An exciting one-off tour with some of the most iconic yet rare steam, electric and diesel locomotives in Switzerland, including tank engines from 1881, main line and pocket Crocodiles of SBB and massive Sulzer diesel giants.

• A unique programme of private charter trains with incredible locomotives on scenic routes, which for operational and capacity reasons can only be staged in the late autumn off-season month of November. Don’t miss out, as this itinerary cannot be repeated.
• Storm over the Old Hauenstein route, Switzerland’s first mountain-crossing railway with the original green SBB Crocodile 14305 built in 1926.
• Travel through the scenic Emmental valley with double-headed steam behind the vintage 1881 tank engine ‘Langnau’, which only returned to steam in Spring 2025 after more than 55 years out of service and a previous career as a static showpiece at the Verkehrshaus in Luzern. Now it is one of the oldest main line steam locomotives in the world.
• Enjoy more main line steam with a private charter along the foot of the cragged Jura Mountains from Oensingen to Solothurn West, crossing the River Aare behind the rarely used OeBB tank engine Nr. 2 from 1899. More ancient and full certified main line steam.
• Experience some of the Switzerland’s remarkable mid century classics, such as the giant Sulzer diesels of the Bm 6/6 class, the type Ee 3/3 ‘Pocket Crocodiles’ and the iconic Re 6/6 Bo-Bo-Bo electrics, which now are only in freight use and will remarkably also haul our main line train charter over the newest part of the Swiss national network from Mägenwil to Birr.

Thursday 20 November
London to Olten by rail
You travel by Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris Gaare du Nord. You then continue from Paris by TGV to Basel, arriving in Switzerland by late afternoon. From there you continue on an SBB train for the short distance to Olten. This will be your base for the holiday. You check into your hotel near the station and the historic old town and have time to relax before a welcome dinner is provided. (D)

Friday 21 November
With SBB Crocodile 14305 over the Old Hauenstein
Olten is the centre point of the Swiss railway network and also the main depot of SBB Historic. The preserved and fully operational Crocodile 14305 will haul your private charter formed of luxurious first class coaches over the Old Hauenstein line. This steeply graded route has embankments as formidable as the Gotthard and first opened in 1858 as Switzerland’s very first mountain railway through the ridge of the Jura range. Engineering highlights include stone-arched viaducts and horseshoe curves. Numerous photo stops will take place on the return journey from Olten to Sissach, via Läufelfingen and Rümlingen. In the afternoon you have time to use your Swiss Travel Pass* for further exploration of Switzerland’s railways at your own leisure. (B)

Saturday 22 November
Pocket Crocodiles, Sulzer Diesels and Re 6/6 Electric Giants along the Jura Mountains and over the newest part of the Swiss national network
Today an epic lineup of historic and rare locomotives await. You venture from Olten to nearby Oensingen, where the former SNCF, rod-driven Pocket Crocodile C 20155 (SBB Ee 3/3 16515) will haul your train on the scenic branch line to Balsthal. At the terminus, the giant Sulzer diesel Bm 6/6 18505 of 1958 vintage will haul your train for the final half kilometre on the rarely traversed industrial siding to the Balsthal paper factory at the far end of the line. After reversal, 18505 will then haul the train back to Oensingen, once again pausing for photos at Klus, beneath the impressive castles and rock formations. The Bm 6/6 are the largest main line diesels previously operated by SBB. At Oensingen a classic 1970s electric Bo-Bo-Bo giant of the Re 6/6 Class takes over the private charter train and hauls it on the main line to Olten, Aarau and then Mägenwil, before reversing to do the new long curve to Birr, which is the newest part of the Swiss national network and recently opened in 2023. From Birr the Re 6/6-hauled train continues via Brugg and Olten back to Oensingen. This remarkable experience will provide the exceptionally rare opportunity to travel behind one of the most powerful European electric locomotives ever built. (B)

Sunday 23 November
Ancient Steam in the scenic Emmental with ancient tank engines
Today you travel steam hauled through the pastoral Emmental region, on a circular route. The charter train starts at Konolfingen and first ventures east to Langnau with haulage provided by a truly ancient steam locomotive from 1881. The 0-6-0 tank engine No. 3 “Langnau” was built for this route 125 years ago and is today one of the oldest main line certified locomotives in the world. It last steamed in 1970 and was then on static display at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Luzern for several decades. It made an unexpected return to steam in spring 2025, for the 150th jubilee of Emmentalbahn. On our visit, it will be paired with the fellow 0-6-0 tank engine “Lise”, which previously worked at the Gas Works in Bern and dates from 1908. It has only just returned to steam in early 2025 and is an SLM tank. 
From Langnau the train continues to Sumiswald, where traction will change to the vintage electric ‘Pocket Crocodiles’ Ee 3/3 16403 and 16408. These veterans from the 1940s will then haul the train on the freight-only branch line to Wasen in top and tail mode. Back at Sumiswald, steam takes over again for journey back to Konolfingen, traveling on the rest of the circular route via Hasle and Schafhausen, thus completing a large loop for the day. Back at Konolfingen depot, the rod-driven electric tractor Te 155, providing one last classic locomotive to see on the day. (B)

Monday 24 November
Main line steam with 1899 tank engine from Oensingen to Grenchen
For the final day of the tour another rare steam engine takes centre stage, as the original locomotive No. 2 from the Oensingen-Balsthal-Bahn (OeBB) hauls the train on the main line from Oensingen to Solothurn and then across the River Aare to Grenchen. This line provides grand views of Mount Weissenstein and other high peaks of the Jura Mountains. The SLM tank No. 2 dates from 1899 and is one of the prototypes of the later much more numerous class of SBB ‘Tiger’ tanks. After the steam trip you still have some free time in the afternoon to make use of your Swiss Travel Pass* and explore some more regional railway lines at your own leisure. In the evening there’s a farewell group dinner. (B D)

Tuesday 25 November
Return to London
You return from Olten to London via Basel and Paris, using SBB, TGV and Eurostar high speed services. (B)