Langelsheim–Altenau (Oberharz) railway

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The Langelsheim–Altenau railway, also known as the Innerstetalbahn or the Upper Harz Railway, was a historic line in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was built by the Magdeburg-Halberstadt Railway Company to reach the Harz mines.

Construction and route
- Built between 1874 and 1914
- Ran about 33.4 km (20.8 miles) from Vienenburg through Grauhof and Langelsheim to Lautenthal, Wildemann, Silberhütte/Frankenscharrnhütte, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, and finally Altenau
- Standard gauge; served the Upper Harz villages and the mines
- Important for connecting isolated Harz towns to the northern rail network

History and later years
- Passenger service to Langelsheim via Grauhof ended in 1884; full traffic on that section ceased in 1954
- Regular services lasted until May 29, 1976; the line then closed and the track was lifted in 1977
- For the line’s centenary in October 1977, special trains ran, including a steam locomotive haul

Reasons for decline
- Mining declined and mines closed, especially in the 1960s
- After World War II, goods and mail traffic fell
- In the early 1960s the valley had to be moved because the Innerste Dam flooded the area
- By the late 1960s, passenger numbers and freight income could not cover costs

Today
- Bridges and viaducts along the route remain visible
- The old trackbed is now a walking and cycling path, part of the Weser-Harz-Heide cycle route
- The northern tunnel portal is blocked; a memorial tablet marks the southern end
- Several stations and buildings along the route still exist

Notable stops along the way include Langelsheim, Lautenthal, Wildemann, Frankenscharrnhütte, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Clausthal Ost, and Altenau.