Continental Steam Safari

The historic cities of Prague and Bremen, the rural landscapes of the Czech Republic and the countyside of Northern Germany create a superb backdrop to this unique steam tour, packed with main line and narrow-gauge highlights.

• Sample an eclectic line-up of unique steam locomotives, including historic tank engines that have only just returned to service after decades out of use.
• Experience lots of ‘rare track’ excursions with private charter train trips on scenic countryside routes and unusual
  branch lines.
• Visit the huge collection at the Czech railway museum in Luzna u Rakovnika before embarking on a main line steam charter on the remote, ‘freight-only’ branch line from Luzna to Kolesovice.
• Take a ride on the remarkable pre-nationalisation green German tank engine “Kattowitz”, which is in steam for the very first time in a decade.
  

Sunday 14th April
Arrival in Prague

Following a direct flight to Prague you book into your central hotel for a welcome lunch. The rest of the day you are free to explore this fascinating city. A complimentary public transport rover ticket makes getting around by tramway or underground easy and enjoyable. (L)

Monday 15th April
Classic Prague by luxury tram and steam at the Milovice narrow gauge railway
This morning you board a luxury tram for a sightseeing tour of Prague, inclusive of onboard drinks. See the city’s premier landmarks while criss-crossing the River Vltava on its famous bridges. In the early afternoon you transfer to Milovice in Central Bohemia, where you ride the entire length of the re-opened 600 mm narrow gauge railway, including the most recent extensions. This delightful railway runs through fields and past specially built-up military installations that are typically used to film war movies, including most recently the acclaimed epic ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’. Motive power is provided by a rugged industrial tank engine and the train will pause for run-pasts. After a visit to the local steam shed, you return to Prague by service train to spend the evening at leisure in the city. (B L)

Tuesday 16th April
Main line steam in Central Bohemia from Luzna to Kolesovice with 313.432
This morning you board a service train departing from Prague’s historic Dejvice station and travel by service train to Luzna u Rakovnika, home to a large collection of steam locomotives at the Czech Republic’s premier railway museum.
You have time to visit the roundhouse and see the collection and enjoy a warm lunch, before a private steam charter takes you on the unusual, ‘freight-only’ line via Krupa to Kolesovice. Traction today will be provided by the ancient Austro-Hungarian tank engine 313.432, which originally dates from 1904 and only just returned to service in 2023 after decades out of use. Along your way on the non-electrified tracks, the crew will perform some attractive run-pasts. You return by steam train to Luzna, before taking a regular train back to Prague. (B L)

Wednesday 17th April
Main line steam at Dolni Lipka with 555.0153 in the hilly borderlands near Poland
After breakfast you take a service train east from Prague to Dolni Lipka near the Polish border, where the 2-10-0 ‘Kriegslok’ 555.0153 is based in the scenic yet remote borderlands with Poland. Using this impressive and powerful motive power, the private charter train will travel from Dolni Lipka onto the Štíty branch line, doing track that does not see steam very often and also has seen significant cuts in passenger services recently. Ample photographic opportunities and run-pasts will feature as well. The vintage 1940s German locomotive will haul classic 1930s Swiss coaches. A typical Czech lunch is also provided at mid-day. In the late afternoon you return to Prague by service train, capping a fun day out. (B L)

Thursday 18th April
By train to Bremen
Today is a transfer day and an opportunity to travel by locomotive-hauled Eurocity train on the scenic route through the Elbe Valley from Prague via Dresden to Berlin. There you change onto an ICE high-speed service for the continuation to Bremen. You arrive in the attractive Hanseatic city in Northern Germany by late afternoon and check into your elegant hotel, conveniently located in the city centre. Dinner will be served at the hotel tonight. A complimentary public transport ticket is included, allowing you to bash the local tram network.  (B D)

Friday 19th April
Steam at the Bruchhausen-Vilsen heritage railway in Lower Saxony
Another narrow gauge steam highlight awaits, as you visit Germany’s first preserved steam railway, the delightful metre gauge line from Bruchhausen to Asendorf, located in convenient proximity to Bremen. Your private charter train will be hauled by the iconic steam tramway locomotive ‘Plettenberg’ dating from 1927, which has just completed an overhaul. You make a full return trip and enjoy countless run-pasts and photo stops. A buffet lunch will be served at a typical countryside inn near Asendorf. A visit to the large steam shed in Bruchhausen caps the exciting visit, before you return to Bremen in the late afternoon. (B L)

Saturday 20th April
Steam with locomotive 7348 ‘Kattowitz’ at the Minden heritage railway
Saving another highlight for the conclusion of the tour, you venture to Minden in Westphalia, where the local heritage railway has some of the best preserved Prussian rolling stock in Germany, dating from the early 20th century and the time before railway nationalisation after World War I. The green 2-6-0 tank engine 7348 ‘Kattowitz’ (91 617) dates from 1908 but carries its original Prussian Railways operating number. The tank only returned to operating condition in spring 2023, after decades out of use. This iconic green locomotive will pull your immaculate train formed of matching wooden coaches from the former Prussian Railways. Traversing the whole heritage line around the Minden canals, your consist will pause for run-pasts and photo stops along the way. A savory warm lunch is also served at the pretty Minden station building. Take a step back in time to the early 20th century with this atmospheric visit to one of Germany’s most attractive heritage railways. In the late afternoon, you return to Bremen, where a farewell dinner is served at the hotel. (B L D)

Sunday 21st April
Return to London
Free day to explore Bremen before transferring to Hannover for a direct flight back to London from Hannover airport. (B)