Harzer Schmalspurbahnen operates historic steam railway in Germany

The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB) operates a significant 140-kilometer narrow-gauge railway network in Germany's Harz region, serving approximately one million passengers annually. The network includes the Brockenbahn, the Harzquerbahn, and the Selketalbahn, utilizing historic steam locomotives, some of which date back to 1897.

The Brockenbahn, which connects Drei Annen Hohne through Schierke to the summit of the Brocken, holds historical significance. Following the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, passenger service to the summit was suspended due to its status as a military restricted area. The line was eventually reopened to the public on September 15, 1991, after extensive renovations.

While the railway remains a major tourist attraction, the surrounding landscape of the Harz National Park has undergone notable changes. Over the last two decades, heavy storms, heatwaves, and bark beetle infestations have significantly altered the once-dense spruce forests, resulting in large areas of deadwood and clear-cutting, particularly around the Brocken summit.