CANCELLATIONS AND DIESELS AS HARZ CRISIS GETS WORSE
World’s biggest steam operation all but collapses in September following level crossing collision.
The locomotive crisis on Germany’s Harz mountain lines worsened dramatically in September with, at times, only three of the railway’s 2-10-2Ts available for traffic.
An already strained motive power situation deteriorated on September 6, when No. 99.7247 was damaged in a level crossing collision with a lorry on the outskirts of Wernigerode.
Extensive dieselisation took place the following day, with problems continuing into the following week; on September 10, for example, one train each way between Wernigerode and Brocken was cancelled, as well as three BrockenDrei Annen Hohne returns. The 11.55am Wernigerode-Eisfelder Talmuehle working, normally steamhauled, was a railcar service instead.
Of the steam fleet on September 10, the only operational 2-10-2Ts were Nos. 99.7232, 99.7234 and 99.7240, joined by 2-6-2T No. 99.6001 (based in Gernrode for Selketal line trains) and 0-4-4-0T No. 99.5906, currently the only working Mallet and being held back for use on special trains.
From the three working 2-10-2Ts, one was in Nordhausen at the southern end of the 87-mile network for the single daily steam diagram there, with only two available to the running shed at Wernigerode. Nominally now the busiest passenger steam shed in the world, Wernigerode normally has a demand for six steam diagrams daily during the summer timetable (SR481). That had already been reduced this year to five as a result of engine shortages.
The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen’s fragile motive power situation had also been dramatically demonstrated the previous month, when problems with a leaking water tank on unique 1939-built No. 99.6001 left Gernrode shed steam-free from August 17. No steam ran over the 37 miles of the Selketal system – around 40% of the full network – for a total of seven days. All Selketal trains during that period used railcars.
Some relief is expected with the return of 2-10-2T No. 99.7222 from Meiningen Works at the end of September, while the Wernigerode workshops presently house underrepair Nos. 99.7236, 99.7239, 99.7241 and 99.7243 as well as No. 99.7247. Also under overhaul at Meiningen is No. 99.7245, while Nos. 99.7235 and 99.7237 are waiting to be transported to the Thuringian works. Other 2-10-2Ts in the 18-strong fleet are currently stored out of traffic.
Currently sidelined owing to lack of parts are the originaldesign Mallets from 1897/1898, Nos. 99.5901 and 99.5902, while No. 99.5903 and 0-6-0Ts Nos. 99.6101 and 99.6102 are all out of use.
Former Deutsche Reichsbahn diesels Nos. 199.861 and 199.874 have been used to cover for steam locomotives on passenger trains; classmate No. 199.872 is currently in Stendal Works.
Negotiations are under way for an increase in the subsidy given to the community-owned Harzer Schmalspurbahnen, which it is hoped will help counter the railway’s problems (SR495); aside from motive power, there is also a shortage of footplate crew.