Metre Gauge Steam in the Harz Mountains, August 2023

The Harzer Schmalspurbahn metre gauge system has been a place of pilgrimage for lovers of steam power since it reopened after German reunification in 1991. These videos were made during a 3 day visit in August 2023 and cover little more than a third of the total available mileage. The three routes covered are Wernigerode to the Brocken, Drei Annen Hohne to Eisfelder Talmühle and Quedlinburg to Gernrode. Global heating has contributed to a marked decline in the region’s scenic value over the last decade or so. The impact of bark beetles, extreme summer heat and prolonged drought have weakened the forest stock making it especially vulnerable to spruce die-back disease and winter storms - the results are all too visible from the passing trains.