we went on a round trip from wernigerode to brocken as the chhoti line trained chugged around mountain curves.. past forests of the 'mysterious' harz mountains...
this board in the train shows the entire route to brocken... we took a 90 minute ride up
inviation to the station!
people lining up the platform at wernigerode
... and then she arrived... puffing black smoke...
soon we chugged out of the station... already climbing...
initially we passed little towns...
... and then it was through glades and forests...
... through valleys...
... around bends...
... and spruce forests where the sunlight did not seem to penetrate the tree canopy
sunlight filters through the smoke...
...and engulfs us in its steamy patthar koila aroma... aahhhh!
daju and baini pose when the train stops at the station in schierke to let a train making its way down the hill clear the tracks...
we wait...
... and wait...
... and then ujwal suggested that we explore the steam engine...
... and also grab opportunity for a quick photo shoot!!
me and my train.. didn't realise we were colour coordinated too!
the monoculture spruce forest as we climbed up looked very weird and fitting to the description of the harz mountain's fame as a 'bewitching' place... the dried up bottom branches of the forest look 'haunting' -- like a zillion arms ready to ensnare people--as our train with its powerful steam engine chugs past
as we went higher we saw what looked like a graveyard of the trees too... maybe forst fire? or the beetle infestation?
and when we went even higher we were above the tree line.. and got to see the green tops of the spruce trees instead of the brown trunks and branches below...
we had to shunt backwards and sideways and wait... to let another train make its way down the hill..
then round the bend.. the view of the newer rocket shaped tv tower and the older sender (transmission) tower at the summit of mt brocken, the tallest moutnain (at 1141m!) in northern germany...
the harz mountains boasts of many mystical legends surrounding witches, highlighted by goethe in his play 'faust' too
we even met a desperate witch wannabe...
rock formation called the 'devil's pulpit'
the combination of rocks and blooms and lichens.. a trademark it seems of brocken
we encircled the tower...
and came to a patch of wildflowers teeming and buzzing with thousands of bumble bees and butterflies...
... butterflies getting a tan!
this foxglove / digitalis plant reminded me of ama.. who used to 'wear' a bloom in her thumb whenever she came across the flower to strengthen her heart...
while we waitied to take the train down, and as the engine rounds the bend, kripa bursts into the 'jaun jaun railaima' song and dance routine from her childhood...
the german 'tt' comes check our tickets...
the engine switches sides and docks to the train in a cloud of steam
the same engine hurtles us down.. facing the other way though now....
we head down the same way we came up
midway the train is fed oil...
.. and water...
then ujwal wanted to caputre me and my nostalgia... trying to capture 100% experience of the sights, sounds and smell of the ride, standing right behind the engine!!
...waiting for the puff of smoke, which on its way downhill, came only when the engine exerted to blow the whistle, or as it pulled out of a station...
soon we come near wernigerode...
we line up in front of the locomotive at the end of the ride...
i try to make believe that i am a witch too with my short hair, stiffened with steam and soot, flying in all directions!
... it was just 19:30 hrs when we left the station...
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