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Wernigerode is in the Northern part of Harz Sachsen-Anhalt. Wernigerode has some 33.700 inhabitants. The tourism industry is a major source of income for the town. The landscape surrounding the town is magnificent and offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities both summer and winter, you can walk in the woods or ski in the mountains. Anyone with a special interest in trains would feel most welcome here, as you can get lots of railway experiences on the HSB Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (narrow gauge).
HSB Harzer Schmalspurbahnen has 1,1 million passengers a year, many of whom go on the trip to Brocken, the highest mountain in Harzen (1142 meters). HSB employs 240 people on its 140 km. of track. The trains use the historic track sections Harcquer (61 km), Selketal (60 km) and Brocken (19 km).The first known climb of Brocken took place in 1572, and the first building was put there by Count Christian Ernst. In the 1800's a guest house was built, but this burned down in 1865 and a hotel was built instead. A weather station was built in 1895. After WW2 the area was closed, because it was in a military zone. The last soldier left in 1994, since then the area has been open for tourists.
On a trip from Wernigerode to Brocken you pass through the small village of Drei Annen Hohne. This town was founded as a result of mining for copper. When a station was opened in 1898 it was decided to give up mining and make tourism a major source of income instead. HSB Harzer Schmalspurbahnen have 25 steam engines. 17 of them have been built in 1954-1956, the rest dating from 1897, 1914 and 1939. HSB Harzer Schmalspurbahnen have 12 diesel engines and 10 other units that run on a daily basis.
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