Steam Enthusiast Tour Calendar

8 Feb 2024 (11 days)   Saxony & Harz Winter Steam Extravaganza   Fares from £2199

Get ready to experience the ultimate steam tour adventure! Discover the stunning landscapes of Saxony and the Harz region in all its glory on this unforgettable journey. With no less than EIGHT steam lines to explore, you'll be sure to have an action-packed itinerary.

12 Feb & 10 Mar 24 (7 days)  Harz Mountains Winter Wonderland Fares from £1189

Germany's timeless Harz Mountains are arguably even more spectacular in winter with the towns half-timbered houses and snow dusted forests resembling a picturesque Christmas card scene. Our popular Winter Wonderland tour now includes a day to relax and explore beautiful Wernigerode.

9 Apr 2024 (8 days)   Dresden Steam Festival & More       Fares from £1999

Every year Dresden hosts one of the major steam festivals in Europe, and this year is no exception. Experience two main line steam runs, visit steam locomotives at the festival, enjoy three scenic narrow-gauge steam railways, and a vintage tram charter plus free time to discover the historic city of Dresden. Using our local agents, Railtrail Tours give you the best of the Dresden Steam Festival… & More!

10 & 24 Apr 2024 (6 days)   Amsterdam, Tulips, Cheese & Steam     Fares from £1399

Railtrail’s popular Holland tour features the incomparable bulbs in bloom at Keukenhof Gardens plus the historic steam train from Hoorn to Medemblik. Not forgetting a day in Amsterdam with a canal trip and we also stay in Alkmaar to coincide with their cheese market! We then sneak in some extra steam at Goes-Borsele whilst staying at the oldest hotel in the Netherlands.

Five Depts from 11 Apr (5 days)  Scottish Steam, Malt & Ale Trail    Fares from £699

Build up a head of steam, uncovering Scotland's heritage from a different angle. Enjoy the Bo'ness & Kinneil Steam Railway, soar above the canals by boat on the remarkable Falkirk Wheel, cruise Loch Katrine and steam through the Highlands on the Strathspey Railway, this great railway holiday also features The Kelpies, a distillery tour and a brewery visit.

28 Apr & 8 Sept 2024 (8 days)     Yorkshire Gold - Steam, Coast & Country

Fares from £1,339

Discover the delights of England's most diverse county with our Yorkshire Gold tour staying in superb hotels in the spa town of Harrogate and coastal resort of Scarborough. Enjoy steam nostalgia in the magnificent Dales, explore historic houses & gardens, stroll York's medieval streets, sail the Leeds & Liverpool canal, and steam across brooding moors to charming Whitby.

Four departures from 2 May 2024 (5 days)     Heart of Wales Steam & the Brecon Beacons     Fares from £650

Introducing four great preserved steam railways and a scenic mainline on one great rail holiday based in the Heart of Wales spa town of Llandrindod Wells. View coastlines, valleys, reservoirs, and mountains from your window on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the Heart of Wales Line, the Brecon Mountain Railway and, last but not least, the Talyllyn, the world’s first ever preserved railway.

9 May & 9 Sept (5 days)     Forest of Dean Steam & the Wye Valley     Fares from £689

D iscover the delights of England's most diverse county with our Yorkshire Gold tour staying in superb hotels in the spa town of Harrogate and coastal resort of Scarborough. Enjoy steam nostalgia in the magnificent Dales, explore historic houses & gardens, stroll York's medieval streets, sail the Leeds & Liverpool canal, and steam across brooding moors to charming Whitby.

13 May, 17 Jun & 9 Sept 2024 (8 days)  Roses Battle By Steam-Settle & Carlisle Line    Fares from £1099

We thought we would celebrate the steam and rail heritage of the north country with our own 'battle of the roses' tour, including Yorkshire and Lancashire steam and heritage railways every day from our base at an iconic railway hotel. With Railtrail escorting this great railway holiday you are sure to come up smelling of roses!

15 May 2024 (8 days)      Lake Geneva Spring Steam         Fares from £2499

Railtrail's new and exciting tour introduces four engines in steam plus three further steam lines and lake steamers wrapped in one great rail holiday. Perfect for any dedicated steam enthusiasts! Enjoy a major steam festival and a vintage railcar charter in scenic Switzerland staying in a superb hotel in Vevey on the beautiful shores of Lake Geneva.

23 May 2024 (20 days)       The Australian (Flight Inclusive)       Fares from £5989

Experience the trip of a lifetime for any dedicated steam enthusiasts! Our escorted rail holiday to Australia boasts at least nine steam train rides including exclusive charters, outback towns, the scenic Blue Mountains, a vintage wooden paddle steamer cruise, and some amazing railway museums. Enjoy comfortable day time rail journeys between Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide with free time in these amazing cities to explore and create unforgettable memories.

24 May 2024 (18 days)       The Australian (Ground Only)          Fares from £4599

Experience the trip of a lifetime for any dedicated steam enthusiasts! Our escorted rail holiday to Australia boasts at least nine steam train rides including exclusive charters, outback towns, the scenic Blue Mountains, a vintage wooden paddle steamer cruise, and some amazing railway museums. Enjoy comfortable day time rail journeys between Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide with free time in these amazing cities to explore and create unforgettable memories.  This is a tour base rail holiday you will have to book your own flights to Sydney and return from Adelaide.

23 May 2024 (5 days)       North East Steam       Fares from £849

Experience Railtrail's newest steam tour to fantastic Newcastle. Explore the home of five steam railways, some in their historic original industrial setting plus enjoy a scenic ride along the beautiful coast for another spectacular steam rail journey. Enjoy free time in the delightful and diverse Scottish city of Edinburgh to explore and create amazing memories.

8 Jun, 20 Jul & 14 Sept 2024 (7 days)   Harz Mountains Steam    Fares from £1475

A great Railtrail holiday to discover picturesque medieval towns and villages surrounded by a panoramic range of stunning mountains, romantic valleys, and fairytale woods - full of folklore, fascinating history, and superb steam trains.

19 Jun, 11 Sept 2024 (8 days)   Swiss Rail Riders   Fares from £2049

Experience Railtrail's newest tour to Switzerland. Discover spectacular routes such as the Gotthard, Lötschberg, and Albula Passes on the comfortable and remarkably efficient Swiss trains. Marvel at the scenery on the classic Glacier Express and the Rigi Mountain Railway, uncover the rarely visited "backwater" routes in the east of the country, and enjoy a relaxing lake cruise on this fantastic tour.

10 Jul, 18 & 25 Sept 2024 (9 days)  Swiss Glacier Express and the Bernina   Fares from £2499

Two of the world’s greatest railway journeys in one tour! Enjoy the classic Glacier Express journey across the Swiss Alps followed by the Bernina Express in its full glory. Not forgetting Lausanne, Montreux, and St Moritz plus stays on Lake Geneva and in the Engadin Valley. We have also enhanced the tour by adding an outbound overnight in the beautiful city of Basel for a more leisurely travel experience.

10 Jul 2024 (9 days)   Northern Germany by Steam       Fares from £2399

Experience our exciting tour full of steam action and variety in Northern Germany. Featuring the amazing Flensburg Steamboat Festival, two rarely visited steam railways including an exclusive charter, special arrangements on the "Molli" steam line with a unique photo session at the depot plus vintage trams, a steamboat cruise, and a visit to the world's largest model railway. This is not a tour to be missed!

22 July, 19 Aug & 23 Sept 2024 (9 days)    Swiss Mountain Steam    Fares from £2939

Switzerland and steam trains - a delightful combination as Railtrail Tours take you to the heart of this beautiful country to experience some amazing mountain rail journeys and glorious lake steamer cruises. Plus, for 2024, we have enhanced the tour by adding an outbound overnight in the beautiful city of Basel for a more leisurely travel experience.

8 Aug 2024 (6 days)    Bavarian Rail Rider           Fares from £1199

Discover Railtrail's exciting new tour to Germany. Using the flexibility of a regional rail pass, this value-for-money tour travels over some of Germany's most scenic rail routes, taking in a large railway museum, a vintage railcar, steam tram, the lovely lakeside town of Lindau, and the opportunity to explore beautiful Munich.

5 Sept 2024 (5 days)       Dutch Maximum Steam Weekend       Fares from £1199

Experience a fantastic major steam festival featuring big engines, demonstration freight trains, and traction engines plus a steam powered sawmill, model railways, and lots more on this exciting and action-packed tour. We also visit three other steam railways in the Netherlands, enjoy a vintage boat cruise, and explore a superb outdoor recreated village museum in this short break, value for money tour.

23 Sept 2024 (8 days)       South of France Steam           Fares from £1899

We are proud to offer this highly anticipated, special tour to the South of France riding steam hauled trains over some of the most scenic routes in France. Experience the stunning Doux Gorge line to the gourmet town of Lamastre, an exclusive charter train, the superb viaducts aboard the Cévennes steam train, and steam into the Provence countryside plus a ride along the Mediterranean coast and a fantastic branch line into the mountains.

2 Oct 2024 (13 days)      USA Fall Colours Steam - Flight Inclusive     Fares from £4289

Join us on this truly amazing, new tour to the USA featuring 7 steam lines including marvellous double headed shay locomotives and a phenomenal 2-6-6-2 Mallet in operation. On this action-packed adventure we will also experience two scenic diesel excursions, an Amtrak ride into New York with free time in the infamous "Big Apple", and two fascinating railroad museums. This is the journey of a lifetime to create lasting memories!

2 Oct 2024 (12 days)      USA Fall Colours Steam - Ground Only     Fares from £3399

Join us on this truly amazing, new tour to the USA featuring 7 steam lines including marvellous double headed shay locomotives and a phenomenal 2-6-6-2 Mallet in operation. On this action-packed adventure we will also experience two scenic diesel excursions, an Amtrak ride into New York with free time in the infamous "Big Apple", and two fascinating railroad museums. This is the journey of a lifetime to create lasting memories! You will have to make you flight arrangements to Philadelphia and return from Washington Dulles.

February 2025 (23 days)      New Zealand Steam Tour            Fares from TBA

Experience the trip of a lifetime with our 23-day tour of New Zealand. Railtrail has curated a one-of-a-kind itinerary that showcases the best of both the north and south islands. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure filled with exclusive steam charters, mainline steam runs, three further heritage steam lines, vintage railcar excursions, depot visits, captivating railway museums, a historic steam ship voyage, and charming vintage tram rides.

But that's not all. We'll also treat you to breathtaking KiwiRail rides on the renowned TranzAlpine Railway, hailed as one of the top 10 rail journeys in the world. You'll also journey on the Northern Explorer, which includes a mesmerizing traverse of the Raurimu Spiral, and the Coastal Pacific trains. Throughout the tour, you'll have the opportunity to visit incredible destinations such as Milford Sound, Queenstown, Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. And to top it all off, we've included wine tasting and brewery visits to add a special touch to your journey. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty and history of New Zealand's railways. Reserve your spot today!

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Late March 2025 (12 days)      The Canadian            Fares from TBA

If you're looking for a unique rail journey through majestic Canada, this is the tour for you! You'll travel in a classic 1950's train with dome cars, tail observation car and proper restaurant car, and enjoy 12 days of sightseeing and relaxing on your way. Feast your eyes on iconic cities like Montreal and Toronto, gaze out at the thundering waters of Niagara Falls, soak in coastal breezes in Vancouver, and take a ferry ride to Victoria on beautiful Vancouver Island. This rail journey across Canada offers an unforgettable experience like no other.

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Please keep visiting the Railtrail Steam calendar for updates to our site.  Many thanks for looking.

Express your interest in receiving details of this tour as soon as they are available