Czech Autumn Steam Gala

Join an exciting new steam tour to Prague and Central Bohemia, which features as its signature attraction the Benesov Steam Locomotive festival with a number of main line steam traction and also an impressive lineup of other heritage locomotives.

• Enjoy a private steam gala at the Zamberk narrow gauge railway and a visit the Czech railway museum in Luzna u Rakovnika with a private charter there.
• Take advantage of a having the Benesov festival rover ticket for both Saturday and Sunday, allowing you to ride all the different gala trains featuring main line steam, vintage diesel or old electric traction with an assortment of motive power from all over Central Europe, including visiting flagship locomotives from neighbouring countries.
• Based throughout in the stunning city of Prague, the relaxed format of the tour is ideal for enthusiasts and companion travellers, with ample free time to enjoy all that Prague has to offer from a centrally located hotel near the main railway station, plus the added convenience of a public transport rover ticket.

Wednesday 16 September

London to Prague

You have a direct flight from London to Prague, the Czech capital. After arrival you transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you will enjoy a welcome lunch. The rest of the day is to be spent at leisure exploring the capital city and all of its historical and cultural attractions (L)

Thursday 17 September

Main line steam in Central Bohemia 

After breakfast, you will join one of the main line steam trains as it journeys through Central Bohemia on the necessary positioning run to the festival. This will provide you with an enjoyable and exclusive railway experience featuring an impressive locomotive and beautiful antique coaches. Lunch refreshments are included. After your return to Prague by service train, you will still have time to enjoy the late afternoon and evening at your leisure (B L)

Friday 18 September

Steam on the festival train 

Today the Benesov festival formally commences with the launch of the festive inaugural train from Prague by scenic bylines to Benesov. You have reserved seats on the train and can enjoy the very best of Czech railway ambiance and atmosphere.

The train will feature steam haulage and classic coaches, transporting you back in time. On arrival in Benesov there is time to sample the wonderful festival atmosphere at the historic railway station and roundhouse there, with numerous attractive exhibits. In the late afternoon you return to Prague for an evening at leisure. (B)

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September

Full throttle at the Benesov Steam Festival

For these two days you will have the freedom of the festival rover ticket, allowing you to travel on all of the many main line steam and vintage diesel trains hauled by the large line-up of local Czech and exciting visiting locomotives from other countries. In the morning there will be an express festival train from Prague to Benesov, where you will have reserved seats. The festival trains typically travel over all of the rural branch lines near Benesov, including the stunning Sazava Valley route with its rocky cliffs and rugged riverside scenery. Aside from turntable shows for photography the festival programme also includes a freight train demonstration that filmers can enjoy. (B)

Monday 21 September

Private steam gala at the Zamberk narrow gauge railway

In the morning you travel with an Intercity train east to the Eagle Mountains near the Polish frontier. There you visit the wonderful narrow gauge railway and industrial heritage museum at Zamberk, located at an old textile mill dating from the 1830s. You will have your own private steam gala today with two locomotives in steam on the dual-gauge 600 and 750 mm railway. It will be possible to enjoy haulage by both engines and also film the locomotives with attractively staged run-pasts. Additionally, you will be able to visit the wonderful ‘Museum of Old Machines and Technologies’ and see its fabulous collection of classic cars, old motorbikes, stationary steam engines and old textile equipment. Various classic engines will be in use for observation and demonstration purposes. Lunch is served at the museum restaurant. After your day out, you return by Intercity train to Prague in the early evening. (B L)

Tuesday 22 September 

Steam at the Czech Railways Museum in Luzna and private main line charter

Today you explore more of the beautiful landscapes and classic railway infrastructure of Central Bohemia, this time to the northwest of Prague. You take a fast train on the non-electrified line to Luzna and visit the wonderful museum of the Czech Railways, with the vast collection of steam locomotives stored in the large roundhouse and adjacent sheds. You have a private steam charter on the museum’s own narrow gauge railway, before lunch at the museum cafe. After lunch you enjoy a private main line charter with the museum’s rake of early 20th century four-wheeled coaches and an excursion on the line to Krupa and Kolesovice, which has been used for filming countless major movies, typically World War I or World War II productions. Your train will be hauled by one of the museum's classic, unsilenced diesel locomotives dating from the mid-20th century. You return to Prague by fast train in the late afternoon for another free evening in the city. (B L)

Wednesday 23 September

Travel to London

You have a free morning and early afternoon to enjoy Prague and do anything in the city you didn’t manage to do on the previous days. In the mid-afternoon you transfer to Prague airport for the flight back to London. (B)