01904 521 936
Tour Search



Brocken Railway

The Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz Mountain range located in central Germany. A branch railway line, connecting the Brocken to the Harz Mountains' existing narrow-gauge railway, was proposed in 1869 but it was not until 1899 that the eighty-kilometre track was declared operational.

Damaged as a result of bombing and mortar fire in the Second World War, the Brocken Railway was reopened following repair in 1949, but during the subsequent division of Germany the Brocken became a military base, its railway used only for the transportation of supplies.

It was only after the historic reunification of Germany in 1990 that the train was returned to public use, and since 1992 passengers have once again able to make the spectacular rail journey, to the summit of Brocken where they are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the Harz Mountains National Park.

Highlights

The train departs from Drei Annen Hohne station and takes approximately fifty minutes to climb through an ever-changing vista of alpine meadows and dense fir and pine forests eventually arriving at Brocken Station, which, at an elevation of 1,125 metres above sea level is just sixteen metres below the mountain's summit. In addition to the wonderful views afforded from the Brocken Plateau, our guests will also find a remarkable botanic garden, established in 1890, which offers a protected environment for many species of alpine plants and flowers some of which are rare. Other attractions atop the mountain include the Brocken Hotel whose restaurant is open to the public, the Brocken Museum which recounts the mountain's natural and social history, and a television transmitter tower, built in 1937 and its newer replacement installed in 1973.

 

 

Brocken

Aboard the Brocken Railway

Whilst riding on the Brocken Railway does not quite qualify as luxury travel, the journey is certainly authentic, exciting and memorable. The train's vintage carriages have been well restored and maintained and are clean and comfortable. Each carriage features two rows of back-to-back bus-style seats with a central aisle. Virtually every seat has a window view, but each carriage also features an open-air platform connecting it to the following carriage. These, and the carriages' opening windows, give our guests the full romantic and evocative experience of steam rail travel from the smell of the coal smoke to the panting of the engine as it climbs the Brocken, the train's wheels clattering on the rails beneath. At its steepest incline, the Brocken Railway's gradient is 1 in 30. Brocken Station is the highest railway station in Germany that is served by a non-mechanically assisted (e.g. cogwheel) railway line.

 

 

Brocken

3 results matching: Brocken Railway

Filter by
Clear All
Holiday type
Reset
Holiday length
Reset
Theme
Reset
Transport type
Reset
Additional options
Reset

Don’t see the tour you want?

Contact us to create a tailor made tour.

Find out more
Harz Mountains & the Rhine Gorge
4.4 stars(74 reviews)
2024MayJunJulAugSepOct
9 days from
£1,795 pp
View Details
9 days from
£1,795
per person
View Details
Tour map
  • DestinationGermany
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Harz Mountains Christmas Markets
4.3 stars(29 reviews)
2024Dec
6 days from
£1,195 pp
View Details
6 days from
£1,195
per person
View Details
Tour map
  • DestinationGermany
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
The Harz Mountains
4.6 stars(67 reviews)
2025JanFeb
7 days from
£1,395 pp
View Details
7 days from
£1,395
per person
View Details
Tour map
  • DestinationGermany
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation

Don’t see the tour you want?

Contact us to create a tailor made tour.

Find out more
Our customers love our Brocken Railway tours
Harz Mountains Christmas Markets
30 Dec 2023
Dale Buche
5 stars
“It was overall a wonderful trip. The trains were great. The accommodations were wonderful and most of all our tour guide was exceptionally great. The towns we visited were everything I hoped they would be.
Collected by Trustpilot
Harz Mountains and Rhine Gorge
12 Oct 2023
keith tomlinson
5 stars
“an excellant tour from beginning to end !! train travel worked like clock work!!! no rushing about! lovely hotels beautiful scenery very well organised by our tour manager john grundy nothing to much trouble!! luggage in advance would have helped but problems with german customs prevented prevented that ! a holiday to remember!" thank you" to all at "great rail journeys" best wishes keith tomlinson and shirley knott
Collected by Trustpilot
The Harz Mountains in Winter
14/Mar
Brian Hubble
4 stars
“Good overall. Food indifferent. Excellent tour manager.
Collected by Trustpilot