The Harz Railway in central Germany is an extraordinary narrow gauge line. Its complicated history goes back to the late 1800's when railways were being expanded into the beautiful Harz mountains. Several were narrow gauge, and others, standard. They were supported by logging, mining and agricultural traffic, as well as passengers and general freight. In later years some were abandoned and others merged. Key sections of the Harz meter gauge network survived World War II and the tough post-war years, although almost the complete Selketalbahn was removed and taken to Russia as reparations after the war. Subsequently it was rebuilt, but another portion cut off by the border was abandoned in West Germany in 1962. Fortunately, most of the present Harz system remained in use through the reunification of Germany in 1990. Strong public support deterred modernization of its locomotives and the abandonment of parts of the system in the late 1980's, and it is now operated by the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen, which is owned by state, county and local governments. There is also an active public support group similar to the "friends" organizations here in North America.
