes me back to Rhine --Emden.(slides on line),cheers... Dave

[@Matz32]

Great video

[@acw71000]

Thank you

[@STEVEHARLEY1956]

Awesome...one word doesn't seem to do this justice Austin. So many clips that are just brilliant....especially the Snow scenes.. Looking forward to part two !! Great stuff.....Steve.

[@acw71000]

You're an early riser Steve! Thanks very much, we had a brilliant week, still on a high really. More snowy scenes to come!

[@STEVEHARLEY1956]

Excellent !!

[@ADMIRALSCORNER]

And enjoying the real thing again!

[@AndreiTupolev]

Lucky with the conditions once again. 99 222 seemed to put up a particularly good show; particularly impressive @ 17:15 & 20:05. I love 6101 storming along too,

[@acw71000]

Very luck indeed, we had a snowfall whilst there which freshened up the snow which had fallen earlier in the month. 99 6101 was a bonus catch as I hadn't been aware that a special was running that day, had to quickly get the camera out again and hand hold. .

[@BarteMak]

WoW, awesome.. :)

[@crossleydd42]

Absolutely engrossing; the horse and cart and fox are a complete surprise! Continental locos ae so much more complex than those native ones in the UK! I think the main tank engine was a 2-10-2, needed for lots of grip!

[@acw71000]

Thank you, the 2-10-2 tanks are impressive and very powerful machines and the crews certainly know how to get the best out of them. We had seen the tame fox previously but the horse and cart was a complete surprise!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Lovely video! It must be quite rare to see Fifo on the Brocken!

[@acw71000]

Many thanks. it certainly caught me by surprise as I had packed the camera away and then heard the other train coming up minutes after. Just had time for a handheld shot using the on camera microphone

[@luisgamertrance12]

Cool! :D

[@acw71000]

Cheers

[@avatarthanosthelegendarysu5883]

I really wish one of those german steam Locomotives had a whistle that sounded exactly like the polar Express

[@acw71000]

That would be nice for the holiday season!

[@avatarthanosthelegendarysu5883]

@@acw71000 please ask them to do that for me

[@paulobelarminojunior1242]

Beautiful landscape. Where is it located?

[@acw71000]

Germany, thanks for watching

[@paulobelarminojunior1242]

This snowy weather fascinates me...

[@sanderson9515]

Fabelhaft!

[@acw71000]

Thank you