| 10.05.1886 |
Gernrode-Harzgeroder
Eisenbahngesellschaft (GHE) [the Gernrode-Harzgerode Railway Company] is
founded as a public limited company |
| 14.03.1886 |
GHE is awarded a licence to build and
operate a narrow-gauge railway from Gernrode to Harzgerode |
| 07.08.1887 |
Opening of the first section of the
Anhalt Harz Railway from Gernrode to Mägdesprung after a construction
phase of only ten months |
| 01.07.1888 |
The section of route from
Mägdesprung to Harzgerode is opened |
| 13.07.1888 |
Opening of the section of the line
from Alexisbad - Silberhütte too |
| 01.06.1890 |
The section of the line from
Silberhütte - Güntersberge (9.3 km) is formally opened |
| 01.12.1891 |
The section of the line from
Güntersberge - Stiege (8.6 km) is formally opened |
| 01.05.1892 |
The section of the line from Stiege
to Hasselfelde is opened |
| 15.07.1905 |
The opening of the section of track
between Stiege and Eisfelder Talmühle means that the GHE and NWE networks
can be linked, which is a milestone in the development of transport in the Harz
Mountains |
| 06.04.1946 |
Traffic on the GHE network is brought
to a halt upon the orders of the Russian forces of occupation. As reparations,
the railway line facilities from Stiege in the direction of Gernrode are
dismantled. The only section of the line retained is the part from the
Herzogschacht connecting station to Straßberg |
| 01.09.1946 |
GHE-AG is handed over to the
state-ownership of the Prov. of Saxony and to the later VVB State Railways |
| 08.03.1949 |
With preliminary work to rebuild the
GHE line having already got under way back in October 1946, the
Alexisbad-Gernrode-Straßberg line is re-opened.
The line leading to
Straßberg was rebuilt in the ensuing months |
| 01.04.1949 |
The former Gernrode-Harzgerode
Railway is taken over by Deutsche Reichsbahn (East German State Railways) for
its administration and use |
| 05.09.1972 |
Decision taken by the Ministry of
Transport to preserve the Selketal Railway, among others, and to rebuild the
line between Straßberg and Stiege |
| Spring 1981
Commencement of initial foliage and tree clearance work on the old track which
has become overgrown |
| 30.11.1983 |
Opening of the 13.9 km rebuilt line
after six months' constructions. The first training to travel the line is the
olden time train |
| 03.06.1983 |
Celebrations to mark the resumption
of regular rail excursion services on the Straßberg-Stiege line |
| 1983-85 |
With the resumption in services,
there is a sharp rise in the transport volumes on the Harz Railways. The volume
of freight transported during this period of time rises by 67%. 360,000
passengers used the Selketal Railway during 1985 alone. |
| März 1991 |
Formation of a (Civil Law) Company in
Preparation for the Establishment of a Municipal Service Company. It is owned
by the rural districts of Wernigerode, Quedlinburg and Nordhausen, the towns
and villages along the line, Quedlinburg and Tanne town councils and the
Braunlage Cure Company. Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB) [Harz Narrow-Gauge
Railways) is formed from the Municipal Founding Company on 19.11.1991 |
| 26.11.1992 |
The Ministry of Ecomonic Affairs,
Technology and Transport of the State of Saxony-Anhalt awards HSB construction
and operating rights |
| 01.02.1993 |
HSB takes over the regional patronage
of Harzquer and Mount Brocken Railway (as well as the Selketal Railway). This
handover, which is completed in a record time of 13 months, makes this the
first non-state owned railway service to operate regular rail excursion
services in the new federal states. |
| 26.06.2006 |
Commencement of the regular travel
service of the around 8,9 km lengthened Selketal Railway from Quedlinburg. |
