The Heide Express (literally: "Heath Express") is the name used by the Lüneburg Transport Society (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Verkehrsfreunde Lüneburg) or AVL to market special railway trips with their historic trains on the East Hanoverian Railways (OHE) railway network in northern Germany.

Activities

In addition to running special trains, the society organises presentations, model railway swapmeets, film showings and exhibitions, usually in Lüneburg. These are accompanied by excursions.

Operations today

The Heide Express operates today on the OHE lines around Lüneburg, Winsen, Soltau and Celle as well as Walsrode. Services operate irregularly several times a year and, in the summer months for special occasions. There are no regular weekend services as, for example, on the Moor Express.

The following routes are operated: Winsen (Luhe)–Niedermarschacht (with bus connexions to the Geesthacht Railway Society ) Winsen (Luhe)–Salzhausen–Hützel Lüneburg–Bleckede (–Waldfrieden) Lüneburg Süd–Amelinghausen–Hützel (some run to Soltau) Celle–Hankensbüttel–Wittingen Celle–Beckedorf–Hermannsburg–Müden (Örtze) Walsrode–Bomlitz Walsrode–Altenboitzen

In cooperation with other societies the AVL's rolling stock is used for special trains on other lines. They appear regularly in the Hamburg region.

Rolling stock

The AVL's rolling stock is used in various combinations. The Heide Express trains are mainly hauled by the V46-01 (from Lüneburg) or the DL 0601 (from Winsen) using train rakes composed of Umbauwagen and platform coaches, or they just use the GDT 0518 railbus.

Locomotives and railbuses

Vehicle Operating number Class Remarks Locomotor (Kleinlok) 1 Deutz LM216R Monument Locomotor (Kleinlok) 2 Deutz KS55 B Shunter Diesel locomotive 5 LHB S200 in storage Line locomotive V 46-01 MaK 600 D Line locomotive D.L. 00601 WR 200 B Railbus DT 0504 Diesel railbus (Gotha) Railbus GDT 0515 MaK GDT Used to provide spare-parts Railbus GDT 0518 MaK GDT

Passenger coaches

Coach Operating number Class Passenger coach Amelinghausen 0002 B3ygPassenger coach Lüneburg 0003 B3yg Passenger coach Bleckede 0004 B3yg Buffet car Egestorf 0005 BR3yg Passenger coach Scharnebeck 0006 B3yg Passenger coach 0011 Ci (Donnerbüchse) Buffet car 0012 CRi (Donnerbüchse) Passenger coach Winsen / Luhe 0016 AB3yg Dining car 0200 WRge Passenger coach 0021 Ci (Donnerbüchse) Passenger coach 0022 Ci (Donnerbüchse) Passenger coach 0023 Ci (Donnerbüchse) Passenger coach 0034 B3yg Business car 0115 Pw4ü-30 Railbus trailer 0304 ------ Business car 1990 Bpw 4

Goods wagons and special wagons

Wagon Operating number Type Workshop wagon 0109 Post-mr/a Luggage van 0110 Pw Luggage van 0115 ----- Luggage van 0125 Pwgs Luggage van 0138 OHE Pwi Covered goods wagon 1007 Gls 205 Tank wagon 1013 Z Covered goods wagon 1017 Glmns Covered goods wagon 1018 Ghs Tank wagon 1019 Z Goods wagon 1029 G Flat wagon 1150 X Flat wagon 1151 X Covered goods wagon 1054 G Covered goods wagon 1168 G Flat wagon 1171 X Flat wagon 1173 X Stake wagon 1169 Rklmm

Some services also use locomotives owned by the East Hanoverian Railways. This is especially the case for trips in the Celle area.

External links http://www.heide-express.de (official web site) List of rolling stock http://heidebahn.de (Information about railways on the Lüneburg Heath)

References