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A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.

Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm

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Saxony & Harz Winter Steam Extravaganza

Experience the ultimate steam tour adventure in Germany with no less than ten steam lines to explore on this action-packed itinerary! Journey through beautiful landscapes on exhilarating steam hauled rides, travel on a unique suspended monorail, ride charming branch lines on the Zittau Railway, and visit the fascinating Altstadt roundhouse in Dresden.

View Dates & Book

11 days from £2399

 

DEPARTS

Friday 14 February 2025

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Journey to Jöhstadt for the winter steam on the narrow-gauge Pressnitztalbahn

  • Travel behind Saxon Meyer steam locomotives on the Oschatz line

  • Explore Dresden and ride the unique suspended railway

  • Climb into the mountains on a scenic steam journey to Oberwiesenthal

  • Ride behind steam from Radebeul to Radeburg operated by 2-10-2T locomotives

  • Steam nostalgia on the oldest narrow-gauge railway to Kipsdorf

  • Visit the fascinating Altstadt roundhouse

  • Enjoy two charming narrow-gauge routes at Zittau

  • Experience an exhilarating steam-hauled journey up the Brocken Mountain

  • Marvel at the panoramic views at the summit of the Brocken

  • Enjoy the narrow-gauge Selketalbahn steam experience to Alexisbad

  • Steam through beautiful, wooded valleys on the Harzquerbahn to Wernigerode

 

Also included in your Tour Fare:

  • 10 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 6 evening meals

  • Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Gotha and our base for one night, the Hotel am Tierpark, where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

D

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Oschatz where we depart on the Döllnitzbahn narrow-gauge railway for a return ride to Kemmlitz travelling through the town and beautiful open fields to Mügeln, formerly Germany's largest narrow-gauge railway station, before continuing to Kemmlitz. On return to Oschatz, we travel to Dresden for our six-night stay at the InterCity Hotel where we enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 3

This morning, we travel by road to Schönheide for a ride over a 3-mile-long preserved line using classic Saxony Meyer locomotives. Afterwards, we continue to the mining town of Jöhstadt for the winter steam on the Pressnitztalbahn, a scenic 750mm narrow-gauge railway line following a river course through woodland to the village of Steinbach.

B

DAY 4

After breakfast, we explore the beautiful city of Dresden including a ride on the unusual, suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways, plus the superb single-track funicular railway. This afternoon, we travel the short distance to Radebeul in the suburbs of Dresden for a return ride behind steam on the Lössnitzgrundbahn to Radeburg operated by 2-10-2T locomotives.

B

DAY 5

Today, we travel to Cranzahl for an exhilarating return ride behind steam on the Fichtelbergbahn, a steeply graded route climbing into the mountains and crossing the mighty 110m long, 23 m high Hüttenbach viaduct to the highest town in Germany, Oberwiesenthal, situated at 3,000ft.

B

DAY 6

This morning, a short local train ride takes us to Freital-Hainsberg where we join the steam hauled service over the Weisseritztalbahn for a nostalgic ride on the oldest narrow-gauge railway in public operation along a narrow gorge, through woodland, and past lakes to Kipsdorf and return. This afternoon, we enjoy an exclusive visit to see the mainline steam locomotives in the railway museum at the Altstadt roundhouse, one of the oldest in Germany dating back to 1847.

B

Day 7

After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Zittau where we ride behind steam on the Zittau Railway to Bertsdorf, a narrow-gauge railway offering many scenic and historic attractions such as the unique spectacle of a simultaneous departure of two steam trains. From here we ride both branch lines along charming landscapes to Jonsdorf and Oybin before returning to Dresden for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 8

After breakfast, we depart on the morning train to Wernigerode for a guided visit to the Steam Loco Works where the narrow-gauge locomotives are overhauled, founded in 1993 and located at the former Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways depot. We enjoy our evening meal at the HKK Hotel, our base for the next three nights.

B, D

DAY 9

Today, we experience the thrilling climb behind steam from Wernigerode through wintry landscapes to the summit of the Brocken Mountain aboard the Brockenbahn for a spectacular panorama of the Harz National Park. Afterwards, we enjoy time at leisure at the junction of Drei Annen Hohne, perhaps with a warming soup in the quaint café whilst watching the steam activity before returning to Wernigerode in time for our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 10

After breakfast this morning, we travel by local train to Quedlinburg for the morning steam working on the narrow-gauge Selketalbahn through the romantic Selke Valley and wintry forests to Alexisbad. Here we change to a railcar to continue our journey to Eisfelder Talmulhe where we join our steam hauled journey on the Harzquerbahn traversing narrow curves through wooded valleys to Wernigerode returning in time for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 11

We bid farewell to Wernigerode and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner

HOTELS

Hotel Am Tierpark, Gotha

Located in the heart of the historic city of Gotha, the charming Hotel am Tierpark combines traditional hospitality with modern comforts and offers a restaurant with a bar, a winter garden and terrace, sauna, and a small fitness area. The comfortable bedrooms provide a private bathroom, hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

 

InterCity Hotel, Dresden

Situated right by the main railway station, the InterCity Hotel offers a relaxed ambience including a cosy bar and a quality restaurant serving regional and national specialties. The stylish bedrooms provide a private bathroom, hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

 

HKK Hotel, Wernigerode

This stylish hotel is ideally positioned close to the historic old town centre and the Wernigerode narrow-gauge railway station. The hotel offers culinary delights from all over the world in the buffet restaurant, refreshing drinks in the relaxing Berliner Ziller bar plus a sauna, gym, and jacuzzi. The modern bedrooms provide a private bathroom with a shower or bath, hairdryer, and a flat-screen TV.

 

FARES

From London St Pancras International:

Standard Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Standard Eurostar

£2,399

Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar upgrade return

£200

First Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Standard Premier Eurostar

£2,699

Join at Gotha & Leave at Wernigerode

£1,999

Single Traveller Supplement

£350

 

10 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 6 evening meals

Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in the class of your choice

All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

 

 

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

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Contact Us
Railtrail Tours Limited
21 The Smithfield Centre, Leek
Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 5JW
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