THE HUNGARY VAMPIRE
RAILFAN TOUR
MAY 4-11, 2020
On this year’s Hungary enthusiasts railtour we again visit rare lines, use unusual locomotives and travel in vintage stock provided by MÁV Nosztalgia, with two ex-ÖBB first class open carriages, one at each end of the train. A restaurant car and former governmental saloon No. 55, offering a big central table, will be situated in the middle of the train.
Day 1 Monday May 4:
Arrival in Budapest, Hungary’s capital city alongside along the Blue Danube. Transfer yourself to our hotel and check-in. Rest of the evening on your own to relax.
Day 2 Tuesday May 5: (B)
After breakfast we have coach transfer to Kőbánya-teher to join our special trains. Our route is Kőbánya-teher – Csömör – Gödöllő – Hatvan – Kisterenye – Kál-Kápolna – Füzesabony – Eger. One of the highlights today is travel on the closed Kisterenye – Kál-Kápolna line we also hope to use two private rail operator locos, diesel haulage on normally electric lines, and night in one of Hungary’s best known wine regions with lots of wine cellars.
Motive Power used today
MÁV-HÉV M44 Kőbánya-teher – Csömör – Gödöllő (in MÁV-HÉV heritage carriages)
MÁV Nosztalgia M40 219 Gödöllő – Kisterenye
MÁV Nosztalgia M32 2055 or Kárpát 439 015 (modernised M43) Kisterenye – Kál-Kápolna
Kárpát 628 178 or MÁV-Start 628 (M62) Kál-Kápolna – Eger
Day 3 Wednesday May 6: (B)
Today’s route is Eger – Füzesabony – Ohat-Pusztakócs – Tiszalök – Nyíregyháza – Nagykálló – Nyíradony – Debrecen. Highlights include – use of private railway locomotives; traveling on two closed lines (Ohat-Pusztakócs – Tiszalök and Nagykálló – Nyíradony); travelling diesel hauled under the wires Eger – Füzesabony; travelling through Hungary’s first national park of the great plains (Hortobágy) and a night in Hungary’s second largest city.
Motive Power used today:
Kárpát 628 178 or MÁV-Start 628 (M62) Eger – Óhat-Pusztakócs
MÁV M32 Óhat-Pusztakócs – Tiszalök – Nyíregyháza – Nagykálló – Nyíradony – Debrecen
Day 4 Thursday May 7: (B)
Debrecen – Létavértes – Sáránd – Nagykereki – Debrecen – Tiszalök – Nyíregyháza –Vásárosnamény – Záhony – Debrecen. Highlights: use of diesel locomotives normally working freights only; traveling on the closed Sáránd–Létavértes line; hauled train on unit only lines (Debrecen – Nagykereki, Tiszalök – Görögszállás, Nyíregyháza – Vásárosnamény); use of rare 6-axle electric locomotive; another night in Hungary’s second largest city
Movtive Power used today
2 x MÁV-Start 448 (M44.4)* or private locos Debrecen – Létavértes – Sáránd, then, Sáránd – Nagykereki – Debrecen
MÁV-Start 408.300 (M40.3) Debrecen – Tiszalök – Nyíregyháza – Vásárosnamény – Záhony
MÁV-Start 630 (V63) Záhony – Debrecen
Day 5 Friday May 8: (B)
Route: Debrecen – Tuzsér – Komoró – Vásárosnamény – Mátészalka – Csenger – Mátészalka – Carei – Debrecen. Highlights:use of rare Class M62 diesel locomotive; first use of Class M41 hauled train on unit only lines (Mátészalka – Csenger, Mátészalka – Carei); use of standard-gauge freight-only lines in the Záhony trans-shipment area; interlaced track Tuzsér – Eperjeske-rendező (used broad-gauge here in 2017; Eperjeske-rendező – Komoró . passing through two border crossings between Hungary and Romania; a third night in Hungary’s second largest city.
Motive Power used today
MÁV-Start 628 (M62) Debrecen – Tuzsér – Eperjeske-rendező
MÁV-Start 418 (M41) Eperjeske-rendező – Mátészalka – Csenger – Carei
CFR 80 * Carei – Nyírábrány
MÁV-Start 418 (M41) same as above – Nyírábrány – Debrecen
Day 6 Saturday May 9: (B)
Route: Debrecen – Valea lui Mihai – Săcueni – Șărmășag – Jibou – Cluj-Napoca – Oradea. Highlights: use of rare private diesel locomotive in Hungary; use of Sulzer and General Motors powered locos in Romania; use of unit-only line Săcueni – Șărmășag; beautiful scenery in the Mures valley (Cluj-Napoca to Oradea); Night in Oradea in Romania.
Motive Power used today:
Private Sulzer diesel loco Debrecen – Nyírábrány
CFR 60 (requested) Nyírábrány – Șărmășag
CFR 65 modernised Class 60 (requested) Șărmășag – Jibou – Cluj-Napoca
CFR 62 (requested) Cluj-Napoca – Oradea
Day 7 Sunday May 10: (B)
Route: Oradea – Salonta – Kötegyán – Vésztő – Szeghalom – Pöspökladány – Szeghalom – Gyoma –Szolnok – Budapest-Keleti with visit to a freight spur along the way (to be confirmed) or visit to Ferencváros depot. Highlights: use of Sulzer powered locomotive in Romania; passing through the border between Romania and Hungary; use of rare/preserved locomotives in Hungary; hauled train on unit-only lines (Salonta – Püspökladány and Szeghalom – Gyoma) visit to a freight spur or Ferencváros depot (to be confirmed); final night in Hungary’s capital.
Motive Power used today:
CFR 60/62 (requested) Oradea – Salonta
MÁV-Start 478 (modernised M47) Salonta – Püspökladány – Gyoma
Komplex Rail ex-NSB Di3 629 or MÁV 618 017 (M61 017) Gyoma – Ferencváros
MÁV Nosztalgia V42 527 Ferencváros – Budapest-Keleti
In Romania, Romanian railways may opt to provide a different type of locomotive, based on availability
Day 8 Monday May 11: (B)
End of tour after Breakfast.
all prices per person
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY$2,395
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT$195
DEPOSIT TO HOLD SPACE$800
FINAL PAYMENT DUE BY FEBRUARY 4, 2020
Highlights
* 7 meals
* Good hotels
* Fully Escorted
* Border crossings
* Popular locomotives
* On-train restaurant car
* Some non-passenger lines
* Private charter train with vintage carriages
TOUR CONDITIONS FOR 2020 **PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**
Tour Price: All tour prices are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. Those people that use a credit card for payments a 3% conveyance fee will be added to the tour price. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary without prior notice.