Springtime In The Harz - Part One - Brockenbahn

[@robmasterman]

Superb work as always Austin, the last few clips clearly showing the beautiful Countryside that this line passes through....No restrictions, no fencing...pure heaven...Bob

[@acw71000]

Thanks Bob, pure heaven indeed. We've really come to love this area and not for just the trains!

[@geofflewis-ko9jx]

Terrific scenery matched with powerful locos..The ease with which they coped with those gradients was impressive..Liked the red" undercarriages " of the locos,and was surprised at how fast the trains crossed the main roads !You must have worked very hard to discover so many excellent viewpoints..Fabulous video....regards Geoff.

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Geoff, the Harz is a wonderful area and it's not difficult to find good viewpoints as footpaths are alongside the line for much of the route. This was our third visit, the previous ones being in winter so it was much easier for walking

[@TheStephengthompson]

Cracking from start to finish Austin , scenery to die for and not a palisade fence for miles . Look forward to part two !

[@acw71000]

Thanks Steve, the lack of fencing on the continent is great and its a wonderful feeling not to feel restricted

[@HenrysAdventures]

Lovely shots! The sound of those locos working is music to my ears!

[@acw71000]

Thank you, they are wonderful locos

[@billhoward7354]

Thanks Austin for another great video from the Harz Mountains. you make it very tempting to visit. no fences, trains crossing roads either controlled by traffic lights or half barriers, wonderful scenery - just amazing. i imagine the HSE would go absolutely bananas in this country with unfenced lines like this. brilliant stuff. i am now going to find out how to get there.

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Bill, you certainly won't be disappointed if you visit as the area is beautiful with the railway being an added bonus of course. We fly to Berlin and hire a car there to drive to Wernigerode, about a 2 1/2 hour drive. I'll be happy to offer any tips should you decide to go

[@TheDoodyman1]

An excellent compilation, Austin. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that, especially the road crossings, but for me, that final clip on those curves was superb. A cracking shot indeed! Thanks for sharing - waiting now for the next part. Kindest regards Frank.

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much Frank, we were lucky at the summit as it can often be misty and the winds were not too strong on the day

[@khankadet]

What can you say Austin. Superb performances by loco and crew, wonderful locations with some glorious scenery all excellently recorded by your good self. They certainly need all those ten drivers on parts of the climb. Chris

[@acw71000]

Thanks Chris, it's wonderful to hear those locos thrashing their way to the summit long after they come into view and after they pass

[@PhilbruProduction]

Dear Austin. A remarkable video that I missed at the time of its release. Splendid achievement. Philippe

[@acw71000]

Merci Philippe, ce fut une belle période de l'année pour visiter le Harz

[@rosamarti1]

Philbru Production Shimmer And shine

[@AndreiTupolev]

That tunnel is a great location for a dramatic shot. You seemed to have a habit of making the locos slip the moment they saw you. Those workings with the railcar tagged onto the back are interesting; they seemed to be pulling their weight and acting as bankers. I love that waterwheel! that's some terrific backwoods engineering.

[@acw71000]

Thanks, we've been trying to do the tunnel shot for a while so it was good to finally do it. The service with the railcar is the last of the day to the Brocken at 16.25 from Wernigerode. In the winter timetable it doesn't run but the railcar departs at that time for Eisfelder Talmuhle so in summer it tags along until Drei Annen Hohne. I was surprised at the amount of slipping which doesn't seem to happen in winter. There are acres and acres of rape seed in the area and the pollen was everywhere, on cars, cameras and the rails. It was a very fine powder so I wonder if it could have been that as there was no rain whilst we were there

[@STEVEHARLEY1956]

Fantastic Austin !! Really great selection of clips...I particularly liked the last but one clip where the Train seemed to be reaching for the Sky...what a view !! Looking forward to part two...Best wishes...Steve.-:)

[@acw71000]

Thanks Steve, just about at the summit in the shot you mention. The location was the same for the same train in the previous distance shot. The line corkscrews around the mountain several times and the sound is fabulous. Part Two will be a little more subdued featuring one of the other parts of the system which may be under threat

[@MsTallink]

Very nicely done! Fantastic scenery!

[@acw71000]

Thanks for watching, much appreciated

[@RickyNowis]

Awesome video. 1:30 reminds me of the Harz Mountain Railway VHS. Thanks for sharing this :-)

[@acw71000]

Thanks, do you mean the films taken by Bryan Benn on VHS. They were what made me always want to visit the Harz

[@RickyNowis]

acw71000 Yes, that's the one. Its one of the greatest Narrow Gauge railways in Germany. I'd definitely visit for the near future. Did you cover other lines along the Harz railway? Lines like to Alixisbad I think it is.

[@acw71000]

It's well worth a visit, we've gone each year since 2014 so you'll find some other videos of mine. This one kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKacmKejf72iec0 features the Selketalbahn which runs through Alexisbad. I really like that line as it has a country railway feel to it but it's probably under threat as it isn't very well used

[@EMuksteam]

What a great locations Austin The tunnel shot was superb . Regards C&A

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much, we've been wanting to do the tunnel shot for a while so it was great to finally find our way to it

[@stestepney]

Excellent vid Austin cheers Steve ..

[@acw71000]

Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed it

[@TheWesternExplorer]

Wonderful video of a very scenic line Austin. You must have more than enough footage now to produce a very enjoyable DVD. Cheers, Dave.

[@acw71000]

Thanks Dave, I think the DVD can wait until we've filmed in autumn!

[@nicko7054]

Fabulous video Austin!. Great camera work!. Never know where you are going to be next!. Regards, Nick

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Nick, be very aware, I may pop up at a railway near you at any time!

[@wilymcgee]

That shot @11:35.... wow, so nice!

[@acw71000]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

Wonderful footage from this picturesque line Austin! Great positions to show the power capabilities of the class 99s. The drivers show great route knowledge and skill as evidenced by their ability to bring the slips quickly back under control. I've always wondered what exactly is the purpose of the constant plume of steam coming from directly in front of the loco's funnel, any ideas? I've noticed that standard gauge German locos have this feature also. Through your series of videos of the Hartz Railway system Austin, you bring much enjoyment to many folks such as me, who will probably never have the opportunity to visit this lovely line. Thanks once again for an excellent production. Best wishes. Ken

[@AndreiTupolev]

I think it's the turbo generator.

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

+AndreiTupolev. Thanks Andrei, since posting this comment I've revised some of my own vids and found that both 5043 The Earl and possibly 46233 The Duchess seem to have this feature. By my limited understanding, does the steam power the generator which then supplies electricity to the loco and possibly the coaches? Ken

[@AndreiTupolev]

I think that must be the blower or vacuum ejector on them, since they don't have turbo generators. On these locos they power the headlights, like on a Bulleid or A1.

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

+AndreiTupolev Ah that's the other two locos I saw the device on! I think the B1 has them also for its headlamps. Thanks for clearing that up for me Andrei, best wishes. Ken

[@ADMIRALSCORNER]

I know you have been there many times Austin.I have enjoyed your many videos there. We will have a free day at Wernigerode during a coach tour in two weeks time. I would love to get some good lineside video of the trains in action. From your experience is there a particular location you would recommend and that we could find easily to do that I wonder?

[@acw71000]

I would recommend spending some time at Drei Annen Hohne, either catch the HSB train or a bus from Wernigerode. Between 12.00 and 1.00pm there is plenty of action with up to three trains in the station at one point. A short walk from the station in the Brocken direction is a crossing which is popular with photographers and a little further on the line crosses the road before going into the forest. You can walk up the parallel path alongside the line and there are several vantage points. From Westentor road crossing in Wernigerode there is a footpath which also gives good views and after a while you come to Kirchstrasse where the railway runs along a narrow road between the houses. I think those locations will give you plenty of opportunities for video

[@ADMIRALSCORNER]

Oh Great! thanks for that very valuable info Austin!

[@ADMIRALSCORNER]

Many thanks for that valuable info Austin. Much appreciated! Mike

[@balmesh]

Good one, Austin. What was the water wheel activating?

[@acw71000]

Many thanks Alan, in the shot after the wheel you can possibly make out a small water pump from which a small amount of water emerged! I think it has been set up to demonstrate the early pumping methods

[@balmesh]

Thanks Austin. No, I didn't spot the pump :)

[@LuckyTrucker1]

Neither did I .

[@StelianPopescu]

Super images ! Bravoo..

[@acw71000]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video

[@johnbrown9092]

Thanks for the info. The loco looks like it could support 1435mm!

[@acw71000]

They are big impressive machines John

[@wtfwtf4875]

They have actually cylinders and Boiler modeled from a 0-4-0 1435mm - shunting loco, the DRG class 81. The firebox is enlarged to burn low quality coal and they are equipped with a different water preheater.

[@johnbrown9092]

@@wtfwtf4875 Interesting thanks.

[@johnbrown9092]

Great video. Do you know what gauge it is?

[@acw71000]

Thanks John, the Harz network is metre gauge

[@Maglona]

Marvelous!

[@acw71000]

Thank you

[@pega17pl]

Bluebell Railway, Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, Brockenbahn - maybe you have liking to great model railways scale 1:1?

[@acw71000]

I certainly do! Thank you for watching

[@RailBharatNetwork]

wow

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much

[@adventureguy4119]

Nice trains

[@acw71000]

Certainly are, thanks for watching

[@MarkAHHDvideostreaming]

Nice video

[@acw71000]

Thanks very much