Generations' meeting in the Harz.

On a misty, snowy February day an icy wind is blowing over the Brockenstraße in the Harz. Visibility is barely more than 30 metres when suddenly some rays of sun pierce through the sky to turn the craggy summit of the Brocken into a glistening winter landscape. In this magical moment four Unimog trucks equipped for winter service make their way up the mountain pass: a Unimog U 84 (from 1979), a Unimog U 2400 (1995), a Unimog U 400 (2004) and a brand-new Unimog U 429 (2018).

At an altitude of 1,141 metres, the Brocken in the Harz National Park is the highest mountain in northern Germany. The only access to the summit plateau is the 9.6-kilometre-long Brockenstraße, which climbs approximately 525 metres. In the winter season the entire road must be cleared to allow the rescue service, the fire service, the staff of the weather station, the operations team of the Harzer Schmalspurbahn, as well as employees and supply vehicles of the Brockenwirt to gain access.

Because de-icing agents are not permitted in the national park for environmental protection reasons, the snow can only be cleared with a snowplough and a snow blower. Since 2017 the winter service has been handled by the Unimog service partner Nutzfahrzeuge Hasselfelde. From October to April managing director Christian Degenhardt sends his team out almost daily with heavy equipment onto the Brockenstraße.

To be able to realise the special project with four Unimog generations on the Brocken, the existing fleet in Hasselfelde was expanded by the Unimog general representative Henne with a brand-new Unimog U 429 equipped with complete municipal equipment and Schmidt winter service equipment.

The Unimog implement carrier is fitted with a hydrostatic traction drive, which allows a stepless transition between working speed in creep mode and normal driving speed. The hydraulics of the new Unimog provide a snowplough relief that both increases clearing performance and extends the service life of the attachment. Electronic Quick Reverse ensures quick switching between forward and reverse gears – ideal for use in deep snowdrifts.

Normally, winter service on the road to the Brocken plateau is carried out mainly by a Unimog U 400 from 2004 fitted with a cutter/blower and a dry bulk spreader. Thanks to its front power take-off, hydrostatic drive, working unit and the VarioPilot® transferable steering, working with the Unimog is absolutely comfortable. It is supported by a more than 20-year-old Unimog U 2400. The most powerful member of model series 437 is also equipped with a snow cutter/blower and additionally with a Palfinger crane in a rare detachable configuration. Despite the crane, this Unimog also has the full municipal equipment.

When the "Unimog youngsters" can no longer manage on their own, a U 84 from 1979 comes to the rescue. While the Unimog model series 406 pushes its way rather leisurely up the Brocken with its 62 kW (84 hp), the mounted drive engine OM 355 A supplies the Schmidt front-mounted snow blower with a hefty 191 kW (260 hp). What is special about this vehicle: the Unimog was acquired for winter service in Quickborn near Hamburg after the 1978/1979 snow disaster. However, another winter of snow chaos did not occur in the North German region. And so the Unimog U 84 was taken out of service after more than 35 years with a mileage of just 5,900 km and only 141 operating hours. On the Brocken he is now allowed to really tackle the snow again and is experiencing his second spring — or rather winter.