Steam Tours 2019 Itineraries

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Wednesday 10 April: Depart London St. Pancras International and travel by Eurostar and ICE train, via Frankfurt Flughafen (Airport) to Erfurt. For one night at the InterCity Hotel. (D) DAY 2 Thursday 11 April: We transfer by train to Oschatz for an exclusive private steam photo charter on one of our personal favourite lines the 20 kms long Döllnitzbahn. Our private charter is scheduled for one of the beautiful Saxon- Mayer locomotives and we will have a light snack lunch aboard the train. We then continue to Dresden for our accommodation at the centrally located Ibis Hotel in the heart of this beautiful city. (B,L) DAY 3 Friday 12 April: We transfer by private coach for a visit to the fabulous Dresden Steam Festival at Alstadt amidst the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional working steam shed, with lots of locos in steam, footplate rides and visiting engines, including the opportunity to visit the reserve collection of the museum not normally open to the public. Dresden is also home to the biggest paddle steamer fleet in the world and our day concludes with a relaxing evening paddle steamer cruise along the River Elbe with the remainder of the evening free to enjoy this truly wonderful city with its magnificent waterfront of historic buildings. (B) DAY 4 - 5 Sat - Sun 13 - 14 April: It’s two full days of steam out on the mainline from Dresden using locomotives from the festival. Whilst destinations have not yet been announced we have always previously been able to include the unique experience of parallel steam running over a considerable distance, and a thrash up the steep Tharandt incline with the two trains each taking turns overtaking the other - see our Dresden Steam Festival film on our website it’s an amazing sight giving all participants the opportunity to see at close quarters powerful steam locomotives hard at work. Over the two days we are anticipating a total of four different runs two each morning and afternoon. (B) DAY 6 Monday 15 April: We board our regional train to the Polish border for one of Saxony’s finest 750 mm narrow gauge routes, from Zittau to the mountain spa resorts of Oybin and Jonsdorf, which is still very much a public service over the ten miles long route. This is a full day rover so all lines will be covered, including the opportunity to photograph the parallel departure at Bertsdorf, along with a main course lunch and an engine shed tour at this junction station. (B) DAY 7 T uesday 16 April: Travelling by train we alight at Radebeul for a morning steam run on the 750 mm narrow gauge Lössnitzgrundbahn, a delightful 17 kms line which still operates a public service between Radebeul and Radeburg including some street running! We then transfer by train to enjoy an afternoon of 750 mm gauge steam on the newly extended Weisseritztalbahn line meandering up the Weisseritz valley with an open coach to travel in if you wish. Operating over 26 kms through varying scenery, with 13 stations, and the steepest part of the line on the newly reopened section to the terminus at Kipsdorf. Known as one of Europes’ great narrow gauge railways, this is a ride not to be missed. We then return by train to Dresden for an evening free to further explore this beautiful city. (B)

DAY 8 Wednesday 17 April: Travelling by train we visit the Forest Railway at Bad Muskau, the Waldeisenbahn. Here we have a private steam photo charter along this 600 mm line using one of its 0-8-0T locomotives which will operate either between Muskau and Weisswasser or through the Forest and parkland to Kromlau. A light snack lunch is included. We return by train to Dresden for a final evening in this wonderful city. (B,L) DAY 9 Thursday 18 April: 9 day tour participants returning to London via Frankfurt and Brussells, whilst those on 14 day tour our luggage is privately transferred by road we travel by train from Dresden to Chemnitz for a visit to probably the biggest steam railway museum in Germany housed in the original dual roundhouses set in the extensive old railway yard at Chemnitz Hilbersdorf. Home to a magnificent collection of over sixty standard gauge steam, diesel and electric locomotives Chemnitz is a genuine trip into a time warp bubble of yesteryear. After our visit which includes a light lunch at the depot we continue by train high into the scenic Ore Mountains region to the pretty town of Annaberg-Bucholz situated almost on the border to the Czech Republic. Here we enjoy 4 nights at the traditional Wilder Mann hotel in the heart of the town and enjoy this evening a welcome 3 course dinner. (9 day B) (14 day B,L,D) DAY 10 Friday 19 April: By train from Annaberg-Bucholz on the short scenic journey along the Sehma Valley to Cranzahl where a day of steam awaits on the fabulous 17 km long, 750 mm gauge Fichtelbergbahn, climbing around 250 m through nine stations to the ski resort of Oberwiesenthal, the highest town in Germany. We include lunch and a tour of the loco workshops whilst completing two full-line return journeys, including crossing the 100 m long, 23 m high, lattice girder bridge at the entrance to Oberwiesenthal station. (B,L) DAY 11 Saturday 20 April: Staying high up in the Ore Mountains region a private coach will transfer us to the town of Schwarzenberg where we visit the railway museum located in the former DB roundhouse which has a fine collection of steam and diesel locomotives. Our coach will then take us very close to the Czech border and the very rural Museumsbahn Schönheide where we have an afternoon trip on the 4 Kms long, 750 mm, narrow gauge Museumsbahn Schönheide line. (B) DAY 12 Sunday 21 April: A day of standard gauge steam aboard an excursion using one of the Schwarzenberg locomotives through the Ore mountains region over a route rarely used by steam excursions. (B) DAY 13 Monday 22 April: Saxon narrow-gauge steam in idyllic pastures. We travel to Jöhstadt for our final Saxon line, the 9 km long, 750 mm Pressnitztalbahn. A wonderfully relaxing run along a most scenic rural line. We conclude this fabulous tour travelling back to Chemnitz where we visit the Parkeisenbahn for a steam hauled trip around Küchwald Park. We then transfer to the Dorint Hotel for our final evening followed by dinner at a charming local restaurant. (B,D) DAY 14 Tuesday 23 April: Today it’s homeward bound, our private coach will transfer us to Chemnitz Railway Station for a journey back to London St. Pancras. (B)

HOTELS InterCity Hotel, Erfurt

Wilder Mann, Annaberg-Bucholz A lovely traditional hotel located in the Market Square of the Ore Mountains town of Annaberg-Bucholz. The hotel has two restaurants including a cellar bar. All rooms are equipped with bath / shower, WC, hair dryer, cosmetic mirror, TV incl. Sky-Cinema,

Situated adjacent to the station the hotel has a pleasant bar and restaurant serving local and international specialities. Modern en-suite rooms include satellite TV, radio, mini-bar and WiFi. Ibis Hotel, Dresden A short stroll from the station, located in the heart of the city near to the historic Old Town, the Ibis hotels are inviting and modern, with comfortable bedrooms, air- conditioning, WiFi access, satellite TV and en-suite bathrooms with shower and hair dryer.

telephone, free W-LAN and minibar Dorint Hotel, Chemnitz

A short walk from the station and in the centre of Chemnitz. The Hotel room has bath/ shower WC, hair dryer mirror, flat screen tv, free wi-fi, and small refrigerator. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities.

Railtrail Tours Ltd 43 St. Edward Street, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands ST13 5DN Telephone: 01538 382323 Fax: 01538 382525 email: enquiry@railtrail.co.uk www.railtrail.co.uk

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