29 December 2017

1 99 7240 was our loco for the day. No sign of the hoped for 99 6001.	2 99 7240 was off shed early to steam heat the set for the day.	3 The front end of 99 7240 at Gernrode station just before dawn.
4 Steam heat on as dawn cracks over Gernrode.	5 Outside the depot at Gernrode was the railcar for the day 187 013.	6 Different types of illumination around the depot and station at Gernrode depot making for different colours.
7 The business part of HSB 2-10-2t 99 7240.	8 Looking towards the east at Gernrode.	9 Water column and trees at Gernrode station.
10 99 7240 at the head of the 07:34 to Harzgerode.	11 2-10-2t in the station at Gernrode.	12 More colours at Gernrode and a planet in the dawn sky.
13 The sky was slowly brightening as departure time got closer for 99 7240 and its short train.	14 Not much going on at Gernrode station, it was too early and rather cold!	15 Gernrode (Harz) narrow gauge station building.
16 99 7240's rear end.	17 Waiting time.	18 99 7240 was blowing steam from a few places making for some interesting results.
19 Nearly daylight and time to head to Harzgerode.	20 99 7240's front end with the feedwater pump on the side of the smokebox.	21 Green light and more natural light on 99 7240 at Gernrode.
22 The station lights were still on at Alexisbad, first water stop of the day for 99 7240.	23 99 7240 takes water at Alexisbad prior to heading up the hill to Harzgerode with the 07:34 from Gernrode.	24 And to the end of the line at Harzgerode.
25 It still wasn't full daylight at Harzgerode.	26 99 7240 at Harzgerode station prior to running round its train.	27 99 7240 runs round at Harzgerode in the early morning light.
28 I first came here in 1996, then again in 1998 but it took until the end of 2017 to make it again.	29 Harzgerode station was in good order and had some passengers!	30 Harzgerode station viewed from the rear balcony of the departing train, the 08:45 to Quedlinburg.
31 Sunrise over Harzgerode.	32 And back at Gernrode, it was still cold! 99 7240 prepares to head off to Quedlinburg.	33 99 7240 approaches a level crossing near Quarmbeck.
34 This section of the Selketalbahn is laid on the trackbed of the former standard gauge line from Quedlinburg to Frose. After the standard gauge close the section from Gernrode was converted to metre gauge. 99 7240 trundles along near Quarmbeck.	35 Once this would have been two parallel standard gauge lines, now it is the standard gauge to Thale on the left and the HSB on the right. The HSB's 10:30 to Alexisbad runs parallel to the 09:08 Magdeburg Hbf to Thale HEX railcar.	36 Slowly the HEX railcar was out pacing the 2-10-2t as they ran out of Quedlinburg.
37 The Thale bound railcar eventually left the HSB train well behind.	38 99 7240 at the head of the 10:30 from Quedlinburg to Alexisbad on the outskirts of Quedlinburg in lovely winter morning sun.	39 Gernrode station and lots of trade for the train to Alexisbad.
40 99 7240 heads out of Gernrode with the 10:30 Quedlinburg to Alexisbad train.	41 99 7240 finds a patch of sun on the climb out of Gernrode just beyond the station of Sternhaus Haferfeld.	42 And away up the hill.
43 Trains on the Selke are short and more representative of the system in pre-1989 days.	44 Lizard on a bridge.	45 99 7240 leads its train alongside the Selke river a short way out of Alexisbad.
46 Busy at Alexisbad. The 99 tank takes water prior to running round whilst, to the right, is a Harzgerode bound railcar, 187 018, which had started out from Nordhausen at 08:54.	47 99 7240 runs round at Alexisbad.	48 99 7240 at Drahtzug with the 11:46 from Alexisbad to Gernrode.
49 A key attraction on the Selketalbahn is the long 1 in 25 climb out of Mägdesprung. 99 7240 charged the bank noisily. The photo wasn't quite what was planned but either a cloud or the exhaust partially obscured the sun denying me the planned backlit glint shot. But, a very pleasing result none the less.	50 Gernrode's large and impressive standard gauge station building, but no trains serve it anymore.	51 Gernrode station still has plenty of evidence of its standard gauge past.
52 The former standard gauge station at Gernrode, platforms I well remember using wondering if the scheduled railcar would show up!	53 Remains of the signalling at Gernrode.	54 Counterweight at Gernrode.
55 HSB facilities and the small museum at Gernrode.	56 Looking west at Gernrode station.	57 99 7240 rests on shed between turns.
58 99 7240 at Gernrode depot.	59 99 7240 between turns of duty at Gernrode shed.	60 The 13:57 from Gernrode to Eisfelder Talmühle heads uphill between Sternhaus Haferfeld and Sternhaus Ramberg.
61 99 7240 with the 13:57 from Gernrode on the climb to Sternhaus Ramberg.	62 Sadly no parallel departure today. 99 7240 leads its train out of Alexisbad for Hasslefelde and Eisfelder Talmühle.	63 Balcony veg.
64 Seemingly burning waste tyres, 99 7240 rolls down the sharp gradient in Silberhütte (Anhalt) station.	65 Brewing up at Silberhütte (Anhalt).	66 And more tyres added!
67 The blower might be screwed out hard but still the smoke came.	68 99 7240 sets off from Silberhütte (Anhalt).	69 Strassberg with the moon in the sky.
70 99 7240 leads the 13:57 from Gernrode through Strassberg.	71 The increasingly tree lined reservoir at Güntersberge still has one gap in the trees big enough for a 2-10-2t to fit into.	72 99 7240 and train didn't stop at Friedrichshöhe on this day.
73 Train (just visible) in the high and exposed fields near Stiege.	74 Looking east near Hasselfelde.	75 No sunset silhouette today. 99 7240 and train roll downgrade towards Hasselfelde.
76 Heading for Hasselfelde.