Steam in Saxony, Bohemia and Bavaria

Idyllic narrow-gauge railways, exhilarating main line steam locomotives, paddle steamers and the Dresden steam locomotive festival are the signature attractions of this delightful Spring holiday.

• Visit to Germany’s premier steam locomotive gathering and round-house festival, with the “Dampfloktreffen” in Dresden, including access to the festival grounds and rides on the different main line excursions.
• A beautiful paddle steamer cruise on the River Elbe from Dresden to Pillnitz Palace, as well as excursions on the city’s unique mountain monorail and funicular.
• Narrow gauge ‘Plandampf’ on the regional lines from Radebeul to Radeburg and Freital to Kurort Kipsdorf with the impressive 2-10-2 tank engines, as well as a visit to the 15-inch Dresden Park Railway for steam with one of their
  4-6-2 ‘Pacifics’.
• Experience the best of Czech main line steam with a private charter hauled by the vintage 1928 tank engine 421.032 on ‘rare track’ in the North Bohemian mountains near the Polish border, including luxurious First Class coaches from the 1930s and on-train catering.
• Steam in Bavaria at the premier railway museum in Nördlingen, with a private charter on an archaic tank engine from the late 19th century.
  

Thursday 10th April
London to Dresden
You travel from London St Pancras via Brussels and Frankfurt to Dresden on Eurostar and ICE high speed services. This includes the new Erfurt to Leipzig high speed line. Upon arrival in Saxony’s capital city, you check into your 4-star city centre hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel. (D)

Friday 11th April to Sunday 13th April
Dresden steam loco festival, main line steam excursions and the Dresden Park Railway
This long weekend is entirely dedicated to the sounds and sights of Germany’s premier annual steam gala and locomotive gathering, which typically includes a variety of both express and freight type steam locomotives. Throughout the festival weekend there are several main line steam excursions departing Dresden’s main station and featuring parallel running. You will have full access to the round-houses and ample time to observe and photograph. The exact programme will be announced by festival organizers a few weeks before the event. On Sunday, a visit to Germany’s largest 15 inch railway is also included, with a steam run behind a 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ at the 6 km long Dresden Park Railway. (B)

Monday 14th April
Steam to Radeburg and a paddle steamer cruise in Dresden
After breakfast, you visit the local narrow-gauge railway at Radebeul, where a 2-10-2 Saxon VII K tank locomotive takes you down the 16.5 km long line to Radeburg, pausing at Moritzburg Castle. The train returns to Radebeul by midday, from where you return to Dresden Hbf on a DB service train. In the afternoon you enjoy a sightseeing cruise of Dresden by historic paddle steamer, including the sights of the beautiful riverside palaces and the famed ‘Blue Wonder’ bridge. Enjoy the best of steam by land and water. Dinner tonight is at the hotel (B D)

Tuesday 15th April
Travel to Prague
In the morning you travel in First Class by EuroCity train along the scenic Elbe Valley to Prague. You arrive in the Czech capital in time for lunch at your hotel and then may spend the afternoon at leisure getting to know this fabulous world city, steeped in history, culture and wonderful architecture. (B L)

Wednesday 16th April
Classic Prague by luxury tram, visit to the Technical Museum and free time
This morning you board a luxury tram for a sightseeing tour of Prague, with complimentary drinks served on board. See the city’s premier landmarks while criss-crossing the River Vltava on its famous bridges. Then you visit the Czech National Technical Museum to see its impressive collection of 19th century and early 20th century steam locomotives. The museum also has a Spitfire flown by Czech pilots during the Battle of Britain and other historic displays. After the museum visit there is more free time to explore Prague. (B)

Thursday 17th April
Czech main line steam to Hanusovice
After breakfast, you join a privately chartered main line steam train, as you journey on the vintage 1928 tank engine 431.032 on scenic tracks in North Bohemia from Dolni Lipka to Hanusovice and then the branch line to Stare Mesto pod Sneznikem. Your train will be formed of First-Class coaches dating from the 1930s, including a bar car and on train catering. Enjoy the very best of Continental main line steam on steeply graded and idyllically rural routes. In the evening you return to Prague by service train. (B L)

Friday 18th April
Prague to Nürnberg, DB Museum visit and sightseeing of Nürnberg by vintage tram
After breakfast, you travel by train from Prague to Nürnberg. After checking into your hotel and lunch, you visit the DB Museum, Germany's national railway museum, with a fine collection of steam locomotives from the 19th and early 20th century. In the late afternoon, you embark on a sightseeing tour of historic Nürnberg by vintage tramway, with complimentary alcoholic drinks included. You will get a firsthand glimpse of the famous hilltop castle and travel over some 'rare track' that cannot be done on local trams in normal passenger service. The rest of the evening you may then spend at leisure in the city, perhaps visiting one of its many Brauhauses or distinctive beer cellars. (B L)

Saturday 19th April
Steam at the Schiefe Ebene at Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg
Today you visit one of the most famous steam sites and museums in Germany as you take a service train from Nürnberg over the famed 'Schiefe Ebene' ramp to Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg, where the Deutsches Dampflok Museum has one of the best and largest collections of preserved steam locomotives in Germany, including the iconic Class 10. In addition to viewing the vast collection, you will also have a steam ride on the railway's own narrow-gauge railway. You return to Nürnberg in the early evening, in time for dinner at a nearby restaurant. (B D)

Sunday 20th April
Steam at the Bavarian Railway Museum in Nördlingen
Today you visit the walled city of Nördlingen in western Bavaria. This town is famed for its timber-framed buildings and home to the Bavarian Railway Museum, with one of the largest steam locomotive collections in Germany. You will see a number of exhibits and enjoy a steam train excursion, behind a museum’s steam engine. Photo opportunities, run-pasts and cab rides as well as refreshments in Nördlingen are included. You return to Nürnberg in the afternoon for another dinner at a nearby restaurant. (B L D)

Monday 21st April
Nürnberg to London by rail
Today you travel on high-speed services from Nürnberg via Frankfurt to Cologne and then continue to Brussels, where you board a Eurostar train back to London (B)