Question to regular or recent Harz visitors.....?

Zerogee

Clencher's Bogleman
Country flag
On our short visit to the HSB back in May, we got to see several of the Harzbulles, the 5901 and 5902 "Jung" Mallets and briefly spotted 6001 (the Ballerina) at Alexisbad. Plus of course a couple of the Kamels on coach-marshalling duties, and the little orange KoF parked up in Westerntor yard.
I just wondered if anyone who has recently travelled there at a different time of year, or perhaps on one of the organised visits with a special charter, had any idea when and whereabouts on the network the 5906 Mallet, the 6101/6102 twins (Fiffi and Pfiffi) and the vintage T1 railcar are currently operating, if at all?
We're considering a return visit for a slightly longer trip in 2018, and it would be good to get to see (and possibly ride with) some of the locos we didn't get to see this year.....

Jon.
 
5906 may be at the Selke Valley in the back of Gernrode Shed, but if not in running order could be stored in the carriage sheds at Wernigerode or the Works. The little Railcar tends to be about for special events but if it is in running order at the moment may appear at any time if oerhaps a group has booked it. So you see it is all down to good luck at the time of your visit.

A German speaker may be able to interpritate this from the HSB site:-

https://www.hsb-wr.de/en/mehr-erkunden/fahrzeuge/dampflokomotiven/99-5906/

That Link may also help with T1 status.
 
Last edited:
Both Pfiffi and Fiffi are out of boiler ticket. 6102 is in bits at (I think) Meningen with no money to fix a pretty knackered boiler. So 6101 just waits. These two locos are owned by a supporters group, not the HSB.
 
Thanks JonD and Alan - sad to hear that Fiffi and Pfiffi are not in running order - I hadn't realised they were owned by a separate organisation and not by the HSB itself.
I knew the T1 was only brought out for special charters, but I wonder where it is stabled when not in use, and if it is accessible to the visiting public?

We didn't get to look around at Gernrode last time, how much of the stuff there is viewable?
One thing we must fit in if/when we go again is one of the tours round the Westerntor works - we missed out this time because it would have clashed with our pre-booked Brocken ride with 5902 and the Traditionszug coach set!

Jon.
 
Gernrode shed often has the Mallet 5906 and the Ballerina 6001 in it. I walked around for a good fifteen minutes before being turfed out. When they are out and about or out for repair a big bugger usually deputises. Not sure where T1 lives but you can hire it - it sounds a lot but if divided up between ten or so people it become viable - - - - ideas brewing:nod:
 
I suspect that T1 lives in the big Carriage Shed at Wernigerode when not in use. In the morning some stock is worked from that Shed and propelled back off some of the terminating TRAINS. From what I saw when investigating the area around Wenigerode no access or view possible inside this Shed from publicly accessible locations.
 
Reading some German reports, it appears that the HSB are themselves restoring 6101 at this very moment. Maybe they realise they need a small loco for excursion use. On the other hand - my German is crap so i might have got the wrong end of the stick!
 
Just looked at that link, Alan, and I read it the same as you.... hopefully that's good news for Pfiffi, at least! Might get to see her one day after all......

Jon.
 
Aha so my TL one is Pfifi. The real Pfifi took me up the Selkt Valley in 2010.image.jpegimage.jpeg
Then the Broken in 2011.
image.jpeg

image.jpeg

image.jpeg

image.jpeg

image.jpeg
As these were the only times that I have been pulled by one of these super litle 0-6-0's, looks like I stil need a run behinf Fiffi.

Meanwhile my TL Model is the most disapointing G Scale runner I have ever bought. Will get a Battery Makeover at some stage.
 
Brilliant pics, JonD, thanks for posting them!
Sadly a run behind Fiffi (6102) may be a long way off, if ever.... it appears she's got (from a rough German translation) pretty severe boiler problems.... I really hope the HSB can fix her so that the twins can run together again, rather than stripping Fiffi of parts to keep her sister running. :(

Re your TL45 Pfiffi, I still think you should get it looked at by whoever you bought it from.... mine runs really nicely.

Jon.
 
Brilliant pics, JonD, thanks for posting them!
Sadly a run behind Fiffi (6102) may be a long way off, if ever.... it appears she's got (from a rough German translation) pretty severe boiler problems.... I really hope the HSB can fix her so that the twins can run together again, rather than stripping Fiffi of parts to keep her sister running. :(

Re your TL45 Pfiffi, I still think you should get it looked at by whoever you bought it from.... mine runs really nicely.

Jon.
Trouble is it ran perfectly on the Test Track it is just as I said the issue of no pick ups on the Centre Driver plus one with Traction Tyres just makes it not good on perhaps less than perfectly laid track. The Corpets that I have are a little better, they have Pick Ups on the Centre Driving wheels as well. I think that I will have to attend to this issue on Pfiffi at some stage.
 
The Harz and its stock are under a preservation order, so I hope it is unlikely that 6102 will be cannibalised.
As for boiler repairs - it just needs the will - the big Bulles are being restored with new frames, new welded boilers and new fabricated cylinder blocks where required - so it can be done. Down to economics i guess.
 
Yes, let's hope so Alan. Maybe when the restoration programme on the HarzBulles is finished (they only have, what, about twelve of them to do after all...?) then the necessary work on 6102 might get scheduled!

At least the Twins will be re-united in a corner of North Essex in the next few days..... ;) Damn these slippery keys, they are too easy to click. :devil:

Jon.
 
I think restoring the Bulles is now a never ending circus Jon. There are 18, but some are mothballed for long term storage.
Nice to see the twins. Kieth has them and they look great together.
 
Slight move of topic:
Does anybody have pictures of the 'café car' interiors at all?

I know I can get an interior from Glendale Junction, but would like to have a stab at getting the rest right..
TIA
PhilP.
 
Slight move of topic:
Does anybody have pictures of the 'café car' interiors at all?

I know I can get an interior from Glendale Junction, but would like to have a stab at getting the rest right..
TIA
PhilP.

Nudging this 7 year old post as I have the same question! I have just bought the Trainline 45 8 window HSB Buffet and Cafe Car for my new garden layout but was disappointed to see the standard seats inside. Trying to work out the best way to improve this and whether there is a 3D print option for the buffet counter and tables?
 
Back
Top Bottom