Information about the steam train (english)

Information about the steam train

CHRONOLOGY 1886 – 1949 10.05.1886 Foundation of the Gernrode Harzgeroder Eisenbahn AG (GHE) 07.08.1887 Opening of the first section of the Selketalbahn between Gernrode and Mägdesprung by the GHE 1888 - 1905 Full opening of the Selketalbahn to Eisfelder Talmühle 25.06.1896 Foundation of the Nordhausen Wernigeroder Eisenbahn AG (NWE) 12.07.1897 Opening of the first section of the Harzquerbahn between Nordhausen and Ilfeld durch die NWE 1897 – 1899 Full opening of the Harzquerbahn and Brockenbahn 1945 – 1949 Limitation and suspension of rail transport on the Harzquerbahn and Brockenbahn 06.04.1946 Suspension of rail transport on the Selketalbahn and extensive deconstruction of the rails 10.1946 Reconstruction of the Selketalbahn by 1950 (exception: Straßberg–Stiege section) 01.04.1949 Handover of the Harzquerbahn, Brockenbahn and Selketalbahn to Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) 1949 – 1993 14.08.1961 Suspension of passenger transport between Schierke and the Brocken (GDR border security measures) 1972 The narrow gauge railways in the Harz are put under monument protection. 30.11.1983 Reopening of the section of the Selketalbahn between Straßberg and Stiege for goods transport; passenger transport follows on 03.06.1984 13.03.1991 Foundation of the “local government foundation society for the maintenance of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway” by a total of 20 neighbouring rural districts, municipalities and towns (districts of Wernigerode, Nordhausen and Quedlinburg; towns and municipalities of Wernigerode, Nordhausen, Quedlinburg, Harzgerode, Schierke, Benneckenstein, Gernrode, Hasselfelde, Ilfeld, Niedersachswerfen, Güntersberge, Stiege, Straßberg, Elend, Sorge and Tanne; and Kurbetriebsgesellschaft Braunlage) 15.09.1991 Official restart of rail transport to the Brocken 19.11.1991 Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB) is formed from the local government foundation society council. 01.07.1992 Recommencement of scheduled rail transport to the Brocken 1993 – 2014 01.02.1993 Takeover of the narrow gauge railways in the Harz from the DR by the HSB 25.05.1994 State contracts with the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia for the long-term maintenance and financial safeguarding of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways 19.12.1996 Transport contract with the state of Thuringia for passenger rail transport services between Nordhausen and Ilfeld from 01.01.1997 1997-2010 Opening of seven new stops in the Southern Harz: Niedersachswerfen Herkules Markt, Niedersachswerfen Ilfelder Straße, Ilfeld Schreiberwiese (1997)/ Hesseröder Straße and Ricarda-Huch-Straße within the boundaries of Nordhausen (2001) / Ilfeld Neanderklinik (2004) / Nordhausen Schurzfell (2010) 05.1998 The HSB holds “HSB on Tour” – its first promotional tour with representative of the rural districts, towns and municipalities neighbouring the route network. The Mallet locomotive 99 5902 tours through the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Dortmund and Kassel. The highlight of the tour is the locomotive’s passing through the Brandenburg Gate. Further promotional tours are held in Berlin (2000), Kiel (2001), Braunschweig (2002), Dortmund (2003), Hanover (2004), and Braunlage, Goslar and Nordhausen (2008). 1999 Celebratory year “100 years of the Harzquerbahn and Brockenbahn”, with numerous events 27.04.2002 Closure of the gap in the tracks between the HSB and the Nordhausen tram 28.02.2003 New transport contract with the state of Thuringia for passenger rail services between Nordhausen and Ilfeld 30.04.2004 Official opening of the “Nordhausen model” between Nordhausen and Ilfeld; operation begins a day later. Guests can now travel between Ilfeld Neanderklinik and Nordhausen hospital without changing. 01.12.2005 Inauguration of the new HSB vehicle depot in Wernigerode 04.02.2006 Premiere of “Faust – The Rock Opera on the Brocken” (part 1); part 2 celebrates its premiere on 19.02.2010 04.03.2006 Official opening of the 8.5 km-long, newly-constructed section between Gernrode and Quedlinburg with a big celebration; scheduled rail transport begins on 26.06.2006 2012 Celebratory year “125 years of narrow gauge railways in the Harz” with numerous station festivals and events; Deutsche Post creates a special stamp for the HSB to mark the celebratory year. 28.10.2013 The 22,222,222th passenger since the takeover of operation in 1993 is welcomed 07.2014 More than 200,000 visitors celebrate “Saxony-Anhalt Day” in Wernigerode. The HSB takes part with a wide range of activities and participates in the big parade through the town with a steam locomotive. 24.11.2014 New transport contract with the state of Thuringia for passenger rail services between Nordhausen and Ilfeld Fotos: Sammlung HSB/ Dirk Bahnsen, Olaf Haensch, Peter Gercke, Matthias Bein Find out more: Travel time & narrow gauge worlds Experience more: Fun & exciting events Discover more: Steam & technological wonders KOCH-DRUCK, Halberstadt Find out more: Travel time & narrow gauge worlds THE WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE HARZ! Experience more: Fun & exciting events Discover more: Steam & technological wonders You can find a detailed chronology on our website at www.hsb-wr.de Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH I Friedrichstraße 151 I 38855 Wernigerode I Tel.: 03943/558 - 0 I info@hsb-wr.de | www.hsb-wr.de