Narrow-gauge trains skip the Brocken due to relentless gales
Those eager to ride the Harz narrow-gauge railroads on Thursday are out of luck – gusts so powerful they'd make a hurricane blush have cancelled trips to the Brocken. Trains bound for Schierke and the Brocken's peak are off the schedule, but services between Wernigerode and Schierke, as well as those in southern Harz, are running as planned, the railroad company reported from Wernigerode.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), winds hitting Brocken's towering heights reached force 11, a level exceeded only by the Beaufort scale's final level 12. They predicted this high point would be achieved later in the day, with winds reaching up to 130 kilometers per hour.
Ongoing wind advisories decelerated vehicles flocking to the Harz Mountains, prompting many to seek alternate transportation options. Would-be travelers faced strong, treacherous winds, making narrow-gauge railroad operations in the area, especially on the Brocken, a risky endeavor.
Repeated weather disruptions to Brocken trips aren't infrequent. November 14 saw the cancellation of same-day trips to the mountain's 1141-meter summit.
The demanding nature of the Brocken's climate isn't news to the railroad industry. Harsh winds often surpassing 60 mph pose a risk to track stability and sustainability. They can lead to derailments or jeopardize train operation, hence, the precautionary decisions to suspend operations when winds become too intense.
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Adventurous souls counting on narrow-gauge trains to reach the Brocken should brace themselves for wind conditions often testing the boundaries of the extreme. Even the highest mountain in northern Germany isn't exempt from such conditions, with the Brocken being renowned for its weather challenges. These havoc-wreaking winds pose significant dangers to both the train infrastructure and its occupants by jeopardizing stability and safety. [2]
