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.
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.
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:[1]
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.
The AVL's rolling stock[3] [4] 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.
| 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 |
| Coach | Operating number | Class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger coach Amelinghausen | 0002 | B3yg | |
| Passenger 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 |
| 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.