Wernigerode shed yard

Have just come back from the Harz and it seems that going on the yard now is verbotten, forbidden in English. We saw many people asked to leave during the day. There is still an excellent viewpoint from the car park across the way of locos being serviced but if anyone is going over they are really very upset if you go on the yard. There was a barrier you could duck under from the car park but this is now a full level crossing type thing and was being watched by the staff.

However when we were at Gernerode we were allowed upon a polite request to photograph from within the shed whilst it was being serviced, but there was only 2 of us. Last year at Gernerode the request was refused.

 

Did you ask for permission to enter? Going by previous visits, we've never been turned as we've always asked first. It will be a shame if this is a blanket ban rather than just those who have wandered in without asking first.

 

Yes we asked, and refused, nein, was the answer, perhaps at night when all locos have been disposed of would be ok, but even then we have been turned away in the past

 

I think shed access has become much less straightforward in the last year or so in Germany generally. In the past access to Bw Eisenach for example was unhindered and one could wander around almost at will, but during last years plandampf in April new gates prevented any access and a polite request received a firm nein for the first time. Maybe some national edict or H&S / theft concerns?

 

Last time I went there was October 2011 and no problems with night photography on the shed then. Not so long ago since we were dragged into the shed by a driver eager to show us the Mallet he was to drive the next day. Did Oberwiesenthal shed with permission in October 2012 so if shed access is being denied generally it is quite a recent development. Shame.

 

I thought they weren't keen on people wandering round Wernigerode shed during the day, but nighttime was ok. Certainly was last year. Didn't go there a couple of weeks ago when I was out there, too busy enjoying the new brew pub at Sophienhof instead!

 

Have just returned from the HSB and visited Wernigerode shed each of 4 nights - but after tea and usually arrived between 8 - 9 pm. The fire-raiser on duty confirmed that there was a new policy of "No Access" but he was happy to allow me access because I had asked his permission ! Whilst the Railtrail group in general had no problems during the day, a couple of the group elected not to visit the shed and missed some excellent images. In my case I not only managed to visit the shed yard but also managed to have access to the shed interior where 99.5902 / 6001 were happily steaming away. Having just returned with 750 images from my 6 day visit I have had little chance to sort some out but will do so for the weekend.

 

Asking first I think is the key point. Was it explained if the "no access" policy referred to just the shed or the whole site including the yard?

 

My German wasn't up to understanding the full situation - sorry - but there are signs going up around the Wernigerde / Wersterntor sites stating that access to railway property is no longer permitted. Again the night crew at Wernigerode shed seem less worried and I must say proved MORE amenable with the duty cleaner actually opening the shed doors for me to enter rather than my having to take pot luck - as on previous visits. However I must emphasise that my good luck stemmed from asking permission in the first instance then acknowledging I was being given a privilege - and respecting it.

However on reflection it may also be that since the Railtrail Group visit coincided with a "gala weekend" which - in local terms - means that the "Friends of the HSB" ( an HSB Support organisation) were operating 3 charter trains over 3 days, the staff were expecting an upsurge in visitors and prepared to be more amenable. Certainly the "Gala" trains carried not only HSB Friends but members of Railtrail and Ffestiniog Travel groups whose trips were designed to be part of the event. For those curious to know what this involved the recent gala was DAY 1 - green liveried 0-4-4-0 compound Mallet 5902 working Wernigerode to Brocken including a set back into Goetheweg Loop; DAY 2 - 2-6-2T 6101 working from Gernrode to Eisfelder Tahlmuehle where trains were exchanged with 0-6-0T 6001 which had worked in from Wernigerode (those travelling behind 6001 returned behind 6101; those travelling behind 6001 returned behind 6101) and a double departure was run from Eisfelder; DAY 3 - 6001 + 222 double headed from Wernigerode to Nordhausen where both locos were turned for 222 to pilot 6001 back to Wernigerode. On ALL trains photostops were held at specific locations thus giving everyone a chance of a decent selection of images that are not normally possible to car-chasers; again I will post a selection later in the week.

EDIT : Images now on other HSB thread at https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/harz-railway-february-2014.228786/page-2#post-790856

 

I was there last week with the RTC group that followed Railtrail/FR a few days later.
I and a number of others had no problem with gaining access to the shed yard for photography in the early morning and evening but as a matter of courtesy we had also asked permission first and respected the request not to venture into the shed itself. We weren't actually around Wernigerode during the day so I can't vouch for that.

I did however get politely reprimanded by one of the Brocken National Park Rangers for stepping off the path and standing on one of his rocks to get a better shot of a train approaching the summit!