über uns	Unternehmensporträt der Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH

We are delighted to see that you are interestedin the Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways (HSB)With 140.4 km of the track running through exciting countryside locations, it is also the longest unbroken narrow-gaugerailway network in Germany. With its valuable fleet of 25 steam engines,6 railcars, 16 diesel engines and numerous historic railway carriages,the Harz Narrow-Gauge Railway, which operates the Harzquer, Selketal and Brocken railway services, is one of the most interesting narrowgauge railwayservices.

Theservice is unique; for instance our two oldest steam trains, the 99 5901and the 99 5902, were built in 1897. It is this that prompted the entireHarz Narrow-Gauge Railway infrastructure to be awarded a preservation orderback in 1972, as a living symbol of railway technology and engineeringskill!

Alongside the "trains of old", thesteam engines and railcars which run by a fixed timetable recreate theflair of the bygone romance of the railways as they pass through the countryside,for instance through the "High Harz" national park with the legendary Mount Brocken, the source area of the Bode and of the highest peaks inNorthern Germany.

On the 01.02.1993 Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways (HSB) took over the services of Deutsche Reichsbahn, the East German State Railways (DR), being the first non-state owned railway company to operate a regular transport service in the new federal states.

The HSB has acted as the operator of the former 131.4 km and 2006 of the 140,4 km long Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways since then: the former Nordhausen-Wernigerode Railway Company (currently the Harzquer and Mount Brocken Railway Service) and the Gernrode-Harzgerode Railway Company (currently the Selketal (Selke Valley) Railway Service). It runs historic steam locomotives every day on what is Europe's largest narrow-gauge railway networks.

HSB's shareholders are the rural districts of Harz and Nordhausen, the towns and villages along the line, Quedlinburg and Tanne town councils and the Braunlage Cure Company.

The HSB's task is to:
"... preserve all three railways in the Harz region in their entirety as a tourist attraction, a monument to engineering, a facility for freight haulage and as a local transport facility" ...

The Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways - the facts and figures:

Company founded:	19th November 1991
Operated trains from:	1st February 1993
Chairman of the:	Dr. Michael Ermrich, county commissioner of the county Harz
Managing Director:	Matthias Wagener
Workforce:	221
Passengers: approx.	1 million each year
Track lengths:	Harzquer and Mount Brocken Railway 79.43 km, Selketal Railway 60.97 km; in total: 140.4 km
Track width:	1000 mm
Highest railway station:	Mount Brocken Railway Station at 1125 m above sea level
Lowest railway station:	Quedlinburg Railway Station at 121 m above sea level
Largest incline:	1:25 on the Selketal Railway, 1:30 on the Harzquer and Mount Brocken Railway
No. of railway stations:	24
No. of stops:	16
Tractive stock:	25 steam locomotives (built between 1897 and 1956), 16 diesel locomotives (built/refurbished between 1964 and 1990), 6 railcars (built between 1933 and 1996)
Carriage stock:	77 passenger carriages, 19 railway service carriages, 37 railroad freight carriages, 40 dollies and 79 wagon carrier trucks

The Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways are characterised by a number of superlatives. The railways, which have been classified as historical monuments since 1972, run for 132 km, making them the longest steam-operated railway network in Europe. The network encompasses 400 bridges, waterways and overpasses, as well as the only tunnel to be found along a narrow-gauge railway network in the new federal states. The track comprises countless bends through the many narrow valleys of the Harz Mountains. The Harzquer Railway trains pass through 72 bends between Steinerne Renne and Drei-Annen-Hohne alone. The smallest bend radius is a full 60 metres. The train drivers and stokers have a great deal of work to do, most especially on the long mountain journeys. Very great demands are placed on man and the machine on inclines of up to 1:25. The HSB runs excursions on 25 steam locomotives, arranged in order of priority. 7 steam locomotives dating back to the 1950s are generally used for scheduled journeys between the 42 railway stations and stops all year round. The eight historic steam locomotives are particular treasures. The oldest of them, a mallet locomotive, was built in 1897. The main focus of business nowadays is local passenger transported targeted at tourists. There is a specially tailored offer for schoolchildren, commuters and regional transport users on the Nordhausen - Ilfeld stretch.

The lines are also still being used for freight haulage. Just under 70,000 tonnes of ballast was transported in 1996.

The company aims not only let passengers enjoy the charm of historic steam engine travel, but also to offer an enticing attraction to visitors to the Harz Mountains.

Cafe-car Cabrio

HSB is pleased to offer its passengers the opportunity to: charter special trains hire historic trains or railcars reserve a café car or an open-top car reserve seats - hire any of the 150 "steam bicycles" buy informative material and attractive souvenirs at any of our information centres train to be an honorary train driver sit in the driver's cabin and help to drive an historic steam locomotive or also visit our railway depot at Wernigerode Westerntor Railway Station.

The HSB also runs complete holiday and leisure packages., some of which are aimed in particular at train freaks. However, there are also offers to suit "normal" holiday-makers. The following are available on request, inclusive of these programs: travel guides, guided tours of towns, overnight stays, visits to the most important tourist attractions in the region and lots more besides. When choosing the offers that appeal to you, feel free to ask for assistance from any of the experienced ladies working in our kunden-center.

Check our special events list or call into our information centres for further details about our current offers, such as the annual surprise children's trips on St. Nicholas' day or at Easter on the eve of the feats of St. Walpurgis, which plays a bewitching part in the folklore of the Harz Mountains.