Narrow Gauge Railway "Brockenbahn"

Brockenbahn  
Narrow Gauge Railway "Brockenbahn"  

Our hike takes us further through thick fir forests. We pass the Brockenfeld Moor and reach, a little bit later, the Eckersprung, where the Ecker River springs forth.

We now leave the protecting forest and begin the actual ascent of the Brocken Mt. The Goethe Trail follows along the tracks of the Brockenbahn. The construction of the narrow gauge railway was begun at Drei-Annen-Hohne in 1898. Construction time took only nine months, in spite of great difficulties. On the 27th of March 1899 the first train reached the top of the Brocken.

In those days the train ran seasonally, providing transportation to the summit of the Brocken only from April 30th to October 15th. 51,209 people rode the Brockenbahn to the mountaintop as early as 1900. It had become a popular place for outings since Goethe's ascent.

In the meantime mass tourism has developed here: a Brocken hotel, observation tower, the Brocken Garden with its rare alpine plants and the Brocken House have gradually been created.

 


    more information:
  1. Start - The Goethe Trail to the Brocken Summit
  2. The Great Torfhaus Moor and the Quitschenberg Mountain
  3. Narrow Gauge Railway "Brockenbahn"
  4. Goethe Moor
  5. Brocken
  6. Harz National Parks, Hiking Tips and more
  7. Video - Brocken Narrow Gauge Railway

textsource: www.nationalpark-harz.de

homesitemapimprint • photo: fm