Rodelblitz German Mainline Steam 2026

Hi All,

In a few weeks time a group of us head to the Harz Mountains, and as a part of our trip are hoping to photograph the Mainline Rodelblitz steam trips on 7/8 February.

Would anyone know where the timings for the trains are available?

Thanks

 

Do as we did. Book a trip on the Saturday, note the timings and then chase it on the Sunday. It’s a great trip with plenty of thrash.

 

Think we’re only going to be able to manage the one day down there this time, but noted for future! Thanks!

 

I've not seen anything, they've gone all secret squirrel this year with the times. They're saying 9am from Gotha, but I'm guessing that's a vague estimate. Can't see it running too far out of the usual 10.44 path from Eisenach though. As you've got a few weeks, if you can't find any other times, the best option I can think of is searching on Flickr and working out the times from the exif data on there.

This was last year times via Schmalkalden.

 

Brilliant Thankyou!

Even just the times between stations gives us help to decide what to do.

 

No worries. Have you done it before?

 

No we haven’t. We’ve been to the Harz 3 February’s running, but only clocked last year this was on and we’d actually missed it by then. So this year it’s on the bucket list to do!

Have had a good look through Flickr at a variety of shots. It looks rather stunning.

 

You can do about five shots between Eisenach and Oberhof without driving like crazy. Maybe more but I've never risked it!

You can do trackside shots...



Landscape...



Or stations...



Arnstadt shed is worth a look round as well while the loco is being serviced. You can do one, possibly two shots on the return too if the weather plays ball, though it may be getting a bit dark by then.

 

Thankyou! That’s really helpful to know.

I assume there is very little between Gotha and Eisenach?

The shot with the Castle above it is one I’m very keen to do.

 

Hard to say as when we chased it, it started at Eisenach so there was no need to look at the section from Gotha.
The castle shot is the Wartburgblick and is on the climb between Eisenach and Förtha Tunnel. If I could find my 1:50000 map, I’d post of shot to show you how to access it.

Edit :
We’ve used this track off the 84 to access the location. https://maps.app.goo.gl/jraJtBfWmTcCbUCg8

 

I think I've always parked a bit further up and walked back, though depends on the parking. The classic shot is near the green walking symbol.



Like @Spamcan81 I've only chased it from Eisenach in the past. The bit from Gotha is pretty modern and under the wires anyway. You might be better to ignore the first bit and get to the Wartburg shot early, it always used to get pretty crowded there as it was the first available shot on the line. The rest of the chase everyone spreads out so not a problem finding somewhere away from the crowds.

 

Thankyou so much chaps. Very very helpful.

could you organise some good weather too!

 

There is a shot earlier than that but it’s a rather ordinary location as the line swings south on its way through the outskirts of Eisenach. Took this in 2016.