German Steam Spectacular

Morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras Station to Brussels, then onwards to Augsburg and our hotel for four nights, the 3 star Rugs Hotel, where we check in and enjoy our first evening at leisure to explore our new surroundings.

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After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Amstetten for a meter-gauge steam run along the beautiful Alb-Bahnle line to Oppingen and return. After a short break, we then enjoy a historic ride over the 12 mile standard-gauge line to Gerstetten, a scenic journey that beautifully combines nostalgia and local transport. On our return to Augsburg, we enjoy an evening at leisure to stroll along the canal-lined streets and explore the botanical gardens.

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Today, we visit the fascinating Augsburg Railway Park, one of the largest monuments of industrial culture in Bavaria with historic locomotives from all over Europe including the imperial steam locomotive and the secret reserve locomotive of the Cold War. We will explore the history and technology of railways on a guided tour and visit the remarkable roundhouse. This afternoon, we will board our specially chartered vintage tram for a nostalgic journey through Augsburg ahead of an evening at leisure.

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The amazing Augsburg Railway Park roundhouse and turntable - next photo

The Bahnpark Augsburg Museum has a wide variety of
steam-diesel-electric locomotives - next photo

Today, we enjoy a special steam-hauled journey over a 47 mile section of the mainline to Nordlingen for the exciting Bavarian Railway Museum Steam Festival. We have free time to explore the superb collection of steam locomotives including the famous Class 18 Pacific in its beautiful green livery plus steam demonstrations, visiting locomotives, various exhibitions, and an included mainline ride behind steam. At the end of our visit, we will return by either a steam charter or heritage electric haulage, arriving in Augsburg for our final evening at leisure.

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We ride a steam charter to Nordlingen for the Bavarian
Railway Museum Steam Festival

The Bavarian Railway Museum Steam Festival in Nordlingen

We bid farewell to Augsburg and travel by train to Gotha for our overnight stay at the 3 star Hotel am Tierpark where we check in and enjoy an evening meal together.

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After breakfast, we depart Gotha by train to Dresden where we travel the short distance to Radebeul for a steam run on the 750mm narrow-gauge Lössnitzgrundbahn, a delightful 11 mile line which still operates a public service between Radebeul and Radeburg including some street running! Afterwards, we make our way to our hotel, the 4 star Inter City Hotel in Dresden, for our eight-night stay where we check in and explore our new surroundings.

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Today, 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 side by side. From here, we ride both branch lines along charming landscapes to Jonsdorf and Oybin before returning to Dresden in time for our evening meal together.

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Zittau Railway - next 2 photos

After breakfast 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. This afternoon, we have time at leisure to use our included transport pass and explore the beautiful city of Dresden including a ride on the unusual, suspended monorail, one of the oldest suspension railways and a marvelous example of engineering and construction, plus the superb single-track funicular railway.

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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 361 foot long, 76 foot high Hüttenbach viaduct to the highest town in Germany, Oberwiesenthal, situated at 3,000feet. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of the locomotive shed before retracing our steps to Dresden for an evening at leisure.

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The Fichtelbergbahn line with doubleheaded 2-10-2T steam locomotives

This morning, we make our way to Weisswasser for an exclusive steam charter on the extensive, narrow-gauge Waldeisenbahn Muskau Forest Railway. This nostalgic journey runs through beautiful woodland and alongside a vast open-cast mine and includes run pasts and fantastic photo opportunities. Afterwards, we enjoy a light lunch at the station before visiting the Museumbahnhof where we can explore the history of the railway through exhibits and stories.

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The Waldeisenbahn Muskau Forest Railway

Today, we journey to Leipzig where we join a thrilling mainline steam excursion in historic coaches, departing from the city's iconic main station (full details to be confirmed).

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After breakfast this morning, we travel by rail to Oschatz where we depart on the delightful Döllnitzbahn behind the lovely and historic Saxon Meyers. Our journey takes us through the town, past beautiful open fields to Glossen where the local Feldbahn Museum provides a short diesel hauled run and a chance to view their locomotive collection. Afterwards, we rejoin our steam train for the branch line to Kemmlitz before making the return journey to Oschatz and onwards to Dresden.

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The Döllnitzbahn Railroad and the classic Saxon Meyers steam locomotives

This morning, we travel by road to Schönheide for a return ride behind steam over their scenic, 3-mile, preserved line using classic Saxony Meyer locomotives. Afterwards, we continue to the superb Pressnitztalbahn, a scenic 750mm narrow-gauge railway line where two steam trains operate over this beautifully restored line following a river course through woodland to the village of Steinbach. This evening, we return to Dresden and gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel.

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We bid farewell to Dresden and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. Upon arrival back in London end of our tour.

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