High risk of forest fires in the Harz Mountains: steam locomotives will remain stationary for the time being!

High risk of forest fires in the Harz Mountains: steam locomotives will remain stationary for the time being!

From Saturday, June 21, 2025, forest fire danger level 4 will apply in the Harz, which means a high risk. The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB) is therefore pulling the ripcord and will change train traffic on the popular route between Drei Annen Hohne and the Brocken. Instead of the usual steam locomotives, diesel locomotives are used to minimize the risk of fires. This change is tentatively planned until Tuesday, June 24th.

Thanks to the high risk of forest fires, which has been increased in recent weeks by repeated forest fires on the Brocken, those responsible are refraining from using the steam locomotives. Although speculation had raised concerns that steam locomotives could cause forest fires, no clear evidence of this has yet been provided. HSB spokesman Dirk Bahnsen expressed disappointment about the change, as the steam locomotives are the main attraction for many travelers. Despite preventive measures such as installing filters in the locomotives, safety remains the top priority.

Changes in the timetable

As part of the changes, instead of the usual eight pairs of journeys with steam locomotives, only seven pairs of journeys with diesel locomotives will be offered. This also means that travel times will be changed due to the change. The exact timetable will be announced in good time, so you should inform yourself in good time to avoid any surprises.

Another aspect related to the risk of forest fires is discussions about sparking in steam locomotives. Some devices are already installed to prevent flying sparks and it is assumed that fires do not start from flying sparks from the coal furnace. There are even proposals to make technical changes to the locomotives, such as converting to grease lubrication, to further reduce environmental impact.

The forest fire danger index

Overall, the forest fire danger index (WBI) describes the meteorological potential of forest fire danger in five levels. The levels range from “very low risk” (1) to “very high risk” (5). This index is regularly updated by the German Weather Service (DWD) and helps state authorities assess the risk of forest fires. The risk of forest fires is particularly increased between March and October, and it is important to keep yourself informed about current developments. Further details can be found on the state forest authorities' websites.

The return of the steam locomotives depends heavily on the weather conditions. Unfortunately, there are no large-scale rain forecast for the Harz in the coming days, which continues to keep the situation tense. So it remains to be seen when the beloved steam service can be resumed.

The situation is primarily a challenge for the HSB, as the steam locomotives are not only an important part of the transport system, but also of crucial importance for tourism in the region. Switching to diesel locomotives may be a good safety decision, but the nostalgic charm of steam locomotives will never be forgotten.

For more information about the forest fire risk and the associated measures, interested readers can read the articles from news38 and mdr visit, as well as the overview of German Weather Service consult.