HARZ WINTER WONDERLAND
THINK of a railway running through pine forests or scenic mountainous areas covered with snow and your first thoughts are likely to be Switzerland, Austria, perhaps Norway or Sweden.
But add to the mix powerful metre-gauge steam locomotives working to a regular daily timetable, hammering up gradients as steep as 1-in-30 to the top of a mountain 3,675ft (1,125m) above sea level and there is probably one place you are likely to find all of these ingredients – the Harz region of Germany.
Around the Harz was once the habitat of bears, bison and wolves, but today lynx are more common. Mining was prevalent around seven towns in the upper Harz, the last closing in 2007, but today, with many spa towns, timbered buildings and the option of winter sports, walking and climbing, tourism is the area’s main income.
It’s an all-year round destination and, depending on the time of year your visit, then any two of the three possibilities of snow, steam and sun are pretty much certain with a trip to visit the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (usually known as ‘the Harz’ or HSB). Mind you, the appearance of sun can be pot luck anywhere!
The Harz is an area of Germany that is quite easy to get to, with budget flights from several UK airports to Hannover, Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin. From any of these airports there are options of rail or road (using a hire car),
