Images featuring the narrow-gauge railway of Germany’s Harz Mountains. Hover over a picture to see its caption and click on it to enlarge it.

• Drei Annen Hohne

  Drei Annen Hohne is an important railway junction in the Harz Mountains. It is the start of the branch railway which climbs to the top of the Brocken. The surviving narrow-gauge rail network in the Harz Mountains is entirely in the former territory of East Germany. The narrow-gauge routes in the west Harz region were closed in the 1960s (photo © hidden europe).

• Drei Annen Hohne

  Drei Annen Hohne is an important railway junction in the Harz Mountains. It is the start of the branch railway which climbs to the top of the Brocken. The surviving narrow-gauge rail network in the Harz Mountains is entirely in the former territory of East Germany. The narrow-gauge routes in the west Harz region were closed in the 1960s (photo © hidden europe).

• Drei Annen Hohne

  A steam locomotive prepares for duty at Drei Annen Hohne (photo © hidden europe).

• Drei Annen Hohne

  A steam locomotive prepares for duty at Drei Annen Hohne (photo © hidden europe).

• Wernigerode

  Taking a break at Wernigerode. The steam locomotives routinely used on the Harz rail network need constant care and maintenance. The oldest of them dates back to 1897 (photo © hidden europe).

• Wernigerode

  Taking a break at Wernigerode. The steam locomotives routinely used on the Harz rail network need constant care and maintenance. The oldest of them dates back to 1897 (photo © hidden europe).

• Schierke

  A train bound for the top of the Brocken passes another service at Schierke (photo © hidden europe).

• Schierke

  A train bound for the top of the Brocken passes another service at Schierke (photo © hidden europe).

• Harz narrow-gauge railway

  Making tracks in the Harz Mountains. This shot was taken on the line that leads from Drei Annen Hohne to the summit of the Brocken (photo © hidden europe).

• Harz narrow-gauge railway

  Making tracks in the Harz Mountains. This shot was taken on the line that leads from Drei Annen Hohne to the summit of the Brocken (photo © hidden europe).

• Circling the Brocken summit

  The star turn in the narrow-gauge rail network of the Harz Mountains is the route to the summit of the Brocken. Steam-hauled trains still serve the route several times daily all year round (photo © hidden europe).

• Circling the Brocken summit

  The star turn in the narrow-gauge rail network of the Harz Mountains is the route to the summit of the Brocken. Steam-hauled trains still serve the route several times daily all year round (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken tourism

  The railway has brought a touch of mass tourism to the top of the Brocken. But the crowds come mainly on trains reaching the summit from mid-morning until early afternoon. At other times, it’s still possible to catch a sense of wilderness by wandering the footpaths that lead away from the summit (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken tourism

  The railway has brought a touch of mass tourism to the top of the Brocken. But the crowds come mainly on trains reaching the summit from mid-morning until early afternoon. At other times, it’s still possible to catch a sense of wilderness by wandering the footpaths that lead away from the summit (photo © hidden europe).

• At the top of the Brocken

  The railway station at the top of the Brocken is at a height of 1125 metres – about 16 metres lower than the windswept summit. All regular passenger trains to the summit are steam hauled. A minimum of six trains each day run to the Brocken, even in mid-winter (weather permitting). During spring, summer and early autumn the route is served by 11 trains each day (photo © hidden europe).

• At the top of the Brocken

  The railway station at the top of the Brocken is at a height of 1125 metres – about 16 metres lower than the windswept summit. All regular passenger trains to the summit are steam hauled. A minimum of six trains each day run to the Brocken, even in mid-winter (weather permitting). During spring, summer and early autumn the route is served by 11 trains each day (photo © hidden europe).

• Heine memorial (Brocken)

  The Harz Mountains are full of literary associations. Heinrich Heine’s enthusiasm for the region is recalled in a memorial on the barren summit of the Brocken (photo © hidden europe).

• Heine memorial (Brocken)

  The Harz Mountains are full of literary associations. Heinrich Heine’s enthusiasm for the region is recalled in a memorial on the barren summit of the Brocken (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken summit

  Taking a break at the top of the Brocken (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken summit

  Taking a break at the top of the Brocken (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken architecture

  The Brocken peaks at 1141 metres above sea level. If Goethe is to be believed, it was the spot where Faust made his pact with the devil. More prosaically, it was in the Cold War years a spot where East Germany eavesdropped on the West. The buildings at the summit win no prizes for architectural elegance, but they do add to the eerie atmosphere of the mountain (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken architecture

  The Brocken peaks at 1141 metres above sea level. If Goethe is to be believed, it was the spot where Faust made his pact with the devil. More prosaically, it was in the Cold War years a spot where East Germany eavesdropped on the West. The buildings at the summit win no prizes for architectural elegance, but they do add to the eerie atmosphere of the mountain (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken summit

  The barren summit of the Brocken. At 1141 metres (some say 1142 metres!), it is the highest elevation in northern Germany (photo © hidden europe).

• Brocken summit

  The barren summit of the Brocken. At 1141 metres (some say 1142 metres!), it is the highest elevation in northern Germany (photo © hidden europe).

• Eisfelder Talmühle

  Time for a drink. A steam train stops for water at Eisfelder Talmühle (photo © hidden europe).

• Eisfelder Talmühle

  Time for a drink. A steam train stops for water at Eisfelder Talmühle (photo © hidden europe).

• Eisfelder Talmühle

  Steam dreams at Eisfelder Talmühle, where the Selke Valley rail route from Quedlinburg via Alexisbad connects with the Trans-Harz route from Wernigerode to Nordhausen (photo © hidden europe).

• Eisfelder Talmühle

  Steam dreams at Eisfelder Talmühle, where the Selke Valley rail route from Quedlinburg via Alexisbad connects with the Trans-Harz route from Wernigerode to Nordhausen (photo © hidden europe).

• Railcar at Eisfelder Talmühle

  While the Harz narrow-gauge rail routes are particularly known for their routine use of steam trains, railcars are also rostered to operate some trains. The rail route to the top of the Brocken is exclusively the preserve of steam, but railcars are found elsewhere across the network. This one was photographed at Eisfelder Talmühle (photo © hidden europe).

• Railcar at Eisfelder Talmühle

  While the Harz narrow-gauge rail routes are particularly known for their routine use of steam trains, railcars are also rostered to operate some trains. The rail route to the top of the Brocken is exclusively the preserve of steam, but railcars are found elsewhere across the network. This one was photographed at Eisfelder Talmühle (photo © hidden europe).

• Elend station

  The station at Elend is on the Trans-Harz Railway from Wernigerode to Nordhausen. Elend means ‘misery’ in English. The next station along the line is called Sorge, which translates into English as ‘sorrow’. Subtle reminders, perhaps, that working in the local mines was never a bundle of fun. Elend is still served year round by eight trains a day, a sure sign that the Harz rail network is not just for tourists – it is an essential element in the local public transport infrastructure (photo © hidden europe).

• Elend station

  The station at Elend is on the Trans-Harz Railway from Wernigerode to Nordhausen. Elend means ‘misery’ in English. The next station along the line is called Sorge, which translates into English as ‘sorrow’. Subtle reminders, perhaps, that working in the local mines was never a bundle of fun. Elend is still served year round by eight trains a day, a sure sign that the Harz rail network is not just for tourists – it is an essential element in the local public transport infrastructure (photo © hidden europe).

• Alexisbad

  Alexisbad is a major station on the Selke Valley rail route – the easternmost spur of the Harz rail system (photo © hidden europe).

• Alexisbad

  Alexisbad is a major station on the Selke Valley rail route – the easternmost spur of the Harz rail system (photo © hidden europe).

• Strassberg station

  Mining interests promoted the development of many parts of the Harz Mountains rail network. The station at Strassberg on the Selke Valley Railway serves a remote community in the eastern Harz which was once a mainstay in the local mining industry (photo © hidden europe).

• Strassberg station

  Mining interests promoted the development of many parts of the Harz Mountains rail network. The station at Strassberg on the Selke Valley Railway serves a remote community in the eastern Harz which was once a mainstay in the local mining industry (photo © hidden europe).

• Wernigerode

  The town of Wernigerode is a natural gateway for visitors to the Harz Mountains (photo © hidden europe).

• Wernigerode

  The town of Wernigerode is a natural gateway for visitors to the Harz Mountains (photo © hidden europe).

• Quedlinburg

  The latest extension of the Harz railway network takes in Quedlinburg, a town with an extraordinary mix of fine architecture. Quedlinburg is a popular tourist destination in its own right, and its connection in 2006 into the Harz rail network further enhanced its attractions. The extension was made possible by the closure in 2004 of a standard-gauge branch railway from Quedlinburg to Gernrode. The trackbed was taken over by the Harz narrow-gauge railway which extended its own line north from Gernrode to Quedlinburg (photo © hidden europe).

• Quedlinburg

  The latest extension of the Harz railway network takes in Quedlinburg, a town with an extraordinary mix of fine architecture. Quedlinburg is a popular tourist destination in its own right, and its connection in 2006 into the Harz rail network further enhanced its attractions. The extension was made possible by the closure in 2004 of a standard-gauge branch railway from Quedlinburg to Gernrode. The trackbed was taken over by the Harz narrow-gauge railway which extended its own line north from Gernrode to Quedlinburg (photo © hidden europe).