A Gem Called Wernigerode (to Goslar) Part IV

DB BahnHof Wernigerode. 

Our train to Goslar consisted of a pair of DB RegioSwingers. These DMUs were built from between 1998 and 2003 by Adtranz*  They can tilt up to 8 degrees thus are able to take curves at higher speeds than conventional equipment.  They are capable of operating up to 160 km/h. 

Finding a builder of a product is not so cut and dry.  A lot of  the European built rail equipment have one design farmed out to multiple builders across the EU.  With takeovers and mergers the waters are muddied even more.  Adtranz was formed 1996 as a result of a merger between ABB and Daimler-Benz rail divisions. In 1999 ABB sold its 50 percent stake in Adtranz to its former partner, now called DaimlerChrysler. Two years later Bombardier Transportation bought Adtranz from Daimler-Chrysler.

I was able to see the speedometer through the glass partition and watch the horizon tilt to the left and right as we raced down the track on our way to Goslar.  This section of the right of way happens to be the same section of railway where Wilhelm Schmidt  tested his superheater equipped steam locomotives.

Looking through the front window of the DMU we could see the horizon shift as we negotiated the curves.  130 km/h was the top average speed and the ride was very quite and comfortable.  I really liked these DMUs and hoped we would be able to have a chance to ride them elsewhere.

Our Class 612 RegioSwingers departing Vienenburg for Goslar.

On our way to Goslar we stopped to visit the railway museum housed in the Vienenburg railway station.  I was astonished that the large building we arrived at was indeed the 1840 station.  To make sure I ask at the information center in the museum and they confirmed that it was. They could not answer my question, "...why was it built so large?"  The 47 kilometer railway was constructed in 1838 so I'm mystified on why such a large structure was needed in that time period.  

I made it to the oldest railway station in Germany again by good fortune.

The inset photo proclaims that this is the oldest preserved station in Germany.  It opened in 1840.

Some of the outside exhibits.

Standard railway exhibits inside, nicely laid out.

I was happy to come across this information about W. Schmidt and his superheater  company.  Its head office was located in Wernigerode and the trials were over the same line we used to come to Vienenburg.

My first experience with a Schmidt superheater was back in 1975 while working on 1057.  The CPR was one of the first railways in North America to embrace the use superheated steam on their locomotives.  CPR 1057 was equipped with a Schmidt Superheater when she was built in December of 1912.  

Kathleen and I stayed at the museum until it closed and then headed to Goslar.  It was raining harder now and Kathleen wondered if we should still go.  I think she thought it might be better to just head back to Wernigerode and have a little nap on this dull rainy afternoon.  I told her, " The rain won't matter."  Weather was not going to get in the way of my mission to get to Goslar!

Our train for Goslar just arriving at the Vienenburg station.  

Photo 2: I had asked earlier in my blog what was my fascination with Goslar, any guesses? 

Photo 3: Yes, it the semaphore signal system!  This signal says,  "Stop".

Photo 4: Some have been upgrade to change electrically but many still were operated mechanically.  Both types were worked from the various towers along the railway.
This signal says "Proceed at Restricted speed"  The large 5 in the triangle indicates the allowable speed limit, in tenths, through the points zone.  In this example 50 km/h is allowable. 

Yes, I was quite excited to see the semaphore signals, getting to study them close-up was even better.  The system of manned towers lined the railway with each tower having control of a segment of the right of way. In North American practice a series of steel rods and bell cranks were used to operated the semaphores, here in Germany, steel cables and pulleys are used.

At any rate this system of signalling was widely adopted across Europe after 1870 and in North America by 1908.  Semaphore signals and towers have virtually disappeared in North America. The odd tower in railway use can still be found but the mechanical signals have been updated to an electric light system.  

But here in Goslar I was able to see the semaphores, the cables and the multiple towers all in daily use as they have been for well over 100 years.    

Track plan of Goslar given to me by an elderly railfan.  

Our stay in Goslar was about an hour, enough time for me to get some photos of the semaphore signals and a couple of trains arriving and departing.  While shooting my photos I was approached by an older gentleman with a bicycle.  He showed me his train photo album and old newspaper clippings of  railway events in the Goslar region.  He kindly gave me the above track plan of Goslar and local timetable. This was my first conversation in German with a railfan and was a lot harder than one might think. The pronouns and verbs were the easy part, the hard part was knowing the vocabulary, especially the nouns pertaining to railways. For example, "speed restriction" in German is "die Geschwindigkeitsbeschränkung".  I don't think even in a million years, I would have have guessed that one.  I wonder how many Germans would have known that word!

A Bombardier DE-AC33C powered by a GE 7EDL12 engine producing 3200 HP.  This locomotive was built in 2003 and was bought used by hvle in September of 2012.

Photo 6:  hvle (Havelländische Eisenbahn) is a private rail-freight company operating over the rails of the DB.  The "Stahl Zug" is waiting for a clear signal.

Photo 7:  The signal has changed to proceed at a restricted speed. (40 Km/h).  Goslar station is in the foreground with "Go" tower at the very end. 

Photo 8:  "Go" tower with the "Stellwerksmeister" watching out train pass.  Notice the cables heading from the tower to the semaphore signals.

Photo 9: "Doj" tower in Oker with some of the semaphore signals it controls.  Oker is the main freight yard for Goslar and is just east of the station.

Despite the late afternoon rain we had a wonderful time full of castles, museums and of course semaphore signal systems.  We were glad to head back to our apartment in Wernigerode to complete our packing, shower, have dinner and relax for the rest of the evening.  The next day was Monday, the start of our new adventure to Hamburg.